Tivoli park was once the grounds of a castle barely two kilometres from the historic centre of Mechelen. These days you can enjoy a quiet stroll here across the large expanses of grass, past ancient trees, a highly-scented rose garden, a herb garden and other delightful nooks. Now pure white again, in 1990 the famous Belgian artist Jan Fabre wrapped the castle in sheets of paper covered with ballpoint lines for which 150,000 blue pens were required! Since 1991 the mansion has housed a catering establishment specializing in parties, seminars and the like. Drinks, snacks and lunches are served to the general public in the adjoining orangery. Small children will love meeting a whole variety of farm animals on the children's farm. Other attractions include the large bee colony and the educational nature trail where signs draw your attention to aspects of the park's history, fauna and flora.

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore is an extraordinary building complex that mixes Gothic and Baroque architecture and dates back to the end of the 13th century. Every Christmas, a life-size nativity scene is set up inside the church. A museum occupies three floors above the courtyard and exhibits historic items from the monastery as well as archaeological remains.

Madrid attracts a great number of visitors who come to the city for one reason alone, football. Real Madrid CF, Europe’s most successful club, has supporters across the globe, and for many, visiting the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is a dream come true. Football fans have the unique chance to step onto the legendary pitch, explore the trophy room, and relive the club’s remarkable history. There’s also an on-site restaurant and café, along with a gift shop with Real Madrid memorabilia. While the entry fee is on the higher side, the experience is well worth it for anyone passionate about the sport. And if you happen to be in Madrid on a match day, make sure to secure your tickets in advance, watching Real Madrid play live, whether in La Liga or the Champions League, is an unforgettable experience.

The building of what once was an Art Deco swimming pool has now been turned into a fine/applied arts museum (La Piscine Musée d'Art et d'Industrie), classical sculptures and busts lining the filled-up pool in a bizarre yet curious presentation.