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Few Westerners know much about Pakistan beyond media impressions of Islamic fundamentalism, communal violence and martial law, but it contains some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes, extraordinary trekking, a multitude of cultures and a long tradition of hospitality.
Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals, it also remains refreshingly affordable.
Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp has seen a magnificent transformation in the past 50 years, from wounded and bombed-out war victim, to the strikingly confident and beautiful city of today. Popular among fashion moguls and art-lovers, Antwerp’s cobbled-lane centre is crammed full of antiques shops, designer boutiques and exclusive chocolate outlets where spending-money can be happily squandered.
Antwerp has seen a magnificent transformation in the past 50 years, from wounded and bombed-out war victim, to the strikingly confident and beautiful city of today. Popular among fashion moguls and art-lovers, Antwerp’s cobbled-lane centre is crammed full of antiques shops, designer boutiques and exclusive chocolate outlets where spending-money can be happily squandered.
Valencia, Spain
Less barmy than Barcelona and more laid-back than Madrid, Valencia is Spain’s understated, orange-grove-sprinkled alternative to a sun-and-culture city break. The city’s historic old town is a marvellously preserved, car-free amalgam of Baroque, Gothic and Modernista architecture, full of small alleys, honey-coloured stone and shady spots to relax in. Malvarrosa beach is another pleasant surprise, a wide expanse of white sand that’s cleaner, bigger and calmer than Barcelona’s man-made shoreline. Munich, Germany
Munich embraces just about every German cliché in the book. Old Bavarians in Lederhosen and shaving-brush hats sing in rustic beerhalls, horsing a hulking great Mass of Hacker-Pschorr and wielding a Weisswurst topped and tailed with mustard. It’s an oompah image unchanged since the long reign of the Wittelsbachs through most of the last millennium. But away from cliché and history, today’s Bavarian capital is dynamic, filled with modern museums, world-class art collections, high-end shopping and adventurous restaurants.
Munich embraces just about every German cliché in the book. Old Bavarians in Lederhosen and shaving-brush hats sing in rustic beerhalls, horsing a hulking great Mass of Hacker-Pschorr and wielding a Weisswurst topped and tailed with mustard. It’s an oompah image unchanged since the long reign of the Wittelsbachs through most of the last millennium. But away from cliché and history, today’s Bavarian capital is dynamic, filled with modern museums, world-class art collections, high-end shopping and adventurous restaurants.
Rotterdam, Holland
Long-ignored by Holland’s hashish-loving holidayers, this multicultural city is fast becoming recognised as an artist’s haven and an architectural inspiration. Bombed to oblivion during World War II, the city was left in the hands of wacky architects to be pieced back together again. The result is a futuristic skyline that includes some of Europe’s most innovative, ingenious and ultramodern designs. To see it all, climb to the top of the Euromast tower and enjoy a full view of the city.
Long-ignored by Holland’s hashish-loving holidayers, this multicultural city is fast becoming recognised as an artist’s haven and an architectural inspiration. Bombed to oblivion during World War II, the city was left in the hands of wacky architects to be pieced back together again. The result is a futuristic skyline that includes some of Europe’s most innovative, ingenious and ultramodern designs. To see it all, climb to the top of the Euromast tower and enjoy a full view of the city.
St Petersburg, Russia
Now known as ‘Russia’s window to the West’, Peter the Great’s imperial capital is also Russia’s most elegant and European city. Crammed with tsarist palaces, wonderful museums, neoclassical architecture, rock stars, artists and war veterans, this is a city steeped in history, literature, high culture and dark underground music. The Hermitage is Russia’s answer to the Louvre, a must-see collection of art treasures housed in the magnificent Winter Palace that includes early Picassos and a room full of Rembrandts.
Now known as ‘Russia’s window to the West’, Peter the Great’s imperial capital is also Russia’s most elegant and European city. Crammed with tsarist palaces, wonderful museums, neoclassical architecture, rock stars, artists and war veterans, this is a city steeped in history, literature, high culture and dark underground music. The Hermitage is Russia’s answer to the Louvre, a must-see collection of art treasures housed in the magnificent Winter Palace that includes early Picassos and a room full of Rembrandts.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The ‘Athens of the North’ is a place of high culture, reincarnated parliaments and the world’s most extravagant arts festival. Yet Edinburgh is also one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, draped across a series of rocky hills overlooking the sea. In this unique town, cityscape and landscape are one and the same, as cliffs overshadow monuments, castles sit on dormant volcanoes and buildings spread out over grassy hills. From the towering turrets of the sloping historic centre to the tatty souvenir shops of Royal Mile and the impressive boutiques of the Georgian New Town, the city offers a compact array of contrasts that can all be explored by foot.
