On the western side of the capital, stretching over seven of districts, the Vienna Woods are considered the green lung of Vienna. Easily reached with public transportation and perfect for a daytime excursion, the area offers great hiking trails, old castles and monasteries, a rich fauna and plenty of picturesque vineyard villages. Whether you decide to explore the area with one of the guided tours or by yourself, make sure not to miss the exquisite regional gastronomy and the overwhelming views over the city and the last foothills of the Alps.

Maçka Democracy Park is about 10 minutes away from Taksim square and has paths for jogging, walking and dog walking. The northern part of the park is popular with young people who come there to sit around on the lawn, talk with friends over a couple of drinks and escape the heat of the city blocks. The park's location close to a university campus means it's always full of hip students. Don't miss the opportunity to fly high above the park in a cute 2-cabin cable car. You'll need your public transit card for that.

By crossing the city bridges over the Onyar River, you can see the pastel-coloured houses that line the bank on the site of the old city walls. Pont de Ferro, an iron bridge built by Gustave Eiffel, offers beautiful views of the city's trademark facade, the quintessential Girona experience.

The Palacio Real de Madrid — the official residence of the Spanish royal family in the city — is Europe's largest royal palace, boasting a whopping surface area of 135,000 square meters and a staggering 3,418 rooms. This architectural marvel is not only visually stunning, but also features spectacular outdoor gardens and exquisite frescoes, furnishings, and paintings within its walls. Originally constructed in 1764 as a replacement for the Alcázar castle, which had been destroyed by fire three decades earlier, this magnificent edifice is a must-see attraction for visitors to Madrid. Nearly the entire palace is open to the public, including the Armoury and Pharmacy.