Every weekend, the sweet little village of Usaquén on the city's edge hosts a flea market. So many beautiful things to decorate your house or to gift to friends back home: blankets, ponchos, pictures, jewellery, antique kitchen stuff, purses, personalised leather bags and famous Colombian mochilas — the list goes on and on. Cash is king. The flea market is a major attraction for tourists and locals. Numerous cafes and restaurants have sprung up in the area, serving traditional Colombian dishes as well as international cuisine.

La Marsa offers a refined coastal escape just north of Carthage, where the creatives of Tunis mingles with sunseekers along a lively corniche. The main beach draws families for summer swims, while off-season sees fishermen casting lines from the sand. What distinguishes this stretch is its evolving cultural scene: skateboarders carve concrete slopes by day as musicians strum under the palms, creating an organic performance space above the shore. The neighborhood’s architectural legacy reveals its bourgeois roots. Whitewashed villas with intricate mashrabiya screens stand guard along avenues lined with jacaranda trees. Recent years have brought a creative influx, with designers and musicians transforming old seaside residences into studios. While the western edges fade into industrial zones, the heart of La Marsa retains its aspirational charm, particularly around Avenue Habib Bourguiba where pavement cafés serve mint tea with Mediterranean views.

Construction on the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, and it ended up being one of the biggest building projects of the Middle Ages. The idea was to make room for the waves of pilgrims coming to see the shrine of the Three Wise Men—yes, those Three Wise Men. Their supposed remains are kept in a gold casket near the altar, and it’s still the cathedral’s most prized relic.

In the Medina of Tunis, every winding alley converges on Al-Zaytuna Mosque (literally the Mosque of the Olive). Founded in 734 on a former church site and rebuilt in the 9th century, it stands among the world’s oldest mosques. This cultural landmark is cherished by locals and visitors alike. The mosque’s courtyard is framed by over 200 columns repurposed from Roman Carthage, and its square Almohad-style minaret dominates the skyline. Though only Muslims may enter the prayer halls, you can admire the courtyard from Café Panorama’s terrace.