Hikers take a break at Alp Languard in Switzerland. This country is celebrating the Year of Hiking and has made several hi-tech resources available online. (Courtesy Esko Keski-Oja Photo)

What's new in old Europe this year? As it turns out, plenty. You could, for example, visit the two European Capitals of Culture for 2011 -- Tallinn and Turku; see a Shakespearean play in the newly designed theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon; or take a scenic hike in Switzerland with some free hi-tech help

Then, of course, there are the many events in Germany this year (to mark the 125th anniversary of the automobile), plus new museums opening this summer in Europe which we'll tell you about in the coming weeks.

To be or not to be in Shakespeare Country in 2011: The big news in the Bard's home-town is the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon have recently opened after a four-year $177-million redevelopment designed to bring actors and audiences closer together. Innovations include a 1,000 seat thrust-stage auditorium, new exhibition spaces, new places to eat and drink, including Rooftop Restaurant and Riverside Cafe and Terrace, restored 1930s features and improved public areas including the new Weston Square.

Visitors can tour the theatres or take the lift to the top of a new 36-metre-high Tower for a glimpse of Shakespeare landmarks, including his birthplace, his home and his burial site. In February, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) ensemble will perform the first productions on the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage when they return from London's Roundhouse to revive King Lear and Romeo and Juliet. The company will also perform Antony and Cleopatra in the Swan Theatre and the Young People's Shakespeare productions of Hamlet and The Comedy of Errors.

The RSC will celebrate its 50th birthday and formally reopen the theatres with new companies and a new season beginning in April. See rsc.org.uk.

Hi-tech Hiking in Switzerland: This is the Year of Hiking in Switzerland and the country wants to make it easy for visitors to find the most scenic hikes. A new online hike finder (myswitzerland.com/hiking) features zoom-able maps and direct links to Google Earth for every route. And there's a free app for iPhones, with detailed maps and additional hiking information such as altitude profiles and dining. The Mountains and Lakes brochure has tips for every region. To view, download or order a hard copy, go to myswitzerland.com/brochures.

Culture with a Capital T: What do Turku, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia, share in common, aside from the fact they both begin with the letter "T." Both have been named the European Capitals of Culture for 2011. And visitors can expect to encounter a host of special events.

Turku -- Finland's oldest city and former capital -- is a walkable university town. Planned events include a garden competition (June through November), a Tall Ships Regatta (Sept. 2-4), concerts, exhibitions, visual arts, theatre, dance, and a circus show created for 2011. These are in addition to the usual attractions -- the market squares, Turku Castle, the cathedral and floating boat restaurants, which are open all summer. Visitors can also catch a free ride across the River Aura on the city ferry or take a water bus to nearby islands. See turku2011.fi/en/ ohjelmat or visitfinland.com.

As Tallinn is fairly close to Turku, it would be easy to visit both cities. One of Tallinn's biggest attractions will be the NO99 Straw Theatre, created for the Culture Capital year. Built on the Skoone Bastion, next to the Old Town, this cultural venue will host exhibits by renowned contemporary artists and function as a public space from May to September. Other events include:

* The 11th Youth Song and Dance Festival (July 1-3).

* 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero. A full-length, open-air cinema event in August featuring one-minute films made by directors from around the world. The sole copy of the films will then go up in flames and be lost forever.

* Nargen Festival Water Carnival (July 15). The opening event of Tallinn's Maritime Days starts with a procession and ends with a performance near the port.

* Gate(way)s, a grand exhibition of new and experimental work by young European artists at the Kumu Art Museum (May 13-Sept. 25).

* A new Maritime Museum opens in July with exhibits beneath the sea, on the sea and in the air. A highlight will be rare seaplane hangars built in 1916-1917 as part of Peter the Great's sea fortifications. Other displays include a submarine, a historical icebreaker, and a seaplane. Activities include piloting a flight simulator or descending into the depths in a submarine simulation, sailing ships in a pool or viewing sea creatures. For more check tallinn2011.ee.

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