Hassle Free Stays

Wander through Insadong, Seoul’s arts, and culture district Browse craft shops, galleries, antique stores, and souvenir spots Sample local snacks and discover hidden cafés and cultural gems Experience a more traditional side of Seoul between sightseeing stops

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.

Bibimbap and mandoo (savoury dumplings) are the name of the game at this Korean crowdpleaser. You're not here for the decor, you're here for some of the freshest, hand-folded dumplings in the city.   The signature dish is its kimchi dumplings, which you'll see owner Ki Dong Ra steaming to order, for $20 including salad and sauces on the side. There are just 21 seats but don't even think about booking to skip the queue - however, the food's fast and the tables turn quickly.   Open for lunch and reopening in the evenings for dinner, there's no alcohol served at this Adelaide fave, which also offers vegan and vegetarian versions of its dumplings and bibimbap (mixed rice).   Address: 3/26 Bank St

Avoid mix-ups by booking your stay with ibis using our simple, stress-free booking filters. Enter your chosen destination, travel dates and group size, and you’ll see all the ibis hotels ready to welcome your crew. Not sure if you got the right place this time? Use our interactive map to double-check the actual city you’re heading to — no geography quiz required. And if things do go sideways? Don’t panic. Wherever life (or Keenan’s booking skills) takes you, ibis is already there. Just search for the nearest ibis and we’ll help get your trip back on track, whether you’ve landed in the right city… or the sequel.

Address: Shop 11, 537–551 George Street, Sydney CBD   A rare unicorn in the CBD, Mappen still offers full meals for little more than a tenner. This fast-casual Japanese noodle bar is beloved for its efficiency: you grab a tray, move along the counter, choose your udon or soba, add a topping or two and you’re done.   The bowls are generously sized, the curry is hearty, and the menu is designed so you can get in and out quickly, ideal if you’re squeezing lunch between museum visits or matinees. It’s especially handy for anyone staying near Town Hall or Capitol Theatre. Lunchtime gets busy, but the queue moves at a decent pace, and if you arrive mid-afternoon or early evening, you’ll barely pause at the door.

So, how do you actually make use of a matatu in Kenya? Once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward.   Matatus operate on fixed routes that usually start from busy downtown hubs like Kencom, Ambassadeur Bus Stage, or Railways Bus Stage/Station. Each matatu has its route number displayed on the windshield, and the conductor (known as the makanga) calls out destinations with enthusiasm, so you definitely won’t miss your route.   Basically, every matatu has a driver and a makanga who calls out the destination to attract passengers and then collects payments before boarding.   Fares are very affordable, generally ranging between 20 and 100 local shillings depending on distance and traffic, though prices can increase during rush hour. Payment is usually in cash, but many now accept M-Pesa, Kenya’s mobile money platform. To get off, simply tell the makanga your stop. They’ll usually give you a nod or a shout when it’s time, but keep your eye on the route in case they forget. For first-timers, mid-morning or early afternoon rides tend to be less crowded and more relaxed.   Beyond the practicality, the matatu ride itself is part of the experience. You might strike up a conversation with a student heading to class or a shop owner off to the market. Nairobians are very friendly, and swapping stories or local food tips with fellow passengers is often the highlight of the journey.

Planning on getting around Phnom Penh by tuk-tuk? Here's your complete guide from prices and hailing apps to insider money-saving tips for a smoother ride.