Although Hoi An is perfectly walkable, cycling is an easy way of getting around, if your itinerary extends beyond the Old Town (including An Bang Beach). The Hoi An Old Town is closed off to all motorised traffic (including motorbikes) on most days, between 8.30 and 11.00 and then again 15.00 to 21.30, which means streets can be comfortably navigated by cyclists and pedestrians. Many hotels and guest houses offer bike rental services (or even complimentary bicycle use in some cases), but multiple bike rental shops operate throughout town as well. Prices are normally very reasonable and can be as low as 1 USD per day (depending on the bike). Single-gear bikes will suffice for cycling through town, but mountain bikes are recommended for those who wish to venture into the countryside. While locals will often be seen riding without helmets on, we recommend asking for one at your bike hire provider to ensure safety.

What better way to discover the island than to put on your hiking shoes and get out there? You are sure to find remote places and breathtaking scenery. There are paths criss-crossing the whole island. Some of the best hiking trails are the Boracay Trail, Mount Ilijan and Calimbajan Peak. If you prefer renting a mountain bike, you can do so pretty much anywhere along White Beach.

This magnificent 19th-century building opened in 1892 and is regarded as an emblematic of the city. Teatro Campoamor is also the venue for the annual Prince of Asturias prize ceremony and for the city’s annual opera season and the Zarzuela music festival. The theatre’s elegant interior was influenced by the Teatro de la Comedia in Madrid and is opulently decorated in scarlet, gold and red. On the first floor you can find the statue of Ramón de Campoamor, the Asturian poet after whom the theatre is named.

Step back in time at Fort Macon State Park, home to a meticulously restored pre-Civil War fort that now serves as a museum, offering daily guided tours and frequent cannon and musket demonstrations. The park provides public access to the pristine beaches of the Crystal Coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet, and Bogue Sound. Visitors can explore undisturbed natural salt marshes and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem.