Escape the crowds and discover another side of Mykonos by heading to the tranquil little village of Ano Mera, 8 km away from the capital. Its main attraction is the 16th-century Panagia Tourliani Monastery, which houses holy icons and paintings as well as a beautiful marble fountain and a bell tower. Here, you'll also find numerous hotels, cafés, and tavernas.

Pamukkale really is one of nature’s wonders. There are terraces with pools, and the water runs down from one level to the next in a natural spectacle created by white lime deposits. The name means ”The Cotton-wool Fortress.” Unfortunately, too many visitors have created a lot of wear and tear on the cliffs, and now most of the pools are closed to the public. There are daily excursions here, but you can also take the local bus. The travelling time is about 3.5 hours.

If you have never taken a Hammam, the Turkish bath, you have never really been clean. It's a real adventure to experience it in a traditional environment. There are separate baths for ladies and gentlemen, but tourists are often allowed to take a mixed bath together.

The complex of Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the most remarkable sights in southern Kyōto. The impressive complex was dedicated to a Shinto god (Shinto gods are known as 'kami') by the Hata family in the 8th century, and encompasses five shrines. Curiously, the deity the entire complex is dedicated to – Inari Ōkami – is one of the principle Shinto kami, whose circle of influence includes foxes, rice, sake, agriculture and industry, and even general success and prosperity. The spotlight here goes to the 5,000 of vermilion gates (known as Senbon torii), that lead up to the summit of 233m Mt. Inari-san. The Romon Gate at the shrine’s entrance was donated in 1589 by the samurai warlord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Stone foxes also play an important role here, as they are considered to be messengers of Inari.