Algorta’s Old Port is a small fishing quarter in Getxo, just 20 minutes from central Bilbao by metro. Whitewashed houses line the narrow streets down to the water. On summer evenings, locals gather outside bars for a beer or cider, often with green olives or fried calamari.

Just outside Bilbao, in Biscay, the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Bizkaia) — also called Puente Colgante or the Hanging Bridge — is the world’s oldest transporter bridge, completed in 1893. It connects Portugalete and Las Arenas (Getxo) across the Nervión River and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. You can cross either by the gondola, which carries vehicles and passengers in about 90 seconds, or on the pedestrian walkway, accessed via lifts in the towers. The bridge stands 45 m high and 160 m long, and its iron-and-steel design was a milestone of industrial-age engineering.

A place of rare natural beauty a mere 15km away from Cluj-Napoca, the Turda Gorge is excellent hiking grounds for explorers of any fitness level. Persevere all the way to the top (which shouldn't take more than an hour) and enjoy some incredible, sweeping views of the green surroundings. Sundays here tend to be the busiest.

This spectacular building, which is located in the village of Gastouri, was originally built in 1890 as a summer retreat for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi. It boasts several beautiful Greek sculptures and a wonderful garden, as well as spectacular terrace views.