Built for the 2008 Games, the park is home to two of Beijing’s most recognisable landmarks: the National Stadium (the 'Bird’s Nest') and the National Aquatics Centre (the 'Water Cube'). Both are still in use for sports and events, and they light up at night, which is the best time to see them. The park itself is also one of the largest green spaces in the city, with long open avenues, lakes, and gardens — a good spot for a walk if you’re in the north of Beijing.

Located between Punta Rasa and Punta Caimanera, this tiny beach is a great place to get away from it all, precisely because it is so small. Besides being cosy, the Playa Las Conchas is also incredibly scenic and rarely crowded. Very nearby is the Talasotherapy Centre, where you can get all kinds of spa treatments to improve your health.

Built in the mid-18th century for the Qing emperors as a retreat from the heat of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is a vast imperial garden centred on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, both man-made. The lake was modelled on Hangzhou’s West Lake, with islands, bridges, and long covered walkways. Scattered around are pavilions, temples, and a recreated riverside street designed to look like a traditional market town. Later restored under Empress Dowager Cixi, it became her favoured residence. Today, it’s worth visiting not just for the palaces themselves, but for the long lakeside walks, shaded courtyards, and the sense of space that feels very different from central Beijing.

With a history dating back to the 17th century, the Prince's garden is a historic landmark that today unfolds as a tranquil oasis with its manicured garden and inviting foliage corridors. Against the scenic backdrop of the Martinitoren, visitors can enjoy leisurely strolls and lounge in the garden's tea room. Every summer, poets gather here to present their work at the dedicated festival, which makes for a fitting complement to the splendour of the place.