48 Hour Visit

Weekend is probably the best time to visit a place when the buzz of work is turned off, people spill on the streets and various activities take place simultaneously. The Weekend Edition packs an itinerary with a little bit of everything: from checking out landmarks, to tasting excellent dishes, to exploring nearby nature, to partying with fellow tourists and locals. As this Edition hopes to be exhaustive, it will best serve the need of those who want to see as many sites and experience as many activities in a day, capping the night with either a trip to a cozy restaurant or to a crowded bar.

Weekend Edition Articles

• 48 hours in Riga - Weekend Edition

  Riga, the Latvian capital, is one of the more interesting Baltic capitals, a metropolis with a beautiful ambience and a pulsating atmosphere. It has a well-preserved medieval heritage as well, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town and Art Nouveau architecture.

• 48 hours in San Salvador - Weekend Edition

  The capital of Central America’s El Salvador, San Salvador, is truly a city teeming with energy. It is certainly one of the most-populous metropolises in the region, with a bustling downtown area, thriving commerce, a thrilling nightlife, and streets packed with vendors and vehicles.

• 48 hours in Quito - Weekend Edition

  Quito styles itself as “Luz de America,” which literally means the “Light of America.” It is perhaps best known for its immense historical heritage. Covering an area of about 320 hectares, it has one of the largest and the best-preserved old town sectors in Latin America.

• 48 hours in Bogota - Weekend Edition

  Bogota is the home of more than seven million people, and is the most densely populated city in Colombia. Because of its incredible ethnic diversity, with Colombians gravitating towards it from different parts of the country, the city has become a melting pot of cultures.

• 48 hours in Panama City - Weekend Edition

  Panama City is the capital and the largest city of Panama, and is perhaps best known for the Panama Canal which has almost overshadowed it in popularity. However, it has reinvented itself as one of Central America’s most cosmopolitan cities, with a vibrant city life and cultural attractions.

• 48 hours in Udaipur - Weekend Edition

  Often called the “City of Lakes,” Udaipur takes its place as one of the more seductive cities in India. It was once the historic capital of the Mewar Kingdom, and is best known for its culture, historical sites, and Rajput-era palaces – plus a scenic location.

• 48 hours in Prague - Weekend Edition

  Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city has a history dating back more than a thousand years, and has become a culture capital with its fascinating museums and art galleries.

• 48 hours in Shanghai - Weekend Edition

  Without a doubt, Shanghai is one of the most popular cities in China. Sometimes referred to as the “Paris of the East,” it is among Asia’s most exciting and fastest-developing metropolises. Despite possessing obvious modern characteristics, it has not forgotten its traditional Chinese roots.

• 48 hours in Kiev - Weekend Edition

  Kiev is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine. Nestled by the Dnieper River, it is an important industrial and scientific center in Eastern Europe, with its high-tech industries and institutions. Kiev is also one of Europe’s oldest cities, and thus is home to various historical sites.

• 48 hours in Ankara - Weekend Edition

  In 1923, Ankara officially took over the role of being Turkey’s capital city from Istanbul. Located right in the country’s heart, it is home to over 3.5 million people, and is a place where mystical eastern touches meet with a buzzing nightlife scene and fabulous 20th century architecture.

• 48 hours in Cape Town - Weekend Edition

  Cape Town is South Africa’s second most populous city with over 3.5 million inhabitants, as well as its most popular destination for tourism. The city has a scenic natural setting, with famous landmarks such as Cape Point and Table Mountain, and is multicultural on top of that.

• 48 hours in Mumbai - Weekend Edition

  Mumbai never sleeps, and is India’s version of New York City. Though not the official capital, it is undoubtedly the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital. Not surprisingly, the city brims with incredible energy: noisy streets, rumbling vehicles, busy markets, and a buzzing nightlife.

