First held in 1991, the Qingdao International Beer Festival has grown into Asia’s largest beer event. Every August, starting on the second Sunday of the month, the festival kicks off and runs for 16 days in the city’s Shilaoren National Tourism Resort. This sprawling 35-hectare 'Beer City' is built specifically for the occasion, where beer lovers from all over the world come together. While you can always grab a Tsingtao Beer in Qingdao, nothing compares to the carnival buzz of the festival. Expect a fun mix of live music, international brews, and plenty of opportunities to sample the local favourite—Tsingtao Beer, of course. One quirky Qingdao tradition to note: fresh beer is often sold in plastic bags. So, don’t be surprised when you see people strolling the streets with a bag of beer in hand. It's all part of the fun.

This otherworldly landscape should be on every visitor's itinerary. In 1957, the Capelinhos volcano erupted, and did not stop for a year and a month. Inhabitants were forced to abandon the island, which now lies deserted. Climb the volcano with the help of the official guide service to experience this unique and startling natural wonder.

The Azores are one of the world’s biggest whale sanctuaries. Over 27 different species, both native and migrating, can be spotted here - that's one third of the number of species in existence. The shimmering blue seas of the Azores are the perfect place to observe these majestic creatures up close in the wild.

South of Hannover, nature and culture abound in and around the largely beech-covered slopes of the Deister reaching up to 405 metres above sea level, and it is filled with birdsong, rustling leaves, and delightful hiking tracks. The hillside paths offer many glimpses of the Calenberger Land stretching out into the distance below, so this is a paradise for hikers, walkers and cyclists.