Plentzia is a lively coastal town just 30 minutes from Bilbao. Its charming streets descend from a hill to a sandy beach, making it a popular weekend escape. The town offers a variety of bars and cafés serving fresh, locally caught seafood. You can also watch Basque pelota at the local frontón (or pelota court), a traditional game where players hit a hard ball against a wall with their hands or a wooden bat.

The Rainbow Bridge is more than a transport link; it's a defining feature of Tokyo Bay's skyline, connecting the mainland to the futuristic Odaiba district. Its 798-metre span includes dedicated pedestrian walkways on both its north and south sides. You can cross the bridge on foot in 20–30 minutes with uninterrupted views. The southern side provides the classic panorama of Odaiba's skyline, while the northern side frames Tokyo Tower against the city. While officially named the Tokyo Bay Connector Bridge, it earns its popular name from the colourful illumination of its white towers at night, creating a romantic silhouette. Note that the walkways close at 9pm in summer and 6pm in winter. For the best photographs, time your crossing for sunset when the city lights begin to sparkle.

Sitting on the east side of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China is one of the largest museums in the world, covering both Chinese history and art, from ancient artefacts to modern works. The exhibitions are vast, so you could easily spend a full day here, though most visitors focus on a few sections that interest them. English signage is available in key areas, but a guide or audio tour can help make sense of the collection.

The city's most staggering discovery is the brutalist National Library building, a structure so bizarre and seemingly out of place that many are left unsure as to what to make of it. It still is a perfectly functional library, so do drop in to get a good look at what's inside – you might just chance upon an English-language exhibition.