While the view down the splendid Maria-Theresien-Strasse towards the medieval old town is crowned by the majestic Nordkette mountain chain; the baroque Triumphal Arch is set off by the Bergisel ski jump, Innsbruck’s spectacular new icon designed by top architect Zaha Hadid.

“Art Depot” in Szczecin is an old tram depot which was built in 1912 with reinforced concrete. It has a sloping roof and a front glass wall with a clock. Since 2006 it has been one of the biggest Polish museums of a technological profile. The collection of almost 100 antique vehicles that was bought from Leszek Liszewski is the most precious. There, you can find such curiosities as micro-car Smyk or the one and only SUV version of Fiat 126p called in Polish “maluch” (tiny). Moreover, there are trams, buses (that you can enter), motorcycles, bikes,non-typical vehicles, electronic, telecommunication and household equipment and many more.

Anyone entering Szczecin by bridges over the Oder River can see the towering red-brick gothic Cathedral and an elegant, pale silhouette of a Renaissance castle with green towers, which used to be the seat of the dukes of the Griffins dynasty who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania. The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle has five wings and two courtyards. Acting as a cultural institution it organizes an array of cultural events: concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, conferences and meetings to popularize science, as well as to spread knowledge about the history of West Pomerania. The largest wing houses an Opera. In the wing that housed a mint in the olden days one can find today Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. There is a panoramic terrace on the rooftop of the northern wing from where splendid views can be appreciated. The wing’s basement houses a Vault with sarcophaguses of six princes. The Duke Boguslaw X hall, which used to be a princely chapel, is now a concert hall with a polychromatic ceiling decorated in Renaissance style. A 17th century astronomical clock is the Castle’s special tourist attraction. Also a room dedicated to Eilhard Lubinus and the Witches’ Cell are definitely worth a visit.

For a quick and effortless bird’s-eye view of the seafront, take a spin on the Bournemouth Observation Wheel. Located right at Pier Approach, this 50-metre-tall wheel offers a relaxed 10-minute ride in enclosed, all-weather gondolas. Your three or four gentle rotations provide fantastic 360-degree panoramas, perfect for looking down the length of the historic pier and out across the sea. The wheel has lost its retro colour scheme after a full revamp in 2024, now looking sleek and modern. It’s a simple, classic way to see the bay from a new perspective.