The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers a journey through centuries of art and culture, from Italian Renaissance masterpieces and Asian ceramics to African art and contemporary installations. Don't leave without taking a picture in front of the museum’s iconic, giant badminton shuttlecocks on the front lawn. Admission is free to most exhibitions, and once you get your fix of classical and contemporary art, you can finish the tour at the café or the restaurant on the spot.

Villa des Arts is a sprawling exhibition centre in a 1934 Art Deco villa that displays both contemporary pieces of art as well as traditional Moroccan artefacts. You can find this exhibition centre near Parc de la Ligue Arabe.

Many of the archipelago's islands are populated by giant Aldabra tortoises, and bird species number 250, 12 of those being unique to the islands. Mahe Island's Port Launay Marine National Park is the place to head for whale shark sightings, and Praslin Island is home to the country's national bird - the Seychelles black parrot. Cousine Island is where visitors are encouraged to take part in wildlife conservation projects (and spot free-roaming giant tortoises and rare bird species along the way). A mere 3km away from there is Fregate Island, known especially for its chelonian inhabitants.

At the highest point of the Old Town, Saint Pierre Cathedral dates back to the 12th century and is Geneva’s most visited monument. It’s known as John Calvin’s home church during the Reformation, and its underground archaeological site — the largest north of the Alps — offers a look at earlier layers of the city’s history. Brave visitors willing to climb the 157 steps of the north tower will be treated to a breathtaking panorama of both the city and the lake — worth it if the weather is clear.