Named during the Tang Dynasty when Taoism was at its peak, Laoshan is one of those places that is as much about the views as it is about the history. The area is dotted with iconic sites like Laoshan Jufeng Peak, Liuqing River, Taiping Palace, Yangkou Beach, and the Nine Waters and Eighteen Pools — each offering a different slice of the region’s natural beauty. From rugged mountain peaks to serene beaches, Laoshan's landscapes are a traveller’s dream. If you're planning to explore, there are a few routes to choose from. The southern route covers the towering Jufeng Peak and the peaceful Taiping Palace. The eastern route takes you to Yangkou Beach and the Qipan Stone Area, while the central route is all about the lush Nine Waters and Eighteen Pools.

Another iconic monument of Dhaka, the Tara Mosque, or Star Mosque, has fascinated visitors and locals alike for years with its beautifully detailed mosaics. Interestingly, some tiles feature illustrations of Mt Fuji, since a renovation was done some 50 years ago using Japanese and English porcelain tiles.

For centuries, there was a significant Armenian community in Bangladesh, though their presence is minimal today. Founded in 1781, the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Dhaka's Armanitola neighbourhood — named after the Armenian settlers — is a remnant of that era. This beautiful church is worth a visit, serving as a marker of the city's past and ongoing diversity.

The Lille suburb of Villeneuve-d'Ascq is worth the trip if only for its singular Modern Art Museum (Musée d'Art Moderne, d'Art Contemporain et d'Art Brut – LaM), which showcases works by celebrated modernists (such as Picasso and Modigliani, to name a couple), along with a noteworthy collection of outsider art.