• 48 hours in Santiago - Weekend Edition

  In the last few decades, the phenomenal growth of Chile’s economy has turned Santiago into one of the most prosperous and modern cities of Latin America. Today, the city is a maze of splendid buildings and superb shopping complexes – all in a beautiful setting by the Andes Mountains.

• 48 hours in Brasilia - Weekend Edition

  Located almost at the very heart of Brazil, Brasilia was created in 1956 to replace Rio de Janeiro as the country’s capital. A mere 50 years later, the city stands as one of the wealthiest, most lively, and most beautiful cities in the continent.

• 48 hours in Lima - Weekend Edition

  With a population of more than 7.6 million, Lima is among the largest cities in South America. Not surprisingly, the city brims with energy and activity, with noisy streets, busy shopping areas, buzzing nightlife, and polluted business districts.

• 48 hours in La Paz - Weekend Edition

  La Paz is Bolivia’s largest city and administrative capital, poised at an impressive elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level. It is known for beauty – bounded by canyons and snowy peaks - but it also bustles with business and industries, with a cultural heart to boot.

• 48 hours in Buenos Aires - Weekend Edition

  Buenos Aires, with its buzzing nightlife, grand cafes, wide halls, and modern buildings, is rightly called the “Paris of South America.” Indeed, it is perhaps the most European city in Latin America, with the majority of its population being of Spanish, Portuguese, and French descent.

• 48 hours in Bangkok - Weekend Edition

  The torch of being the nation’s capital was passed from old Ayutthaya to Bangkok in 1782, effectively turning it into Thailand’s cultural, economic, and spiritual center. It has since become one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, reputed to be brimming with excellent locations for tourists.

• 48 hours in Guatemala City - Weekend Edition

  Guatemala City is Guatemala’s capital and the largest city, populated by more than three million people. Guate, as it is often called, isn’t particularly known for its beauty (plagued by pollution and poor city planning), but it has a vibe and energy unlike any other in the country.

• 48 hours in Naples- Weekend Edition

  Lying at the shadow of the famed Mt. Vesuvius, Naples was once upon a time the largest city in Italy, and also in Europe. Today, it is better known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with history, arts, music, architecture, culture, and gastronomic adventures.

• 48 hours in Manila - Weekend Edition

  Manila is the capital of the Philippines, and is one of the most diverse and energetic cities in Asia, with a fascinating colonial heritage. It is actually a series of cities fused into one, and is thus a place where cultures and classes converge.

• 48 hours in Phnom Penh - Weekend Edition

  To a traveler, Phnom Penh is a fitting introduction to Cambodia. The mere mention of its name evokes an aura of mysticism and exoticism. In that regard, the Royal Palace’s golden spires, the glimmering tiles of the Silver Pagoda, and the horrors of Tuol Sleng come to mind.

• 48 hours in Hanoi - Weekend Edition

  Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and is one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist hotspots. Perched on the right bank of the Red River, it is a city that blends exotic charms with a dynamic face. It is known mainly for its cultural sights and bustling atmosphere.

• 48 hours in Krakow - Weekend Edition

  Krakow has served as the royal capital of Poland for over 500 years. Often called the “Cultural Capital of Poland,” it had survived the horrors of World War II almost intact. I It proudly boasts of being one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval centers, with a rich art collection.

• 48 hours in Jakarta - Weekend Edition

  Once an old port city, Jakarta is now a dynamic and bustling metropolis that serves as the gateway to Indonesia’s 17,000 or so islands. It is a city of contrasts as well, with a traditional port scene, coexisting with a complex mosaic of skyscrapers a few streets away.

• 48 hours in Taipei - Weekend Edition

  During the 1960s, when Taiwan wasn’t quite yet the economic juggernaut that it is today, there was only one way to describe Taipei: ugly. A few decades later, though, the city underwent a radical transformation, coinciding with the country’s rise as one of the wealthiest in the region.

