You can do nothing on beaches anywhere, but Aitutaki in the Cook Islands takes it to the extreme, with a pace so slow you’d swear time was suspended.
Admit it. Sometimes on holiday we secretly want to abandon the must-sees and must-dos. Truth is, we aren’t always that into Renaissance art or Mughal miniatures, and we’ve seen enough cathedrals to last a lifetime.
What we secretly want to do is kick back, relax, and let an afternoon or two drift by, with nothing achieved but peace of spirit. We aren’t wasting time: we’re living in the moment.
Besides, hanging out isn’t just about doing nothing, although there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a chance to soak up culture and street life, meet the locals. You’ll get a better feel for a destination than you ever do from an art gallery or palace, and that’s surely time well spent.
So where are the best places to do nothing but sip coffee, have brunch, read a book, sit in a park, or soak up the sun? Here are 15 top do-nothing activities you should be sure to enjoy on your next trip, and the best places in which to do them.
Park life
Where Paris, France
Flop zone … the National Residence of the Invalids, Paris.Credit: Adobe
The lowdown Paris has some of the world’s most elegant urban parks. With their formal layouts, statuary, wrought-iron benches and palace backdrops, they immerse you in a French sense of place. Parklands, woods, Seine riverbanks and squares such as beautiful 17th-century Place des Vosges are all equally relaxing alternatives. Best of all, they don’t cost a centime.
Nothing doing Buy yourself a picnic baguette and cheese and while away a sunny afternoon. Otherwise, sit on a bench and stickybeak at passers-by, or cuddle your companion. Float a model boat on an ornamental pond with the local kids. Feed the swans. Stroll under the plane trees and smell the roses.
Top spots Jardin du Luxembourg for formality and flowerbeds, Jardin des Plantes if you have children, Champ de Mars for a banging view of the Eiffel Tower, and Parc de la Villette for its open-air cinema. The Tuileries near the Louvre has art with fresh air: it’s dotted with sculptures by Auguste Rodin, as are the grounds of the Rodin Museum. For something different, Parc Andre Citroen fuses greenery with metal, water and colour in a very appealing way. See parisjetaime.com
Soak up the view
Where Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Don’t rush… settle in for an epic sunset on Ipanema Beach.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The lowdown Rio has one of the world’s most sumptuous settings, so why not slow down and soak it up instead of charging up to Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain like every other tourist? Beautiful bays and beaches, voluptuous hills and the tumble of rainforest in the background provide dramatic vistas at every turn.
Nothing doing Don’t rush. Sit on seawalls and absorb the scenery, not to mention the passing parade of beachgoers. Perch at a viewpoint and linger as others come and go. Find a spot for a cocktail, a freshly squeezed juice or a coffee. Most of all, don’t budge for an hour over sunset: the changing colours and shadows will gladden your soul.
Top spots Waterfront neighbourhoods Urca and Niteroi are lovely, but your best sunset spot is the Arpoador peninsula, which separates the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches and has superb views of mountains and humped rocks. For hills, your best picks are Vista Chinesa, Mirante do Pasmado or Pedra Bonita, from which you can watch hang-gliders take off. Bohemian neighbourhood Santa Teresa has ocean views from its plunging streets. See visitbrasil.com
Hang out at a rooftop bar
Where Bangkok, Thailand
View at the top… Vertigo at Banyan Tree in Bangkok.
The lowdown Bangkok’s famous skyscraper bars – situated above the cacophony of the street, presided over by top-level mixologists and suave servers – offer sunsets worth eyeballing. After dark, it feels as if you’re suspended between the glittering lights and twinkling stars. These spots are Instagram-ready, reasonably priced (compared to Australia, anyway) and considerably chic.
Nothing doing Isn’t bar culture the definition of doing nothing? Chit-chat, solve world affairs, gaze into a pair of loving eyes, swirl your drink, clink your ice cubes, enjoy the breezes and the outlooks. Some bars have telescopes for gazing at the heavens and pondering the mysteries of the universe.
Top spots Two of the originals – and still among the best – are Moon Bar and Sky Bar, with staggering views, great drinks and clever snacks, such as grilled scallops with toasted hazelnuts. Other great perches include Red Sky, Octave Rooftop Lounge and The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar. ABar Rooftop is small but specialises in gin, with an impressive international selection. Whiskey lovers should head to Alfresco 64, beer drinkers to Belga Rooftop Bar, and devotees of bubbly to CRU Champagne Bar. See amazingthailand.com.au
Stroll the streets
Where San Francisco, United States
Escape the urban feel altogether at the sprawling Golden Gate Park.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown American cities are seldom the place to be a flaneur (one who strolls about and observes society), but in San Francisco – an exception to the rule, along with New York – you can go car-free without feeling like a misfit. Outdoor dining initiated during the pandemic has remained, adding to the street buzz. Walking also means you avoid historic streetcars (hard to see out of, jammed with tourists) and rough buses.
