Built between 527 and 565 AD at the foot of Mount Sinai for Emperor Justinian, this monastery later took its name from St Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are said to rest here. It’s more fortress than church, with thick stone walls guarding the Church of the Transfiguration, the chapel of the Burning Bush, and a monks-only library packed with ancient manuscripts. Inside, you’ll find mosaics, religious ornaments, and some of the oldest illuminated manuscripts in the world on display. Outside, don’t miss Moses’ Well and the garden with centuries of history. The place is open most mornings but closed on Fridays, Sundays, and Orthodox feast days. Still active today, the monastery holds importance across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and continues its Greek Orthodox traditions uninterrupted.

One of Porto Santo’s best-known viewpoints, Miradouro da Portela, offers sweeping views to the north and south. From here, you can take in the entire southern half of the island, including the 9 km-long beach, and see how the island’s low peaks give it a surprisingly open, almost barren feel. On a clear day, Madeira even appears in the distance. A short walk will bring you to the island’s three remaining traditional windmills. Painted white and red with sturdy stone bases, they’re no longer in use but are wonderfully preserved and make a great spot for photos, framed by both the ocean and the inland hills. Portela gets especially magical at sunrise or sunset, when the light casts the bay in golden hues. It’s also easy to combine this stop with nearby attractions like Porto dos Frades natural pools or the Terra Chã hike.

This museum will take you on an electrifying trip through the history of electricity generation on the island. In the basement you can find huge diesel generators which were used in the past, and upstairs there are all sorts of electricity-related interactive exhibitions.

Stretching along Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a tribute to entertainment legends, with over 2,700 brass stars embedded in the sidewalks honoring actors, musicians, directors, and more. And a few steps away, the TCL Chinese Theatre is impossible to miss, with its dramatic, pagoda-style facade. The real magic, though, is in the forecourt, where generations of stars, from Marilyn Monroe to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, have left their handprints and signatures in cement. Since its first movie premiere in 1927, the theater has been at the center of Hollywood’s biggest moments, and even today, it’s one of the best places to catch a film in true Hollywood style.