It’s February, and anyone that has ever visited a shopping mall will know that means Valentine’s Day.
In celebration of this much-debated holiday, we decided to spin Valentine’s Day to work for travellers and compile a list of the most irresistible cities, all of which only get better as you get to know them.
If you like activity and a bit of adventure: Hanoi, Vietnam
Bustling Hanoi offers a blend of historic sites, quirky suburbs, lively night markets, delicious street food served on low tables with chairs you would never have believed were for adults, and probably the most thrilling road crossing experiences you could imagine. There is plenty to see, eat and do, providing the perfect destination for an action-packed holiday most appreciated by those adventurous enough to try that roadside delicacy or laugh while they dodge a stampede of scooters. If you can handle the mania of Hanoi’s streets, we’re sure they’ll enchant you.
If you like classic: Paris, France
You knew it would be impossible not to find Paris on any kind of list featuring places in the world and love. There are many who claim Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, and its wide sun-dappled boulevards, stunning architecture, the River Seine, parks and landmarks make it a difficult point to argue.
Once you get past the main tourist hot spots Paris has so much to discover, such as finding your favourite spot for a café au lait, the best place to pick up a morning croissant or your favourite old bookstore. There could hardly be a more classic city for getting to know and falling in love with your own experience of than Paris.A France tour can get you to these lovely spots and more.
If you like the outdoors: Sydney, Australia
Sunshine, surf, incredible food and activities galore can be found in Australia’s biggest city. Sydney offers the perfect escape for those looking for variety – break your credit card shopping one day, catch a ferry to see the beautiful harbour from a different perspective the next, and swim in the famous waves of Bondi Beach the day after that. We’ve heard Sydney described as ‘heaven on earth’ before (by a guy in a bar, but he’s right), and we think you might agree.
If you like to party: Las Vegas, USA
If your favourite kind of city is one where they know how to serve a drink or two then Las Vegas is your metropolitan soul mate. The Strip is one of the most famous streets in the world, lined with a towering jungle of casino hotels each more elaborate than the next, and each home to more bars than the next. Concerts, theatre, shows, club parties, rooftop parties, pool parties and room parties all feature heavily in Sin City, making it the perfect city for those who like to let loose.
If you like hard to get: Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is not quite as accessible as the other cities on this list; in fact, you have to walk – or rather, hike with a heavy backpack and camp for several days en route – to get there. OK, the four-day hike is an option that many choose to take, though driving close to the iconic ruins is also an option. Still, it is not an easy one to reach, but once you do, you’ll be happy you put in the effort.
If you like culture: New York City, USA
If museums, galleries and theatre are your thing then look no further than New York City. Not only will you find several world-renowned museums, some of the most coveted stages in the world inside the theatres of Broadway, and the collections to be found in galleries throughout the city, there are also dining options in abundance with enough restaurants to keep foodies more than entertained for months.
If you like laidback weekends: London, United Kingdom
This might seem an odd one to list as the ideal city for laidback travellers, but once you get past the outer tourism-coated layer most visitors see you will find London is a wonder of hidden treasures and there is no place better to enjoy a picture-perfect laidback weekend – any day of the week.
Three things make London the best place to spend a weekend or a laidback holiday, particularly in the perfect summer months: Here brunch is not limited to Saturdays and there are a huge array of options when it comes to food, there are different markets to choose from any day of the week, and there are limitless parks, gardens and walkways ideal for Sunday-style strolls to while away the hours when the weather allows.
If you like mystery: Fez, Morocco
Fez is one of the most mysterious cities in the world, and one of the most difficult to get to know. Home to a labyrinth medieval medina comprised of more than 9000 streets, where marketeers sell everything from live chickens to varieties of olives to handicrafts, and quiet cafes hide on rooftops above the echoing alleys, Fez is near impossible to negotiate without a guide. Whether you choose to proceed with or without a one, the mystical medina is bound to stay with you as one of the most unique and unexpected places you have ever visited.
Author’s Bio: Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC.
