The terrace of ETH university and a favourite student hangout, this south-facing platform gives a lovely panorama over Zurich and its old town. Ride the historic Polybahn funicular up from Central, then sprawl in the sun with a picnic – there’s a student bar (BQM) just below for a quick bite.
One of the oldest bookshops in Thessaloniki, a charming little place near the White Tower specialising in foreign-language literature – English and German titles alongside guidebooks, maps and histories of the city. Check the board outside for upcoming events.
Tango runs deep in Buenos Aires, but the magic of La Glorieta is that it’s all locals – ordinary people gathering under the old bandstand in Belgrano to dance for the pure love of it. Turn up on a weekend evening for a free, genuinely moving open-air milonga; there’s a class by donation half an hour before if you want to join in.
Nairobi’s main souvenir market, right in the city centre, packed with dozens of stalls selling wood carvings, drums, soapstone, Maasai jewellery and clothing, alongside flower and food sections. It’s one of the best spots in Kenya for African crafts – come ready to browse and bargain.
The beating heart of Bologna’s nightlife – a street of cheap, unpretentious historic pubs where students and locals gather over a beer or glass of wine and endless conversation. Strolling its length is the surest way to feel the city’s free-spirited after-dark scene; by day it’s full of restaurants and pizzerie too.
A rare rooftop view over “the red city” from the terrace of the San Petronio basilica, opened in 2015 to help fund restoration work. Enter from the back of the church on Piazza Galvani, take the stairs or lift, and drink in the rooftops. Open in spring and summer; a small €3 registration fee goes toward the works.
Elegant Via San Felice is Bologna’s quietly stylish fashion street, mixing vintage and second-hand shops with polished boutiques and artisan goldsmiths, plus a few bars and restaurants to break up the browsing. A paradise for shoe lovers, and only five minutes from Piazza Maggiore.
Once a defensive point against Austro-Hungarian troops, this hilltop bastion is now where locals and visitors gather for the finest view over Sarajevo. It’s a 15-minute climb up from Bascarsija – worth every step as the Old Town and the bright City Hall (Vijecnica) spread out below. Time it for sunset.
“Vrahakia” means little rocks – the smooth stone top of the Areopagus hill, with a sweeping view over Athens and the mountains ringing the Attica basin. A wonderful spot for a morning coffee with friends before the crowds, and the Acropolis entrance is just a few steps away. Find the path opposite Cine Thisseio.
Time seems to have stopped in this coffee-house of well over a century, where regulars nurse a Greek coffee and hunch over the chessboard set out on every table. The walls are lined with photos of famous players; strike up a game (Karpov once played here in 1992) and ask owner Yiannis for a plate of meze.