Top 5 exotic city breaks

Booking a trip to a far-away city in an exotic country can be one of the most thrilling holiday experiences you can have. Immerse yourself in new cultures, experience unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells, sample delicious local dishes… if you are an adventurer looking to explore far-flung reaches of the globe, an exotic city break is the perfect holiday for you. Here’s a list of our top 5 exotic city break destinations.

Manic and exciting, Bangkok makes a superb exotic city break for anyone looking to travel in south East Asia. The capital of Thailand, Bangkok is a bustling, noisy, colourful metropolis with elaborate golden temples and shrines to Buddha around one corner, go-go bars and neon-lit drinking holes around the next. Khoa San road is a favourite haunt for young backpackers and offers a lively base to see the city, although just a few streets away from this bustling road there are quieter hotels and guest houses more suitable for those on a family city break here.

Historically seen as standing on the divide between East and West, Istanbul is a city which looks in both directions, and offers an intoxicating blend of different cultures. Elegant minarets, medieval towers and impressive domes look out across the Golden Horn to the skyscrapers of the European side. There’s a great range of things to do on a sightseeing break here, including wandering round the Grand Bazaar, enjoy a Turkish Bath, visit Istiklal Street (famous for its shopping and entertainment), see the Egyptian obelisk, visit Topkapi Palace and much more.

 

Dubai has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the top luxury city break destinations in the world. Located on the Persian Gulf Coast and surrounded by the Arabian Desert, Dubai boasts some of the most stunning beaches on earth, great for those after a Middle Eastern beach holiday. Places of interest to visit include the Burj Khalifa (the tallest structure on earth), the Dubai Mall, man-made islands including the Palm Jumeirah, and the souks, selling an array of exotic goods.

An amazing climate, stunning natural surroundings and developed infrastructure have made Cape Town the most popular tourist city in Africa. The scenery here is like nothing you could see back in the UK, with impressive sights including Table Mountain, Cape Point and some world-class beaches a must-see. Those looking for an activity break in an exotic location will be able to take part in ballooning, kayaking, boating, river-rafting, horse-riding and even cage diving to view Great White Sharks, if you’re brave enough!

Labyrinth alleyways, snake-charmers, turbaned vendors punting all manner of extraneous goods, sprawling markets… Marrakesh is a crazy, exciting and sometimes bewildering city, ideal for anyone looking for an exotic city break. What’s more, the city’s location in North Africa makes it more convenient for those on family holidays than more far-flung destinations such as Singapore or Bangkok.