The ‘Athens of the North’ is a place of high culture, reincarnated parliaments and the world’s most extravagant arts festival. Yet Edinburgh is also one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, draped across a series of rocky hills overlooking the sea. In this unique town, cityscape and landscape are one and the same, as cliffs overshadow monuments, castles sit on dormant volcanoes and buildings spread out over grassy hills. From the towering turrets of the sloping historic centre to the tatty souvenir shops of Royal Mile and the impressive boutiques of the Georgian New Town, the city offers a compact array of contrasts that can all be explored by foot.
Gothenburg, Sweden
With barely half a million inhabitants, Gothenburg is doing remarkably well at masquerading as a metropolis. It has no fewer than 25 theatres, 18 museums, four Michelin-starred restaurants and a steady stream of tourists. The No.1 tourist attraction, Liseberg amusement park, draws over three million visitors each year. Add to that a reputation as the gastronomic capital of Sweden, and ‘stuck-up Stockholm’ (as Gothenburgers refer to the actual capital) has reason to be worried.
With barely half a million inhabitants, Gothenburg is doing remarkably well at masquerading as a metropolis. It has no fewer than 25 theatres, 18 museums, four Michelin-starred restaurants and a steady stream of tourists. The No.1 tourist attraction, Liseberg amusement park, draws over three million visitors each year. Add to that a reputation as the gastronomic capital of Sweden, and ‘stuck-up Stockholm’ (as Gothenburgers refer to the actual capital) has reason to be worried.
Lyon, France
Dirty, sprawling, fast, sexy Lyon is like Paris waking up after a hard weekend. It has its beautiful parts – what better place to build a city than at the confluence of two of France’s most graceful rivers, the Rhône and the Saône – and its history stretches back to Roman times, but France’s second city is best loved for the here and now: for food, fashion and culture. In addition to its Renaissance architecture, Lyon has a thriving arts scene, a fine opera house, a slew of museums and monuments and some of the country’s true gourmet tables.
Dirty, sprawling, fast, sexy Lyon is like Paris waking up after a hard weekend. It has its beautiful parts – what better place to build a city than at the confluence of two of France’s most graceful rivers, the Rhône and the Saône – and its history stretches back to Roman times, but France’s second city is best loved for the here and now: for food, fashion and culture. In addition to its Renaissance architecture, Lyon has a thriving arts scene, a fine opera house, a slew of museums and monuments and some of the country’s true gourmet tables.
Cork, Ireland
‘The only good thing to come out of Dublin is the road to Cork’, is an apparently popular saying among the proud dwellers of Ireland’s former ‘rebel city’. Sitting on the River Lee, this buzzing town has a burgeoning arts, culture and restaurant scene to rival the country’s capital. In truth, the city is an invigorating mixture of cramped 17th-century alleyways, snug old pubs, top cuisine and modern architectural masterpieces such as the Lewis Glucksman Gallery and the Cork Opera House.
‘The only good thing to come out of Dublin is the road to Cork’, is an apparently popular saying among the proud dwellers of Ireland’s former ‘rebel city’. Sitting on the River Lee, this buzzing town has a burgeoning arts, culture and restaurant scene to rival the country’s capital. In truth, the city is an invigorating mixture of cramped 17th-century alleyways, snug old pubs, top cuisine and modern architectural masterpieces such as the Lewis Glucksman Gallery and the Cork Opera House.
Thessaloniki, Greece
This seafront metropolis, sheltered in a tight nook of the Aegean Sea, offers Roman remains, Byzantine glories, Ottoman alleys and a culinary tradition that makes Athens look like the backwater. Expect a buzzing atmosphere: the waterfront is lined with cafés, the walled old town (and former Turkish quarter) is weaved with narrow streets and traditional tavernas and the city’s landmark, the enormous white Roman rotunda, is thronged with university students.
This seafront metropolis, sheltered in a tight nook of the Aegean Sea, offers Roman remains, Byzantine glories, Ottoman alleys and a culinary tradition that makes Athens look like the backwater. Expect a buzzing atmosphere: the waterfront is lined with cafés, the walled old town (and former Turkish quarter) is weaved with narrow streets and traditional tavernas and the city’s landmark, the enormous white Roman rotunda, is thronged with university students.
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