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There’s a Welsh saying, “if you would get ahead, be a bridge”. As a gateway to industrial Wales, Cardiff has certainly done that. It was John Crichton-Stuart, the 2nd Marquess of Bute, who constructed the docks here during the 1830s, is often accredited with the creation of modern Cardiff and being the catalyst for the 19th century boom that saw it transformed from sleepy seaside town to the cultural and economic capital of Wales.

Yet Cardiff today is in large parts unrecognisable; gone are the sprawling docks, replaced by a sparkling waterfront development. Between the student quarter at Cathay’s, the neon lights of St Mary’s Street and the trendy clubs and comedy parlours of Cardiff Bay, Cardiff has become one of the trendiest cities in Britain, complete with arenas like the Millennium Stadium and the CIA which attract not only some of the biggest sporting events in the UK but also the biggest stars in the world.

Where to stay
The elegant Lincoln House Hotel combines period architecture and old-fashioned décor with a great location and friendly service. The Hilton at the heart of the city is a more modern alternative. The Park Plaza has great facilities and is well-placed for evening entertainment, but some rooms can be a little noisy.

Where to eat
Madeira is a popular Portuguese restaurant that gets very busy most evenings; Le Gallois caters to the fine dining crowd with an excellent selection of French haute cuisine; high quality Italian food can found at Bellinis.

What to see
Cardiff Castle, at the heart of the city, has a history dating back to Roman times. The Taff Trail is a 55 mile hiking/cycling path along a historic trade route, which takes in some of the very best of the South Wales countryside.

You could never accuse Queenstown of being shy; it wears its heart on its sleeve and practically drags you on an action-packed, thrill-a-minute, adrenaline junky’s dream ride. You want to jump from something high, or race down something steep, or explore something deep and dangerous? Perhaps wild river rapids are more your style, or maybe you’d just like to hang for a bit – several hundred metres above the ground.

Whether its rafting, gliding, skydiving, bungee-jumping, mountain-biking, land-boarding, extreme ironing or some other new and inventive way of scaring yourself witless, Queenstown can and does provide for the most impressive and joyous adventure.

Of course, you don’t have to get involved in any of the above; you could just take a stroll around the lake and take in the stunning sunset, or relax on the strip in any of the numerous eateries and watering holes. But where would be the fun in that?

Where to stay
The Queenstown Park Hotel provide excellent service and luxury, including fantastic wine and canapés in the evenings and local knowledge of tours and activities second to none. Brown’s Boutique is a quiet and charming option a small walk from the central parade.

Where to eat
Boardwalk specialises in seafood but also serves some superb cuts of beef and lamb and continues to beat off competition from many of Queenstown’s more recent fine dining options. Of those, Wai’s Waterfront Restaurant is particularly notable both for its fresh and creative menu and its fine location of Steamer Wharf.

What to see
Queenstown is a great place to try skydiving, bungee-jumping and a host of other adventure sports. You can also book air tours for some great views of the interior, while gastronomes will be delighted by a tour of the nearby Central Otago wine region.

The majestic Atlas Mountains are a fitting backdrop for this impressive Imperial city, whose ancient walls of mud and straw rise like molten gold from the surrounding red plains. Swaying palms line sweeping plazas pulsing with merchants and street performers, while the ancient mosques are as resplendent today as centuries before.

There’s a lot to admire here, if you get the chance, but itineraries have a habit of flying out of the window. Marrakech has a way of taking over, seducing you with her endless labyrinth of covered markets and enticing alcoves, hidden oases and unexpected treasures.

Buy a bottle of water and they’ll try to sell you a snake; politely refuse and you’ll be invited to share a drink instead. The only way to experience Marrakech for real is just to go with the flow. Be warned, however; that can feel like paddling a pedalo into a grade five rapid.

Where to stay
The Riad Noir d’Ivoire staff are well used to the disorientation that many guests experience upon arrival; the advice and care given is second to none. The Riad Kniza compliments a greta location with superb service and a fantastic in-house restaurant too.

