Set inside The Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest in the world, with a 10-million-litre tank that houses more than 140 species of marine life, including the planet’s biggest collection of sand tiger sharks. A stroll through the 48-metre walk-through tunnel gives you a front-row seat as sharks and rays glide overhead, while the underwater zoo upstairs introduces visitors to everything from otters to penguins.

Piazza Vittorio is the main square of the city, and the biggest in Europe completely surrounded by arcades. It is located at the end of Via Po, overlooking the river and the bizarre church Gran Madre. Under its arches, the square houses restaurants, cafés and bars of all sorts, and by night it turns into one of the centres of Turin's movida. Don't miss a visit here by night, even just to admire its splendour enhanced by lights and shadows on the facades surrounding the square.

Dubai may be famous for the glitz and glamour of its sky-high towers, but the heart of the city is the creek. This saltwater estuary was where the Bani Yas tribe first settled, and its waters supported the city’s early economy through pearl diving and fishing. Today, the area blends history with culture: you’ll find museums, heritage retail spaces, and the winding alleyways of the gold, spice, and textile souks. A ride on a traditional abra across the water is a must, offering a simple yet memorable way to see the creek from the water.

Often voted the world’s most luxurious hotel, the Burj Al Arab rises 321 metres above the Arabian Gulf, its sail-shaped silhouette perched on a private island just offshore. Beyond its grand design, it’s famous for its helipad—scene of jaw-dropping stunts from tennis matches to F1 doughnuts. For the first time, the hotel has opened up with a butler-guided, immersive tour, giving visitors a rare peek inside its gilded interiors and behind-the-scenes tales of its extravagant history.