City breaks and hiking holidays don’t usually sound like the same thing. One involves wandering around museums, finding a decent restaurant and having a look at the local sights. The other involves boots, hills and wondering why you thought this was a good idea halfway up a mountain. But there are quite a few cities where you can have both.
You can spend the morning exploring the urban jungle, then head out for a proper walk without having to travel for hours. Here are five destinations to consider:
Hong Kong, China
You may recognise Hong Kong as the centre of attention mostly due to its amazing city skyline, however, there is plenty of green space behind it.
The Hong Kong Trail is some 50 kilometres long and passes through five country parks, making it possible to see the city in quite another way.
This is where all the fun begins, because you can suddenly see the large city skyline while you are walking among trees and climbing the hill. In fact, it is really difficult to find many walking trails that can boast such a view.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monte Carlo might be a bit of a surprise when it comes to choosing a place for hiking since this place brings associations with luxurious hotels, yachts, F1, and all the best casino games rather than muddy boots. Nevertheless, the city has a lot of good hiking routes.
Besides, the surrounding landscape is very impressive, as there are many sightseeing routes that lead from busy streets to the hills of Monaco and French Riviera.
That is probably the best combination of a city trip and a hiking adventure; you can walk around Monte Carlo, eat, and then enjoy spectacular views.
London, England
Whatever you’re into, London does not lack options for things to do and enjoy, and that includes hiking. The Thames Path runs for about 300 kilometres following the River Thames. It goes without saying that you can not complete the whole stretch over a weekend unless you have a very special definition of fun.
However, you may always choose separate parts of the distance and discover the city in a new way.
This way you combine sightseeing with working out and pass well-known attractions, tranquil stretches of the river, and a multitude of pubs in your way.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is almost cheating when it comes to this list. The Hoerikwaggo Trail is one of the big options, stretching for about 75km across the Table Mountain National Park, and it even has campsites along for hikers who want to do the whole hog at once.
There are also plenty of shorter hikes around the city, with Table Mountain providing the obvious centrepiece.
The views alone make getting up early worthwhile.
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is another city where outdoor options are literally around the corner. Stanley Park is the big peninsula located in the city and the city boundary is formed by the Seawall, which is known all over the world.
Both hikers and cyclists use this trail allowing getting perfect urban views, having a chance to enjoy water, mountains and the panorama of Vancouver.
It is also a good solution if you don’t want to go on a difficult hike because you can just walk for some time enjoying your views and then return to the city for lunch.
And that’s really the appeal of these destinations. You don’t have to choose between city life and getting out into the fresh air. You can have both, sometimes within the same afternoon.
