The convergence of two currents makes this a surprisingly pleasant getaway in the Arctic Circle.

One man's exploration of the human form, including the bizarre and delightful "Man Attacked by Babies."

An intricately carved Viking church overlooks a glistening fjord.

The art museum is decorated with creatively remodeled pre-Nazi swastikas.

Hans Christian Andersen for the postmodern world.

Pre-Nazi swastikas adorn the sculpted pachyderms flanking this brewhouse portal.

Vienna's giant wonder wheel had a starring role in one of the greatest noir movies of all time.

Launched by Napoleon's soldiers more than 200 years ago, a cannonball remains embedded in the tower wall.

Local folklore claims that this wall was not built for defense, but to provide labor during a time of famine.

An ornate plague column – built to celebrate life – claimed the lives of numerous artisans during its construction.

Tucked away in a Prague park, a statue beloved by romantics honors a poet so nice they buried him twice.

Folklore says this medieval fortress was plopped atop a portal to hell to trap the demons below.

Be(w)ar(e) the moat around this historic Czech castle.

Heralded as one of the prettiest castles in all of Czechia.

Enormous sandstone towers loom within a Czech forest.

Bohemian paradise covered in majestic forests.

An isolated, rusty phone booth commemorates Iceland's first international telegraph cable.

This tiny museum's sizable collection is jammed into a former underground public toilet.

Have tea in a cemetery with a dazzling view of Istanbul.

The legendary luxury train passage is commemorated with a charming museum inside its former eastern terminus.

An Art Nouveau gem hides beneath the layers of city grime obscuring this once-magnificent building.

Turkish adventurer antiques in the heart of the Grand Bazaar.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.