The Union Station was completed in 1900 and functioned as a passenger terminal until 1979. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the landmark building experienced years of neglect until it was converted into an opulent hotel, detailed with wrought iron and Italian marble. Its lobby features a barrel-vaulted, 65-feet-high ceiling enclosed by stained glass. The station looks spectacular from the outside. If you're not staying at the hotel, you can still enjoy the interior while having drinks or dinner at Ergo restaurant, located inside this historic landmark. Check the hotel's facebook page for upcoming events like bartending competitions and live music nights.

Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi, was built around the 1790s as the city's first permanent structure, initially serving as a watchtower to oversee coastal trade routes and protect the growing settlement. Over the centuries, it has been the home of the ruling family, the seat of government, a consultative council, and a national archive. Today, it stands as a living memorial and narrator of Abu Dhabi's history. The main entrance is adorned with colourful Islamic-style tiles, and inside, centuries-old mashrabiya screens and carved wooden doors showcase the enduring architectural beauty.

Founded in the 1860s by an American missionary, the lush, sprawling campus of the prestigious American University of Beirut is a pleasure to stroll around. It offers something of a journey into the city's pre-war days. There is an excellent archaeological museum on-site, along with several art galleries, and many nonchalant feline residents, cats, who famously inhabit the premises.