The Beitou area of Taipei is renowned for its high concentration of thermal spa centres. There are establishments to fit any budget, from the low-priced open-air Public Hot Spring (modest swimwear required) to private hotels and resorts uphill, all offering hot spring baths at various price points. One option most resorts offer is renting a private room with a large bath that can be filled with hot spring water. The Spring City Resort in Beitou is a great mid-range option. A session here includes access to about a dozen thermal pools of varying water temperature (from seemingly boiling-hot to rather chilly), plus robe, towel, and slipper rental. They even offer a free shuttle bus to the metro station. For a luxurious spa treatment, look into the offerings of Hotel Regent Taipei, for example. Wellspring Spa offers a wide range of relaxing treatments including massages, body wraps, skin polishing and facials. Take the elevator to the top floor and unwind at this urban sanctuary.

The River Rönne winds its way through the countryside from Lake Ringsjön to the sea at Ängelholm. This stretch is 85 kilometres long, and you can paddle your way along through almost tropical scenery, and past areas with rich cultural traditions. The peaceful journey is occasionally punctuated with rapids. There are plenty of things to see and do along the way. Some sections are ideal for families with children. You can choose to paddle for a few hours or a few days. One example is the trip from Gunnarödsbron/Stockamöllan to Rögnaröd/Djupadal, which takes around four hours. You can hire canoes and kayaks from various locations, and most hire companies also offer overnight accommodation. Stay in a converted stable or a 17th century cottage. Or why not get a whole bunch of friends together and hire a 20- or 12-man tent. If you want to spend the night in the great outdoors, there are places with shelters, toilets and firewood. For a particularly Swedish summer experience, combine a canoeing trip with hiring a sauna trailer. Take a hot sauna, followed by a dip in the river.

At first, one man’s dream of creating his own castle had many people shaking their heads. But the simple postman Ferdinand Cheval struggled for 33 years, stone by stone, to create a castle, which is now world famous for its mythical scenes.

Hallandsås, an 80-million-year-old parent rock horst, serves as a striking natural divide between Halland and Skåne. Stretching 40 km long and 5-10 km wide, its highest point, Högalteknall, rises 226 meters above sea level. The ridge's diverse nature, from beech and fir forests to bog and heather moorland, coupled with a wealth of cultural heritage, makes it a captivating destination for hiking and biking.