• 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur - Weekend Edition

  Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a testament to the Malay determination and ingenuity– rising up from its roots as a tin-mining shanty town into a 21st century metropolis. Often called simply as KL, it advertises itself as “Truly Asia”, and is a hotspot for culture and cuisine.

• 48 hours in Beijing - Weekend Edition

  China’s capital, Beijing, is believed to have been civilized for 5,000 years. As such, it is undoubtedly a land surrounded by mystery and filled with archaeological and cultural treasures. Today, you are going to find it a busy modern metropolis with beautiful scenic landscape.

• 48 hours in Hong Kong - Weekend Edition

  Hong Kong likes to call itself “Asia’s World City”, and is best known as one of the world’s leading financial and trading centers. Basically, it is a Chinese city with a longtime British influence, and is a teeming metropolis that can overwhelm anyone with its frenetic energy.

• 48 hours in Oslo - Weekend Edition

  What often immediately strikes a visitor to Oslo is perhaps its beautiful setting – right at the head of a 110-kilometer long fjord. Both cosmopolitan and historic, it is known for its easy-going air, world-class museums, glitzy shopping centers, fine dining, vigorous nightlife, and memorable outdoor activities.

• 48 hours in Singapore - Weekend Edition

  Singapore, the smallest nation in Southeast Asia, is perhaps the image of an ideal country – prosperous, modern, a melting pot of cultures, and incredibly neat and orderly.

• 48 hours in Montpellier - Weekend Edition

  Montpellier is the eighth-largest city in France, located in the Languedoc-Rousillon region. The sun shines on this university city 300 days a year. It has become a popular holiday destination, renowned for its natural scenery, warm weather, and lively student atmosphere.

• 48 hours in La Rochelle - Weekend Edition

  Often called as La Ville Blanche, or “White City”, La Rochelle is a French port city located near the Bay of Biscay. It is most known for its seafaring history, as well as its limestone peaks, glowing white among 15th century towers, timbered houses, arcaded walkways, and gargoyles.

• 48 hours in Chicago - Weekend Edition

  The Windy City, as Chicago is often called, is one of the great metropolises in the world. Like New York, the city overflows with energy, with a vibrant artistic life and street life happening under the shade of awesome skyscrapers and near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

• 48 hours in Bristol - Weekend Edition

  Bristol was once the ugly duckling among England’s cities, but this old industrial city has transformed itself into an economic powerhouse, fine dining hotspot, and cultural center. Its old docks have been restored to their former glory, and its streets abound in bars, restaurants, and world-class museums.

• 48 hours in Miami - Weekend Edition

  Miami became famous all over the world during the 1980s, at the height of the “Miami Vice” television series. Once dubbed as a crime capital, hot, sexy, and Latin, it is now acknowledged as a marvelous place to be. It is also famous still as a Latin place.

• 48 hours in Edinburgh - Weekend Edition

  Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid once described Edinburgh as “a mad god's dream.” The aptly-named “Festival City” buzzes with life year round, be it the fireworks or concerts, and is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities – with old and new towns built on scenic hills.

• 48 hours in New York - Weekend Edition

  The Big Apple doesn’t really need too much introduction, being one of the world’s greatest and most popular cities. The city is a financial, fashion, and technological capital, and it may be a bit hard to keep up with the pace of this chaotic metropolis.

• 48 hours in Copenhagen - Weekend Edition

  The name of the Danish capital, Copenhagen, literally means “merchant’s harbor,” which is sufficiently borne out by its maritime character and also by its location by the Baltic coast. Though it reeks of an Old World charm, the city is undeniably modern and up to date today.

• 48 hours in Los Angeles - Weekend Edition

  Los Angeles is the second largest city in the USA, and is one of the most popular cities in the world. Straddling SoCal’s Pacific coast, this bustling metropolis is a hotspot for beach junkies, party animals, and those looking to spot their favorite Hollywood stars.

