Straddling the Adriatic Sea where it plunges deepest into Europe, Rijeka boasts a rich maritime history. Croatia's third largest city and the heart of Primorsko-Goranska County, its charm lies in its hospitable spirit and diverse cultural heritage. As you amble along the Habsburg-era Korzo promenade, peek into the 19th-century National Theatre, graced with Klimt's artwork. Soak up the sweeping views of Kvarner Bay's islands from Trsat Castle. A cosmopolitan harbour of coexistence, welcome to Rijeka.

Nestled within the lush Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the city of Al Hofuf (also known as Al-Ahsa or Al-Hasa) sprawls over the palm-tree-covered lands inhabited since prehistoric times. Al Hofuf is packed with historic sites, architectural monuments, and natural wonders, from forts and palaces to the whimsical Qara Mountain Caves and natural springs.

A well preserved, colonnaded medieaval old town with its world renowned Golden Roof. Right next to this there's a brightly coloured, sparkling imperial palace, the Hofburg - baroque and monumental. A stone’s throw away is the Hofkirche, a court church containing larger-than-life bronze statues, the Schwarze Mander, standing guard around the (empty) tomb of Emperor Maximilian I., a truly breath-taking sight and unique in Europe. High above this superb architecture towers the Nordkette, a magnificent mountain range between 2300 and 2500 m.

Costa Maya is a rising star of the Yucatán peninsula that offers a quiet alternative to its 'big brothers' such as Chetumal or the Riviera Maya. However, despite its young age as a tourist resort, it boasts an abundance of historical and natural landmarks, and has a genuinely impressive beach bar scene, which makes it a worthy rival.

Shanghai is the shiniest gem in modern China’s jewel box. It’s a hip, contemporary city that charges into the future with all the energy of its famous Maglev train. At the same time, if you veer away from the sleek highways and glitzy shopping streets, you can still stumble upon a more traditional Shanghai, with all its character and flavour. In the tiny back streets, wet-market vendors peddle their wares — buckets of bright green vegetables, fish flapping in shallow plastic bowls, and heaps of crayfish crawling over each other.