Chowmahalla Palace offers visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Nizams, the rulers of Hyderabad State during the 18th to mid-20th centuries. This stunning palace is renowned for its exquisite blend of Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani, and European architectural styles. Visitors are particularly impressed by the grandeur of the Khilwat Mubarak Hall, adorned with dazzling Belgian crystal chandeliers, and the meticulously manicured gardens that provide a serene escape from the bustling city. A unique highlight is the collection of vintage cars, including the legendary Rolls Royce.

Housed in a historic building, The Cinema Museum holds Spain’s first and most significant collection of cinematic history, thanks to the visionary Tomàs Mallol. Acquired by the city in 1994, his private collection forms the core of this public museum. It traces over 400 years of visual storytelling through 25,000 artefacts — from magic lanterns and zoetropes to early cameras and projectors — making it one of Europe’s most comprehensive archives on pre-cinema and early film. Beyond the permanent exhibition, the museum hosts temporary shows, educational workshops, and a specialised library. While some displays are labelled primarily in Catalan and Spanish, introductory materials are available in English, French and German.

Stop at Miradouro das Flores and take in how much of Porto Santo fits into a single view. On one side, Ilhéu da Cal sits offshore, its pale cliffs rising around 150 metres straight out of the sea, a reminder of the island’s mining past and now protected and off-limits to visitors. Turn the other way and the view opens right up, with Porto Santo’s peaks, the northeast coast, and the full sweep of the 9 km beach laid out in front of you — an easy stop that delivers more than you expect.