The 15 cities that should be at the top of your new bucket list

Some thriving metropolises are being rediscovered, with new reasons to push them to the top of your holiday list. Whatever your criteria – be it food, culture, architecture or nature – there’s a city with the goods.

Guimaraes, Portugal

Guimaraes’ enchanting architecture: Chapel of Saint Francis.Credit: iStock

Remember a few years back when everyone was going to Lisbon? Porto was the next Portuguese destination to take off; now it’s the turn of the northern town of Guimaraes. The country’s first capital is watched over by an 11th-century castle, and the beautifully preserved town is packed with picturesque buildings ornamented with colourful tiles and wrought-iron balconies. While away some time people watching in either Largo da Oliveira or Praca de Santiago, before taking a look at the impressive collection of Celtiberian artefacts at the Museu Arqueologico Martins Sarmento. See visitguimaraes.travel

Fukuoka, Japan

Foodies will be right at home at Fukuoka, famous for its rich tonkotsu ramen.Credit: iStock

Word is out about this foodie capital, birthplace of some of Japan’s most famous dishes including tonkotsu ramen. The largest city on the island of Kyushu, Fukuoka retains the easy-living vibe of a smaller city (including a super-easy airport connection – just six stops on the subway.) Eating is the biggest attraction here, especially dining at the city’s yatai, streets stalls sitting eight to 10 people at a time. Head to the Nakasu, Tenjin and Nagahama areas to check them out. Also worth exploring: the lovely Ohori park on the grounds of Fukuoka Castle, and the 130-year-old shopping street, Hakata Kawabata-dori. See visit-kyushu.com

Accra, Ghana

Meet friendly locals in Accra.Credit: iStock

Ghana has long been one of the most stable countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its colourful, creative and chaotic capital is going through a tourism boom. You can choose how much you want to throw yourself into the experience – dining either in traditional restaurants or at the cheap-as-chips “chop bars” – but look for ways to connect with the friendly locals, for instance by hiring a tailor to whip up an outfit using the colourful local fabrics. This is also West Africa’s nightlife capital but if you have come to party, be warned: things really only kick off around 1am. See visitghana.com

Merida, Mexico

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to outstanding museums like the Mayan World Museum.Credit: iStock

Most visitors to the Yucatan Peninsula head straight for the coastal towns such as Tulum and Cancun that seem to get all the press, which probably suits the good people of Merida just fine. The peninsula’s pretty cultural capital enjoys a more relaxed lifestyle and although it is home to some outstanding museums, especially the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, much of the joy of a visit here is simply soaking up the vibe. Head to Parque Santiago in the evening to enjoy live music, or to Plaza Grande on Sundays when traffic is shut out and street stalls take over. visitmerida.mx

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is already popular with American foodies. Now it’s time for Australians to discover it. Credit: iStock

American foodies have long raved about this city’s fabulous Mexican cuisine (the population is about 80 per cent Mexican, with another 10 per cent Native American), but there’s more to do in Tucson than eat. Explore Barrio Viejo, the largest barrio in the United States, which is a freshly minted National Historic Landmark; discover the thriving arts scene, from local galleries and studios to colourful murals and the impressive Centre for Creative Photography, which holds the archives of Ansel Adams among others; and enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert by hiking, biking or climbing. See visittucson.org

Montevideo, Uruguay

Cerrito church, Montevideo, Uruguay.Credit: iStock

Looking for a South American city where you can hit the beach in the morning and throw yourself into Carnaval festivities in the afternoon? Skip Rio and try Montevideo instead, home to the longest carnaval celebration in the world, lasting from late January through to March. No matter what time of year you visit, Montevideo – one of the continent’s safest, most inviting cities – offers many of the same delights as Latin America’s more crowded capitals, including a lively music scene (tango is big) and fantastic grass-fed beef. One thing is all its own: the 23-kilometre riverside Rambla is the world’s longest sidewalk. See uruguaynatural.com

Brasov, Romania

Brasov is Romania’s most alluring city.Credit: iStock

Romania is having a tourism boom (fans include King Charles III, who has been visiting the country for decades), with cost-conscious travellers discovering its magnificent forests and its Saxon towns and villages. The Transylvanian city of Brasov, founded by the medieval order the Teutonic Knights, is perhaps the country’s most alluring destination with its gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture. The old city walls are gone but several of the bastions still exist and offer great views of the old town. Don’t miss the atmospheric Schei district, where the local community was confined under Saxon rule, and allow time to explore the nearby mountains. See romaniatourism.com

