Learn about the regional history of Bordeaux from the Iron Age through to the 21st century at the Musée d'Aquitaine.

Take a leisurely stroll around the Jardin Public, the public gardens of Bordeaux. The park was designed for locals as a green getaway from the inner city. Why not pack a picnic, hire a bike and make a day of it?

Join one of the Mimo food tours of San Sebastián for expert insight into the best pintxos spots, wine bars, and food shops. You can also join a cooking class to learn how to recreate some Basque dishes in your own kitchen.

Walk or cycle a section of the famous Camino de Santiago, the well-trodden path followed by pilgrims for over 1000 years. San Sebastián is near the start of the Camino del Norte route, a 25km walk from Irún and 22km from Zarautz.

Visit San Sebastian's sprawling Playa de la Concha beach. 

Originally an abattoir, the eye-catching building of Matadero Madrid now houses the city's most vibrant cultural centre. It hosts exhibitions, immersive experiences, art installations and much more – just the thing if you want to experience the city's alternative side. Visit at the weekend to catch the artisan food market.

Based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, the Museo del Prado is Spain's foremost national art museum, which displays European art from the 12th to the early 20th centuries. Here you'll find a sizeable collection of works by Spanish luminaries like Velásquez and Goya, as well as Titian, Ruebens, El Greco and Bosch – among a great many others.

Visit the famous Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and discover centuries' worth of exquisite paintings, furniture and armour.

This large expanse of endless white sand is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and it's widely considered one of the best beaches in the Algarve. You can only get here by boat and there are also pine forests and sand dunes to explore along with plenty of native wildlife to spot.

Explore Faro's walled Old Town with cobbled streets and stunning sea views. Don't miss the Bishop’s Palace and the 13th-century cathedral which, after climbing to the top of the tower, has the best bird’s-eye-view of the city.

Take a boat tour of Algarve's coastline and its pristine sandbar islands. Explore Ria Formosa National Park, a natural lagoon on the coast surrounded by protective barrier islands. Look out for resident birds like the white stork, little egret and spoonbill.

Explore the world's largest wooden structure, the Metropol Parasol, via its labyrinthine walkways and stunning views over the city. Just one glance at its undulating canopy will explain its local nickname – Las Setas de Sevilla, or 'The Mushrooms of Seville'.

One of Spain’s largest fine art museums, the Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla boasts an extensive collection including works by Velázquez, Murillo and El Greco.

Visit the UNESCO-listed Alcázar palace, where you'll find the Ambassadors’ Hall and the Patio of the Maidens. Book onto a tour to learn about this fascinating building in more depth.

Explore the diminutive but diverse collection of erotica from across history at Barcelona's Museu de l'Erotica. From pictures of lithe Kama Sutra bodies to the voluptuousness of Japanese Shunga drawings, this museum opens a door into the history of desire and sexual expression.

There are a number of beaches in and within easy reach of the city. Barceloneta is the closest to the city centre and both the most famous and most popular. There's plenty of beach volleyball and ping pong on offer, as well as places to find fresh seafood. Head to Nova Icaria if you're after something a little more sedate, with the same range of beach activities on offer on a smaller scale. For something altogether quieter, make your way north to Platja d'Ocata, a pristine, tranquil stretch of beautiful golden sand.

Overlooking Barcelona, Montjüic is a hilltop vantage point a world away from the labyrinthine streets of the city below. Explore the castle and botanic gardens, and see the grand Olympic Stadium originally built for the 1929 Olympics and refurbished for the 1992 Games.

Spend an afternoon relaxing by a fountain on the public chairs in one of Paris' many parks – the Jardin du Luxembourg is particularly peaceful.

Take a trip out to the Jardin Albert Kahn and immerse yourself in orchards, rose gardens and forests that combine French, Japanese and English garden design. They were originally created by banker Albert Kahn before the Wall Street Crash, after which he lost his bank and his fortunes – including this garden.

Wander through Montmartre and make the climb up to the famous Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Be sure to linger over the spectacular view at the top; at sunset, you'll get the best light as the sun dips below the city skyline.