• 48 hours in Monaco - Weekend Edition

  Much like the Vatican City, Monaco is what people call a “city-state”, and is the second-smallest independent state in the world. It is prosperous despite its size, and is almost an entirely urban location. What deserves particular mention is its idyllic location by the Côte d'Azur.

• 48 hours in Gibraltar - Weekend Edition

  Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the UK, perched on the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It has an ethnic mix of different cultures (Genoese, British, Spanish, North African), and is known for the adventure activities available at its caves, cliffs, and coasts.

• 48 hours in Cartagena - Weekend Edition

  Cartagena is Spain’s main naval port in the Murcia region, and has been so since the 16th century. The city, with its numerous archaeological sites and singular buildings as well as the charm and bustle of a port town, tells the story of 2,000-year long Spanish history.

• 48 hours in Belgrade - Weekend Edition

  Belgrade is Serbia’s capital and its largest city, although even locals admit that it is not one of the most beautiful cities around. Its landscape is a disjointed combination of grandiose buildings and Soviet relics, but it has earned a reputation for its museums, restaurants, and nightlife scene.

• 48 hours in Nicosia - Weekend Edition

  The ancient walled Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and its largest city. It is also the world’s last remaining divided capital – separated into north and south by the so-called Green Line. However, the barricades have been recently lifted, and so visiting the city now has an added charm.

• 48 hours in Zurich - Weekend Edition

  Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city, with the reputation of being a boring banking center. However, it is also called the “Cultural Capital of Switzerland.” It is bordered by the Alps and Lake Zurich on a central plain, giving it a picture-perfect setting.

• 48 hours in Venice - Weekend Edition

  New York Times’ Luigi Barzini once said Venice is “undoubtedly the most beautiful city made by man.” As a matter of fact, the statement rings close to the truth. Stretching across the Venetian Lagoon, made up by some 117 islands, Venice is really a sight to behold.

• 48 hours in Stockholm - Weekend Edition

  Stockholm with it’s stunning landscape is spread across an archipelago of 14 islands and laced with waterways covering more than 30 per cent of its area. Its parks and greenery more than complement a well-preserved Old Town.

• 48 hours in Galway - Weekend Edition

  Bohemian and alluring – those are the words often used to describe Ireland’s third largest and fastest-growing city, Galway. Sometimes called the “City of Tribes,” this multicultural city is a favorite among tourists, and boasts of landmarks and historical sites as well.

• 48 hours in Dubrovnik - Weekend Edition

  Dubrovnik is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in Croatia – with limestone crags and azure waters sandwiching its historical sites. Lord Byron once called it the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” while George Bernard Shaw declared that “those who seek paradise on earth should seek it in Dubrovnik.”

• 48 hours in Madrid - Weekend Edition

  Europe's third largest city is Spain's capital, Madrid. It is home to the Royal Family, and is a wonderful city with extraordinary cultural treasures and a lot of splendid things to do. Madrid is throbbing and forever awake, making each visit there an unforgettable experience.

• 48 hours in Moscow - Weekend Edition

  Moscow is a city of “mosts”. Russia’s capital city is the largest and the most visited in the country, and has the most billionaires in the world. It is also the most expensive to live in, as well as the most unfriendly – according to a poll.

• 48 hours in Johannesburg - Weekend Edition

  Johannesburg is South Africa’s capital, as well as the country’s beating heart. Often called simply as Jo’burg, it is a financial center and a fascinating and multicultural city. It is known for its crime problems, but the city is more than ready to attract visitors again.

• 48 hours in Bucharest - Weekend Edition

  Bucharest is Romania’s capital, and is an oft-misunderstood city. Its landscape is a strange mélange – neo-Classical buildings, French palaces, medieval churches, Ceauşescu housing blocks, and 21st century offices. The city has some of Romania’s best museums, and promises to be a trip back in time.

• 48 hours in Marrakech - Weekend Edition

  Marrakech is often called the “Red City”, and is one of Morocco’s most important cities. Located by the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, it is a staple destination for the outlandish travelers with its snake charmers, magic potions, trance music, steamy hammams, feasts, and hidden palaces.

