Offering a mix of beautiful white sandy beaches, superb diving and snorkelling waters, waterfalls and heritage sites, sports and top notch holiday resorts, Samal Island is a tourist hotspot. Motorcycles (called habal-habal) are a is Visitors can stay or visit for the day.

Compact rural Sakaka is cut through by its main street which is hard to miss. The street is lined with shops and government offices; the authentic Al-Nusl Hotel is also located here. In the town's north, the ancient fort of Qasr Za'abel is perched atop a scenic cliff; east from here is Jabal Burnus rock with carvings dating back to the 6th century BC.

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.

The pink sandstone cathedral is a marvel both outside and inside. It houses an old astronomical clock and a top platform to gaze at the whole city.