The birthplace of the Ford Motor Company, Detroit received its nickname of "Motor City" thanks to its rise as the center of mass production of motor vehicles. The city has thrived despite its somewhat negative reputation in recent times, developing into a dynamic metropolis with heaps to offer visitors. Countless artists and singers have celebrated Motortown for its charm.

Patras is a city of compelling layers. Its history spans four millennia, from ancient Mycenaean roots to a 19th-century golden age, all visible in sites like the hilltop Medieval Castle and the reconstructed Roman Odeon. Today, as a major university town and economic hub, it thrums with youthful energy, evident in its dynamic cultural scene and the legendary Carnival week. It’s a gateway to the Peloponnese peninsula, just a short ferry ride away from Italy and only three hours away from Athens. Choose your adventure!

The Blue Mountains get their name from the natural blue haze created by vast eucalypt forests in this World Heritage area. Tiny droplets of oil released from the trees mix with water vapour and sunlight to produce the distinctive colour. Enjoy crisp mountain air, beautiful panoramas, charming villages, one of the world’s oldest cave systems, and exhilarating adventures in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney. You can even see dinosaur trees in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. This is a great Australian escape and a natural wonder of the world.

Welcome to Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, where giant pandas delight tourists at the Chengdu Breeding Research Base. Though a modern city, Chengdu is where life happens in the back streets, with crowds waiting outside hot-pot restaurants, and tea houses abuzz with mahjong players and their noisy tile-shuffling game.

“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.