A history-charged natural spectacle is the Sigmund Thun Gorge in Kaprun. Going down to a depth of 32 metres, the Kaprun Ache carved out its 320-metre-long path through the Sigmund Thun Gorge and created distinctive smooth surfaces and deep holes. Moss-covered wood and cragged rocks with symbols and dates, which wood-cutters carved into the stone many years ago, transport visitors back into an earlier time

The Palais des Nations, once home to the League of Nations, now serves as the UN’s European headquarters. You can take a guided tour (with advance booking) to see spaces like the Assembly Hall and the Council Chamber, where international negotiations still happen today. The building sits inside Ariana Park — a quiet, green space dotted with old cedars, roaming peacocks, and views down to the lake.

Chowmahalla Palace offers visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Nizams, the rulers of Hyderabad State during the 18th to mid-20th centuries. This stunning palace is renowned for its exquisite blend of Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani, and European architectural styles. Visitors are particularly impressed by the grandeur of the Khilwat Mubarak Hall, adorned with dazzling Belgian crystal chandeliers, and the meticulously manicured gardens that provide a serene escape from the bustling city. A unique highlight is the collection of vintage cars, including the legendary Rolls Royce.

Tucked into the bohemian Grottes district, Les Schtroumpfs — or the Smurfs buildings — are some of the quirkiest architecture in Geneva. Built in the early ’80s by three architects with a clear nod to Gaudí and comic book weirdness, the buildings look like something out of a fairytale: rounded shapes, bright colours, and almost no straight lines. Locals named them after the Smurfs because they genuinely look like something those little blue guys would live in. The complex houses around 750 families and includes a kindergarten, a dental clinic, and a few cafés, all surrounded by trees and playgrounds. It’s not a tourist hotspot, but definitely worth a quick wander if you’re nearby.