A favorite daytrip destination from Costa Maya, the Chacchoben Maya ruins are located nearby a city of the same name, only 50 minutes away from the cruise port. This fascinating landmark is estimated to have been inhabited since as early as 1000 BC, and after a fairly late discovery in the 1940s, it still contains several unexcavated areas. Visitors can pick from a range of tour operators to be guided through the site, and as a bonus can admire the remarkable flora of what is called the 'Region of the Lakes.'

The Central Textile Museum was established in 1960 and is housed in the amazing 19th-century White Factory. It contains a unique collection of textile tools and machinery, fabrics and clothing and the largest collection of tapestries in Europe.

Batu Ferringhi is Penang’s main resort area, featuring a long strip of hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops along the island's best beach. Most visitors end up staying here, as Batu Ferringhi offers a range of accommodation from cheap and cheerful guesthouses to five-star luxury hotels. The resort area also provides a wide variety of watersports, including water skiing, windsurfing, parasailing and scuba diving.

The Parthenon and the temple of Athena, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the major attraction of Athens. The Erechtheion displays the statues of the female Caryatids, though the original statues have been replaced by copies because of air pollution; the originals are in the new Museum. On the southern slopes of the Acropolis lies the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman theatre with room for as many as 5,000 spectators. It is used during the annual Athens Festival for world-class ballet and music performances. The Theatre of Dionysus lies beside Herodes Atticus, and almost all the tragedies and comedies of Ancient Greece were written for this theatre.