Stylish Stockholm is the perfect destination for a city break. With its chic shopping streets, historic old town and surrounding archipelago of picturesque islands, you’ll be spoilt for choice by where to visit. It’s best to travel here in the summertime, when the city is in full swing and you’ll be able to enjoy fika in the sunshine by a cobbled square.

Eat & drink

The Swedes are known for their ritual of fika, a daily coffee and cake break where you enjoy a cosy catch up with friends. There are many great places to try it in Stockholm - try beautiful Rosendals Trädgårdskafé, where you can enjoy homemade cake and coffee surrounded by fruit trees or in a foliage-filled greenhouse, or Chokladkoppen, in Gamla Stan (the Old Town.) This cafe is located on Stortorget, a very picturesque cobbled square, and is perfect for people watching. For a taste of Swedish seafood, head to the historic Ostermalm Saluhall (food market) to restaurant Lisa Elmqvist (named after its chef) which serves traditional fish dishes. For lunch, try the classic snack Skagen - toast topped with fresh shrimp and your choice of roe. At dinnertime, Bakfickan is the perfect place to try further traditional fare. Don’t miss their meatballs with potato puree, lingonberries and pickled cucumber, which you can follow with cloudberry souffle.

Sleep

There are fantastic hotel options all over Stockholm. For a characterful boutique hotel in the atmospheric Old Town (Gamla Stan), stay at the Victory Hotel. It’s located in a tall, colourful townhouse on the cobbled streets of the island, and has a charming nautical theme that’s carried through from the watercolours of ships on the wall, to the naval antiques artfully displayed around the building. If you’d prefer to be based out of the city, rent a cottage in the archipelago. Choose a classic red wooden cottage with flowers blooming outside the porch - many are available to book online (see www.airbnb.com.) The city is just a short boat ride away, and ferries run regularly in the summer months.

Explore

Pleasure island Djurgården is the perfect way to start your adventure. Located here is Skansen, an open air museum and zoo that shows the way of life in Sweden before industrialization. Watch traditional craftsman in historical dress including bakers, carpenters and glass-blowers, and wander around the zoo which houses native Nordic animals like moose, bison and grey wolves. Located nearby on the island is Vasamuseet, which houses the world’s only preserved 17th century ship. Wander around the different galleries, which allow you to peer into a different level of the ship, and give you a strong impression of the vast size of the ship and the lives of the sailors who lived there. Back in the Gamla Stan (Old Town,) the still inhabited Royal Palace is a fascinating place to look around. One of the largest palaces in Europe and home to the Swedish royal family, sections are kept open to the public including the palace church, library, theatre, and the beautiful baroque garden - perfect for whiling away a sunny day.

Shop

Swedish design - from fashion to architecture - is renowned all over the world, and there’s no better place to shop than the capital. The best of Stockholm’s luxury shopping can be found in Sturegallerian, an exclusive mall which houses 50 luxury boutiques and has plenty of fine dining options when you’re ready for a break. It’s also a favourite of VIPs and the Swedish royal family who are often spotted shopping here. For vintage fashion, head to Lisa Larsson’s boutique located in Sodermalm. She’s renowned for her careful eye and the shop is a favourite of celebrities, stocking beautiful second-hand fashion from the 1930s to 1970s.

From Seminyak with its luxe hotel, bar and shopping scene to sleepy Ubud, home to artists and an annual literature festival, Bali combines stunning beaches, great surf and a sense of wellness that calms everyone who visits. Make sure you feast on local Balinese food in roadside warungs or book a table at one of the many fine dining establishments, which utilise the incredible variety of fresh produce on the island; from chocolate to salt. Visit stunning Hindu temples, rows of lush rice paddies and hike up to the tops of volcanoes for a birds eye view - you’ll leave already planning your next trip.

Eat & drink

From traditional Balinese cooking to organic cafes and fine dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice by the variety of very affordable food options. Try The Damai Restaurant in peaceful Lovina on Bali’s north coast, which whips up five course organic menus using produce grown in their own market garden. Their locavore offerings also include fresh seafood caught by nearby fishermen and extra virgin coconut oil made by friends in their village. Don’t miss an authentic Balinese , warung, or family-run cafe, for a taste of homestyle Indonesian cooking. In Jimbaran, wander along the warungs located on the beach to order fresh barbecued seafood by the kilo, and eat it by candlelight looking out to sea.

