One of the most famous attractions in North East England is the majestic 20-metre tall Angel of the North. The statue was created by Antony Gormley from 200 tons of steel and is seen by millions of people every year. The monument is located in the south of the city.

Anyone entering Szczecin by bridges over the Oder River can see the towering red-brick gothic Cathedral and an elegant, pale silhouette of a Renaissance castle with green towers, which used to be the seat of the dukes of the Griffins dynasty who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania. The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle has five wings and two courtyards. Acting as a cultural institution it organizes an array of cultural events: concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, conferences and meetings to popularize science, as well as to spread knowledge about the history of West Pomerania. The largest wing houses an Opera. In the wing that housed a mint in the olden days one can find today Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. There is a panoramic terrace on the rooftop of the northern wing from where splendid views can be appreciated. The wing’s basement houses a Vault with sarcophaguses of six princes. The Duke Boguslaw X hall, which used to be a princely chapel, is now a concert hall with a polychromatic ceiling decorated in Renaissance style. A 17th century astronomical clock is the Castle’s special tourist attraction. Also a room dedicated to Eilhard Lubinus and the Witches’ Cell are definitely worth a visit.

The onyx black sand of Reynisfjara is formed from volcanic activity in Iceland: when lava collides with the ocean, it rapidly cools and shatters into small fragments of basalt. With its enormous basalt stacks (features in Game of Thrones and once believed to be petrified trolls), roaring Atlantic waves and stunning vistas, Reynisfjara is widely considered to be the most beautiful example of Iceland’s black sand beaches. The sea stacks along the shore are home to thousands of nesting seabirds like puffins, fulmars and guillemots — a must-see for birdwatchers. A visit to Reynisfjara is included in most tours of southern Iceland. Driving here is a good option, too, since it's only about 180 km from Reykjavík.

Just off Tomb of the Kings Road in Pafos lies an extensive necropolis dating to 300 BC — the final resting place for Pafos’s elite. Officials and aristocrats were buried in rock-carved tombs alongside jewellery and personal artefacts, though most valuables had been looted centuries ago. What remains is a striking atmosphere of stillness and mystery. The site features 100 tombs hewn from solid rock, some with frescoed walls and towering Doric columns. For the best-preserved examples, head to the atrium area.