A recent report from , a UK-based market-research group, revealed the 100 most visited cities in the world last year.ÌýMajor Asian hubsÌýsuch as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Macau, and Singapore dominated the list, taking seven of the top-tenÌýspots, while European and Middle Eastern metro areasÌýfollowed. Many travelers have used these cities as stopovers en route toÌýmore adventure-filled final destinations, but we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to make onward connections to find what you’re looking for—these bustling urban centers have plenty of action-packed detours within an hour or two of downtown. Here’s a guide to extending that layover, packing in some time outdoors between major cultural sites, or simply making the most of these dynamic places.Ìý
Hong Kong
Visitor count: 26.7 millionÌý
Hong Kong has been the most visited city in the world since 2010. The ongoing anti-government protestsÌýresulted inÌý2.5 million fewer visitors compared to 2018, but they haven’tÌýstopped most peopleÌýfrom going. U.S.ÌýÌýhave recommended extra caution but haven’t discouraged taking trips there, and reports on the ground point to . However,ÌýtoÌýminimizeÌýrisk,Ìýkeep an eye on localÌýmedia reports to gauge which areas are most .
What many visitors don’t realize is that close to has been designated as parks or protected lands. A fifth of the city is also covered with steep slopes, making forÌýsome of the best granite crags in Asia. Within an hour from the airport, you can go on a moderate canyoneeringÌýday trip along the Ping Nam stream.ÌýOr head 40 minutes south toÌýhit crags like Lion Rock and Beacon HillÌýin Lion Rock Country Park; theyÌýoffer a variety of single- and multi-pitch climbs, from 5.6 to 5.13, and there’s nothing like the payoff—the skyline views from the top are some of the best in the city. For details on hiking trails in Hong Kong’s 24 nationalÌýparks and itsÌý140 miles of cycling tracks, the Ìýis a good resource.
Bangkok
Visitor count: 25.8 million
ThisÌýcapital cityÌýhas madeÌýthe list’s top fiveÌýfor several years, securing second place in 2017 and 2018. Most visitors spend a few days in theÌýcenter, stopping by its decorated Buddhist temples and bustling street markets, before heading off to Thailand’s more than 1,000Ìýislands, includingÌýPhuket and KoÌýChang.
But Bangkok is surrounded by river- and lake-based adventures that make adding an extra day or two in the area worth it. Head 50Ìýminutes east to , a wake park where water-skiers and wakeboarders hold ontoÌýhandle attached toa rope that’s pulled along by overhead cables nearÌýthe periphery of the lake, or use the park’sÌýramps to practice your turnovers and other tricks (from $13).
Macau
Visitor count: 20.6 million
Macau, anÌýautonomous region on the south coast of China,Ìýis known among globe-trotters as the Las Vegas of Asia,Ìýdue its giant casinos (gambling is illegal in Hong Kong and China) and malls along the Cotai Strip. But the former Portuguese colony is more than just roulettes and slot machines.
For extreme urban adventure, team up with guiding companyÌýÌýto scale 1,100-foot Macau Tower (from $299), where you can walk along the building’s outer rim for sight lines that reach as far as Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta inÌýChina on a clear day. Half an hour south ofÌýdowntown, or 20 minutes from the airport, is Coloane Island, which has a ten-mile trail system that’s a go-to spot for local hikers and trail runners. Don’t miss the 1.3-mile , with views ofÌýthe azure South China Sea.
Singapore
Visitor count: 19.8 million
To escape the hustle and bustle of this tiny, dynamic city, go toÌý, an island justÌý12 miles from the downtown. ItÌýcan be reached in less than an hour viaÌýa free bus from Changi International Airport and then a short ferry ride (from $3).
Hop on tandem kayaks from (from $58) and paddle around the mangrove, with hornbills and herons flying above. On the western edge of the island, Ketam Mountain Bike Park has a world-class ten-mile trail system thatÌýhostsÌýthe city’s major biking events.
You’re also likely to bump into wildlife photographers and birdersÌýwho come to catch sight of more than 200 species of birds, 700 types of plants, and 40 varieties of reptiles.
London
Visitor count: 19.6 million
Green spaces in LondonÌýare a dime a dozen,ÌýbutÌýthe adventure offerings indoors and just beyond the city limits and are as innovative as they are varied.
A ten-minute drive from Big Ben is , an ice-climbing gym. The facilityÌýkeeps its internal temperature between 10 and 23 degrees year-round to maintain its 26-foot-tall ice wall, which features beginner slabs, dramatic overhangs, and everything in between (from $33).
OrÌýhead an hour north of downtown to Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, and theÌý, a rafting and canoeing destination used in the 2012 Olympics. The venue hosts two options for rafting—a 1,000-foot Olympic course with a stunning 19-footÌýdrop, and a 525-foot loop with a milder five-footÌýdrop—andÌýoffers Class II-IV whitewaterÌý(from $65). New to the sport? You can also take kayaking Ìýthere (from $78).