Sleep

Many of the accommodation offerings in Bali combine eco friendly approaches with luxe design and facilities. Book a room at the Hanging Gardens Ubud for a stay to remember, and enjoy soaking in its dreamlike glass-sided infinity pools, which hover over the lush rainforest below. Each room is equipped with its own mini infinity pool, and you can opt to have dinner while soaking next to the spectacular view. If you’re after a hotel with an award-winning spa, try COMO Shambhala Estate, located close to Ubud. Its rooms are a chic rendition of traditional Balinese architecture, with thatched, teak beamed roofs and white washed walls. The onsite spa is globally renowned and the hotel also offers other activities guaranteed to heal you, like guided nature walks and private outdoor yoga.

Explore

You’ll never run out of things to do in Bali - the mixture of stunning natural landforms, temples and wildlife is unforgettable. The list of outdoor activities available in Bali is endless. Choose between snorkeling, surfing or a hike in Bali Barat National Park to spot beautiful nusa deer, flying foxes, black giant squirrels and the endangered Bali starling. In Ubud, wander among the atmospheric trees of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace, with its lush green slopes of crops. Visit some of the historic temples here like Tanah Lot Temple in Beraban, which rises up from a rugged rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean, and Gunung Kawi, Bali’s oldest religious monument with ten beautiful shrines carved out of a cliff face.

Shop

Whether it’s high end designers or wares from local craftsman, it’s easy to find a wide array of shopping in Bali. Head to Seminyak for streets of sparkling boutiques from both global and local designers. Visit Cargo, for beautiful renditions of traditional Balinese homeware, like baskets and ceramic vases. Biasa was founded by Italian born designer Susanna Perini and crafts stunning resort wear using eco friendly techniques like natural dying If you’d rather take home a handcrafted souvenir visit the Art Market in Ubud. Taking place daily, the market is a delightful maze of wicker bags, detailed batik fabrics and chic candles, in local scents like coconut and frangipani. Many of the goods are made in nearby villages by talented artisans.

Marrakech is only a few hours drive from most countries in Europe, but feels a world away. The city awakens your senses, from the dusty pink walls of the Medina (old city), and the blue-tiled courtyards of local riads (guesthouses,) to bustling souks and hip nightclubs, and saffron scented food. It’s the perfect place for a weekend break, and the number of boutique hotels and luxurious spas means you’ll be treated to a trip you’ll never forget.

Eat & drink

Restaurants in Marrakech often combine beautiful decor with top notch food. Al Farria is a Moroccan fine dining restaurant that is exemplary of this - surrounded by richly toned decor, you can feast on local classics executed perfectly, like roast leg of lamb, beef tagine with sweet prunes and almonds, and pigeon pie. Don’t miss their dessert menu, where local sweets like filo pastry with almonds and milk end your meal on a high note. Le Marocain is another classic restaurant where you can dine in ambiance. It’s located next to the garden at La Mamounia, and serves up 14 course feasts on a terrace with a view of the stars. Try their Tangier lobster tagine or couscous with foie gras.

Sleep

There’s a range of different accommodation on offer in Marrakech, but some of the best include hotels which are uniquely Moroccan. Caravan Serai is a cluster of traditional ochre Berber mud houses with charming features like eucalyptus ceiling beams and rustic wooden doors, overlooking a beautiful courtyard. Located just outside of Marrakech is Kasbah Agafay, a converted hilltop fort in the middle of the desert. From your room you’ll see views of rambling olive groves and the stunning Atlas mountains. It’s position means you can reach the city easily, but you can also take part in a wide range of outdoor activities like yoga and camel rides. The hotel is also host to a renowned cookery school and onsite restaurant - where produce comes from the onsite herb and vegetable garden.

