10. Mexico City
This energetic city has become a seriously cool capital. With incredible architecture and an eclectic culture, it is seeing areas transform into hip neighbourhoods making it a must-visit destination in its own right. Areas like Roma are full of art galleries, vintage boutiques and bohemian cafes. Hit the markets and eat where the locals eat, to get a sense of what it’s like to live here and enjoy the delicious street food.
9. Nashville
With bar after bar playing live music you can’t help but have a good time in the Music City. Check out the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum and RCA Studio B where Elvis recorded over 260 songs! Not only is the music great but the bars are too, there’s the Honky Tonk strip of Country bars or Midtown’s Music Row for a less touristy equivalent. Nashville is also as sports mad as it is music mad and has 5 professional ice hockey and American Football teams. The huge growth in young professionals moving to the city has brought in a new artsy, more liberal feel to it too. Visit Nashille and other US states, browse what we have to offer on our US multi centre page.
8. Agra
Already much visited as the home of the stunning Taj Mahal, this city warrants more than just a day trip to see the famous marble mausoleum. The former Mughal capital sits on the bank of the river Yamuna and has so much more to see. Further impressive monuments and tombs line the river and crumbling Muhal gardens are dotted around the city. The nearby deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri is well worth visiting too with its’ preserved 16th Century temples and one of the largest mosques in India.
7. Moscow
This city with its’ golden domes, fortresses and cathedrals is a powerful history lesson, but it is also a modern expanding city with an impressive contemporary arts scene to be explored. The must-see tourist destinations are obviously the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral which are all breathtakingly striking and impressive. The city also has exceptional museums and galleries including the State Tretyakov Gallery, in addition several former industrial areas have become interesting cultural spaces like the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. Gorky Park is also a must-visit, this ‘Central Park of Culture and Leisure’ offers another aspect of modern Russian life where all forms of activities catered for; bikes for hire, table tennis, beach volleyball and, in winter, the flooded ponds become a huge ice-skating rink.
6. Vancouver
Sitting at the shore of the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountain ranges, Vancouver’s stunning location is hard to beat. It’s a big buzzy city with an outdoorsy vibe as skiing, sailing and hiking are all right on its doorstep. Cosmopolitan Downtown is right on the water’s edge and is packed with great restaurants, glass skyscrapers and edged by the wonderful Stanley Park. Enticing locals and tourists alike to enjoy the outdoors, the park has great views over the marina, Lion’s Gate Bridge and over to the North Shore and the snow-capped mountains beyond. You can’t help but love the laid back West Coast vibe.
5. Amsterdam
With picturesque gabled buildings, pretty bridges and quiet canals, Amsterdam has a villagey and romantic feel but there is also a constant buzz to this city. It has all the benefits of a major metropolis without the downsides and it’s easy to walk or cycle almost everywhere. With world-class art museums, an exceptional art film institute and an uber-cool night life there are so many things to keep you entertained. Visit the regenerated NDSM shipyard, Anne Frank’s house and the Jordaan neighbourhood for concept stores, boutiques and traditional pubs known as ‘brown cafes’ along its cobbled streets. And, if the weather is good the cafes spill out onto the pavements and you can enjoy evening strolls along the canals.
4. Charleston
The combination of the exceptionally friendly locals, along with the tropically warm weather, means that Charleston is regularly voted America’s favourite city. The pastel-coloured, picturesque town has a rich history reflected in its’ architecture from Georgian townhouses to austere Federal style halls. Enjoy exploring the cobblestone streets, markets and of course the vast sandy Folly beach. Don’t miss Boone Hall’s plantation grounds, Fort Sumter or the last remaining Slave auction house, Ryan’s Mart, which is now a museum illuminating the slave experience.
3. Rome
The ‘Eternal’ city makes for a perfect city break as all its incredible must-see sights are within its compact historic centre so you can easily walk everywhere. With St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Forum all nearby there’s so much to see and take in. In between sight-seeing you’ll need plenty of refreshment to keep you going so, like the locals, enjoy watching the world go by and here it seems every corner reveals another fountain-adorned piazza with a café, perfect to rest your weary feet.
2. Seoul
Seoul is readily known as Asia’s heart of pop-culture but the city also conceals an ultra-cool dimension that can be discovered below the surface. Along with its’ chic cafes you can also find graffiti covered basement bars and hidden restaurants serving traditional and fusion food. Take the Seoullo 7017 – Seoul’s version of the High Line in New York- for a green walk through the city, along with kid’s play areas concerts and art exhibitions are hosted here every weekend. Getting ready to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, Seoul is a vibrant 24hr city.
1. Cape Town
With pristine white beaches and craggy mountains that drop into the sea, Cape Town has got to be one of the World’s most attractive city locations – and with only two hours’ time-difference you won’t have any jet lag to contend with either. But it’s not just the city’s location that makes it special, it is also its’ cool urban edge with excellent art galleries, hip bars and outstanding restaurants. Take a cable car up to the top of Table Mountain for incredible views, visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during apartheid and also take a tour of the fantastic world-class wineries in nearby Stellenbosch. Clifton and Boulders beaches are two of the most attractive around and villagey Kalkbay is well worth discovering. This cosmopolitan city is surrounded by wildlife too, see if you can spot whales, seals, penguins and otters in the sparkling sea.
