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Lisbon, Portugal
Start in the hilly Alfama and Bairro Alto neighbourhoods, and ride Tram 28. Try pastéis de nata in Belém and budget-friendly hostels with a lively backpacker scene.
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Barcelona, Spain
See Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, then wander the Gothic Quarter. Eat tapas in El Born and spend an afternoon at Barceloneta beach.
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Istanbul, Türkiye
Visit the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Take a ferry across the Bosphorus and eat cheap simit and kebabs in Kadıköy.
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Cairo, Egypt
Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum, and explore Khan el-Khalili market. Try koshari at a local spot and agree taxi prices in advance.
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Go up the Burj Khalifa, then explore the old Al Fahidi district and the souks by abra boat. Budget is tighter here, so focus on free sights like the beach and Dubai Fountain.
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Delhi, India
Explore Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk for street food, plus the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb. Use the metro to get around and take a day trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
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Kathmandu, Nepal
Base yourselves in Thamel and visit Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath. Eat momos, and use the city as a launch point for a Himalayan trek.
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Bangkok, Thailand
See the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, then eat pad thai and mango sticky rice at Chinatown's Yaowarat Road street stalls. Take river boats and the BTS to avoid traffic.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Explore the walled Old City temples and the Sunday Walking Street market. Do an ethical elephant sanctuary visit and hike up Doi Suthep.
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Hanoi, Vietnam
Wander the Old Quarter and try phở and bún chả on plastic stools. Book a Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh trip from here.
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Visit the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market, and sample bánh mì from street vendors. Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat and explore Bayon and Ta Prohm temples by tuk-tuk. Pub Street offers cheap eats and nightlife in the evenings.
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Singapore, Singapore
Eat affordable hawker food at Maxwell Food Centre and walk Gardens by the Bay. Explore the Little India and Chinatown neighbourhoods.
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Ubud, Indonesia
Walk the Tegalalang rice terraces and visit the Sacred Monkey Forest. Rent a scooter or hire a driver, and enjoy cheap warungs and yoga classes.
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Tokyo, Japan
Explore Shibuya, Shinjuku and the temples of Asakusa. Eat ramen and conveyor-belt sushi on a budget, and get a Suica card for trains.
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Kyoto, Japan
Walk through the Fushimi Inari torii gates and Arashiyama bamboo grove. Stroll Gion in the evening and try Nishiki Market snacks.
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Sydney, Australia
See the Opera House and take the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee. Ferries to Manly are a scenic, affordable day out.
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Cairns, Australia
Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, with snorkelling and diving trips from the marina. Also visit the Daintree Rainforest.
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Auckland, New Zealand
Climb Mount Eden for city views and take a ferry to Waiheke Island. Rent a campervan here to continue exploring the North Island.
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Queenstown, New Zealand
The adventure capital for bungee jumping, hiking and Milford Sound trips. Grab a Fergburger and walk the Queenstown Hill trail.
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Los Angeles, United States
Visit Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Observatory. Rent a car or use rideshares, as the city is very spread out.
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Mexico City, Mexico
Explore the Zócalo, Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Coyoacán and the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Tacos al pastor and mezcal in Roma and Condesa are cheap and excellent.
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Cusco, Peru
Acclimatise to the altitude, then visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Wander San Blas and try cuy or quinoa soup at local markets.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Watch tango in San Telmo and stroll Palermo and La Boca. Enjoy parrilla steak dinners and empanadas, which are affordable on the exchange rate.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, and relax on Ipanema beach. Stay in Santa Teresa or Copacabana and keep valuables secure.
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New York, United States
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Rome, Italy
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Paris, France
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London, United Kingdom
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Chicago, United States
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Zambia, Zambia
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Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
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Maldives, Maldives
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Beijing, China
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Yakutsk, Russia
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Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan