High above the city on Cidneo Hill, the castle was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. There are a number of museums up here, and the views over the city and the Brescia plain are great – well worth the effort of the climb up here!

AlMaqta'a Fort is a watchtower built over 200 years ago to protect the sea crossing from the mainland to Abu Dhabi. Constructed in traditional style with soft sand-coloured stone and ornately carved wooden features, it remains almost intact and serves as an important testament to the city's past. The building functions as a small museum displaying artefacts from the 1950s to the 1970s, while also presenting the history of the nearby Maqtaa Bridge. It offers a brief but interesting insight into the area’s past and the development of one of Abu Dhabi’s earliest crossings.

As Kyōto's most iconic landmark, Kinkaku-Ji (literally the "Temple of the Golden Pavillion"), is undoubtedly astonishing. Built in 1397, the complex was the retirement villa of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Soon after his death in 1408, the structure was converted into a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect by his son. Engulfed in flames several times throughout the ages, the current complex was rebuilt true to the original in 1955 (except for the top two floors that were both covered in gold leaf). Thousands of sightseers pack the site to glance at the breathtaking Gold Temple, its reflection shimmering in the serene pond in a picturesque setting. It's best to go early in the morning or just before closing to avoid queuing in notoriously slow-moving lines.

In the outskirts of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, about a 2-hour drive from Abu Dhabi city centre, lies the Jebel Hafeet Mountain, right on the border shared by the UAE and Oman. Attractions are ample at the foot of the mountain, including luxury hotels with hot springs and refreshing pools, a zoo containing 4,000 animals, and caves open for exploration. An unexpected highlight is the namesake road leading here, voted 'best road on the planet' by several magazines based on its driver-friendliness and drama of the surrounding scenery.