A visit to the Makasutu Culture Forest (about a 45-minute drive out of Banjul) is an experience to be had by visitors to the area looking to experience Gambian wildlife guided by an experienced local. There is a free to use on-site pool, so do bring your swimwear.

The Onze Lieve Vrouwe tower is the third-highest late-medieval tower in the Netherlands. It stands more than 98 meters high and is at the exact cadastral centre of the Netherlands. The tower, also called Lange Jan (Long John), can also be climbed. Tickets are available from the tourist information office next to the tower or online.

On the waterfront, only a few minutes from Harpa sits the most famous sculpture in Iceland, the Sólfarið or the Sun Voyager. Made of steel and resembling a Viking ship — although this was not the artist's intention — the Sun Voyager is, according to its creator Jón Gunnar Árnason, an ode to the sun, a dreamboat symbolising the promise of undiscovered territory, the dream of hope, progress, and freedom. This is also one of the best spots for a picture in Reykjavík, with Mount Esja providing the perfect backdrop.

Siena still runs on medieval time—in the best way. Its centre hasn’t changed much in centuries, and that’s part of the charm. The Piazza del Campo is the heart of it all—it’s where the Palio horse race happens twice a year. Climb the Torre del Mangia for wide views across the rooftops. The cathedral’s worth the time, especially its black-and-white striped interior, detailed floor mosaics (open seasonally), and the Piccolomini Library tucked inside. Don’t skip the crypt or the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo—they’re quieter and give you a different angle on the city.