Gustavia blends St Barts’ Swedish heritage with Caribbean flair, its pastel harbourfront lined with designer boutiques and cafés. For history and panoramas, hike Rue des Dinzey to Fort Karl, where 18th-century Swedish cannons and the ruins of a bottle-shaped lighthouse overlook Shell Beach and the marina. History lingers in every detail: from the ruins of the fort to the Wall House Museum’s island artefacts, Gustavia rewards slow exploration. Across the bay, the Gustavia Lighthouse offers a quieter escape. Locals and visitors often bring sunset picnics here, watching yachts navigate the harbour mouth. Time your visit for the monthly open-air market on Rue du Général de Gaulle, where straw hats and spices spill onto cobblestones.

St Kevin’s monastic settlement in Glendalough was a veritable city in its time, with a 30-metre round tower, a gateway building, several churches, a cathedral, a farm, houses and a sizeable lay population contributing to 500 years spent as one of Ireland’s great ecclesiastical centres. The cave isn’t safe to access, but you can catch a good photo opportunity above the Upper Lake from the Miner’s Road.

The museum contains a marvellous collection of hand-picked Islamic artefacts, from ancient manuscripts and carvings to objects of cultural value produced during the past three centuries. These include jewellery, ceramics, fabrics, clothing and musical instruments.