As you wander through the streets of Phuket's Old Town, you’ll come across rows of pastel-hued shophouses and ornate Sino-Portuguese facades that still hint at the island’s trading past. Some are family homes, others have been converted into cafés, guesthouses, or small museums. It’s the kind of place where you can spend a few hours just walking, peering at tiled walls, old shop signs, and shrines tucked into corners. There’s everyday life mixed with the tourist scene: morning markets with fruit and noodles, long-standing noodle shops, and new coffee spots side by side. On Sundays, Thalang Road turns into the Lard Yai market from late afternoon, with food stalls, music, and crafts filling the street.

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.

The Latvian National Opera and Ballet is an attraction in itself - the building is very photogenic and makes for a great walk around in the afternoon. Opera and ballet are fabled as well, so make sure to check for current shows when you're in town.

Eglegem Lake, a large expanse of water, also popularly known as 'de put' or 'the pit', came into being when the E19 motorway was constructed. It is now a wonderful nature reserve where you can sail, windsurf and fish. Walking and cycling enthusiasts will be in their element too! The walk round the lake is about 3 kilometres.