7 iconic city breaks, with a twist
It’s Zürich, Bangkok, Tokyo… but not as you know them. From urban swims to firefly festivals, discover new sides of these cities and spark passions to last a lifetime
The best thing about city breaks? It’s that they’re never the same. There are as many New Yorks, Tokyos and Bangkoks as there are travelers. And this is especially true when you step beyond the classic tourist trail and follow a passion—it’s then you can discover a fresh, surprising side to a city you thought you knew. So, for urban adventurers who crave unforgettable and unique experiences, we’ve sourced seven unexpected springtime itineraries to get inspiration flowing.
Dive into lido life in Zürich
When you think of the Swiss city of Zürich, you likely think culture and cuisine, but what many locals love best about their city is its urban lido culture. Visit in the spring to see a completely different side to the Swiss, when office workers sprint straight to the lake or river after 6 p.m., strip out of their suits and relax in their favorite sauna or swimming spot. Springtime is also when wildflowers erupt over the surrounding mountains, making this a great time to visit, perhaps combining a Swiss city break with hiking or biking the mountains—or even making a side-trip to Italy via a bucket-list ride on the panoramic Bernina Express.
Stay: The historic, eco-certified Storchen Zürich is right on the water, with Old Town views and its own private dock.
Discover Dubai’s wild side
Most travelers associate Dubai with futuristic hotels and glitzy shopping malls, but the city has some more analog attractions, too. In fact, it’s one of the best bird-watching spots in the Middle East, surrounded by purpose-built wetlands providing a home to hundreds of native and exotic species. With bird-watching exploding in popularity during the pandemic, a guided nature expedition around the expansive Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary—or a bird-handling experience with a local wildlife expert—will offer curious visitors the chance to experience a very different side to this ultra-modern city.
Stay: Nature lovers will adore Al Maha, just 45 minutes out of the city, in the stunning Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Now showing: a cinephile’s New York
Whether you’re a die-hard Mad Men fan, obsessed with Spike Lee’s Crooklyn, or able to recite lines from every Martin Scorsese movie, a set-jetting visit to New York brings you right to the filming locations of countless iconic TV shows and movies. Take your love of both film and NYC a step further in the spring, when outdoor cinemas begin to take over rooftops and green spaces (check out Rooftop Cinema Club—and keep an eye out for summer screenings in Bryant Park and Central Park). It’s the perfect way to indulge your love of movies amid the city’s skyscrapers.
Stay: The Roxy Hotel has its own cinema, a star-studded history, and plays host to the Tribeca Film Festival in June.
Bike around Bangkok’s fresh-air oasis
The busy and bustling Thai capital might not seem like an immediate match for bike-loving travelers. But in recent years, the city’s cycling community has reclaimed the streets, and the city has developed welcoming cycle routes and green spaces, such as Bang Krachao Island on the Chao Phraya River. Bangkok’s cherished “Green Lung” comes alive in the springtime, when you can cycle through mangroves and lush green rainforest, before continuing on two wheels through food markets, or even on a nighttime ride through the city’s neon-lit nightlife districts.
Stay: Luxurious hotel The Siam offers serene bike tours along elevated canal paths to Ayutthaya-era temples and floating markets.
Find unique Bangkok stays on Nom Life’s Travel Shop
Firefly festivals light up Tokyo
Any nature lover knows that springtime is synonymous with cherry blossom season in Tokyo, but the Japanese megacity is actually blessed with 72 “micro-seasons,” or kō, according to the traditional Japanese almanac. Among them is hotaru (firefly) season, a spectacular natural phenomenon when the glowing insects create breathtaking nighttime displays of twinkling bioluminescent lights. The annual hotaru exhibitions, nighttime boat trips, festivals, and myriad other events make for a magical celebration of the season.
Stay: The garden at Hotel Chinzanso is one of the best places in the city to glimpse the glimmers of fireflies.
A cultural guide to Tokyo
Get in on the aquatic action in Sydney
For water-sports lovers, Sydney sits high on the wish list, with a world-famous harbor and an ocean begging to be sailed, surfed or kayaked. You can always rely on adventurous Aussies to continually take things up a notch, however, and Sydney’s many water parks make it a must for adrenaline junkies looking to try the latest and most exciting aquatic activities. Head out west of the city for cable-skiing, knee-boarding and wakeboarding tricks at Cables Wake Park, or white-water rafting the man-made rapids of Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Just be sure to suit up in your safety gear and leave your fears at home.
Stay: You’ll find Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel beside one of the Harbour Bridge pylons—with nautical decor to match.
Watch whales in Mexico’s La Paz
Famed underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau dubbed the Gulf of California “the world’s aquarium,” and La Paz is known to be one of the very best places to spot whales, whale sharks and, May through July, massive schools of migrating mobula rays (they jump several feet out of the water—a sight you won’t forget). Take a light aircraft to spot animals from the sky, or swim among them on a snorkeling or scuba-diving excursion with one of the city’s conservation-minded operations. Later on, stroll the beautiful coastal promenade, gazing at picture-perfect islets surrounded by reefs, then pop into La Miserable, the coolest mezcalería in town.
Stay: Hip boutique Baja Club Hotel is Mexican-owned and sits right on the promenade.
Anna Hart is a culture writer specializing in adventure travel and positive-impact tourism. Her work has appeared in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and she is the author of the travel memoir Departures.
