Gulangyu Island, just a quick five-minute ferry ride from Xiamen, is a living museum of 19th-century trade and culture. Once a hub for merchants and diplomats, it became home to grand mansions built by Chinese and foreign traders taking advantage of Xiamen’s open port status. The island’s car-free streets are a joy to wander, weaving through colonial-style villas, leafy gardens, and striking architecture that blends European and Chinese influences. Ferries can get busy, especially on weekends and holidays, so booking your ticket two to three days in advance is a smart move. Once you’re there, take your time exploring the quieter corners, enjoying the local seafood, or visiting attractions like the Piano Museum or Sunlight Rock for panoramic views.

Brunswick Heads, located about 20 minutes by road north of Byron Bay, is approximately what Byron used to be before the hippie invasion — a sleepy little village on a super-scenic inlet, with top boating and fishing, several bars and restaurants, and a great cafe culture. It is the perfect place for a peaceful getaway.

On Corso Manthoné lies the house where the controversial poet Gabriele D’Annunzio was born on 12 March 1863. It is now a museum with a collection of his letters and documents. A follower of Mussolini, D’Annunzio helped shape the dictator’s philosophy and wrote poetry inspired by the Abruzzo region.

List boasts the largest continuous shifting dune area in Europe, known as Die Wanderdünen (the shifting dune). With a height of 30 metres, these remarkable dunes shape List's landscape, migrating up to 10 metres annually. In order to protect this one-of-a-kind natural spectacle, it was placed under nature protection in 1923. While access to the dunes is strictly prohibited, guided tours to the foot of the dune offer a chance to explore the unique flora and fauna in the serene, untouched environment.