Nothing doing Walk around the city core (or hop on a bike) and you’ll appreciate each district’s distinctive feel, architecture and cuisine. There’s every reason to pause at an outdoor restaurant to rest your legs and exercise your tastebuds, with Mexican in The Mission or Italian in North Beach.
Top spots Russian Hill has steep streets with unexpected vistas, Pacific Heights lets you stare at millionaires’ mansions, Chinatown is colourful and cluttered. The Embarcadero leads along the waterfront with outlooks to Alcatraz. Meanwhile, Presidio has good hiking trails and great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. To escape the urban feel altogether, head to sprawling Golden Gate Park, where a herd of bison roam. See sftravel.com
Wallow in wellness
Where Ubud, Indonesia
Green peace … rice terraces, Ubud, Bali.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown Sometimes all we crave in this hectic world is rest and well-deserved pampering, and nowhere provides that more than Bali’s chilled-out hill town of Ubud, where luxury resorts and wellness centres abound. Get pummelled and refreshed, then flop in a plunge pool and gaze at lush views. Bliss.
Nothing doing Balinese massage is based on a variety of pressures and aromatic oils such as ylang-ylang and sandalwood. A scrub or wrap generally follows, featuring local ingredients such as coconut or volcanic clay. Try the boreh, a herbal scrub for aching muscles that uses a paste made from cloves, ginger and nutmeg, and the Javanese lulur, a massage and exfoliation followed by a soak in a petal-strewn bath.
Top spots Pita Maha Resort might have the best boreh; Puri Wulandari the best lulur. The spa at Kamandalu Ubud Resort is surrounded by lush rice terraces above the gurgling Petanu River – a tranquil oasis that supplies energy-restoring magic before treatment even begins. Also on a secluded hillside is Maya Ubud Resort, where the spa speciality is a gentle four-hands massage. See indonesia.travel
Bum out on a beach
Where Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Blue heaven on Aitutaki.
The lowdown You can do nothing on beaches anywhere, but Aitutaki takes it to the extreme, with a pace so slow you’d swear time was suspended. Even better, you won’t feel compelled to do or see anything on this glorious island, surrounded by what is surely the world’s most dazzling and bluest lagoon.
Nothing doing The lagoon edge runs for 45 kilometres and is sprinkled with tiny motu or sand islands, so hire a boat, pick a spot, and you’ll have paradise all to yourself. Go barefoot, twang on your ukulele, have a swim, say hello to the hermit crabs. On the island, all there is to do is drink beer on a verandah, chat with a passing local, or fish from a jetty.
Top spots Maina Motu has coral formations that are great for snorkelling. You’ll probably have company on One Foot Island, but it couldn’t be better for a Robinson Crusoe walk and dip in peacock-coloured water. Mainland Ootu Beach beckons with more sand-flopping under the coconut trees, while Maunga Pu peak is the perch for sunset. See cookislands.travel
Get into a lather
Where Marrakesh, Morocco
Hammam at Royal Mansour Marrakech Spa.Credit: Leading Hotels of the World
The lowdown Hammams – whether simple village baths or ornate, historical venues rich in tile work and stained glass – are central to Moroccan social culture. You’ll have to shed your inhibitions and your clothes, but you’ll experience a terrific local custom that’s perfect for unwinding after the hurly-burly of the bazaars.
Nothing doing Progress from a dimly lit warm room to a more challenging hot room, then cool off and lather yourself in black soap made from olive oil, and perhaps clay from the Atlas Mountains. Sit for a while – gossiping is the norm – before washing down with a loofah. If you really want to do nothing, an attendant will scrub you instead. You can also get massage treatments with rose petals or argan oil in some hammams.
Top spots The ultimate Marrakesh hammam is Royal Mansour Marrakesh Spa, a modern masterpiece of marble inlay, glass and tranquillity that combines other wellness amenities too. Other upmarket venues include La Mamounia, Villa des Orangers and the Four Seasons Spa. However, you’ll find a bargain-priced experience among the locals at public hammams such as Hammam Mouassine and Hammam Essalama. See visitmorocco.com
Down some beers
Where Berlin, Germany
Let time gurgle away … Prater Biergarten, Berlin.Credit: Alamy
The lowdown What this city lacks in mainstream sightseeing – bar outstanding museums – it makes up for with alternative neighbourhoods packed with beer gardens and microbreweries. Savour the ambience and pass a pleasant afternoon at one of these spots. You’ll find Germans at their relaxed best, yet seldom offensively drunk – and the communal tables are a great way to meet locals.
Nothing doing German beers are large and designed to be nursed, not chugged. Settle back and let time gurgle away. The only effort you’ll exert will be in perusing the menu and choosing a snack – think pretzels, cold cuts, grilled fish on a stick, or sausages with mustard and a bread roll.
