Visit Cape Coast

Sobering slave-trade fortress, UNESCO-listed.

The oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa, a haunting slave-trade fort.

Visit Kumasi, the cultural capital of Ghana and former capital of the Ashanti Empire. Explore the Manhyia Palace Museum (home of the Ashanti king, with royal regalia and historical artifacts), see the Kejetia Market (one of the largest open-air markets in West Africa, bustling with textiles and crafts), and visit the Kumasi Fort and Military Museum (a colonial-era fort showcasing Ghana's military history).

Visit Accra, the capital of Ghana. Explore the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum (memorial to Ghana's first president, with museum and gardens), stroll through Jamestown (historic fishing district with colonial-era lighthouse and vibrant street art), and experience Makola Market (bustling hub for local goods, textiles, and street food like jollof rice).

A city built on water with no cars — gondolas, Byzantine mosaics, and getting happily lost in the back canals

Visit Krakow, the historic former capital of Poland, known for its medieval Old Town, Wawel Castle, and vibrant cultural scene.

The Renaissance in one walkable city: Michelangelo's David, Brunelleschi's dome, and the Uffizi

Acclimatize in Cusco, the Inca capital where colonial churches stand on six-hundred-year-old stone foundations