It’s all happening, and you’re invited

Valparaíso, Chile: Hillside colour and creative energy Why it's underrated: A visually striking port city of murals and steep streets, offering a strong contrast to more polished capitals. Don't miss: Ride a funicular, like the historic Ascensor Reina Victoria; walk downhill through Cerro Alegre to enjoy the street art; end at a spot with harbour views like Fauna Restaurant to watch the lights come on across the port. Try this local bite: Empanadas from a local bakery. Easy add-on: 1.5-hour bus to Santiago.   Thessaloniki, Greece: Waterfront walks and historic architecture Why it's underrated: Greece’s second city is all about food, history and atmosphere, with fewer crowds than Athens. Don't miss: Walk the waterfront in the late afternoon light and admire the iconic White Tower of Thessaloniki; explore Ladadika for bars and tavernas; stop by Modiano Market to see the city’s food culture up close. Try this local bite: Bougatsa with coffee in the morning. Easy add-on: 1-hour flight or 5-hour train to Athens for iconic sights and museums.   Tangier, Morocco: Crossroads energy and coastal views Why it's underrated: This city in North Africa offers a fast-moving mix of cultures, art history and market life, ideal as a first or last stop in Morocco. Don't miss: Wander the kasbah and enjoy incredible views over the Strait of Gibraltar; stop by the Tangier American Legation Museum to explore Tangier's cultural history; end the day at the legendary Café Hafa with sweeping views over the sea. Try this local bite: Fresh sardines near the Grand Socco. Easy add-on: 1-hour ferry to Tarifa plus ~2.5-hour train to Seville.   Busan, South Korea: Markets, coastlines and laid-back city energy Why it's underrated: A major city that feels calmer than Seoul, with distinct neighbourhoods and strong food culture. Don't miss: Explore Jagalchi Fish Market, Korea's largest fish market, visit the Haedong Yonggungsa temple with views over the sea, end the day in the buzzing neighbourhood of Seomyeon. Try this local bite: Tteokbokki and fish cake from a market stall. Easy add-on: 2.5-hour KTX high-speed train to Seoul.   Wellington, New Zealand: Compact culture and harbour views Why it's underrated: A creative, walkable capital in the Pacific that packs coffee, museums and scenery into a tight, easy-to-navigate centre. Don't miss: Start with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for an introduction to New Zealand's history, environment, and Maori culture; stroll along the Wellington Waterfront and keep an eye out for seals; finish by riding the Wellington Cable Car and watch the sun set from the Kelburn Lookout. Try this local bite: A flat white and a bakery pie. Easy add-on: 3.5-hour ferry to Picton for access to the South Island.

The best things in any city – the side street with the good food, the market that isn't in any guide, the neighbourhood that takes five minutes to fall in love with – you find those on foot. No app gets you there. Just start walking. Step out from your ibis hotel when you arrive and take a stroll. You'll get a feel for the area, spot things worth coming back to, and build the kind of mental map that makes everything easier for the rest of the trip. It's worth noting: in a 2025 Accor study of 9,000 travellers, 47% said eating local food is one of the things that makes a trip feel special. Most of those meals aren't in restaurants. They're on streets, in markets, and in the neighbourhoods you only find by walking into them. A good example: the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul – one of the world's great on–foot experiences, and impossible to do justice to from a transport seat. Looking for somewhere to eat while you're out exploring? Check out our local cheap eats guide for Sydney – or the Bangkok street food guide if you're heading to Southeast Asia. Take a guided tour on day one A walking tour in the first 24 hours is one of the smartest moves you can make in any city. Two hours and you've got orientation, history, local perspective, and a group of people navigating the same place at the same time. Food tour, history walk, neighbourhood crawl – most cities have free options through local tourism boards. Not sure where to start? Ask the Heartists™ at your ibis. Use landmarks as anchor points Pick two or three fixed reference points near your hotel – a bridge, a square, something distinctive – and use them when the map isn't helping. Most ibis hotels sit centrally by design, which means most major landmarks are reachable on foot and most landmarks point back somewhere familiar. Rent a bike In cities built for it – Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Osaka, plenty of others – a bike unlocks a different layer of the city entirely. Local bike rental shops and city hire schemes make it easy to get started. Most cycling apps can route you through parks and dedicated lanes only, taking the stress out of urban cycling wherever you are in the world. Helmet on. Go explore.

Across ibis hotels globally, breakfast is designed to be: Fresh and generous Hot and cold Local and familiar ready when you are, from 6.30am onwards Clearly priced, with no surprises You’ll find international favourites alongside regional specialities. What stays constant is the standard: good ingredients, plenty of choice, and Heartists™ who keep everything running smoothly. No theatrics, just care, consistency, and calm. And for many travellers, breakfast at ibis is not just convenient — it’s great value compared with scrambling for cafés in the city centre, especially when it’s included in your rate.

Here's how to plan around your flight times. Short layover? Stay near Changi. Full day or more? Head into the city and keep your plans close to MRT stations.

It’s impossible to discuss the most beautiful cities in France without mentioning Albi, with its distinctive red-brick architecture and UNESCO-listed episcopal city – just the spot for a June break with family or friends. Affordable ibis Styles Albi Centre Le Theatro sits in the historic heart, and from there, you can stroll in gardens surrounding the Berbie Palace, admire the frescoed interior of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and catch the colourful works of Post-Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec at his namesake museum. Come evening, have a drink in the hotel’s rooftop bar and toast your holiday with panoramic views over the Red City.

Start with an IC Card such as Suica or Pasmo. These can be used across trains, subways, and buses, allowing you to tap on and off without needing to calculate fares. This helps avoid paying for incorrect tickets, prevents overpaying on short trips, and makes it easier to move between different lines without needing to buy multiple tickets each time.