Mount Thawr holds profound significance in Islam as the site of the Cave of Thawr (also Sawr, Thour or Thur), where the Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr sought refuge for three days during their migration to Medina. Located approximately eight kilometres from Mecca, the mountain rises 750 metres. While the cave itself is the destination, reaching it requires a steep and strenuous climb. For pilgrims, the arduous ascent is a powerful act of devotion, undertaken to visit a place where a pivotal event in Islamic history, marked by divine protection, unfolded.

The performance of the Orchestre d'Auvergne is always a breathtaking experience. If you are in Clermont-Ferrand, don't miss out on a chance to enjoy pleasant melodies masterly played by talented musicians.

Enclosed within a protective wall reaching up to 20 metres in width, the Ciudad Amurallada (or Walled City) is Cartagena's old beating heart. Packed with well-preserved colonial buildings, it's a pleasure to stroll through; its streets of colourful low-rise merchant homes marked by iconic balconies are now mostly walked by either tourists or students who attend classes at the University of Cartagena during the day and linger for meals and nightlife after school is out. Cafes in Plaza Aduana and Plaza Santo Domingo teem with patrons, forging an incredibly jovial atmosphere; the districts of San Diego and El Centro are two not to be missed. There is plenty of food and shopping to be had, with a mixed bag of world-class restaurants and street food hawkers and the incredibly photogenic palenqueras — women dressed in vibrantly coloured clothing selling fruit in the streets — images of whom have become emblematic of Colombia as a travel destination.

Visible from almost everywhere in Cartagena, the Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa all the way up the 150-metre hill known as Mount Popa. The hill got its name for resembling a poop deck of a ship. After four centuries of varied history, the convent itself is now open as a religious museum. From the top Mount Popa you’ll get the best panoramic views of Cartagena and its beaches. The fastest and least stressful way up the hill is with a taxi (be sure to haggle on the price). Important tip: if you take a taxi or a car service to this location, pay them a few pesos to wait for you to drive you back. The taxis on top are all already "reserved" and Uber drivers are not eager to drive all the way to the top to pick you up.