Xiamen Botanical Garden is a lush escape from the city’s hustle. Home to over 5,000 species of tropical plants, the garden weaves together picturesque winding paths, ponds, and rock formations in a setting that feels both serene and expansive. There are also themed areas such as the Bamboo Forest, Bonsai Garden, and Rose Garden. The Xiamen Botanical Garden is the kind of place where you can wander aimlessly, discovering hidden corners and marvelling at the diversity of plant life. If the city buzz is starting to wear on you, an afternoon here offers a refreshing reset.

Zoosafari is the largest wildlife park in Italy, located a few kilometres from Fasano. It is a place where you can watch exotic animals like tigers, lions, bears, elephants (and so much more) from your vehicle. In addition to the safari park, there is a large amusement park with attractions for all ages as well as several restaurants where to energise before finding out new exciting species.

On the waterfront, only a few minutes from Harpa sits the most famous sculpture in Iceland, the Sólfarið or the Sun Voyager. Made of steel and resembling a Viking ship — although this was not the artist's intention — the Sun Voyager is, according to its creator Jón Gunnar Árnason, an ode to the sun, a dreamboat symbolising the promise of undiscovered territory, the dream of hope, progress, and freedom. This is also one of the best spots for a picture in Reykjavík, with Mount Esja providing the perfect backdrop.