As the world capital of aeronautics and the birthplace of the renowned Airbus, Toulouse is a hub for aviation enthusiasts. For a really exceptional visit, head to the Lagardère site, 10 km from Toulouse, and learn everything there is to know about how a plane is built, how a plane functions, and how it is tested. Several tours are organised on different themes: discovery experience, panoramic visit, and green tour.

Altos de Chavon is, perhaps, a rather unlikely attraction for the Dominican Republic – it is a recreation of a 16th-century Mediterranean village (adjacent to the Casa de Campo resort), complete with dining, shopping and entertainment. There is an on-site Grecian-style amphitheater that plays host to major performances and concerts, and views over Rio Chavon from here are spectacular, too.

The embankment walls of the Danube Canal form a single, giant canvas. The area is open to graffiti artists who have turned the concrete walls into their very own art gallery in Vienna. From generic scribbles to political messages and intricate artworks: stroll along the banks and explore this tangible example of Viennese cultural life. For the most interesting works, walk down the track between Schwedenplatz and Schottenring.

Built in the mid-18th century for the Qing emperors as a retreat from the heat of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is a vast imperial garden centred on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, both man-made. The lake was modelled on Hangzhou’s West Lake, with islands, bridges, and long covered walkways. Scattered around are pavilions, temples, and a recreated riverside street designed to look like a traditional market town. Later restored under Empress Dowager Cixi, it became her favoured residence. Today, it’s worth visiting not just for the palaces themselves, but for the long lakeside walks, shaded courtyards, and the sense of space that feels very different from central Beijing.