Washington Mews, New York

Located close to Washington Square Park, the Mews is one of those unusual spots that you'd want to discover during a walk in the huge city of New York. A small cobblestone street (or more like an alley) closed by two gates at both ends and lined on each side with vine-covered two-story houses, it seems to have been transported into the modern city from another age. The place actually has a long historical legacy since it housed the stables servicing the wealthy 19th-century elite's Greek revival rowhouses on Washington Square North. For the last seven decades, however, the converted staples have been used as private residences, offices, and NYU facilities.

An icon of the neighborhood, it has an amazingly peaceful atmosphere and is a great place to go for a stroll, contemplate the facades and colorfully painted door – and, of course, take a few pictures. The gates are always unlocked during the day, so you shouldn't run into any trouble accessing it.