Top Travel Ideas for Visiting the World's Coolest Cities
From Lisbon and Hanoi to Mexico City, experience the highlights of the trendiest cities on the planet and book your place on one of these TRIPS by Culture Trip.
Siobhan Grogan
23 Dec 2021
City breaks can offer so much more than big-ticket sights and over-priced restaurants. From Mexico to Turkey, the coolest cities in the world feature conversation-starting historical monuments, independent shopping, and quirky museums and galleries. Some will keep you dancing till dawn, while others will inspire you to get up at sunrise to experience life as a local – but all will make you want to return again and again. Choose these expertly guided TRIPS by Culture Trip to really fall for the hippest cities in the world.
1. Feast on egg custard tarts in Lisbon
Northern Portugal has it all for a convenient city break: historical hotspots, fantastic shops and even beaches and vineyards. You’ll whizz round it all on this nine-day tour visiting two of the coolest cities there. Start in Porto and enjoy Unesco-listed sites and a bicycle tour, then move on to Lisbon to take in the Monastery of Jeronimos, Belem Tower and of course, a pastel de nata (egg custard tart) or two.
From$2859Next available from21 May 2022
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2. Have a lively night out in Mexico City
Having a local on your side is the secret to seeing a city at its best. This five-day tour of Mexico City is packed with insider info, so you can be sure you’re seeing the real capital off the tourist trail. A Mexico City local will accompany you throughout, taking you to the hip Condesa and Roma neighbourhoods, leading a guided market tasting tour and even joining you for a rowdy night watching wrestling known as lucha libre.
From$1269Next available from14 Apr 2022
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3. Give sushi-making a try in Japan
With its geishas, skyscrapers, bamboo forests and kaleidoscopic neon lights, Japan is as exciting as it gets. On this 12-day tour, you’ll experience both Osaka, Hiroshima and Tokyo, packing in museums, Mount Misen, ancient shrines, sake tasting, market shopping and even a sushi-making class. And, of course, there’ll still be time to tackle Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing, the busiest crosswalk in the world.
From$4239Next available from11 May 2022
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4. Potter around Hanoi’s Old Quarter in Vietnam
Vietnam may be known for its mountains, rural villages and unspoiled coastline, but its cities are truly extraordinary. Hanoi is a dream for street food lovers and history lovers, with an unmissable Old Quarter and the country’s oldest university. On this tour, you’ll also discover former capital Hue on a cyclo food tour and even join an optional treasure hunt around Hoi An, a coastal town set on canals that was once a major trading port.
From$1609Next available from3 May 2022
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5. Cross the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia in Turkey
Don’t expect a slow start to this fascinating 12-day tour across Turkey. You’ll meet fellow travellers in gloriously chaotic Istanbul where you’ll dine together in the Old City, have a chance to try a hammam, wander the Spice Market and cross from Europe to Asia on a ferry across the Bosphorus. Cities come with an unexpected twist on this tour too. You’ll also visit the capital of the ancient Hittite Empire, the underground city of Kaymakli and the sacred city of Konya.
From$2189Next available from28 May 2022
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This is an updated rewrite of an article originally written by Monica Nastase.