Just a stone's throw from Aphrodite's fabled birthplace, you'll find the Municipality of Geroskipou. No longer just a sleepy hamlet, this Pafos suburb has rich silk-making roots and even claims to have housed Aphrodite's sacred garden. A highlight here is the 11th-century Byzantine Church of Agia Paraskevi, located right in the main square. A short walk from the church takes you to the Zimboulaki house, now a charming Folk Art museum. For those keen on sweets, don't miss the Aphrodite Delights shop just across from the main square. This family-operated shop specializes in Loukoumi — soft, sugary cubes that make for excellent, wallet-friendly gifts.

Located in the Kadhimiya suburb of Baghdad, the Imam al-Kazim and Imam al-Jawad Shrine is one of the most striking religious sites in the city. This important Shi’a mosque houses the tombs of the seventh and ninth Twelver Imams, making it a major pilgrimage site. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome to enter and explore the mosque; however, it's important to be respectful of religious customs and dress modestly. Due to its religious and historical significance, the shrine is heavily guarded and security is strict. You should expect to pass through three security checkpoints: one upon entering the Kadhimiya area, and two more before reaching the mosque itself. Inside, the shrine’s ornate and reflective design creates a serene and reverent atmosphere, heightened by the devotion of the pilgrims in prayer. Photography is generally permitted, but it is advisable to ask staff before taking photos, especially in more sensitive areas.

In Belém (situated west of the city along the river) lies Lisbon’s, and possibly Portugal’s, most important historical monument. Here you can see an opulent church and cloistered garden built in the elegant Manuelian style at the beginning of the 16th century, when Portugal was a great seafaring power. Within walking distance of many other sights, the Gothic Jerónimos Monastery is a must-see on any itinerary.

National Tile Museum is devoted to the quintessentially Portuguese tiles seen so frequently on buildings across the country. The collection is housed in a monastery, the varying architectural styles and decorations of which give a quick walkthrough the country's major movements. One of the highlights is an enormous tiled fresco which shows Lisbon as it was just before the big earthquake in 1755.