Take a 1-hour journey to Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, and step into his surreal masterpiece — the Dalí Theatre-Museum, designed by the artist himself. Constructed to replace an old theatre that burnt down during the Spanish Civil War, the building is a work of surrealist art, topped with giant eggs and crowned by a geodesic dome. Inside, it holds the world’s largest collection of Dalí’s works, from early impressionist pieces like Port Alguer (1924) to later marvels like Galatea of the Spheres (1952). Don’t miss the Mae West room, an upside-down bathtub fixed to the ceiling, or the glittering jewellery collection. The artist himself is buried in a crypt below the stage, adding a layer of solemnity to the whimsy. Book tickets online to avoid long queues, and allow at least half a day to fully absorb the labyrinthine galleries, optical illusions, and the sheer audacity of Dalí’s vision.

Plentzia is a lively coastal town just 30 minutes from Bilbao. Its charming streets descend from a hill to a sandy beach, making it a popular weekend escape. The town offers a variety of bars and cafés serving fresh, locally caught seafood. You can also watch Basque pelota at the local frontón (or pelota court), a traditional game where players hit a hard ball against a wall with their hands or a wooden bat.

Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site with over three million visitors a year, is the best place to see volcanic phenomena in Tenerife. You’ll be astounded by the colours and the wild force of this surreal landscape, overlooked by Spain’s highest peak at 3,718 metres. It is home to many local species of flora and fauna, such as the Teide violet or the Tenerife bugloss, whose bright colours stand in stark contrast to the thousands of tonnes of ochre running through this unique landscape.

Constructed in the Neo-Byzantine style between 1876 and 1883, when the country was a part of the Russian Empire, the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Riga is the largest Orthodox church in the city. It has undergone several transformations over the years, being used as a planetarium and a restaurant during the Soviet Era. However, it has since been fully restored as a church and now holds regular Orthodox services. It has also one of the biggest organs in Europe with 6,768 pipes.