In no particular order, here are our favourite cities and the reasons that we love them quite so much. They're a varied bunch; some culturally rich, some that move at a million miles per hour, some that are pretty and some slightly more gritty. But what they have in common is that they all make us extremely excited every time we think about visiting. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
1. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
An incredibly fast-paced city where you'll find yourself taking your life into your hands just crossing the road as a million mopeds seem to whip past you at the blink of an eye. Everything in this city seems fascinating and people-watching is a real art here. The War Remnants Museum makes for a moving and thought-provoking visit, and the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame cathedral are well worth your time. It also boasts one of the most impressive Post Offices we have ever seen. No, really! The Pham Ngu Lao backpacker ghetto is the place to find all your home comforts if you feel in need, and you have fascinating attractions like the Cu Chi tunnels within striking distance of the city. Grab a Saigon beer, settle back and enjoy the chaos!
Click here for our guide to Vietnam.
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| Ho Chi Minh overlooks central Saigon |
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| Manic traffic whizzes through central Saigon - brilliant people watching |
2. Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand's capital is an incredible city. A heady and enticing mix of east and west, with modern infrastructure, mammoth shopping malls and the insane traffic you expect from a mega-city of 6 million people. But this doesn't mean that the city misses that innate sense of 'Thai-ness' that makes it so special: whether you're wandering around the Grand Palace, scaling the spires of Wat Arun or munching a delicious and cheap meal from one of the food carts that you'll find on every corner of this bewitching place, you'll know that you couldn't be anywhere else in the world.
There is also of course the infamous backpacker ghetto that is the Khao San Road, which will entertain, fascinate and disgust in equal measures. If you want to book onward transport, download music and movies onto your iPod, buy knock-off clothes and drink yourself silly solely in the company of other backpackers then this is the place to come. If you want to meet the locals then you'll have to head out of what can feel like a hermetically-sealed backpackers-only zone.
Do your best to get out and explore this fascinating city; if you're travelling around the region you're bound to return here sooner rather than later.
Click here for our guide to Thailand.
Click here for our guide to Thailand.
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| The beautiful Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, Bangkok |
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| Life on the Chao Phraya river ferry, Bangkok |
3. New York City, USA
The Big Apple is truly one of the world's great cities, and it buzzes with life 24 hours a day. Whether you want to check out some of the world class museums that the city has to offer (the Met, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History etc) or just take in the bright lights of Time Square then this city will amuse and amaze. Be sure to give yourself enough days here to cover as many of the incredible number of sights as you want to. A walk in Central Park is a seminal experience, and clichéd though it is, taking in the views from the top of the Empire State is as amazing as you'd imagine. We absolutely love the architecture that the city offers, from the distinctive Flatiron building to the incredible and inimitable Chrysler Building via the Beaux-Arts Public Library and Grand Central Station's amazing concourse. New York truly lives up to its world class reputation to food, with delicious cuisines from all over the globe available 24 hours a day, and the bar scene is incredible. Just give yourself plenty of time (we've barely scratched the surface in this brief introduction) and be sure to take plenty of cash – even if you think you can stick to your budget in NYC, we warn you now that you won't...Click here for our guide to the USA.
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| The Manhattan skyline as viewed from the Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Stock Exchange, Manhattan |
4. Melbourne, Australia
Go to marvellous Melbourne for fantastic food, pumping nightlife, world-class sporting events by the bucket load, some great beaches within easy reach and Australia's best cultural scene. OK the weather's not the easiest to predict (prepare yourself for the infamous 'four seasons in one day'), but the longer you stay the harder it is to leave this buzzing, fun city.Click here for our guide to Australia.
