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While all of the beaches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are technically public, some of the best ones are accessible only by sea. If you’re lucky enough to be cruising around the Grenadines, be sure to stop for a swim at the beautiful, remote Mahaut Bay Beach on the northern tip of Canouan. You won’t find any restrooms or facilities here but you’ll likely have the beach all to yourself.

A mile-long strip of soft white sand frames Friendship Bay on Bequia’s southern coast. The water here is consistently calm, making it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. You’ll likely have much of the beach to yourself—except for, perhaps, the area in front of the Bequia Beach Hotel, which welcomes non-guests to its lively beach bar.

When La Soufrière erupted in 1902, lava flowed down to the sea and created a five-mile-long moonscape on the volcano’s east slope. Today, if you visit during a tropical rain shower, you’ll see the riverbed transform almost immediately from a mere trickle to a gushing stream—and, because of its porous lava base, dry up just as quickly.

On the leeward side of Union Island, remote Chatham Bay Beach—one of a dozen on the island—is a favorite anchorage for boaters, a peaceful spot for sunbathers, and a great location for snorkelers. If you’re coming by land, there’s a trail that leads right down to the beach. There’s also a bar and a couple nearby restaurants should you get hungry from all that relaxing.

Deep in the wilderness about an hour’s drive north of Kingstown, Dark View Falls cascade off a cliff and into a pair of natural pools, where everyone gathers to swim in the crisp, clear water. The hike to the falls takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, but involves crossing a jungle-style bamboo bridge across the Richmond River. After passing through a clearing in a picturesque bamboo grove, you’ll arrive at the first fall, where you’ll find a gazebo, changing room, picnic area, and viewing platform for enjoying the beautiful scenery. Another short, more difficult walk will take you up to the second fall, directly above the first.

You’ll likely do your sunbathing and swimming on the white-sand beaches of the Grenadines, but St. Vincent’s black-sand beaches are also quite stunning. In Biabou, for example, along the windward coast south of Georgetown, you can stare for hours at frothy ocean waves crashing onto the volcanic black sand. With luck, you’ll also catch a rainbow.

Locals consider La Soufrière—St. Vincent’s massive active volcano that last erupted in 1979—the “queen of climbs.” Approachable from either the leeward or windward coast, the hike to the 4,000-foot summit is a serious, all-day excursion. You’ll need stamina and sturdy shoes—and a knowledgeable guide from the National Parks Authority—to safely reach the top, but once there you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and sea. Keep your eyes peeled for a rare sighting of the St. Vincent parrot on the way back down.

If you were to picture the perfect Caribbean beach, it would probably look something like Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau. Here, clear, turquoise waters lap at 2.5 miles of sparkling white sand, while palm trees, seagrape plants, and flowering bushes provide shady spots for lounging. At one end, you can walk the few yards of land that separate the Caribbean and Atlantic sides of the island. The only catch is that you’ll need a boat to reach the beach, so rent your own or book a day sail to Mayreau.

Mustique has nine magnificent beaches, but Macaroni Beach—an isolated strip on the eastern side of the island—is touted as one of the best in the world. Access is limited to on-island residents and guests, however, as Mustique is virtually private. If you can get here, look forward to a blissfully quiet stretch of sparkling white sand, bordered by lush greenery and bright-blue water.

Opened in November 2017, Hotel Sanders sits on a quiet side street in Copenhagen’s historic center—a short walk from major attractions like Nyhavn and Amalienborg Palace but seemingly far from the crowds. A hotspot for the city’s cultural cognoscenti in the 1970s and 80s, the property actually consists of two townhouses, which were fused together to create one meticulously designed hotel. Owner and renowned Danish ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin, along with London studio Lind + Almond, is to thank for the stylish space, much of which was inspired by Kølpin’s career and travels. Each of the 54 rooms are uniquely designed—single coupé rooms recall the bygone era of luxury train cabins, while Sanders bedrooms feature king beds, plush lounge chairs, and spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers. For the utmost in privacy, book one of the generously sized Sanders apartments, which include open fireplaces and separate lounge seating.