Explore

Marrakech is a historic city, and there are many beautifully preserved buildings in the centre of town. Musee de Marrakech is an art museum located in a restored early 20th century house, and now displays collections of Moroccan and Islamic art. Similarly, Ali Ben Youssef Medersa was once an Islamic school in operation in the 16th century, and was restored in the 1990s. You may recognise it from the film Hideous Kinky, which featured its peaceful courtyard with stunning ornate facades and central water basin as a filming location. Marrakech is also home to beautifully landscaped gardens. Visit Jardin Majorelle, created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, who tended it for 40 years after moving here in the late 19th century. There are more than 300 species of plants and the gardens are home to 15 bird species. Sit by one of the many fountains to relax.

Shop

Marrakech is famous for its shopping, most of all the atmospheric souks which form a maze within the old city walls. You can wander through each section - split by trade, with groups of stalls dedicated to wares like handwoven carpets, bowls of colourful spices, pottery and glass lanterns. Haggle for souvenirs as you squeeze through the charming maze of stalls and soak in the chaotic but charming atmosphere. Another fantastic place to buy local crafts is Kulchi - a high end boutique owned by Cassandra Karinsky, located near the Medina’s Bab El Ksour gate. Sold here are one of a kind products like raffia shoes from Essaouira, colourful Berber rugs and vintage prints of Moroccan daily life from the early 20th century.

Hong Kong, one of the most fast paced cities in the world, is one that blends British colonial history with rich Chinese traditional culture in a fascinating way. Its position as one the financial capitals of the world means thriving nightlife, luxury hotels and fine dining abound, but even street food here is worthy of Michelin stars, with several establishments being awarded the honour.

Eat & drink

Hong Kong’s position on an island has led to a blend of cultures - and blend of cuisines. For fusion cooking in a fine-dining context, visit Amber, located in five star hotel Mandarin Oriental (in photo) - which serves a well-crafted mix of French and Cantonese fusion and has been awarded two Michelin stars. Indulge in their Wagyu beef dusted with dried red onion skin and dulse seaweed powder. On the other end of the Michelin star spectrum, simple street food stall Tim Ho Wan in Kowloon’s Sham Shui Po District, has diners queuing for its exquisite Cantonese classics - like dumplings, pork buns and steamed cakes - which all sell for less than £1 but are cooked with such skill they were awarded the coveted star. For drinks, visit hip cocktail bar Iron Fairies, which has a cocktail list designed by famous mixologist Joseph Boroski, and is decorated with a spectacular swarm of real butterflies hanging from the ceiling.

Sleep

Hong Kong’s position on a mountainous bay mean some of the hotels have views to die for. Stay at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, which is located on the West Kowloon waterfront and tops record books as the tallest hotel in the world. The views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong from here are spectacular, and their sky bar Ozone, is the perfect place to unwind and watch the city at night. The Four Seasons Hong Kong is also home to winning views - located by Victoria Harbour, it’s close to some of the best upmarket shopping and dining in the city. Unwind after a day exploring the bustling city by soaking in their spectacular rooftop infinity pool.

Explore

A must see site in Hong Kong is The Peak, the highest point of Hong Kong Island. Ride the tram up to the top of the hill to enjoy watching the city slide past this historic funicular railway. At the top, views stretch around you - from the spectacular skyscrapers jutting out of the green surroundings, to busy Victoria Harbour and glimpses of the green New Territories beyond. Equally unmissable is a ride on the Star Ferry, which travels between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and has been in operation since 1888. It’s a historic and atmospheric way to travel between the two halves of the city. Museumwise, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware promotes tea appreciation and hosts tea demonstrations, all in an elegant colonial-era building. Hong Kong’s art scene is flourishing, and for a taste of local artist’s work, visit the art galleries in the Pedder Building - including Gagosian and Pearl Lam.

Shop

For luxury shopping with a local twist, visit the Prince’s Building, which houses craftsmen like jeweller Wai Kee - one of the oldest jewellery companies in the city and specialising in cultured pearls - and Ascot Chang, a renowned bespoke men’s tailor. If you’re interested in shopping for souvenirs from local markets, you’re spoilt for choice. The Ladies’ Market on Tung Choi Street is great for women’s fashion finds, Temple Street Night Market is home to fortune tellers and opera singers as well as trinkets and teaware, and Stanley Market is a traditional open-air market located in an old fishing market.