When the Large Roman Thermae fell into disuse in the 3rd century AD, the city didn't go without — the Small Thermae stepped in to fill the gap, remaining in use until around the 6th century. Covering some 2,400 square metres, they are considerably more modest than their northern counterpart, and today there is little to see beyond foundation walls and a walkway circling the ruins. Worth a quick detour if you are already in the area.

The zoo, founded in 1906, is now home to over 500 animals in modern enclosures. Learn more about the animals from the daily zookeeper talks and get up close to pandas and cheetahs with the zoo’s ‘close encounters’ experience.

The State of Rio de Janeiro is world-renowned for its many breathtaking beaches. Copacabana is probably Rio’s most famous beach: located in the vibrant neighbourhood of the same name, it is almost 6 km long, home of the New Year celebrations and the official venue of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Tourists meet here all year round to play sports, sunbathe, and dance till morning. Other beaches close to the centre of the city are Ipanema and Leblon, both crowded with cafés, bars, and restaurants, while the beaches of Barra da Tijuca, Prainha, and Grumari are great for surfing and water sports enthusiasts. Nearby Búzios, a former fishing village, offers many spots to practice surfing, volleyball, scuba diving, and windsurfing. Located in a small peninsular area, the village is fringed by many beautiful beaches, such as Geribá, Enseada de Manguinhos, Armação, Praia dos Ossos, Azeda, and Ferradura. Approaching Rio from Búzios, you will find Arraial do Cabo, the perfect place for an unforgettable scuba diving experience through crystal-clear waters and rock formations teeming with tropical fish.

The Roman Thermae are the largest ancient public building ever uncovered in Bulgaria and the fourth-largest Roman baths in Europe — a considerable claim for a site sitting quietly in the southeastern corner of a modern city. Built in the late 2nd century AD across more than 7,000 square metres, the complex served as a social hub as much as a place to bathe. You can clamber freely around the chambers and pick out surviving elements of the underfloor heating system. Remarkably, the baths were in use for little more than a century before the cost of upkeep proved too much for a declining empire.