Top spots The oldest beer garden (dating back to 1836) is Prater Biergarten, which serves up Berlin food specialities under shady trees. Fischer & Lustig, in what passes for Berlin’s old town, specialises in seafood and wine. Other great venues are BRLO Brwhouse (named for a Berlin craft-beer brand), leafy Fischerhütte on Schlachten Lake, Brewdog Berlin Mitte, and Vagabund Brauerei Kesselhaus, which inhabits an old lightbulb factory and conducts brewery tours. See visitberlin.de
Linger over a long brunch
Where Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Brunching poolside… La Piscina at the Versace Palazzo Dubai.
The lowdown Dubai is the brunch capital of the world – brunching is a social institution here. Dress up for a sense of occasion and pick an all-you-can-eat extravaganza at an upmarket hotel or restaurant for the full Dubai brunch bling (although you can have more modest brunches, too).
Nothing doing Take your time. Dubai is about lifestyle, not sightseeing, and brunches are an experience. Watch locals unwind and socialise. Make languid trips to the buffet; listen to live music. Some resort brunches (such as Torno Subito, La Piscina and Nikki Beach) throw in beach or pool access so you can relax deep into the afternoon.
Top spots Brunches abound. Some – such as Swissotel Al Ghurair and Jumeirah Mina Al Salam – are designed with kids in mind. Some are fancy – Eugene Eugene is an elegant French affair, Mimi Kakushi is Japanese. Others are modestly priced: consider Aloft Al Mina for Middle Eastern food and Shamiana for Indian. Some have a party atmosphere with music, confetti cannons and DJs, such as Buddha-Bar and Mama Zonia. Lucky Voice is for karaoke fiends. See visitdubai.com
Chill out over a coffee
Where Vienna, Austria
Cafe Sperl, Mariahilf, Vienna.Credit: Alamy
The lowdown Vienna can be a city for serious culture and sightseeing, but you’d be remiss if you didn’t take time to enjoy its frivolous side, best appreciated in coffeehouses, where the coffees are extravagant and the pastries are a culinary example of the baroque aesthetic in city palaces.
Nothing doing Plot revolution, discuss Freud, play chess or just enjoy the sugar hit. You can work your way through spectacular coffees such as the fiaker (kirsch and whipped cream topped with a maraschino cherry) or einspanner (espresso topped with sweetened, whipped cream and served in a glass).
Cafe Sperl, Vienna, opened in 1880.Credit: Alamy
Top spots Settle in at Cafe Sperl, former haunt of composer Franz Lehar, where you mightn’t find a merry widow, but you can enjoy the late-19th-century ambience. Locals read newspapers and fork up outrageous cream cakes. Cafe Pruckel is another historic coffeehouse, though its ornate decor has been replaced by a 1950s look; it has famously good strudels. Cafe Central, once the hangout of Trotsky and Freud, is also quintessentially Viennese. For something different, head to authentically shabby-chic 1930s Cafe Hawelka for plum dumplings and apricot cake in the company of university students and bohemians. See vienna.info
Five more relaxing but worthwhile pursuits
Bask in the urban outdoors of Athens
Cine Paris has the Acropolis as a backdrop.
Forget all those ancient stones. Why not spend time sitting on benches and cafe terraces in one of Europe’s sunniest cities? Even when darkness falls, while away time outdoors in Athens’ legendary open-air cinemas, which are set up at archaeological sites, courtyards and on rooftops. Cine Paris has the Acropolis as a backdrop. See visitgreece.gr
Burrow like a bookworm in New York City
While there are plenty of notable literary landmarks in New York, abandon sightseeing and potter through bookshops and local libraries instead. The Strand Bookstore is a classic, the interior of Albertine is a Francophone’s dream, and Book Club Bar serves cocktails. Children will love Books of Wonder. The city also has more than 200 public library branches – the main branch of the New York Public Library is a world-class destination. See nyctourism.com
Picnic in a park in London
London’s many green spaces ought to persuade you away from stuffy museums for a long lunch on the grass. Try Kensington Gardens, the romantic and elegant Holland Park or St James’s Park with its views of Buckingham Palace. Victoria Park, seldom visited by tourists, was London’s first public park (1845). It has a variety of lakes and formal gardens and is notable for summer music events. See visitlondon.com
Stride forth in the Swiss National Park
Switzerland’s only national park, near the Italian border, relieves you of the need to admire grand canyons or ascend crowded alpine outlooks – but still features ragged dolomitic peaks, abundant wildlife and hiking trails. The 9.5-kilometre Alp Trupchun walk takes you on a level three-hour stroll through varied alpine landscapes. Bonus: Rastplatz picnic spot, beside a mountain, invites languid enjoyment of your baguette and cheese. See nationalpark.ch
Go pub crawling in Dublin
You get living culture in pubs that you don’t get from static monuments: bubbling conversation, traditional music, history in every brick. Top spots include The Brazen Head, The Cobblestone, Davy Byrne’s, The Long Hall and Temple Bar. You can also visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about Ireland’s most famous product – and taste some at Gravity Bar afterwards, with views over Dublin. See visitdublin.com