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| Marvellous Melbourne's beautiful skyline from the Yarra River |
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| "I'll meet you under the clocks" - Melbourne's Flinders Street Station |
5. Cairo, Egypt
Challenging but extremely rewarding, this vast city of 11 million people can be a huge culture shock for first time visitors. The noise, pollution and smells are like nothing you will have experienced before, but once you're used to it you will find a fascinating and vast city that is there to be explored. The main attractions are the truly awe-inspiring Giza pyramids, the Sphinx, and the wonderful Egyptian Museum where you can feast your eyes on the treasures from Tutankhamen's tomb. But you must also leave yourself to explore properly the treasures of Islamic Cairo and also the ancient areas of Coptic Cairo (which is Christian). Do your best to avoid the tricksters and touts who will do their best to assail you – 'off-duty' guides, 'discount government shops' and cheap taxi rides are usually causes for suspicion! Don't be intimidated by this huge, noisy and incredible city and we guarantee you a rewarding experience.
Click here for our guide to Egypt.
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| The Sphinx, Giza, Cairo, Egypt |
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| A World Wonder: The Giza Pyramids near Cairo |
A multitude of stunning sights await you in China's imposing and spectacular capital: take a trip out to the Great Wall, explore the vast and beautiful Summer Palace, get lost in the Forbidden City and get cosmic at the Temple of Heaven. Everything just seems much bigger here, from the vastness of Tiananamen Square to the ridiculously immense array of food on offer on Wangfujing Snack Street. This is a city that feels far more international and modern following the summer Olympics in 2008, so take a trip round the city's older neighbourhoods (or hutongs) before they're knocked down. For an uninformed first time visitor to this modern and cosmopolitan metropolis, Beijing's fantastic range of trendy bars, buzzing nightclubs and backpacker-friendly hostels comes as a pleasant surprise. And we haven't even mentioned the incredible restaurants – you couldn't possibly leave without trying some authentic Peking Duck...
Click here for our guide to China.
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| View from the Summer Palace, Beijing |
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| The Badaling Great Wall near Beijing |
7.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
No longer Brazil's capital but still its most visited city, stunning Rio is a must-see for any traveller visiting these shores. Stare down over the 'Marvellous City' from the world-wonder that is the statue of Christ the Redeemer (the view is mind-blowing), take the cable-car up to Sugarloaf Mountain for sunset, sip a mojito on Ipanema beach or dance the night away in one of Lapa's amazing samba clubs: Rio is a city made for pleasure. With a growing number of independent backpacker hostels, some brilliant value per-kilo restaurants and the wonderful free beaches, this rather expensive city is now better set up than ever for travellers on a budget. Use your common sense and keep your wits about you and you will have no problem avoiding the rampant crime that Rio has become infamous for, but balance this out with a guided trip to a favela to make your own mind up about the wonderful people that inhabit what we think is the world's most gorgeous city.
Click here for our guide to Brazil.
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| View over Rio from world wonder Christ the Redeemer |
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| Weekend scene on Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro |
A surprise choice maybe, but we love it, and think it's one of the most liveable cities in the world. New Zealand's capital is a beguiling mix of culture, politics, natural beauty (another stunning harbour city) and some great nightlife. Small enough to be walkable but big enough to give you plenty to do, this friendly city is hard to leave. With some top museums, a buzzing film industry (it's not called Wellywood for nothing) and great cafe-culture, you'll find yourself staying longer than intended in this friendly city.
Click here for our guide to New Zealand.
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| Classic view of the Wellington Cable Car |
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| Bayside scene from Wellington, New Zealand |
9. Rome, Italy
Incredible history, architecture, sights and some great hostels and nightlife make Italy's illustrious capital a must-visit. From the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, St Peters and the Vatican Museum give yourself as much time as possible to drink everything in – you'll need it.
Click here for our guide to Italy.
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| Twin churches in Piazza del Popolo, Rome |
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| Rome's infamous Colosseum |
10. Buenos Aires, Argentina
One of the most funky and fun city destinations in South America: visit Buenos Aires and we guarantee you a good time. With fantastic architecture (check out the camonito in Boca), some great shopping, passionately followed football teams and a range of top restaurants, this is a fantastic city to visit. So whether you're here to dance until dawn in one of Palermo's ultra-hip clubs, learn to tango, watch el Superclássico (the biggest football derby in South America) or shop until you drop, this cosmopolitan and exciting city should not be missed.
Click here for our guide to Argentina.
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| The colourful Boca district of Buenos Aires |
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| Boca Juniors' famous stadium - La Bombonera |
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