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.

This unique gem — a 14 kilometers long stretch of sand that runs, almost uninterrupted, from Geraki at the southeast tip of the island to Laganas and beyond — is one of the last nesting grounds of the endangered loggerhead turtle. Parts of Laganas Bay and the beach have been designated as a National Marine Park to protect egg-laying females and hatching turtles. Although powered water sports are banned within its waters, Laganas is still the island’s biggest and noisiest resort, with dozens of pubs, bars and clubs.

This is one of the major political centres of the European Union, with the Council of Europe, the Palace of Human Rights and the European Parliament all clustered close to the Rhine. Visits are upon reservation only, but even a walk around those huge buildings is worth seeing.

Centennial Olympic Park was built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, but today, it’s a central gathering spot in downtown Atlanta. It’s a great place to take a break while exploring the city, with wide green spaces, walking paths, and the famous Fountain of Rings, where kids (and sometimes adults) cool off in the synchronized water jets. The park also hosts concerts and events throughout the year, so check the calendar if you’re in town. It’s also close to major attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, making it an easy stop while sightseeing.