Manhattan is a hub for LGBT history. There’s no admission fee to the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in SoHo. Grab a drink at the Stonewall Inn’s bar, where the 1969 police raid took place, and sit on a bench at Christopher Park to reflect on George Segal’s Gay Liberation statues. While you are in Manhattan, you’ll want to check out the Lips Drag Queen Show Palace, Restaurant & Bar, considered one of the best drag performances in the city. Head across to Brooklyn for more LGBT sites. Stop by the Lesbian Herstory Archives, the world’s largest collection of materials by and about lesbians. Hit the happy hour at Ginger’s Bar, a popular lesbian pub in Brooklyn known for tasty drinks, pool, karaoke and drag queen bingo. In Queens, the Q Center provides essential services, community assistance, and advocacy programs for youth and adults. The Albatross Bar in Astoria features Sutton Lee Seymour, one of the most beloved drag queens around, along with karaoke and Brokeback Bingo, in a friendly, neighborhood bar ambiance.

Located in the Northeastern part of the city, the Muslim quarter will strike you as it is a lot busier than the adjacent Jewish one. Men smoke nargile inside the cafés while children play in the streets. The roads are lined with stands, and vendors loudly present their products. In the northern part, you will find the beautiful Damascus Gate. Built by Suleiman the Magnificent, it has triangular spires at the top, which gives it a resemblance to a crown.

Casa di Giulietta is a 14th-century Gothic house linked (mostly by myth) to Juliet from Shakespeare’s play. The name similarity between the real Dal Cappello family and the fictional Capulets kicked off the connection. Inside, there’s a small museum and a stone balcony—added long after Shakespeare's time—which draws a steady stream of visitors. The courtyard gets packed, but there’s something fun about the whole scene—even if you know it’s more story than history.

Just a stone's throw from Aphrodite's fabled birthplace, you'll find the Municipality of Geroskipou. No longer just a sleepy hamlet, this Pafos suburb has rich silk-making roots and even claims to have housed Aphrodite's sacred garden. A highlight here is the 11th-century Byzantine Church of Agia Paraskevi, located right in the main square. A short walk from the church takes you to the Zimboulaki house, now a charming Folk Art museum. For those keen on sweets, don't miss the Aphrodite Delights shop just across from the main square. This family-operated shop specializes in Loukoumi — soft, sugary cubes that make for excellent, wallet-friendly gifts.