Sights and the City: Urban Escapes around the World

While plenty of cities can claim to exude an east-meets-west culture, nowhere is this truer than Istanbul, which sits at the literal meeting point of Europe and Asia. Equally intriguing as this intermingling of eastern and western traditions is the city’s ability to blend old and new. Istanbul’s skyline is a medley of graceful minarets, historic towers and soaring contemporary office buildings. It’s a city that has all the flair and commerce you would expect from a European capital, but also one where you’ll regularly hear the call to prayer drifting over the rooftops. To fully experience the city’s culture, save time to peel yourself away from the bucketlist sights and join locals in relaxing over several leisurely cups of Turkish çay (tea).

While the southern part of Thailand gets most of the attention for street food and beach parties, travellers after a deeper Thai cultural experience head north. The walled city centre’s history dates back centuries. It’s home to over 300 Buddhist temples, including the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, an extravagant holy shrine with a much-photographed golden mount. Venture outside of the city walls and you’ll see a fast-evolving Chiang Mai; one that is quickly embracing western influences with a hipster arts district and a coffee scene that is easily the best in the country.

Berlin has been one of Europe’s capitals of cool for decades and for good reason: The city’s progressive culture fuels a nightlife scene that’s inclusive, unpretentious and just the right amount of edgy. Although you might associate the German capital with techno music, few cities can compete with the diversity of Berlin’s nightlife. Whether you’re into craft brews, dance clubs, corner pubs (known as kneipen), or wine, there’s a place for you to party in Berlin. The nightlife scene extends all night on weekends. Catch an afternoon nap if you’re planning on hitting a club, because locals won’t start heading out until 2 or 3 a.m.

Home to one of the best music scenes in the world, Nashville is the go-to destination for music-centred nightlife. Live music can be found all over the city from music venues – there are over 180 – to parks, festivals, vineyards and even a library courtyard. Along Honky Tonk Highway, bars start blasting out music at 10 a.m. and keep the party going until 3 a.m. Nightly concerts offer more than just country and blues – you can also find pop, rock, gospel, jazz and classical. Music City’s up-and-coming food scene goes well beyond hot chicken to keep revellers satiated while they party all night.

You may think of Hong Kong as a mecca for shopping and food, but “Asia’s World City” has fast become equally well known for its energetic nightlife. Think equal parts cocktail bars, a burgeoning craft beer scene, endless array of live music venues and nightclubs catering to every taste and social aesthetic. In Hong Kong there is a district for everything. Head to The Globe or The Chinnery if you want to kick off the evening with a pint and take in HK’s British pub culture. For modern takes on Cantonese fare venture through Sai Ying Pun. Or if you want it all on one street, head to the lively Lan Kwai Fong hub where you’ll find dozens of small bars and clubs.

The capital of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province is the gateway to some of the country’s top national parks, but it’s also an appealing city in its own right. With dozens of cattle ranches surrounding the city, Liberia has become a centre for Guanacaste’s sabanero (cowboy) culture and it’s also one of Costa Rica’s oldest towns. Although many of its historic whitewashed houses are in need of restoration, the city’s architecture offers a rare perspective into Costa Rica’s colonial past. Despite increased flight traffic to the nearby airport, Liberia still retains a slow-paced, small town feel, making it a rewarding base for adventurous excursions to nearby national parks like Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja.

Of all the things we know Quebec for – cheese curds, poutine, maple syrup – fjords might not make that list. But the Fjord du Saguenay, one of the largest in the world, sits right in the middle of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. Get an up-close view of the cliffs from a sea-kayak on the Riviere-Éternité. Explore the canyons and caves at the Parc Caverne Trou de la Fée and hike the trails and footbridges attached to the rock capes – or if you’re feeling daring, cross the river on ziplines high above the water. If you’re more comfortable on two wheels, the Véloroute du Fjord du Saguenay is a 435 km long cycling circuit that winds along the Saguenay River, offering a picturesque route for riders of all abilities.

