“Rio is a beauty. But São Paulo, São Paulo is a city,” said Marlene Dietrich about Brazil's most cosmopolitan city. São Paulo is Brazil’s cultural as well as financial powerhouse, complete with a vibrant music scene, top-designer shopping, and delicious gastronomy, not to mention world-class museums and art galleries. All this is combined with the vibrant local life of Paulistanos, who will surely be easy to make friends with.

Cartagena de Indias reigns as the crown jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast — not for checklist attractions, but for its sheer atmospheric magic. Within its 16th-century stone walls (built to repel pirates like Sir Francis Drake), the city unfurls as a living postcard: pastel-hued colonial buildings, salsa rhythms spilling onto cobbled streets, and horse-drawn carriages clattering past vibrant plazas. By day, the scent of fried plantains and coconut rice fills the air; by night, rooftop bars hum with rum cocktails and sea breezes.

Orihuela truly has something for everyone. Excellent beaches, impressive natural expanses, unrivalled golf courses combine to create the landscape of the poet Miguel Hernández. The town's rich history and cultural heritage includes many areas listed as Assets of Cultural Interest, traditional festivals, and a varied gastronomy.

Skopje is internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa. The city is welcoming and locals demonstrate a hospitable attitude towards visitors. Despite the fairly recent political turmoil in the Balkans, Skopje has blossomed into a thriving, stimulating city to explore, defining itself as an exciting tourist destination.

Prosperity and extensive growth in the late 19th century was brought to Katowice by the coal and steel industry, turning it into a Silesian metropolis. Today heavy industry has disappeared, and new small businesses are creating a flourishing, modern city. Walk the beautiful old township of Nikiszowiec during the day and be inspired by art and music all over the city. Drop into the lovely shops, and when the evening comes be prepared to spend a long night dancing.