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The northern coast of Gozo provides a fascinating introduction to one of the most important traditions on the island: sea-salt production. This three-kilometer stretch of 350-year-old rock-cut salt pans is a tourist attraction in its own right, but the salt pans remain a vital source of income for Gozitans. In the summer, locals scrape up the salt crystals and store them in nearby caves. Several local businesses package the salt in gift jars available to purchase from the island’s souvenir stores.

Head chef Matt Clarke has created a rare gem in this southerly city. With a recently refurbished contemporary dining room and bar overlooking Stanley Harbour, the Restaurant at the Malvina House Hotel champions high-quality local ingredients. Clarke specializes in fresh fish and chargrilled meats, though the menu extends to such interesting options as upland goose pâté and reindeer. The fish & chips, fried local squid and duck confit are among the most popular dishes at this casual eatery.

At the summit of Montmartre, the highest point in the city, you’ll find the Basilica de Sacré-Cœur. Contrasting with the Gothic churches like Notre-Dame, the Romano-Byzantine architecture is both beautiful inside and out. While outside, take in the panorama of Paris and while inside, marvel at the Apse Mosaic—one of the largest mosaics in the world. The Sacré-Cœur website has instructions on how to download the free audio guide on your phone before your visit which is recommended. Also, research the well-known (and apparently tried-and-true) scams before traveling to Paris. Overall, the city seems pretty free of tourist scams, but around Sacré-Cœur especially, visitors should be on alert.

About an hour north of Bogotá lies the so-called Salt Cathedral, an intriguing and impressive church that has been sculpted from the empty chambers of a working salt mine, one that’s been in operation since pre-Hispanic times. Beginning in the 20th century, miners began to decorate shafts with icons and saints from whom they sought protection. By 1954, a full-fledged cathedral had been carved into the rock and inaugurated; it has been attracting visitors from all over the world ever since. When a previous sanctuary became unstable, the current chapel was carved almost 200 feet deeper down and opened in 1995, complete with eerie lighting and beautiful sculptures. A visit is a moving experience even for nonbelievers.

Seafood and regional delicacies rule the menu at this charming 19th-century former plantation home—go for the fish tacos, ceviche, or keshi yena, a local entrée consisting of a large sphere of cheese stuffed with seasoned meat. The papaya stew, with delicately spiced cabbage and invigorating ginger, is another local favorite. Savor your meal at one of the rustic picnic tables outside, or head to the dining room for a slightly upscale atmosphere. Landhuis Misjé is a great pick for both a romantic dinner and an outing with a tribe of hungry family members.

Originally a sweet shop, Sénéquier first gained fame in the 1800s for its soft nougat. Then its candied fruits became the rage. The St. Tropez shop has since turned into a chic café by a Parisian restaurateur and now attracts yacht owners and affluent locals who come down to the waterfront from the hills above town, all of them happy to pay a pretty price for a king crab salad or the perfect sole meunière. More modest locals know the place as a good spot for a cool rosé on a hot afternoon as they watch the world go by.

The views of the skyline of Gaira (once a separate town, near Playa Blanca, but now part of greater Santa Marta), the ocean, and the surrounding hills are part of the magical experience of dining at Burukuka, located right on the water. But it is the restaurant’s commitment to excellent fusion, Caribbean and local cuisine that is the real reason for its success. One must-try is the callelle, a local specialty of mashed green bananas with cheese, sour cream and homemade sausage. The alfresco seating on a large deck is a plus even on warm days, as it’s cooled by ocean breezes.

Tel Aviv is known for its picturesque stretches of soft sand beaches filled with lively tanned locals and tourists swimming, snorkeling, and playing matkot (the Israeli version of the raquet sport paddle ball). But with a handful of different spots, including the ports of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, it can be difficult to decide where to put down a towel. A tried-and-true local favorite is Gordon Beach, with its volleyball nets set up on the sand, selection of restaurants and bars lining the boardwalk, and the adjacent saltwater Gordon Pool. A handful of water activities, such as kitesurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, are also available at neaby beaches. Visitors often stay after hours to watch the unrivaled sunset.