It may not be a city proper, but we’d be remiss not to mention Queenstown in this category. Frequently referred to as the adventure capital of the world, QT is the kind of place that makes otherwise sensible adults strap a harness around their ankles and throw themselves off a bridge. Escapades here aren’t just airborne – built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is home to glaciers, rivers and lakes, meaning thrill-seekers can get their kicks swinging or bungee-jumping from a canyon, white-water rafting or on a jet boat. Your best bet is to fly into Christchurch. Make a pit stop at Franz Josef Glacier in Waiau and walk amongst a UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest.

The only place we won’t mention a single bricks and mortar spot is Hanoi, where it’s all about the street food. Before you see it, you’ll smell the barbecued pork’s aroma wafting through the busy streets. Pick one of the many vendors flogging bun cha (grilled pork and noodles), pull up a pew (read: tiny plastic chair) and get to work on the meat and white noodles dipped in delicious garlic, chili and fish sauce. Taste the enduring French influence on Vietnamese cuisine with a cartside banh mi; a baguette filled with cold cuts, daikon, hoisin and liver pate. In the morning, wake yourself up with a cup of ca phe trung (egg coffee) and get ready to repeat the whole schedule again.

Located in southwestern Mexico, Oaxaca has seen a recent boom in popularity thanks to its growing prowess as a foodie destination. The area is dubbed the “Land of the Seven Moles,” based on the regional variations of the dish; a rich and complex sauce based on one or more chili peppers and dark chocolate. Restaurante Casa Oaxaca, with acclaimed chef Alejandro Ruiz at the helm, serves up three of these varieties, with a menu full of locally-sourced ingredients. Make sure you try a tlayudas or “Mexican pizza” at Libres Tlayudas Doña Martha. Don’t be fooled by this hole-in-the-wall – locals have been heading here for 25 years for charcoal-grilled tortillas filled with yummy refried beans and cheese.

As much as its famous for the Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars, the City by the Bay is one of the most enjoyable places in America to eat. There are more restaurants per capita than any other major city. San Francisco claims the honour as the birthplace of both the modern farm-to-table movement and West Coast cuisine. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, cuisine here is a marriage of regional ingredients, seafood, and the city’s international population. If you had to pick two districts to kick off a culinary crawl, start in either the Mission District or South of Market.

With eight ocean beaches and one fresh water beach, Vancouver is a destination for sunning, swimming and watersports. The multicultural city is surrounded by mountains and water, providing stunning views in every direction. Restaurants, volleyball courts and playgrounds can all be found along Vancouver’s 18 kilometres of beaches. Kitsilano or “Kits” Beach is home to an outdoor, saltwater pool. While dogs aren’t allowed at public beaches, off-leash parks with water access allow pups to enjoy the best of this coastal destination, too. Saunter, jog or cycle around Vancouver on the Seaside Greenway – the seawall pathway billed as the longest uninterrupted waterfront path in the world.

A vacation in the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes département might as well be the closest thing to a dream come to life. You are in the French Riviera with the Mediterranean coast at your front door. A walk through the old city streets and hidden corners will feel like living in a Pierre-Auguste Renoir painting. Yes, Nice is known for its regional food but travellers really come for the breathtaking coastline views. The city is perched beside Mediterranean water that seems to change colour from dawn to dusk. When you’re ready for a break from the sand, walk through the Cours Saleya, one of the liveliest parts of the city.

The cultural capital of Portugal’s Algarve region is known for Roman and Moorish architecture and its hot summer Mediterranean climate. While you’re still in the city, the beauty of Faro is its slower pace of life and leisure. Visitors will appreciate that while Faro is located on the coast, there are many other ways to spend time in nature besides going to the beach. The coast of Ria Formosa in Faro is lush, with one of the most diverse nature parks in Portugal, and there are plenty of boat tours. Hop on a ferry to Ilha da Barreta, a narrow island located just off the coast with a sandy beach. Inland, get lost exploring the neoclassical architecture of the old town and then finish your tour by tucking into a plate of fresh seafood cataplana at a traditional restaurant.