Where to eat
To find Yacout, you’re led by lantern-light through the dusky maze, and atmospheric sense of anticipation this generates is the perfect sauce for the delicious traditional cuisine. Le Restaurant du Riad Monceau serves up a similarly superb menu, but in a more refined and modern setting.

What to see
The Medina of Marrakech is the medieval heart of the city, a World Heritage Site that is as memorable for its atmosphere as for its stunning ancient architecture. Less well known are the Saadian Tombs, burial ground for over 60 of the Saadians and an eerie counterpoint to the chaos outside.

The capital of Andalusia, Seville is a city that screams passion from the moment you arrive. The city’s rich heritage boasts Roman, Islamic and Renaissance influences, not to mention the largest gothic cathedral in the world; yet it is the plentiful tapas, rich Spanish wine and the golden glow that ensconces Seville during the early evening that are far better measures of the simultaneous soft romance and lust for life that characterise its people.

The city inspired the operas of Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville, among many others, and the poet Byron is among the great literary figures to have eulogised about its beauty and its inhabitants. This is the home of the colourful flamenco, botelloning youths drinking on open air plazas, romancing couples by the banks of the River Guadalquivir and epic all night parties that see in the dawn on the Plaza Alfalfa and beyond.

Where to stay
The rooms at Apartamentos Murillo are well-appointed and comfortable, while the hotel is beside one of Seville’s premier old town plazas, where the numerous restaurants and bars create a convivial evening atmosphere. AlmaSevilla is a converted 18th century palace and the high service levels will leave you feeling like royalty.

Where to eat
The Basque-born chef at Egaña Oriza serves a superb game menu full of subtle Spanish and Portuguese flavours. Barbiana is a more modest endeavour; a classic Andalusian tapas bar with a friendly ambience, an emphasis on fresh seafood and some great daily specials.

What to see
15th century Seville Cathedral is almost unmatched in terms of gothic splendour and boasts an excellent collection of artistic treasures as well. The Museum of Fine Art has a collection from many of the Spanish greats spanning the 15th to 20th centuries.

Vancouver was little more than a provincial town a century ago and remains young by the standards of many of world’s leading cities. Yet with a population of two million today it frequently tops polls for world’s most liveable city and despite its humble beginnings it is definitely a modern leading light.

Perhaps it’s precisely that youthful air that makes this such a fun place to be. In the streets of Hollywood North you’ll see numerous film crews and screen actors mixing with everyday office workers, while the unique shopping and dining district at Commercial Drive is a hub for the coffee-loving hordes that span bohemian artists and intellectual elite alike.

Grouse Mountain on the city’s back door offers superb skiing and snowboarding opportunities, not to mention all the hiking and biking trails that surround it; water-lovers opt for sailing and kayaking in English Bay instead. The cultured crowd is a cosmopolitan one that retains traditional Canadian liberal values and everything about the city, from the people to the soft, sea breeze, somehow just feels fresh.

Where to stay
The iPod alarm clock and outdoor salt-water pool are just two of the features that create the unique character at L’Hermitage. The Pan Pacific is a popular choice for business travellers and caters well for most conceivable needs.

Where to eat
The simply named Coast is a superb downtown venue serving the best in fresh, local seafood; if you’re dining in the West End, Raincity Grill serves beautifully presented subtle organic flavours, with an emphasis on game, seafood and poultry.

What to see
Stanley Park epitomises so much of what is good in Vancouver, with a superb mix of cultivated gardens, playing fields and densely wooded forest. Granville Island has been transformed into a great, artistic neighbourhood full of unique boutiques.

A popular postcard sold on the streets of Warsaw shows the old town before and after it was razed by the Nazi bombs in the Second World War. On the left is a black and white photograph of pure destruction. But on the right hand side an image depicts the market square in all its glory – the market square you’ll see today. The meticulous reconstruction is a poignant demonstration of the deep currents of national and civic pride that run through Warsaw’s citizens, in a city where harsh stoicism and uncanny beauty sit happily side by side.

Since it was made capital in 1596, Warsaw has strived to maintain its heritage while at the same time pushing the boundaries of the future. It’s an attitude that is really beginning to pay off, as the waves of emigration are beginning to reverse and now Poles are flocking back to this beautiful, forward-thinking city. Revelling in both the ancient castles and cutting edge culture, beautiful old churches and trendy dance clubs, the city is resplendent in its glories past and present.

