Munich, Germany

Anyone who has seen Bayern Munich’s €240 million stadium fully prepared for action for a night match will know just how impressive the luminous shell can be.  Ground sharing is commonplace in many European countries, but the Allianz arena is the only one that physically changes appearances to accommodate the current occupying team. When Bayern Munich are playing, the outer panels radiate a bright red light, while their local rivals 1860 Munich light the stadium blue. The unique ‘bubble’ outer shell is comprised of 2,760 panels, 1,056 of which are illuminated in either red, blue or white – white being used when the national team play at the stadium, or when it hosts neutral competitions, such as the 2012 Champions League final. The Allianz Arena actually boasts the largest LED display in Europe, with 100,000 individual lights making up the impressive display.

Alianz Arena in Munich, Germany by Steenbergs

Estadio Municipal de Braga

Braga, Portugal

€83 million may seem like quite a lot for a stadium with only two stands, but once you glimpse at the innovative design of the Estadio Municipal de Braga, you will instantly understand the cost. The Estadio AXA (as it is now known) was built on the site of a quarry, overlooking the Portuguese city of Braga. The stadium was actually carved into the quarry, required massive quantities of rock to be shifted during construction. The really unique feature of the stadium is that all of it’s 30,286 capacity is achieved using only two stands, as the ends behind the goals feature the solid rock face of the quarry, while the other overlooks the city. The innovative design has earned multiple architecture awards and it has been a popular tourist destination since it’s construction for the EURO 2004 finals.

Estadio Municipal de Aveiro

Aveiro, Portugal

Another stadium built for Portugal 2004, the Estadio Municipal de Aveiro can only be described as something out of a child’s imagination. The multi-coloured stadium is comprised of blocks of different shapes and sizes, looking not too dissimilar to a Lego construction built using all manner of assorted toys from a child’s toy box. Even the roof lends itself to the ‘toy box’ quality, with red and white spires holding the bright blue roof aloft over the multicolour seating arrangements. The jovial, kidlike quality the eccentric stadium creates makes for an extremely unusual and certainly entertaining atmosphere.

Vesturi á Eiðinum Stadium

Faroe Islands, Denmark

Whereas the other stadiums on this list are easily reachable for the football tourist, this one will require slight more planning thanks to its extremely remote location and the limited transport available to the Faroe Islands. Home to FC Suðuroy, the Vesturi á Eiðinum has a capacity for 3,000 people, with seating room for only 330 of the crowd. Situated so close to the edge of the land means that the ball often ends up in the North Atlantic Ocean, with a boat dedicated to fishing the ball out and returning it to the game.  A far cry from the multi-ball system so many clubs now utilise!

Vesturi á Eiðinum Stadium, Faroe Islands, Denmark (will you find that on the picture? ) / Photo by Eileen Sandá

Thanks to Harry Lee for this post. Harry writes on behalf of Travelbag.co.uk – a UK-based travel company that offers holidays to Australia, America, Thailand and hundreds more top destinations.

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Blue Grotto, Malta by Chris Brown

Those who travel to the Blue Grotto will also be able to see Filfla, which is a small island inhabited by numerous types of exotic lizards. There is no doubt that these sea caves are a very popular travel destination for tourists who like to go scuba diving or just want to admire the breathtaking beauty and idyllic scenery that the Blue Grotto has to offer.

In this area there are a number of amazing sights to see, including the tall cliffs which tower above the Mediterranean Sea, the waves below hitting against them. The unique emerald lighting and exotic landscape of this entire area is what draws so many people to it year after year. Late in the day it is not uncommon to see visitors swimming in the caves, as well as traffic jams of rowboats just outside the grotto.

It is also considered as being one of the most picturesque places in all of Malta so if your next way is waving through Malta do not leave this place unexplored.

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More than four hundred twenty years ago, there was an active super volcano that existed in the area. A fierce eruption occurred back in the Silurian period which created most of the cauldron-like formation. After the end of the last ice age, a giant glacier had formed in the region and as it receded, it carved out the coe.

Glen Coe, Scotland, UK by Christian Kadluba

The area is less than seven hundred meters wide in many spots and more than sixteen kilometers long. The narrowest point of the coe is known as the Pass of Glen Coe and can be found roughly in the center.

In order to get top Glen Coe, you will need to enter the area at the base of the Meall a’ Bhuiridh mountain, not too far from Rannoch Moor. For nearly 12 kilometers the coe runs almost due west from the moor before making a turn to the northwesterly direction. At the other end of Glen Coe is where you will find Loch Leven and the famous village of Glencoe.

Throughout the length of Glen Coe, you will see the ancient River Coe which was formed as the glacier melted away. At the Pass of Glen Coe, one can see waterfalls as the water makes its way out to the sea.

The resulting properties of Glen Coe are simply amazing. Each year, countless visitors make their way to the area to see the many attractions that the coe has to offer. The site is very popular for those who just like to walk in beautiful surroundings and is known as an adventure for those who love the idea of climbing a rock face.

For those who come to Glen Coe for walking, the best place to start is at the Devil’s Staircase which was cut into the boulders. The staircase is more than 352 meter high and can be a challenge for most people.

Rock climbers who make their way to the area tend to go straight for the 1,018 meter tall Buachaille Etive Mòr. Over the years, climbing the face of the mountain has grown in popularity as a result of countless races and scrambles that have been held in the area over the years.

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The Nant Llech is a small and peaceful river that meanders its way to the edges of Farewell Rock. It is here that the waters of the river make the 27-meter plunge over the edge of the rock face.

Henrhyd Falls, Wales, UK by Dave Mack

The Henrhyd Falls are very well-known; not just in the UK, but throughout the world as well. Up until just recently, the area was a popular destination for those who lived in the UK and just wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of inner city life. However, since the falls appeared at the end of the recently released film, The Dark Knight Rises, more and more visitors from all over the world have made the trek down into the gorge.

To get to the Henrhyd Falls, you will need to park your car and take a steep hike down into the very deep gorge lined with oak and ash trees. There is a small bridge at the bottom which will take you to the opposite side of the Nant Llech. From here, special care must be taken as the path narrows and becomes uneven.

There is only one way down into the gorge and one way out so special care must be taken when choosing to make your way down to see the Henrhyd Falls. The path will take you down to the base of the waterfall and if you continue to follow it, the path will take you behind the falls.

The area that Henrhyd Falls is located in is aptly dubbed the Wales Waterfall Country as there are countless falls that can be found throughout the Brecon Beacons National Park. For someone who is planning on visiting the Henrhyd Waterfall, make sure that you bring the proper footwear for the trek down into the gorge.

Take your time and make sure to check out the many other spectacular water falls that can be found throughout the area before you leave.

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