Don't you just love cities lit up at night? Great for relaxing, admiring and photographing. Here's a snapshot of my top 5 cities for night views from my jaunts round the globe.
This list features mostly lit up skyscraping type cities. Mostly because at night they are easier on the eye and ultimately more inspiring. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping in deserts,but your night view of a following a torch to a toilet isn't exactly much cop when you're blessed with staring down on a city like Budapest at night...
1. Victoria Harbour in HONG KONG:
Hong Kong at night is totally fantastic. There are lots of places you can go to view it's lit up skyscrapers, most of which are centred around Victoria Harbour, either there on that side of Kowloon, or across the water on Hong Kong Island. With a backdrop of mountains on one side and hundreds of lit up skyscrapers all around, this place provides you with endless shiny, happy moments relaxing, enjoying the view. You have a choice of where to go to see it:
(a) go to The Peak!
(b) head to a friend's flat that has a balcony view. Most people in Hong Kong live in Skyscrapers - myself included (three times) and you get a simply amazing view from them.
(c) eat your dinner in a top floor restaurant such as Aqua or Sky 100 . Aqua has no entry fee - pop in for a cocktail and enjoy the view. Sky 100 is considerably higher and with a better view but they charge an entry fee.
2. Tokyo in JAPAN:
I'm actually not a fan of Tokyo (I don't know why - maybe because I'm a budget traveller and I found it expensive but I normally love most of the big cities). However at night Tokyo transforms and an array of typical lit up streets give the city a whole new appeal. At night I toured around all the top spots for example Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinkiba, Ginza and Roppongi and I was mesmerised by the never ending streets of lights, the locals doing whatever they pleased (most of them were eating and shopping). Tokyo by day is a rip off, a disconnected city which stretches out too far. At night is where it attracts you into its vast array of activities.
3. AUSTRALIA: Sydney:
It's quite obvious to be honest. Sydney Harbour at night has it. Places such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour etc. at night are just outstanding. I lived in Sydney for a few years and the night view became second nature to me. I caught the incredible New Year's Eve fireworks display in 2009, which is highly recommended. Do it for free as well - chill down by Sydney harbour in a bar admiring all around you.
4. FRANCE: St. Malo:
I'm sure this will be a surprise inclusion to most but I just love St. Malo in Brittany. By night, this quiet port houses nothing more than relaxing tranquility within it's well maintained city walls. Boats come in and out at all hours of the days, the walls light up at times, festival seasons are fantastic and St. Malo hides a charm only those who have been there will ever know about. Get yourself into a restaurant in the downtown, order a few crepes and beers or wines and watch the sunset over the harbour in a world bereft of skyscrapers. Proof that not all cities at night for views have to have skyscrapers or be well lit up. I used to work on boats in and out of St. Malo and my memories of the shining harbour at night will live forever.
I loved my views of St. Malo from the ships I worked out and this is my reason for including it. I've been to New York and Buenos Aires at night yet I rank St. Malo higher. Strange maybe? But hey that's the joy of travel opinion. You can get a ferry to St. Malo from the south of England.
5. Budapest, HUNGARY:
What? Another European one? Yes, as the view of Budapest from the hills at Gellert is stunning! I was lucky enough to get driven by a local girl up to the hills to view the city by day and night, at night the stunning two sides of Buda and Pest meet, split by a wide river, the gleaming island of Margit Sziget in between and the incredible Budapest Parliament. Don't forget to pop for some sweet Hungarian wine and Goulash after your trip to Gellert Hills!
So that's just a snapshot of my top 5 cities for night views. Of course I've left lots of them out, I can think of New York, London, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and Caracas as other decent cities by night, will maybe do some more night posting in future.
Don't Stop Living!!
.
This list features mostly lit up skyscraping type cities. Mostly because at night they are easier on the eye and ultimately more inspiring. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping in deserts,but your night view of a following a torch to a toilet isn't exactly much cop when you're blessed with staring down on a city like Budapest at night...
1. Victoria Harbour in HONG KONG:
Hong Kong at night is totally fantastic. There are lots of places you can go to view it's lit up skyscrapers, most of which are centred around Victoria Harbour, either there on that side of Kowloon, or across the water on Hong Kong Island. With a backdrop of mountains on one side and hundreds of lit up skyscrapers all around, this place provides you with endless shiny, happy moments relaxing, enjoying the view. You have a choice of where to go to see it:
(a) go to The Peak!
(b) head to a friend's flat that has a balcony view. Most people in Hong Kong live in Skyscrapers - myself included (three times) and you get a simply amazing view from them.
(c) eat your dinner in a top floor restaurant such as Aqua or Sky 100 . Aqua has no entry fee - pop in for a cocktail and enjoy the view. Sky 100 is considerably higher and with a better view but they charge an entry fee.
2. Tokyo in JAPAN:
I'm actually not a fan of Tokyo (I don't know why - maybe because I'm a budget traveller and I found it expensive but I normally love most of the big cities). However at night Tokyo transforms and an array of typical lit up streets give the city a whole new appeal. At night I toured around all the top spots for example Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinkiba, Ginza and Roppongi and I was mesmerised by the never ending streets of lights, the locals doing whatever they pleased (most of them were eating and shopping). Tokyo by day is a rip off, a disconnected city which stretches out too far. At night is where it attracts you into its vast array of activities.
3. AUSTRALIA: Sydney:
It's quite obvious to be honest. Sydney Harbour at night has it. Places such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour etc. at night are just outstanding. I lived in Sydney for a few years and the night view became second nature to me. I caught the incredible New Year's Eve fireworks display in 2009, which is highly recommended. Do it for free as well - chill down by Sydney harbour in a bar admiring all around you.
4. FRANCE: St. Malo:
I'm sure this will be a surprise inclusion to most but I just love St. Malo in Brittany. By night, this quiet port houses nothing more than relaxing tranquility within it's well maintained city walls. Boats come in and out at all hours of the days, the walls light up at times, festival seasons are fantastic and St. Malo hides a charm only those who have been there will ever know about. Get yourself into a restaurant in the downtown, order a few crepes and beers or wines and watch the sunset over the harbour in a world bereft of skyscrapers. Proof that not all cities at night for views have to have skyscrapers or be well lit up. I used to work on boats in and out of St. Malo and my memories of the shining harbour at night will live forever.
I loved my views of St. Malo from the ships I worked out and this is my reason for including it. I've been to New York and Buenos Aires at night yet I rank St. Malo higher. Strange maybe? But hey that's the joy of travel opinion. You can get a ferry to St. Malo from the south of England.
5. Budapest, HUNGARY:
What? Another European one? Yes, as the view of Budapest from the hills at Gellert is stunning! I was lucky enough to get driven by a local girl up to the hills to view the city by day and night, at night the stunning two sides of Buda and Pest meet, split by a wide river, the gleaming island of Margit Sziget in between and the incredible Budapest Parliament. Don't forget to pop for some sweet Hungarian wine and Goulash after your trip to Gellert Hills!
So that's just a snapshot of my top 5 cities for night views. Of course I've left lots of them out, I can think of New York, London, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and Caracas as other decent cities by night, will maybe do some more night posting in future.
Don't Stop Living!!
.
About the Author:
You can read more about excellent cities at night here: Top 5 Cities At night and to stay up to date with Jonny Blair's travel stories and tips check out his travel, work and lifestyle websiteDont Stop Living.
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