New York City, NY

With some 1,400 galleries, New York City is a place that lives and breathes art—from the Van Goghs at The Met to the graffiti of the Bushwick Collective. For browsers and buyers, spring’s art fair season kicks off with the Affordable Art Fair (19–23 March), before heavyweight Frieze New York lands at The Shed in Hudson Yards (7–11 May). Whatever sells at the shows, it’s a boom year for museum openings. The Frick Collection moves back into its Gilded Age mansion in April after a much-anticipated renovation, while a new building for Harlem’s Studio Museum and an expansion of the New Museum on the Bowery both double their exhibition space. Or simply gallery hop around Chelsea on a Thursday night (aka opening night) to get your teeth into the city’s next big things.

London, UK 

Brits (and royal fans everywhere) have had plenty of opportunity for a bit of pomp and ceremony in recent years with the flag-waving pageantry of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and King Charles III’s coronation the following year. London is, of course, the heart of the royal action, home to palaces and parades (look out for Trooping the Colour in June), the Changing of the Guard (on four mornings per week), and plenty of history to keep kids fascinated (three queens of England were executed at the Tower of London). And 2025 brings happy news, with the King and Queen celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in April. Plus, for the second season, they throw open the doors to Buckingham Palace’s previously unseen East Wing, including that world-famous balcony.

Seoul, South Korea

From K-beauty to the K-dramas of Squid Games and Parasite, Hallyu (the Korean Wave) has rolled around the globe. Today K-pop is a billion-pound phenomenon, with mega-star groups winning AMAs (BTS took the first K-pop gong back in 2022) and performing at Glastonbury (Seventeen took to the Pyramid Stage last year). Seoul is the epicentre of the genre’s synchronised dance routines and catchy synthesised sounds, and K-pop tours take fans on up-tempo jaunts around top spots like the Korean Public Broadcasting station (where bands perform on weekly music shows) and cult hangout Starfield COEX mall. Members of BTS’s ARMY (as their fans are known) can visit locations from the boys’ music videos around town, or film their own with a K-pop dance class.

Bali, Indonesia 

A trip to Bali is the stuff of surf pilgrimage, the chance to carve up the Indonesian island’s powerful reef breaks and legendary left-handers like Uluwatu. Further west along the south coast, Canggu is the ultimate hip surf town lined with juice bars, yoga studios and boutique hotels on land, and rolling waves breaking just offshore. For beginners, or anyone looking to polish their pop-up, start with a lesson with local pro Yanto before navigating the lineup at popular Batu Bolong or Echo Beach. Afterwards, browse the custom boards at Folklore Surf and retro surf suits at Noserider Surf Club, explore the waterside temple at Tanah Lot, then hit The Lawn or La Brisa beach clubs for sundowners.

New Orleans, LA 

The Big Easy is the birthplace of jazz, producing greats including Louis Armstrong. Today, music still pulses through New Orleans’ veins, brassy tempos and bluesy beats rising from the music clubs that line Frenchmen Street. Never is that more true than during the annual Jazz Fest (24 April–4 May), when a huge symphony of musical styles, world food and traditional crafts takes over Fair Grounds Race Course. If you’re not in town then, learn about jazz’s African American history and cultural impact with a walking tour guided by local musicians. Founded in 1961, Preservation Hall on Bourbon Street is another essential stop, with intimate jazz shows almost every night of the year. Then swing into the night at the likes of Snug Harbor or The Spotted Cat to hear acts from musical legends to rising stars.

Bologna, Italy 

Rome might have its ancient history, Florence its art and Venice its romance—but if it’s Italian food you’re after, Bologna is the destination. Known as Italy’s food capital, the city gave the world ragù alla Bolognese, lasagna and mortadella, and that’s before you look to the wider Emilia-Romagna region, birthplace of balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese and prosciutto. Whet your appetite with a cooking class in 'pasta mama' Grazia’s kitchen, making fresh egg tagliatelle from scratch and learning the secrets to an authentic homemade Bolognese sauce. Next, tuck into a tasting tour around the city’s medieval streets, stopping at tiny pasta workshops, exploring the Quadrilatero market district, sampling traditional tortellini in broth and discovering the best gelato in town. This is somewhere to arrive hungry. 

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica 

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches and lush rainforests, but it’s also one of only five Blue Zones in the world, where people reputedly live better for longer. Whether down to the calcium-rich water, plant-based diet, family-centric community or simply the laid-back pura vida lifestyle, records indicate that the average lifespan here is an amazing 85. Tap into this good life on a Blue Wellness retreat at beachfront resort Nantipa in Santa Teresa, a programme inspired by local elders which combines waterfall hikes, volunteering at a medicinal garden and traditional foods like gallo pinto and ripe plantain. Santa Teresa, nearby Mal País, and Nosara further up the coast are all dotted with yoga studios and wellness centres, while the surrounding mountains are a grounding spot for trekking and forest bathing.