Nashville offers Southern roots with a modern vibe—it’s an accessible cool—ambitious but unpretentious—which makes it one of the most fun cities to drop into right now.

That Italian summer you’re dreaming of? It’s probably based on Puglia. Sparkling coastlines, whitewashed towns, linen shirts drying in the sun, and long lunches that turn into dinners. This is the “heel of the boot”, one of Italy’s most soulful, slow, and sensory regions.

Marseille is rough around the edges—the streets are covered in graffiti, old buildings are crumbling, and even the beaches are rocky rather than sandy. But it also has an undeniably good food scene, a stunning national park, lashings of culture, and a rebellious spirit that refuses to conform.

Cuba’s capital isn’t designed for easy consumption. It’s not curated for your feed or streamlined for convenience. Havana is vivid, raw, and unapologetically alive with music spilling from courtyards, conversations unfolding in its streets, and golden sunlight streaming across crumbling facades.

We don’t need much convincing to visit one of Greece’s mythical islands, but ECT Greece Expert, Christina Papavlasopoulos, has us sold on Crete. “Authentic is a word that we use over and over again in travel, but to me that’s what Crete is,” she says.

Think Panama City is just about the historic center? Then venture beyond Casco Viejo and let the modern city surprise you. Think it’s all concrete and glass? Walk the waterfront at sunset, spot monkeys in the rainforest, or take a boat to nearby islands.

Those who think the Caribbean is just for beaches and resorts should think again. Santo Domingo covers it all—historical sites, contemporary art, eclectic musical heritage, and an emerging food scene—all served with a dose of island attitude, of course.

Renaissance masterpieces, centuries-old palazzos, winding cobblestone streets, and sunlit stone rooftops—there’s no denying that Florence holds a certain kind of romance.

Beyond the tourist-favorites of the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, Prague’s neighborhoods are full of quietly cool pockets.

As the commercial capital of the country, the urban metropolis is often referred to as the City of Dreams due to its career opportunities in finance, media, tech and film (it’s the heart of the Bollywood film industry). For travelers, Mumbai offers the chance to experience the vast spectrum only India can provide.

Think of it as Sydney’s cooler and slightly grungier little sister. While Sydney can feel more polished and upscale, Melbourne has a grittier vibe with graffitied laneways filled with hidden cafes and distinctive bohemian neighborhoods.

Touchdown in Stockholm and one of the world's most beautiful waterfront capitals awaits. Built across 14 islands, Stockholm is often called the "Venice of the North" due to its stunning waterfront views, colorful historic buildings, and scenic bridges.

Nowhere else blends the future and the past quite like Dubai, largely considered the cultural and economic heart of the UAE. From futuristic shopping malls to architectural marvels and man-made islands, Dubai is a place that’s constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible.

Don’t arrive here expecting to find aesthetic grandeur as you would in Venice, Rome, or Florence. Milan is more of an industrial and international city—as Italy’s economic capital, it’s a business and financial hub that’s home to a global crowd. It feels more modern than other Italian cities, and as a result, it has more of a pace to it.

Helsinki isn’t your typical capital city—it’s compact (home to just half a million people), laid-back, unpretentious, and entirely surrounded by nature. Situated between the Baltic Sea and nearby forests, this water-facing city is bordered by the sea on three sides and is recognized as a UNESCO City of Design,

There’s no shortage of advice online for Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain, so we’ve done what we do best by covering the best places to wine, dine, shop, and experience the local culture beyond the iconic sites.

Dare we say it, but we think it’s impossible not to love Edinburgh. Scotland’s capital offers everything you look for in a city, without the cosmopolitan bustle that can often be overwhelming in other cities. True, it doesn’t get particularly warm, but the chill is all part of its cozy charm.

You might find the city charming or you might find it chaotic, but one thing is for sure—it is never ever dull. The best way to enjoy Hanoi? Pull up a street stall, order some heavenly food, and watch it all unfold in front of you. 

A combination of rugged landscapes, sparkling coastlines, and rustic villages has made Mallorca one of Europe’s top-visited destinations. Located off the eastern coast of Spain, Mallorca’s reputation has evolved over the years from a quiet, secluded Mediterranean island, to one of the first all-inclusive travel destinations, to a bohemian escape for artists.

The juxtaposition of ‘new meets old’ is thrown around a lot in travel, but Cairo takes it to the extreme. Where else can you see ancient iconic marvels and centuries-old mosques sitting alongside a rapidly modernizing metropolis? This striking contrast is just one of the reasons why few cities in the world offer an experience like Egypt’s capital.