• 48 hours in Auckland - Weekend Edition

  Welcome to Auckland, the largest and most populous city in New Zealand. No, it’s not the capital – that distinction belongs to Wellington – but that has not prevented it from being prosperous and famous. It is a modern metropolis, with superb shopping and dining avenues, plus a buzzing nightlife.

• 48 hours in Vienna - Weekend Edition

  Vienna is the capital of Austria, and is a city of classical architectural beauty and of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. It has been a destination of choice for thousands of visitors for years, drawn by the splendor of its cultural heritage, unique attractions, classical music, and opera.

• 48 hours in Florence - Weekend Edition

  Florence has the honor of being one of the most beautiful cities in Italy – no small feat in a country full of those. Both cosmopolitan and cultural, it is a favourite among tourists with its impressive pieces of art, world-class fashion boutiques, and a vibrant city life.

• 48 hours in Salzburg - Weekend Edition

  Salzburg is Austria’s fourth largest city, and is best known as the birthplace of Mozart and as the setting for the “Sound of Music.” This picturesque baroque city does not end at that, however, but attracts everyone with its Alpine backdrop and UNESCO-protected historic center.

• 48 hours in Milan - Weekend Edition

  Milan may not be the capital of Italy, but is certainly the richest city in the nation. In fact, if it was a country, it would be the 28th richest in the world. The city is also one of the world’s foremost fashion and design capitals.

• 48 hours in Rio de Janeiro - Weekend Edition

  It’s easy to make the mistake of confusing Rio de Janeiro as the capital of Brazil. However, the city often called as Cidade Marvilhosa, or “Marvelous City”, has somewhat remained as the nation’s soul –a place where samba, bossa nova, and capoeira had been born.

• 48 hours in Munich - Weekend Edition

  Munich is the third-largest city in Germany, and the most prosperous as well - ranking eighth among the Global 500 cities of the world. However, despite its apparent riches and metropolitan image, the so-called “World Village” is still a center of German traditions, particularly the world-famous Oktoberfest.

• 48 hours in Brussels - Weekend Edition

  Brussels is Belgium’s cosmopolitan capital, and is a city renowned for fine food, culture, Art Nouveau architecture, and nightlife. It is often referred to as the “Capital of Europe”, and travelers have a magnificent time touring the 70 odd museums and countless restaurants and entertainment venues.

• 48 hours in Sydney - Weekend Edition

  Often called the “Harbour City”, Sydney has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Much envied by its sister cities in Australia, Sydney abounds with innumerable wonder sites – a cauldron of scenic surf beaches, modern architecture, historic sites, and sandstone headlands.

• 48 hours in Melbourne - Weekend Edition

  Lying proudly at the head of the Port Philip Bay, Melbourne is one of Australia’s largest and most popular cities. The ’Cultural Capital of Australia’ alternates between being sophisticated and rough – filled with Victorian-era streetscapes, Manhattan-style buildings, buzzing markets, and crowded beaches.

• 48 hours in Warsaw - Weekend Edition

  As the worst damaged city during World War II, Warsaw lay in ruins. Visiting it today will reveal a city that seems never to have been touched by calamity. Leave it to the Varsovians to reinvent the city as a modern metropolis.

• 48 hours in Bern - Weekend Edition

  Bern is among the few cities to be declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Not only is it beautiful –flanked by Swiss hills and the Aare River – it is also historic. Look no further than its medieval center comprised of 15th century buildings and cobbled streets.

• 48 hours in Rome - Weekend Edition

  Often called as the “Eternal City,” Rome was the epicenter of the legendary Roman Empire. A cosmopolitan feel has emerged side-by-side the ruins, the coliseums and the fountains. Rome belongs to the present as much as the past.