Where to stay
Five-star Ma Maison La Regina is housed in a stunning 18th century palace; Radisson Blu Centrum offers luxurious rooms with your choice of three décors; Mercure Warszawa Grand is nestled nicely between the commercial and diplomatic districts.

Where to eat
Beautifully located on the banks of the Vistula, the Boathouse offers great Italian dining and a mean seafood platter. Alternatively, taste the fire of Sense’s fusion menu or, better still, stick around for the drinks.

What to see
Wander through the old and new towns and Warsaw’s highlights will come to you: the Royal Castle, King Sigismund’s Column, the Barbican, the Market Square. But, for a greener diversion, head to the Saxon Gardens and Royal Bath Parks.

The Emerald Isle has seen unprecedented levels of growth over the last two decades and much of the processes of industrialisation and modernisation have centred about the nation’s capital. What Dublin lacks in conventional beauty it makes up for in character and the list of city alumni includes such literary giants as Oscar Wilde, while the Dublin-born Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society produced a series of world-renowned stage hits such as Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, Pirates of Penzance and The Producers.

It’s a great city to explore on foot, but Dublin’s heart and soul is found in its many bars, pubs and alehouses. It’s true the Guinness tastes best in Dublin but that’s not why you go; more endearing are the boisterous locals who treat visitors like family from the moment they arrive and delight in entertaining with their unique wit into the small hours of the morning. This is consistently voted the friendliest city in Europe and one of the best places to live; Dublin is all about the craic.

Where to stay
There are plenty of hotels and guest-houses, particularly around Temple Bar which is also the centre of the city’s famed night-life. Further afield, the Clarence, Hampton and Merrion hotels are just three of the excellent five-star offerings.

Where to eat
As with hotels, there are many good eateries centred around Temple Bar. Top picks for food are Pearl Brasserie, serving top of the range French and Irish cuisine, and The Pig’s Ear, combining a creative local menu with a fun and friendly atmosphere.

What to see
Going for a historical walking tour is the best and most enjoyable way to learn more about this city. The Guiness Brewery tour is also fantastic, with the highlight being the collection of iconic advertising (and a free pint).

Nestled amid Cuba’s verdant green interior, Trinidad is a World Heritage protected town that oozes old colonial charm, with a stunning natural setting that rich with the tropical grace of the Caribbean. More than that, the lack of real infrastructure and major hotels means that it has escaped much of the tourist circus that similar sites elsewhere may have experienced, lending this fantastic open air museum an air of authenticity that you could find nowhere else but Cuba.

It’s a great opportunity to mix a little with the locals, too, who are an active force in creating the city’s unique, throwback atmosphere; chance encounters and cross-cultural exchanges make for some truly great stories after the event. Get lost amid the old streets and you’ll wonder which century you’re in; explore the surrounding forest and discover paradisical, hidden waterfalls and you’ll soon realise that it really doesn’t matter.

Where to stay
The Iberostar Grand Hotel retains its 19th century grandeur and is a beautifully atmospheric place to stay in the heart of the old town. To really experience Trinidad, however, try one of the 300 odd casas particulares – private rooms available in family houses.

Where to eat
Trinidad is unlike many other cities in that there isn’t much of a dining scene; you’ll most likely find yourself eating in your hotel or family house. Grill Caletas, on Penninsula Ancon, is the best of the limited options for eating out, serving good Cuban cuisine.

What to see
The Plaza Mayor is the beautiful town centre that’s particularly worthy of a visit in the evening, when it comes alive. 19th century Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad is the largest church in Cuba. The Architecture and Romance museums have superb exhibitions showcasing some of the city’s unique history and culture.

The self-styled capital of the New South, Atlanta is a modern economic powerhouse, home to the global headquarters of Coca Cola, AT&T and CNN among others. The glittering evening skyline is as breathtaking as anything New York has to offer and the last decade has seen a boom in growth as the city now houses over five million residents.