Korčula Old Town claims to be the birthplace of the famous explorer (view his birth registry in the Bishop’s Treasury). The island celebrates this not only in its Marco Polo Museum, but at this Marco Polo-themed shop where you’ll find a plethora of creative souvenirs, like a selection of local spices, 1,000 grains of salt or bottled local seawater.

Located on the waterfront next to the cruise-ship dock in Uturoa, this shopping center is home to a small assortment of clothing and jewelry boutiques. Locals also set up stands outside to sell handicrafts, such as wood carvings, shell necklaces and artwork.

Most Bahamian fish fry events happen once a week, but the Arawak Cay Fish Fry happens every day except Monday, and it features an expansive selection of food trucks, stalls, and restaurants. Along with fried fish, you’ll find freshly made conch salad, conch fritters, and an abundance of starchy sides like mac and cheese, peas and rice, and plantains. It’s definitely at its liveliest on Sunday nights, when the locals come out for an evening of good food, cold beer, and dancing to the local bands. Remember to bring cash, as most vendors don’t take cards.

Berlin prides itself on its farmers’ markets, which take place every Saturday (and sometimes during the week) all across the city and often have a wonderful atmosphere along with top-notch local produce. The Saturday Winterfeldtmarkt on Schöneberg’s Winterfeldtplatz is one of the most impressive, with more than 100 stalls that sell flowers as well as delicious food. The Saturday bio market on Prenzlauer Berg’s pretty Kollwitzplatz offers an array of local organic goods—from fruits and vegetables to chocolates and fresh pasta—as does the food market at Friedrichshain’s Boxhagener Platz. To get a taste of Turkish Berlin, head to the Landwehr Canal’s Maybachufer on Tuesday or Friday, when the local Turkish community sets up stalls there selling food, clothes, textiles, and more.

Set in a historic Beaux-Arts building, The NoMad exudes European sophistication while maintaining a distinct New York edge. Located in the changing north of Madison Square Park neighborhood, this design-centric property opened its doors in 2012. French designer Jacques Garcia was inspired by the Paris apartment of his youth. Rooms are comfortable and timeless, with original artwork. This hotel brings back pleasures of another era, from freestanding claw-foot tubs in the rooms to a bar and restaurant that entice guests to stay under the hotel roof. Start an evening with a drink in the Library (reserved exclusively for hotel guests after 4 p.m.) then dine in the acclaimed NoMad restaurant, where you are certain to rub elbows with New Yorkers—this property has completely won over the locals.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this 1,700-year-old palace sits on the Adriatic seafront, serving as the focal point of Split. It was built by the Roman emperor Diocletian as a seaside retirement home and has served as a refuge for many a conqueror over the centuries. Today, some 2,000 locals reside within the compound’s thick walls, making it a lively urban quarter. Getting lost in the labyrinth of surrounding streets is the best way to explore downtown Split—as you meander around, you’ll stumble across lively cafés and shops tucked into millennia-old buildings. Be sure to check out the Peristil, an imperial square framed by two colonnades, where Diocletian used to address the public. Towering above the square is Split’s major landmark—a 187-foot-tall belfry that you can climb for panoramic views of town.

Occupying a 1927 firehouse that was functioning until 1980, this nine-room hotel from the team behind Los Feliz’s Hotel Covell heralds a new era for downtown L.A.’s warehouse-cum-arts-district. The neighborhood’s first boutique hotel, the Firehouse boasts several original details, from concrete floors and exposed wood-truss ceilings to pressed-tin panels and niches originally built to hold statuettes of the Virgin Mary that were intended to protect firefighters. Even the massive red doors that once ushered in fire engines are still intact, though today they open to a light-filled ground floor that houses a café, bar, and restaurant led by chef Ashley Abodeely and pastry chef Rose Lawrence. Also on the ground floor is a retail shop with a curated selection of wares created exclusively for the hotel by L.A.-based designers, including robes and striped tote bags by Clare V, bandanas and pillowcases by Block Shop, apparel by culinary brand Hedley & Bennett, serving pieces by ceramicist Robert Siegel, and furniture from ETC.etera.