Paris
Visitor count: 19.1 million
An hour north ofÌýthe Eiffel Tower, or 40 minutes from Charles de Gaulle International Airport, is theÌý. The area has over 870 miles of trails that take hikers through 2,000 years of history.ÌýChâteaus, churches, castles, old towns, and megalithic sites dating back to the Roman era dot routes linedÌýby chestnut trees.
If you don’t have time to leave the city, explore itsÌýurban runningÌýand biking opportunities.ÌýLocated along the western outskirts Paris,ÌýÌý(where the French Open is played every May) has two lakes,Ìýnine miles of cycling routes, and countless trails in its 2,100 acres, which is more than twice the size of Central Park. And don’t forget about , with itsÌýfour-mile waterfront walkway from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iéna, which passes the Louvre Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, Palais Bourbon, and the Eiffel Tower.
Dubai
Visitor count: 16.3 million
Hotel-bar hopping by luxury limo and extravagant desert safaris may overshadow the city’s biking and surfing scenes, but there’s plenty of ways to play outside if you know where to look.ÌýIn the cooler months, check out , a 50-mile loop that stretches from the southeast tip of downtown into the desert, where you’ll catch sightings of local wildlife such as oryx and ride alongside training athletes from the United Arab Emirates national team. Rent your ride at Ìý(from $15) off of the main highway, Sheikh Zayed Road.
If you prefer the water, you’reÌýnot alone in a city home to . , just east of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, is your spot for kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and surfing. It’s known as the last bastionÌýfor natural waves, as more man-made islands dot the coast and interrupt western swells. Or head to theÌý (from $18) in Al Ain, a 90-minuteÌýdrive south of Dubai, which creates an 11-footÌýwave—the largest artificial breakÌýin the world—every 90 seconds.
Delhi
Visitor count: 15.2 million
Due to rapid development of its tourism infrastructure, Delhi witnessed a 20 percent visitor jump from 2018. This increase is only set to grow, as Indira Gandhi International Airport is set toÌýÌýby June 2022, enablingÌýthe hub to handle 100 million passengers every year. New direct routes to Delhi include Air India’s flight fromÌýTorontoÌýand United Airlines’ flight from San Francisco. Its connectivity to locations across northern India, such as Kashmir and the foothills of the Himalayas, has also boosted inbound arrivals.
With wellness tourism on the rise globally, the cityÌýhas attracted visitorsÌýwho come for its yoga and meditation training institutes.Ìý,Ìý,ÌýandÌýÌýare good places to start. If you’reÌýa birder, a wildlife photographer, or just looking for some nature, head 18 miles south of the city center to , whichÌýhas close to 200 types of birds, more than 80 species of butterflies, and populations of nilgai, the largest Asian antelope that’s native to the Indian subcontinent. The , nearÌýthe entrance, organizes wildlifeÌý (from $2).
Visa restrictions: ForÌýstays shorter than 60 days, U.S. visitors can apply for an at least four days prior to their arrival in lieu of applying for a tourist visa at an Indian embassy or consulate.
Istanbul
Visitor count: 14.7 million
After political and security issues in 2016 caused a drop in visitors, IstanbulÌýhas rebounded. Its downtown sites are enough to fill a weeklong itinerary (navigating the Grand Bazaar will take at least a day), but it’s worth doing as the Turks do and taking a day or two to escape the city’s crowds and congestion.
Head over to Belgrad Forest, just tenÌýmiles north of Istanbul. In an area encompassing more than 13,000 acres of oak, beech, and chestnut trees, runners can choose from plenty of unmarked trails. One of the most popular is a four-mile loop around the southern lake of Neset Suyu. For mountain bikers, there’s Ìýthat spans from the south to the center of the forest.
Visa restrictions:ÌýU.S. citizens who plan to stayÌýless than 90 days can obtain an .
Kuala Lumpur
Visitor count: 14.1 million
One of ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s 20 most affordable places to go in 2020, the Malaysian capital is no longer a stopover for visitors on the wayÌýto its surrounding islands.
For serious rock climbers, Batu Caves, a 90-minuteÌýdrive north ofÌýthe city, has more than 170 routes across eight limestone crags. If you left your gear at home, offers half- and full-day tours with equipment rental (from $51). For hikers,Ìýthe 8.7-mile-long, 660-foot-wide , the longest quartz formation in the world, is a challenging trail just 12 miles north of the city. Trek up through muddy jungle terrain from either of the two trailheads, . You’ll need the help of a wire rope to get to the very top, where Kuala Lumpur’s famous skyline is visible on one side and a reservoir on the other. Looking for something less rigorous? Drive 25 miles south from downtown to for an hourlong hike with scenic jungle views. Go early in the morning or at dusk to catch the sunrise or sunset views over the city.