Visit the Most Highly-Populated Cities in the World with Culture Trip

The most populous city in the world, by a long shot, is Tokyo. The capital of Japan is home to an estimated 37m people, just short of the entire population of Canada. This comprehensive 12-day Rail Trip ends with three days in the world’s largest city, as you get to watch sumo wrestlers train, learn how to roll sushi and master the art of taiko drumming. You’ll visit ancient temples, shrines, parks and markets, as well as trendy neon-lit districts and the city’s finest karaoke bars. The trip takes in a whole host of incredible cities, including Kyoto and Hiroshima, and begins with a tour of Osaka, which actually sneaks into 10th place on the population charts (19m).

Rounding off our list is the sixth most populous city on the planet, and also one of the oldest. Cairo has had countless inhabitants over thousands of years, but today it homes just over 20m. Our completist nine-day Egypt tour could only start here, and you’ll get a guided tour of the city’s historic centre with a local expert. They’ll show you the incredible Islamic architecture on Moez Street, the chaotic wonder of Khan Al-Khalili bazaar and the colourful sights of spice and gold markets. You’ll have tea in the iconic Feshawi cafe and a traditional Koshari lunch in an authentic city centre restaurant. We’ll also visit a gorgeous old bookbinding store, where you’ll get the chance to treat yourself to a personalised leather notebook. We’ll leave Cairo behind to visit the ancient wonders of Giza, temples and souks in Luxor, and embark on a luxurious cruise down the Nile, all the way to Aswan.