If you’ve got a day to spare, spend it exploring Egypt’s second city by the sea. Alexandria feels like a world apart from Cairo — cooler, breezier, and full of Mediterranean character. Wander through Roman ruins, stroll the corniche, check out the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and stop by the Citadel of Qaitbay. It’s an easy change of pace, with plenty of history, sea views, and fresh air.

Plaça de la Independència is the elegant neoclassical heart of Girona, designed by Martí Sureda in the 19th century on the site of a former Augustine convent. Its porticoed arches frame a lively scene of locals and visitors dining or sipping coffee under the shade. The square’s name honours Girona’s defenders during the 1808–1809 siege by Napoleonic forces, a struggle memorialised by Antoni Parera’s central monument in 1894. By day, it’s a prime spot for people-watching; by night, the terraces fill with revellers enjoying tapas and evening drinks. An essential stop for both history and atmosphere.

A lesser-known but stunning way to see the Old City is the Ramparts Walk, which will guarantee you an aerial view from the top of the Ottoman walls that circle the city. You can choose between two options. The longer north sidewalk, which covers the area from the Jaffa Gate to the Lions Gate, overlooks the Christian and Muslim Quarters and ends near the Dome of the Rock. The south sidewalk goes from the Tower of David to the Zion Gate and will bring you right in front of the Western Wall.