The hotel’s public spaces are similarly chic, combining Parisian sophistication, English eccentricity, and sensible Danish design. Cane chairs and striped awnings line the entryway, hinting at the casually elegant lobby inside, where an open fireplace shares space with velvet armchairs and brimming bookshelves. Every morning, guests gather in the Sanders Kitchen for a breakfast menu packed with fresh produce, then meet again later in the courtyard for drinks in the open air. Also on site is a rooftop terrace with charming views of Copenhagen’s tiled roofs, and TATA, an intimate cocktail bar serving classic drinks in a vintage-inspired setting. Couple the design with friendly, personable service and you’ve got one of Copenhagen’s loveliest stays.

A five-star property in an old transformer station, Hotel Herman K brings industrial-chic style to the heart of Copenhagen. Much of the building’s raw, unpolished architecture has been preserved, lending the hotel an edgy vibe. A façade of dark bronze slats and large glass doors leads to the lobby, where a custom-designed artwork by Pio Diaz hangs from 40-foot ceilings. Down moody, dimly lit hallways, each of the 31 rooms and suites hides behind a black curtain, which is pulled aside for the duration of your stay. Inside, sleek furniture, soft carpets, and concrete walls contrast with white marble bathrooms, creating an altogether futuristic feeling. In fact, guests can even control the lights and sound from bed via panels in the headboard or steam their home media directly to the TV and speakers. If you need a break from all the technology, many rooms also include private balconies or terraces.

Herman K comes courtesy of Brøchner Hotels (Denmark’s leading boutique hotel chain) and features many of the company’s signature amenities, including a healthy, organic breakfast and a “night cap hour” with complimentary drinks. Should guests want something more substantial, Herman K is also home to Roxie, a three-story restaurant from the team behind two-Michelin-starred Nordic restaurant Kadeau.

The Faroe Islands’ newest boutique hotel, Hotel Havgrím sits on the shore just outside of Tórshavn. Formerly known as the Commodore’s House, the property has been lovingly restored to preserve its sense of history and connection to the sea—plaques with the names of all 21 commodores that have lived in the building since the 1950s hang in the lobby. The 14 airy rooms are equally inspired by the surrounding fjord, with a blue-green-and-white color scheme and sweeping ocean views. Some also have private terraces for taking in the scenery en plein air, as well as adjoining doors to create family suites. En-suite bathrooms include L’Occitane products and glass box showers that look out on the bedroom and the ocean beyond—just know that they don’t afford much privacy.

Every morning, guests should head down to the charming breakfast room, where they can enjoy freshly baked Danish rye bread, smoked salmon, Icelandic skyr yogurt, and more while watching sheep graze on the farmland next door. Be sure to ask for the ginger shots, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and French press coffee, all of which—along with your breakfast—are included in your stay.

Near the wharf along upper Bay Street, a distinctive, street-level arcade connects several historic stone buildings, which once functioned as arrowroot warehouses. For centuries, these rows of Georgian stone arches and second-floor overhangs have sheltered Kingstown’s workers, walkers, and vendors from the hot sun and occasional shower—hence Kingstown’s nickname, the “City of Arches.”

The mother church of the Diocese of the Windward Islands, St. George’s Cathedral (also known as Kingstown Anglican Church) was built in 1820 on the site of an earlier church that was destroyed by a hurricane in the late 1700s. It’s the biggest church on the island and features a number of unique adornments, from a gilded wood chandelier to a brass lectern and a circular mahogany pulpit. It’s also home to a stained-glass window gifted by Queen Victoria. As the story goes, the queen initially commissioned the window for St. Paul’s Cathedral in honor of her first grandson but was horrified by the angel’s red robe and immediately sent the window abroad to St. Vincent.

One look at this hilltop fort, perched over the Port of Kingstown, and you know the British built it to fight the locals rather than to meet any threats coming by sea—all the cannons face the island’s rugged interior, where the Caribs lived. Inside the fort, you’ll find a series of murals depicting the bloody Carib wars. Kids will love exploring the old buildings, and everyone will enjoy the views.