Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow is an ideal destination for those with limited time to explore the city, offering free admission to its imposing premises in a leafy Victorian park bearing the same name. With 22 galleries spanning diverse themes, the museum caters to a wide range of interests and is also particularly child-friendly. Visitors can immerse themselves in natural history, art, local history and explore a vast array of artifacts from around the globe, with highlights that include works by Salvador Dalí and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The White Tower is the most iconic symbol of the city. The tower was constructed by the Ottomans sometime in the early 15th century and once guarded the eastern end of the city's sea walls. In the 19th century, this tower was used as a notorious prison. Nowadays, it is a welcoming museum of art and local history. The museum offers a rapid lesson in the history of the city. Ideally, you'll take in this well-dosed overview before continuing to the more specialised museums and archaeological sites. For best results, grab the free audio guide at the entrance. The last floor of the tower gives you a wonderful view of the city.

If you really want to dive into the Japanese culture, you can't miss out on getting to know local cuisine and culinary traditions that go back centuries. Classes focusing on making sushi are the most popular ones, but you should consider learning to make a proper bowl of umami-rich ramen, crunchy gyozas, or a variety of healthy side dishes.

This one-of-a-kind museum is set up in the former KGB headquarters where Soviet crimes were planned and committed over the course of fifty years. Here you can go see modern expositions acquainting their visitors with the loss of independence, repressions of Soviet authorities, and information about the genocide victims.