Grand Cul-de-Sac offers a shallow, protected lagoon with crystal-clear turquoise waters, ideal for families and watersports enthusiasts. The bay's knee-deep waters extend nearly to the reef, creating a safe environment for swimming and snorkelling, with frequent sea turtle sightings near Le Sereno Hotel. Three luxury hotels — Rosewood Le Guanahani, Le Sereno, and Le Barthélemy — line the shore, with waterfront dining and chaise lounge rentals. Two watersports operators offer equipment for windsurfing, kiteboarding and jet skiing.

Take a stroll along the Nervión River starting at Palacio Euskalduna Jauregia, Bilbao’s modern conference and concert centre. The riverside path is lined with sculptures and impressive contemporary buildings. You’ll pass the Guggenheim Museum and cross the Zubizuri Footbridge, which connects the museum with the Ayuntamiento. It’s an easy, scenic walk that blends art, architecture, and city life in one route.

Dubrovnik’s baroque Assumption of the Virgin Mary Cathedral was built in the 18th century over the earlier Romanesque Cathedral dating to the 12th century, which was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1667. The Treasury inside the cathedral houses 132 relics of saints dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries. The priceless head, arms and leg relics of St Blaise that were crafted by Dubrovnik goldsmiths date between the 11th and 12th centuries.

Flamands Beach stretches across St Barts’ northwestern coast as the island’s widest crescent of sand, where gentle slopes meet the Caribbean’s playful surf. Unlike more secluded shores, this beach balances public access (via a signed coastal road pathway) with pockets of exclusivity — think billionaire-owned villas and hotels renting loungers at the eastern end. The north-facing bay delivers consistent waves for bodyboarding, framed by hilly headlands and views of offshore islets like Île Chevreau. Come hungry: La Langouste’s grilled lobster and Chez Roland’s Creole dishes are both a short stroll away. Just don’t expect shade — the beach’s pearly expanse promises uninterrupted sunshine, with the occasional celebrity sighting as a bonus.