Luang Prabang, Laos

Tad Sae Waterfall in Luang Prabang province, Laos.Credit: iStock

Laos’ most atmospheric city, the one-time royal capital of Luang Prabang, is more accessible than ever thanks to a Chinese-built railway that cuts the travel time from Vientiane down to two hours. That gives you more time to enjoy Luang Prabang’s many charms. Don’t confine your explorations to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed streetscapes: the MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary outside town works with respected organisations such as WWF, while the lovely Tad Sae waterfall is a great place for a picnic. The city’s newest hotel, MyBanLao, is in a former CIA headquarters: the “burn room”, where top-secret documents were stored, is now a whisky and cigar bar. See tourismluangprabang.org

Valencia, Spain

Valencia’s futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.Credit: iStock

Having nabbed the title of European Green Capital for 2024, Valencia is hoping to lure more tourists away from its more popular neighbours, Madrid and Barcelona. Certainly initiatives such as pedestrianising 207,000 square metres of public space and re-greening areas including the old riverbed add to the allure of this seductive city. Famous throughout Spain for its cuisine (this is the home of paella), Valencia also has outstanding architecture, from its elegant old town to Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences. The city’s cathedral even claims to hold the much sought-after Holy Grail, displayed in one of its chapels. See visitvalencia.com

Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia’s beguiling capital, Tbilisi.Credit: iStock

Georgia (the former Soviet republic, not the US state) is drawing increasing numbers of travellers, particularly to its beguiling capital. Tbilisi is one of the world’s oldest settlements, with signs of habitation dating back 6000 years, and a gorgeous melting pot. Churches, mosques and synagogues all sit side-by-side, not to mention the ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple and even Persian-style sulphur baths. You’ll be blown away by the food and wine on offer (Georgia has one of the world’s oldest wine cultures) and if you enjoy kicking on, the city’s nightlife is also happening. See georgia.travel

Lucknow, India

Lucknow: off the radar, until now.Credit: iStock

How has Lucknow remained off the tourist radar for so long? This north Indian riverside city, long famed for its class and its culture, has wide boulevards, parks and gardens and plenty of eye-catching architecture, from palaces and mosques to ornate train stations. The chowk, or old town, is a great place to wander, although if you are planning to hit the market, be warned: with 5000 stalls, it is not for the faint-hearted. The city’s greatest glory is its Mughlai and Awadi cuisines, celebrated throughout the country. See uptourism.gov.in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

More than Happy Days nostalgia – Milwaukee Art Museum.

The last time Milwaukee got this much attention, the Fonz and the gang were living large on the small screen in Happy Days (the show and its spin-offs, including Laverne & Shirley, were set in Milwaukee). Now the city – also known for its breweries and its Harley-Davidson museum – is having a renaissance. Vacant downtown lots have been reincarnated as the vibey Deer District, while new riverside walkways are being built along the Milwaukee, Kinickinnic and Menomonee waterways. The Milwaukee Art Museum has a large collection of Georgia O’Keeffe’s works, as well as pieces by Picasso, Monet, Rothko and Warhol. See visitmilwaukee.org

Bergamo, Italy

Bergamo is just 40 minutes from Milan by train.Credit: iStock

When COVID-19 first rampaged through Italy, the cities of Bergamo and Brescia were among the most devastated. This year they have hit the headlines for a very different reason, sharing the role of Italian Capital of Culture. Bergamo, in particular – just 40 minutes from Milan by train – is an appealing destination. The city is divided between the high city, its medieval streetscape surrounded by 16th-century walls, and the expansive low city, connected by cable car. Stroll the Sentierone boulevard and the picturesque Borgo Pignolo quarter, feed your art addiction at the Accademia Carrara, Palazzo Moroni and GAMec, and then fuel up on local specialties such as polenta and casoncelli pasta. See visitbergamo.net

Oslo, Norway

Oslo’s Opera House is one of many cultural attractions. Credit: Getty

Once the Scandinavian capital that existed in the shadows of Copenhagen and Stockholm, Oslo is on quite the high these days. Not only is it home to Sommero, one of Northern Europe’s coolest new design hotels set inside a landmark 1930s building, the city is also host to some extraordinary new museums. These include a new home for the works of Norway’s legendary artist, Edvard The Scream Munch, as well as the sprawling National Museum, both of which opened only in the past few years. What’s more, a new Museum of the Viking Age is set for a 2026 opening. See visitoslo.com

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah’s World Heritage-listed old town, Al Balad.Credit: iStock

Contentious as it is, Saudi Arabia is pouring money into its freshly hatched tourism sector and opening up sites around the country but when it comes to cities, Jeddah is where it’s at. The city’s cultural and commercial capital offers plenty to discover, from the World Heritage-listed old town, Al Balad, with its striking wooden balconies and latticed windows, to the 30-kilometre Corniche, home to the Jeddah Art Promenade and the Al-Rahmah mosque, known as the floating mosque. Divers will want to visit the nearby coral reefs, while the street food – from charcoal-grilled kebabs to tasty fritters – is another highlight. See visitsaudi.com