A day trip from Madrid offers the perfect excuse to step back in time, and few places capture Spain’s medieval legacy quite like Ávila and Salamanca, both proudly listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your adventure begins in Ávila, a walled city that appears lifted straight from the pages of a history book. Its imposing stone ramparts, punctuated by 88 defensive towers, encircle a beautifully preserved old town. Step inside and you’ll find Romanesque gems such as the Ávila Cathedral, part fortress and part place of worship, as well as the Basilica of San Vicente, famed for its architecture and colourful stonework. Ávila sits just over 100 kilometres from Madrid, and you can easily reach it by train or coach, both options run frequently throughout the day. From Ávila, continue west to the golden-hued city of Salamanca, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Its nickname, La Dorada, The Golden City, comes from the glow of its sandstone buildings, especially beautiful at sunset. Wander across the Plaza Mayor, often hailed as Spain’s finest square, then lose yourself among the cloisters, libraries and carvings of the historic university quarter. While Salamanca is delightful by day, it truly comes alive at night, its tapas bars and buzzing student energy make it tempting to extend your stay beyond a day trip.

If you can only visit one beach during your stay on Samos, be sure to make it Mikro Seitani. This small and secluded beach is reachable only on foot or by boat, and it is well worth the hike. Surrounded by large rock formations and lush vegetation, it is by far the most scenic beach on the island.

Via Mazzini connects Piazza Brà to Piazza delle Erbe and is Verona’s main shopping street. Lined with high-street and designer brands, it’s usually busy, especially in the afternoon. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s part of the flow through the city—quick to walk, hard to miss.