Many travelers love a city break, and a few days is often enough to make us feel like we’ve seen and done the things that matter. But there are some cities that deserve more than a long weekend of exploration. If you don’t want to feel short-changed as you head back to the airport, here are our picks for the best cities around the world where you should plan a week-long visit.
New York City
Go big on the Big Apple. With a week in New York, you can allocate a day to each of its five boroughs and have a couple left over to take a deeper dive into your favorite, or jump across the water to Jersey. While Manhattan’s attractions are well known, you might be less familiar with the Bronx, where you can stroll through its botanical garden or catch a Yankees game. Queens promises neighborhoods such as Astoria, home to the Museum of the Moving Image and the contemporary art of Noguchi Museum. It’s also where you’ll find Flushing Meadows-Corona Park where you can kayak or paddleboard on the city’s largest lake.
From the southern tip of Manhattan, hop on the Staten Island ferry. Don’t content yourself, as many do, with a view of the Statue of Liberty. Instead, once you disembark, catch a bus to the tranquil Chinese Scholar’s garden at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center or see the past brought to life in Historic Richmond Town. Finally, to Brooklyn: take in the view of Manhattan’s financial district from across the East River and ride Jane’s Carousel, now a century old. Hang out in trendy Williamsburg, relax in Domino Park and pose for selfies inside retro subway cars at the New York Transit Museum.
Rome
You know what they say: Rome wasn’t built in a day. But you can't visit the Eternal City in 24 hours either. Stay for longer and you won’t feel rushed as you admire the well-preserved remnants of ancient Rome, like the Colosseum, Forum, and Pantheon. You’ll also have time to walk on the worn cobbles of the Appian Way, a strategically important route that was constructed more than 2000 years ago. But Rome’s visitor attractions aren’t confined to its ancient history. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, for example, both date from the 18th century.
In a week, you could also get to know a few of Rome’s most characterful neighborhoods, such as Trastevere and Testaccio. And of course, in Rome you get two for the price of one. Vatican City, the world’s smallest state, is entirely surrounded by the Italian capital and punches well above its weight in terms of must-sees. You’ll need more than a single day to do justice to St Peter’s Basilica and the vast square in front of it, the Vatican museums, the Sistine chapel and of course the colourfully-dressed Swiss Guard.
London
You’ll barely scratch the surface of what London has to offer in a week, but it will at least give you the opportunity to explore beyond the well-trodden sites. For instance, you might hop on the Tube to leafy Hampstead, haggle over antiques in Portobello Road Market or ride the elevator up one of Battersea Power Station’s newly renovated chimneys. Poke around the Thames in Rotherhithe, from where the Mayflower set sail more than 400 years ago.
In Spitalfields, immerse yourself in the seedy 19th-century world of the infamous Jack the Ripper. Wander through the cloisters and courtyards of the Inns of Court or hum your way to Abbey Road on a Beatles pilgrimage. Tackle quirky museums, such as the Postal Museum where you can ride a subterranean mail train, or the eclectic collection of salvaged neon signs at God’s Own Junkyard in Walthamstow. Even getting around is fun: board the cable car for an alternative view of Docklands and the O2 or embrace the adrenaline rush of a high speed RIB on the Thames.
Istanbul
A city that spans two continents and straddles the Bosphorus Strait deserves more than a few days. Istanbul was once the Turkish capital, and this vibrant metropolis has plenty to offer tourists. Begin in Sultanahmet, where you can tick off the cavernous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia before ducking underground to visit the Basilica Cistern. Once home to the Sultan, the fascinating Topkapi Palace warrants a full day to itself, as does the vast Grand Bazaar with its 61 covered streets and 4000 shops.
On the Asian side of the water, climb the Galata Tower for a remarkable view over the city. Explore Karaköy — once a port crammed with warehouses, its gentrified streets are now lined with boutiques, galleries, and cafés. Take a leisurely boat trip along the Bosphorus and admire some of the city’s most impressive properties from the water. Keep a look out for the 19th-century Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkey’s largest. Further on, the nature and beaches of Adalar (the Princes’ Islands) are the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Buenos Aires
You’ll need at least a week to get under the skin of Argentina’s vibrant capital. As you work your way from neighborhood to neighborhood ticking off the many sights, it’s not hard to see why the passionate and spirited Porteños are proud of their city. Begin in the Plaza de Mayo in front of the iconic Casa Rosada, the pink presidential palace. Across the square you’ll see the whitewashed walls of the Cabildo. Continue on to the museums and upscale boutiques of Palermo, or switch it up for bohemian San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio.
Among tourists, Buenos Aires is arguably best known for its nightlife, particularly its enthralling tango shows. You’ll even see couples performing sultry moves on the streets in the hope you’ll toss a few thousand pesos in a hat. Lively, colorful La Boca is one of the best places to find such dancers during the daytime. Catch a football game here too, particularly if your visit coincides with the Superclásico when Boca Juniors take on River Plate.
Cape Town
Cape Town has one of the most extraordinary settings of any city in the world. Its coastline is lined with glorious beaches, such as Camps Bay where you might follow a jog or cooling dip with brunch in an oceanfront eatery. Table Mountain is the city’s dramatic backdrop, so make the most of a clear day to ride the revolving gondola or hike to the top. Take in the far-reaching views while dassies scurry around in the fynbos at your feet. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden huddles against the lower slopes of its eastern flank, home to an astonishing array of native plants and trees.
With seven days at your disposal, you'll have ample opportunity to take a guided township tour or visit the historic Company Garden in the city center, the houses of Bo Kaap with their bold paint jobs and the storied Castle of Good Hope. Another must is the V&A Waterfront, a mixed-use space that combines a working quayside with shops, restaurants, the city’s aquarium and Zeitz MOCAA, a contemporary art museum in a repurposed grain silo. This is also where you’ll board the ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated; it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
