Built in 1782, the Grand Palace was the official home of the Thai king for over 150 years. The complex is packed with ornate buildings, gilded spires, and detailed murals — it’s easy to spend a few hours wandering. The highlight is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses Thailand’s most sacred Buddha statue. Arrive early to beat the crowds and heat, and dress respectfully: long trousers and covered shoulders are required, or you won’t get in.

About 80 km north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya was once the capital of Siam. Today, the Historical Park is full of temple ruins, giant Buddha statues, and prang (reliquary towers). Wat Mahathat is famous for the Buddha head caught in tree roots, and Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the royal temple of the old city. Most travellers do a day trip from Bangkok by train, bus, or river cruise, though staying overnight gives you a quieter look at the ruins.

The Royal Palace was built between 1924 and 1929, on orders by King Alexander I, as the official royal residence. It is designed in the Serbian-Byzantine style, surrounded by pergolas, park terraces, pools, a pavilion, and a concert terrace. Located on the ridge of a hill, it provides a magnificent view of Dedinje, the Košutnjak forest, Topčider, and Avala. Within the same complex, a residence for sons of King Alexander I had been built and named the White Palace. Its salons are arranged in the styles of Louis XV and Louis XVI, and it contains a valuable art collection including notable artworks by Rembrandt, Fromentin, Vouet, Poussin, Bourdou, Jakšić, Meštrović and many others. It also contains the Royal Library that once housed around 35,000 books and the Ceremonial Dining Hall set up in the Chippendale style. The palace complex also contains the Royal Family Church modelled after the Church of the Monastery of St Andrew on Treska in Macedonia. Palaces are open for visits on weekends, during the tourist season, as it is a home of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and his family.

Ottenby, on the very south of the island of Öland, is one of the top areas for birding in Sweden — 377 species have been observed here. A visit to Öland offers fantastic opportunities for bird studies all the year round. Ottenby Bird Observatory was founded in 1946 and has ever since performed studies on migrating birds. Around 20,000 birds are ringed each year. Also, the bird observatory is involved in bird migration research projects on the island of Capri, Italy, and in Nigeria.