• 48 hours in Tel Aviv - Weekend Edition

  As the country’s financial, cultural and artistic capital, Tel Aviv pulses with the energy of a truly cosmopolitan city. A certified partying hub, TA takes pride in its cuisine, nightlife, and Hebrew culture. It is the second-largest city in Israel and lies 80 kilometers from historic Jerusalem.

• 48 hours in Dublin – Weekend Edition

  A cursory glance at Dublin gives the impression of an average, run-of-the-mill European city. However, staying in the city would reveal its overflowing culture, tradition, and charisma. No wonder that a recent a poll states that Dublin is the best capital in Europe to live in.

• 48 hours in Amsterdam - Weekend Edition

  Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one of the world’s most progressive cities. While a number of tourists are drawn to its leniency, many visit it for its architectural breath-takers, crisscrossing canals, and sublime nightlife. Amsterdam, just like a Van Gogh painting, is a work of art.

• 48 hours in Istanbul - Weekend Edition

  Known as Constantinople a few centuries back, Istanbul is described as the “Crossroads of Europe and Asia.” Though its history is as old as time—made evident by its museums, mosques and historic buildings—the city is a full-fledged metropolis with a swinging nightlife to boot.

• 48 hours in Paris - Weekend Edition

  Possibly the most famous city in the world, Paris is also referred to as the “City Of Lights” and the “City of Romance.” Paris is definitely for lovers—of art, culture, cuisine and all the fine things in life that city seems to have in endless supply.

• 48 hours in London - Weekend Edition

  Truly cosmopolitan and having some of the world’s greatest cultural treasures, London is referred as the “World in One City.” The 15 million tourists who visit it yearly can’t be wrong. They are expected to come in droves in 2012 as London sets the stage for the Olympics.

• 48 hours in Budapest - Weekend Edition

  Budapest has often been called as the “Paris of Eastern Europe”—a praise well-deserved for its scenic nature and colorful culture. Over the years, though, it has slowly taken the role of being the “party town of Central Europe” with its cosmopolitan attitude.

• 48 hours in Reykjavik - Weekend Edition

  At a latitude of 64°08’, Reykjavik is officially the world’s most northerly capital. There’s no denying that the city is modern, cool, and chic, though it can’t be mentioned without touching on its unique natural beauty - set against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and coastlines.

• 48 hours in Berlin - Weekend Edition

  Berlin is the capital of Germany, and its heart as well. The city overflows with chic, amazing, and sexy, and is one of the greatest and most vibrant cities in Europe. It is known for its natural assets– forests, lakes, and parks make up a third of it.

• 48 hours in Lisbon - Weekend Edition

  A city built on seven hills, Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and its star attraction. The city is one of those rare Western European cities that faces the ocean- infused with an easy-going charm, a colorful cityscape, and lovely backstreets.

• 48 hours in Athens – Weekend Edition

  Athens is the city where the modern Olympics Games was born, solidifying its position as one of the great cities of the world. More than anything else, it is known for its colorful past that goes back 3,400 years, making it one of the oldest cities around.

• 48 hours in Helsinki – Weekend Edition

  Helsinki sits at the edge of the Finnish Peninsula - kissing the banks of the Baltic Sea and surrounded by an archipelago of 315 islands. Today, the 2012 World Design Capital is not only a setting for Cold War-era movies, but a modern international metropolis as well.

• 48 hours in Barcelona – Weekend Edition

  With a unique identity and language of its own, Barcelona may seem like a separate territory from Spain. As the capital of Catalan, it is noted for its Mediterranean coast and the architectural works of Gaudi spread throughout the city. In 1992, it hosted to the Summer Olympics.

• 48 hours in Vancouver - Weekend Edition

  Vancouver Weekend Edition gives you an overview of the city's highlights and must tries. It provides invaluable information on what you might want to see, eat or visit within your weekend in Vancouver. Although it is not necessarily an itinerary for everyone, the article gives you precious insights about the city of Vancouver, what to expect and what you can do.