I love a good, long trip as much as anyone, but let’s face it: Not all travelers have the luxury of spending weeks or months in a single destination. Unfortunately, many would-be travelers take this to mean they simply shouldn’t bother travel.
But, in fact, being time strapped doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an awesome, all-around travel experience. Visit any of these “one-size-fits-all” cities for to pack a vacation that’s big on experiences into a small span of time.
Singapore
Tiny Singapore packs a big travel punch
Singapore has been independent from Malaysia for just over half a century. But during that time, it has carved itself out not only as an economic superpower, but as a destination for any kind of travel.
Foodies will delight in Singapore’s wonderful cuisine while beachgoers will find themselves at home on the sandy shores of Sentosa Island. Feeling wild? Head to Singapore’s cage-free zoo. Or, if you crave a more urban jungle, experience Singapore’s amazing nightlife.
Ironically, the most-attractive feature for people who travel to Singapore is how easy it is to get out, thanks in large part to Singapore-based low-cost airline Tiger Airways. My tip? Spend the weekend in Singapore, then jet off to a more exotic locale like Thailand, Malaysia or even Myanmar come Monday.
Tel Aviv
In Tel Aviv, beautiful beaches are just the beginning. Like Singapore, Tel Aviv is something of a city-state. (Most any Israeli you meet when you travel to Israel will answer “Near Tel Aviv” when you ask him where he’s from).
As a city,Tel Aviv is a bit like Miami meets NYC on the Mediterranean. For every all-night party, there’s a museum worth waking up at dawn; for every stretch of pristine beach, there’s manmade architecture that’s just as impressive.
Another thing Tel Aviv has in common with Singapore is how well-situated it is for excursions. Feeling biblical? Visit Jerusalem or even Bethlehem. Alternatively, natural wonders like the Dead Sea, Negev Desert and the Sea of Galilee are mere hours away by bus, car or train.
São Paulo
São Paulo is sure to satiate your travel hunger. São Paulo gets a lot of shit for being dangerous, chaotic and even downright ugly — and I’m not here to argue against any of these characterizations.
What I will say is that just as easily as São Paulo can disappoint those who travel to Brazil, it can also dazzle. Love art? The Museum de Arte de São Paulo, or “MASP,” is a work of art, in and of itself. Hungry? Enjoy sumptuous feijoada, or pasteís de bacalhau at São Paulo’s Mercado Municipal.
São Paulo might be a big, busy city, but it’s just over an hour by bus from some of Brazil’s best beaches. Feeling really adventurous? Take a night bus to the Iguazu Falls.
Naples
Naples, with Mt. Vesuvius towering in the background. Literally every Italian whom I told I would visit Naples during my recent travel to Italy was alarmed. “Watch out for the Mafia,” they would say, no joking intended. “They’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.”
Once I arrived in Naples, however, I was much too busy enjoying myself to even think about the mafia. I could’ve spent a week only exploring Naples’ ancient center, parts of which are older than Rome.
But Naples is more than just a huge city. First and foremost, Naples sits just 90 minutes by train from Mt. Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii (or, alternatively, Herculaneum). Beach bums will find refuge on the nearby islands of Capri and Ischia.
Or, take a trip back to the Renaissance Era as you drive along the Amalfi coast, a scenic stretch of highway whose namesake city was at one time the sea of power in Southern Italy.
Melbourne
Make a visit to colorful, cool Melbourne a top priority. Sydney might be better known internationally, but if you’re looking for an Australian city that has it all, Melbourne is your only choice.
Hipsters will feel at home in trendy Fitzroy, while partygoers can let loose along Chapel Street in St. Kilda. Love Asian food? Melbourne’s Chinatown is one of the largest in the world. Melbourne’s even got beaches, even if they aren’t as tropical as Bondi in Sydney or the Gold Coast further north in Australia.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