Yet for all that, a stroll through the suburbs reveals a leafy, elegant side to this sprawling behemoth. The people are genuinely friendly, maintaining a reputation for southern hospitality, and remain proud of the legacy of their most famous son – Martin Luther King Jr. The 1996 Olympics have also left their mark on the city with a host of top class sporting facilities and there’s plenty of fine dining, performing arts and other evening entertainments to keep you occupied into the small hours of the morning.

Where to stay
The St Regis is an impeccable and luxurious choice with excellent facilities, while the Ellis Hotel is slightly more modest but no less impressive and has a great location downtown. Atlanta has a great selection of mid-range guest-houses, including the Holiday Inn and Hilton Garden Inn.

Where to eat
Canoe has an eclectic menu and a great location by the river; it’s also good for conducting informal business meetings. For generous steaks on a Brazilian grill, head to Fogo Da Chao, while Anis Cafe is a great French Bistro and a good choice for lunch.

What to see
The Martin Luther King National Historic Site gives inspirational insight into the great man. The Atlanta History Centre is a comprehensive immersion experience covering thirty-two acres. The Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the world and the zoo is also worth a visit, if only for the famous giant pandas.

Santa Fe can feel like a world apart from the rest of the US, and for long periods of its history it has been precisely that. Even under previous Spanish and Mexican administrations the citizens had a reputation for being independent, while many travellers wondered that such a dusty, barren land could support a city at all.

The independence has remained but much of the rest feels like ancient history; the forest that now surrounds the city is a protected environment encompassing over 1.5 million acres, while the spectacular mountain setting has inspired a generation of creatives that have given the city a reputation as the most artistic in the US. The “City Different” architecture has also played a major role there; the official building style is “Spanish Pueblo Revival”, giving a slick and sophisticated city an earthy, bohemian feel.

Where to stay
The charming Old Santa Fe Inn has a warm and comfortable air and is within walking distance of many of the downtown restaurants and bars. The Inn on the Alameda is a friendly, comfortable option where spacious rooms overlook some beautifully landscaped gardens.

Where to eat
The service at the Compound is friendly and efficient and the food itself is some of the most adventurous and compelling on the south-west. The atmosphere at Aqua Santa has a touch of country hacienda and the riverside location just adds to its charm and undoubted quality.

What to see
Canyon Road is the cultural centre of Santa Fe, with a great deal of history too. Davis Mather Folk Art Gallery is a gallery with a sense of humour; even non-art lovers will enjoy it. Balloon rides over the city are a spectacular way to pass an afternoon or even a day.

Take one sandy, barren wasteland, and pump full of oil. Leave to simmer for fifty years et voila; one pulsing, modern metropolis of dizzying skyscrapers and thriving city streets. That’s the recipe for Riyadh, a heaving conurbation of nearly five million citizens that was little more than a provincial town of 80,000 as recently as 1950.

There’s no doubt that the natural riches on which the city is founded have caused considerable change, but what’s really fascinating about this fickle city is just how contradictory some of those changes can feel. The religious police are still out in full force within the city borders, but the Saudi business ventures have simultaneously required a new degree of cultural tolerance. Pious preaching of religious doctrines and overt ostentation fuelled by financial wealth seem to have formed an uneasy alliance; such a strange cultural cocktail makes for enthralling viewing for the western voyeur.

Where to stay
Four Seasons, Marriott and Radisson all have highly rated hotels within the city limits. Al Faisaliah Hotel is Arabic run but comes with five-star facilities and has an excellent record for service and hospitality.

Where to eat
Get great grilled Lebanese food at Al-Nafoura or try something hot and steaming at Sizzler House on Tahlia Street. Mama Noura is a good introduction to Middle Eastern Cuisine, notable for its excellent shawarma and barbecue.

What to see
The recently renovated Masmak Fortress, first stormed by King Abdul Aziz, is a fascinating insight into the history of the city; follow it up with the Murabba Palace, an impressive behemoth built by the aforementioned royalty. For a real taste of Riyadh, head to the Souq al-Thumairi market, whether to shop or just soak up the atmosphere. Be aware that many sights will close during prayer times.