In the middle of the Øresund strait, right between Sweden and Denmark, lies the idyllic island of Ven. The astronomer Tycho Brahe was gifted the whole island by King Fredrik II after he discovered a new star in the Cassiopeia constellation. Here he constructed one of the most interesting buildings of the time: the Uraniborg castle, a subterranean observatory called Stjerneborg and a renaissance garden. The New Church of Ven has now been turned into a museum, the garden has been renovated, and in the observatory you can watch a light and sound show. The light in Ven is said to have a unique quality, which has attracted many an artist and ceramist to the island. Take a tour among the studios and workshops, and meet with sculptors and silversmiths along the way. Ven is a small island, and the best way to get around is by bike, which you can easily rent when you get off the ferry.

This excavation rivals the famous sites of Pompeii. Once home to around 400,000 residents, ancient Ephesus was built around the temple of Artemis — another marvel among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ruins we see today primarily hail from the Roman era. The remnants of the Temple of Artemis stand outside the main ruin area, while the hill above is graced with the cathedral of Saint John, said to be the final resting place of the evangelist. Legend holds that Saint John lived in Ephesus alongside the Virgin Mary.

Get a glimpse into royal life in modern Egypt at the Manial Palace, built by Prince Mohamed Ali in the early 1900s. The architecture is a bold mix — Islamic, Ottoman, Persian, even Moroccan and Andalusian — with every room showing off intricate woodwork, tiles, and stained glass. The complex includes a mosque, hunting museum, throne hall, and beautifully kept gardens.