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.

This excellent museum in the colourful Bo Kaap district (formerly the city's Malay quarter) traces the history of Cape Town’s Islamic culture and heritage. The museum is furnished and decorated to depict the lifestyle of a 19th-century Muslim family.

The Reichstag, with its iconic glass dome, is home to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. In the 1990s, British architect Sir Norman Foster reimagined the building, blending its historical grandeur with a modern, spacious design. The accessible glass cupola offers stunning views of the city and a unique perspective on German politics. While entry to the cupola and roof terrace is free, advance booking is crucial because of the Reichstag's popularity. To learn more about the German political system and the daily life of the Parliament, you can book a 90-minute guided tour. Guided tours of the Reichstag Building are held in the weeks when Parliament is not sitting.