Sights & Activities

The big open-air market in the middle of town - good for a drink and food as much as the browsing. A proper Munich institution.

A great walk up and the best free vantage point in the city once you're there. Go at sunrise if you want it without the crowds.

The big outdoor pool steaming in freezing air is the whole point - December makes it better, not worse. Go early or go late.

A haircut as a piece of history - a proper old Milanese barbershop where everything is done the slow way. Book ahead.

Walked the grounds and courtyards - a good wander even without going into the museums.

The day trip from Naples. Give it a full day and go early - the scale of the place doesn't come across until you're standing in it.

The neighbourhood to base an evening in - dense with bars and cafés, market stalls by day. Don't plan it; just wander.

Cold War-era neon signs rescued from across Poland and restored in a Praga warehouse. Small, glowing, and genuinely worth the trip across the river.

Shooting range where you can work through a whole rack in one session. Shot many guns; grinned the entire time.

Thermal baths a short drive from Zakopane - hot outdoor pools with Tatra mountain views. Exactly what you want after a day on the trails.

Karting at the Autódromo complex in Portimão - a fast, proper circuit, not a seaside hire-kart operation.

Did a lesson with a pro at the resort - a great way to make use of the famous courses without committing to a full round.

Hiked around Buñol and swam in the pool under the waterfall - a sixty-metre drop into emerald water, under an hour from the city. Go on a weekday if you can.

Midsummer night on the main beach - bonfires, fireworks, and the whole city in the water at midnight. If you can time a June visit around it, do.

A repeat visit every time I'm in town - go hungry and graze. The Brindisa tapas bar is the sit-down pick, and Richard Haward's Oysters is a tradition for me - the largest and freshest oysters I've had in a city.

Worth a walk end to end - markets, bagels and a lot of character per metre.

A good post-work drinks spot - especially on a Thursday when the weather's good and half the City has the same idea.

Walked it end to end - climb to the Observatory for the view down over the Queen's House to the river and Canary Wharf. One of London's best free afternoons.

Beautiful, free, and quieter than it deserves to be. The Tulip Stairs alone are worth the visit.

A little western mining town built into the cliffside. Worth the winding drive up on its own.

Old Town is a must - friendly locals, good dining, and an easy casual beer-and-burger scene. Head over to Tempe when it's time to party.

Some of the most beautiful hiking I've done - Airport Mesa at sundown is unreal. The town itself is expensive and skippable; the rocks are not.

The museum of the wild west in Old Town - fun if you have an interest, and especially good on movie history.

A lovely walk - pair it with the zoo and make a day of the park.

Lots to see and very well laid out for such a historical zoo. Saw Komodo dragons! Give it the better part of a day.

Worth it for the sunset - but google the estimated sunset time and get there at least an hour to an hour and a half early to claim your spot.

Ride over the Golden Gate, eat and drink well in Sausalito, then catch the sunset ferry back across the bay. One of the best days out the city has.

A destination in itself - sea lions, chowder stands, and boats. Lean into the tourist thing for an afternoon.

A great visit in the day and lovely at night, when the neon lighting comes on around the gardens.