St Jean Beach stretches nearly a mile along St Barts' northern coast. It is both the island's longest and most popular beach. Its crescent shape splits naturally at the Eden Rock peninsula, creating two distinct zones. The eastern side is favoured by families and snorkellers, who take advantage of the calm waters of the eponymous bay. The western stretch attracts windsurfers, zooming around carried by the open swells. It’s also where you’ll find Nikki Beach — St Barts’ hottest party spot. St Jean is located right next to the island’s airport, where small planes fly low overhead, adding a dynamic element to the scenery without disrupting the beach’s appeal. Luxury hotels, including the iconic Eden Rock, line the shore, providing upscale amenities just steps from the sand.

National Tile Museum is devoted to the quintessentially Portuguese tiles seen so frequently on buildings across the country. The collection is housed in a monastery, the varying architectural styles and decorations of which give a quick walkthrough the country's major movements. One of the highlights is an enormous tiled fresco which shows Lisbon as it was just before the big earthquake in 1755.

In the late 1800s, a passionate collector Fritz Mayer van den Bergh amassed an amazing art collection. He purchased paintings by Peter Brueghel for a pittance, and managed to beat major museums purchasing stunning medieval sculptures. Mayer van den Bergh had an eye for the best quality in almost every genre. After his death, his mother finally managed to make her son’s dream come true: she built a museum, which showcased his collection. Today, the museum stands largely uncharged: it is still a museum of one man... and his mother. Highly recommended in the Great smaller museums of Europe.