According to the Ancient Greeks, the god Hephaestus used Isolo Vulcano as sort of his own private blacksmith shop. Here you can clamber up volcanoes like Scalata al Cratere and rejuvenate in the warm and gooey sulfur mud baths of Laghetto di Fanghi. Kayaking is a popular way to take in the beauty of Vulcano’s grottoes and coastlines.

Though Salina’s rocky beaches nod to its volcanic composition, today the island is as tranquil as can be. Think olive farms, think caper bushes, think storybook trees heavy with plump figs and citrus fruits. Salina is a place for your taste buds to swoon over nature’s sweetest and saltiest bounties. Cap each meal with a sip of the islands signature Malvasia dessert wine. When your belly needs a break, explore Salina’s stone lanes, pebble beaches, and the twin volcanos, dormant for 13,000 years.

Perhaps you're in town simply to catch a ferry to Sicily. If you can, though, try to take a later boat so you can explore Reggio di Calabria. The Lungomare road is a spectacular seaside walk. And the Bronzi di Riace, ancient Greek bronze statues discovered in the early 1970s, are worth seeking out at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia.

Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to this prized piece of land. Today, you can experience those influences firsthand by exploring Istanbul’s mahalles (neighbourhoods). From the holy sites of Sultanahmet and the 19th-century European elegance of Beyoğlu to the high fashion of Nişantaşı, the vibrant café society of Kadıköy and the football-loving streets of Beşiktaş, it’s easy to see why travellers say that Istanbul isn’t just one city, but many cities within one.

The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sight-seer—everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighbourhood and go deep. You’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars, great delis, quirky shops… exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an incredibly rewarding experience for a traveller.