The Duke’s Diwan is a time capsule of early 20th-century Amman, hidden in plain sight on the busy King Faisal Street. Built in 1924 as the city’s first post office, this Ottoman-era stone house later became the Haifa Hotel before heritage activist Mamdouh Bisharat ("The Duke of Mukheibeh") rescued it from demolition in 2001. Today, its creaking wooden floors lead through rooms frozen in Jordan’s past, complete with antique typewriters, sepia photos of camel caravans on dusty roads, and a balcony overlooking downtown’s metamorphosis. More than a museum, it’s a living diwan (gathering space): poets hold readings at the carved oak table, while artists riff under the Arabian archways. Admission is free, and the duke himself sometimes holds court, spinning tales of old Amman over cardamom coffee. Don’t miss the upstairs gallery, where rotating exhibits spotlight Jordan’s underground creatives.

Sitting inside the National Theatre, Alma de Café lets you enjoy your meal surrounded by frescoes and chandeliers, a marble checkerboard floor and pale green walls decorated with paintings and portraits. Their signature Café 7 Provincias is made with grains coming from different provinces of Costa Rica, and can be coupled with snacks like quiche and crepes.

Travelling eastward from Marmaris takes you along the famous Lycian coast. Near the Dalyan River, about 80 kilometres east of Marmaris, are the spectacular rock tombs of Kaunos, and untamed scenery. The Loggerhead turtle comes here to lay its eggs on the beaches. The river’s mud is used for therapeutic clay packing, which is regarded as very health-giving. You can come here on excursion bus or dolmus taxi.

Nantes is a cyclist’s paradise, sitting at the crossroads of two major bike routes—La Vélodyssée (EuroVelo 1) and La Loire à Vélo (EuroVelo 6). With over 794 km of bike paths, more than 4,500 bike parking spots, and 21,000 racks scattered around the city, getting around on two wheels is both easy and enjoyable here.