6. Opulent playhouseOpera House, Palais Garnier, Paris, FranceThere is nothing quite like watching a performance at this opulent venue. The Palais Garnier is arguably the most famous opera house in the world and for many it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to attend a ballet or opera here. Its remarkable Neo-Baroque structure was designed by French architect Charles Garnier and opened in 1875 with 1,900 seats.Arrive early, the architectural magnificence of this building—the Grand Foyer with its domed ceiling covered with mosaics, the grand marble staircase, the gilded statues and ornate foyers—will take time to savour. Image by Deagostini / Getty Images
8. Handcrafted heritageBazar Sábado, Mexico City, MexicoMexico is a country replete with indigenous groups, all of which have their own fashion and hand-crafting heritage. This is why handcrafted designs are found anywhere in the country, from street-side vendors to high-class boutiques. A weekly open-air market, the Bazar Sábado is one of the best spots to hunt for locally designed and unique pieces or perhaps even an antique or two. The city’s most innovative fashion designers, such as Carla Fernández, are known to sell their wares here. Image by Myung J. Chun / Getty Images
10. Between the coversNew York Public Library, USAThe only thing better than a holiday read is a holiday library. A grand hall lit by massive windows and imposing chandeliers, the Rose Main Reading Room stretches for approximately two city blocks. It’s a required stop for visitors, who can also peek at murals by New York artist Richard Haas in the Periodicals Room. Free one-hour tours of the library are available every day except Sunday. Image by Drew Angerer / Getty Images
12. Painting the townBogotá, Colombia The continuing reverberations of Colombia’s history inform Bogotá’s politically minded street art, while a recent event influences how it is produced. Following protests over the police's fatal shooting of a teenage artist in 2011, Bogotá largely decriminalised street art, allowing elaborate murals to flourish.Starting on Carrera 4 and Calle 12, where a vibrant indigenous-themed mural by Guache covers Holofónica music studio’s façade, explore the rambling, art-filled streets of La Candelaria before heading toward El Centro. Where Carrera 4 intersects with Calle 20, there are several themes distilled into one large mural. Created by the stencil collective Toxicómano, it features the faces of homeless people—a classic. Image by Pacific Press / Getty Images
13. Irish pubThe Long Hall, Dublin, IrelandOne of the oldest pubs in Dublin, this one on George’s Street began serving pints in 1766, just seven years after Arthur Guinness began brewing at St James’ Gate. Last year, The Long Hall celebrated 250 years of pulling pints. It’s a calm place, even on a Saturday night. Try it on a mid-week afternoon and you can lose hours to your own imagination. Décor-wise, think handcrafted wood carvings, bevelled glass and exquisite fittings. Unusually for a Victorian bar, it boasts plenty of mirrors, partly to create the illusion of a bigger space, but also to poke fun at the conservatism of Victorian-era values. Image by Education Images / UIG via Getty Images
14. The museum of great ideas The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, USA museum you cannot miss—if you love science and tech, that is. The Tech Museum of Innovation, in the heart of San Jose, California, has become a landmark for visitors seeking a glimpse of the most inventive place on Earth—Silicon Valley. Check out the ‘Virtual Test Zone’, where real-life science is demonstrated by using virtual technology. Get inside the mind of a painter, or explore a stage that demonstrates, using immersive media, how digital music works. The museum also has on display Silicon Valley’s spin on Body Worlds, the display of plastinated human bodies that have sparked curiosity and awe around the world. Image by Courtesy The Tech Museum
