While the University of Bucharest Square saw some of the darkest days of Ceausescu’s regime, events at the Revolution Square heralded the beginning of a new age. Close by is the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum, the Romanian Athenaeum and the Athenee Palace Hotel.

Las Catalinas is a new beach town developed in 2006 along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Its purpose is to create a way of life that is healthy, sustainable, fulfilling and fun. In practical terms, it means that Las Catalinas was founded based on the principles of New Urbanism — a compact, car-free and fully walkable town within easy reach of the beach. A maze of small shaded streets connects houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels and inns, pedestrian streets, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities — all surrounded by a lush rainforest. On the other side is the Pacific Ocean, where you'll find two of the finest beaches in all of Costa Rica with great swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, boogie boarding, and snorkelling. Don't miss out on the opportunity to go diving next to the Las Catalinas islands!

Once a prayer hall, the Ribat Museum showcases a varied collection of traditional fabrics and objects such as coins, jewellery and pottery that will transport visitors back to a time when Islamic art was highly coveted the world over. It also displays an astrolabe (a device which measures the distance between stars) dating all the way back to the year 927, right at the time when pivotal discoveries in astronomy and mathematics were taking place. The museum is accessible from the south wing of the Ribat.

Travel back in time and board Brunel’s ss Great Britain. Brunel’s engineering masterpiece was the world’s first great ocean going liner and has been lovingly restored to her former Victorian glory. Check the website for upcoming special events, like discovery talks and storytellings.