Travel
10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering
Slide Nr 1Now is the best moment in years to visit (or revisit) your favourite cities. We showcase some of the newest highlights that have opened in ten top European, African and Middle Eastern cities in recent years, while also exploring some of the evolving travel trends and priorities at those destinations.
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 2AMSTERDAM – SWEETS hotel – As in most places around the world, the pandemic saw Amsterdam’s public areas suddenly empty of the usual tourist crowds. This has triggered serious debate on the future of the city’s tourism and how to prioritise sustainability. SWEETS hotel, however, has long been an innovator constantly looking for new ways forward. What makes it special: It’s one hotel spread across 28 repurposed ‘bridge houses’ formerly used by canal bridge staff. What to experience: The stay is the experience, with guests enjoying unique views above, across and onto the canals. [Photo: Mirjam Bleeker, courtesy of Sweets Hotel]
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 3BARCELONA – Poblenou – The Poblenou district has benefited from Barcelona’s search for a new touristic balance and identity post-Covid. What makes it special: Poblenou is a model example of how visitors can discover a different Barcelona by venturing beyond the tourist hotspots and exploring more authentic city districts. What to experience: Once a gritty light industrial area, Poblenou is now a creative quarter with eye-catching design and architecture, as well as new galleries and museums like the Can Framis Museum, specialising in contemporary Catalan art. There’s even an outpost of The Hoxton, the open-house hotel concept that started in London’s East End. [Photo: Museus VilaCasas/Wikimedia Commons]
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 4BERLIN – Tempelhofer Feld – Berlin encompasses a massive urban footprint of almost 900 sq km, but there’s so much more to the German capital than just its built environment. What makes it special: Sited on the city’s old airport, Tempelhofer Feld is rather unique. How often do you find 386 hectares of land in the heart of a modern capital simply given over to recreation use? What to experience: You’ll find all ages here, from sunrise to sunset, enjoying a myriad of sports and helping out in the urban gardening section, but the real appeal is the people and the sense of community. This is a place to unwind and convince yourself – at least for a few hours – ich bin ein Berliner.
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 6DUBAI – Museum of the Future – Dubai is already established as a city of superlatives, and this stunning new museum, which opened in February 2022, only adds to its appeal. What makes it special: The complexity of the torus structure (‘torus’ being geometry speak for ‘doughnut-shaped’) is enough in itself to draw many visitors. What to experience: The future! The museum actively invites visitors to see, touch and shape the interactive exhibits, which present visions of future technology, new worlds and new ways of living.
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 9OSLO – MUNCH – Surely nothing could symbolise the pandemic better than Edvard Munch’s The Scream. With apt timing, the new MUNCH museum opened in October 2021. What makes it special: With over 200 Munch works on permanent display, this is comfortably the world’s largest Munch collection. What to experience: Explore the rest of the new Oslo waterfront with MUNCH located adjacent to the Oslo Opera House and the Deichman Library, opened in 2008 and 2020 respectively.
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 10PARIS – Bourse de Commerce – Opened during Covid, this new museum is home to the contemporary art collection of French billionaire François Pinault. What makes it special: Housed in the Bourse de Commerce, the city’s former grain exchange, the museum building is a magnificent hybrid of its original structure – similar to the Roman pantheon – and star architect Tadao Ando’s modern conversion. What to experience: Architectural and artistic inspiration. Come for the architecture and stay for the art!
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10 City Destinations Worth Rediscovering.
Slide Nr 11ROME – Roam from Rome – Italy has been prioritising slow tourism practices post-Covid, with hiking trails to be extended to connect all 25 of its national parks, and with visitors encouraged to explore beyond the country’s famous city centre attractions. What makes it special: Our fave example of the new trend is to combine a visit to Rome with a horse-riding trip around the surrounding Lazio region. What to experience: Just imagine horseback-riding on the beach or around a beautiful lake, while relaxing with an agritourism stay and sleeping in converted stables.
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