Six destinations that are better without an itinerary

Though you can – and should – book the Acropolis, there’s history at every turn in Athens, with no time slots or tickets required. Dotted with ruins and monuments, its historic core is small enough to stroll, while locals are famously friendly: philoxenia (‘love of strangers’) has been practised here since antiquity. Dinners are late and enjoyably laidback – simply head to neighbourhoods such as Koukaki or Pangrati, stroll into a taverna and set the world to rights over tsipouro and mezedes.  

Where to stay: The Dolli is one of those luxury stays that makes everything effortless for guests, including getting up close to the Acropolis (which backdrops the rooftop pool).

Miami is perfect for the planning-averse. Stay in South Beach, grab a cold frappé, then wander the Art Deco District, where all roads lead to the beach. When you spot a break in the traffic, hop in a taxi or rideshare heading to salsa-soundtracked Little Havana, say, or up-and-coming Little River. In a city that likes to stay up late, the best adventures are unplanned, so sink some beers in Wynwood (La Tropical is a blast) then see where the night takes you.

Where to stay: 1 Hotel South Beach has every Miami essential, from an ocean-view pool and Collins Avenue address to a can-do concierge.

BA fly direct to Miami 14 times a week*

Few places are as inviting to explore as Porto, where the Ribeira district’s pastel townhouses are stacked above the wide Douro River. Saunter past sun-warmed, azulejo-tiled façades, and see what you stumble across: a tiny bakery with chocolate-topped éclairs, a cobbled square framed by washing, a backstreet tasca with deep-fried sardines and free-flowing Vinho Verde. On the other bank are the port cellars (Taylor’s has self-guided tours and tastings – and peacocks – in its gardens). Craving the beach? No need to overthink it: just hop on the metro to Matosinhos.

Where to stay: The yellow-painted Pestana Vintage Porto, perched right on the waterfront.

Welcome to the ultimate no-reservations city, whose finest meals come from a wok on a pavement and are eaten when seated on plastic stools. Put your phone down and follow your nose through the markets, snacking on pork skewers, tangles of som tum, and luscious drifts of mango sticky rice. If the heat gets too much, hop on a Chao Phraya express boat or air-conditioned BTS Skytrain. Sightseeing is equally ad hoc, with no need to book ahead at temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, or even the Grand Palace.  

Where to stay: Perfectly placed for sightseeing, The Peninsula Bangkok also has a three-tiered pool.

BA flies direct to Bangkok six times a week.*

The best days on the Riviera are the ones that are idled away, starting with a late breakfast (try Comme un Dimanche, behind the port). Later on, stroll through Vieux Nice’s cobbled streets, pootle down the Promenade des Anglais, or climb the Colline du Château for a glorious peach-streaked sunset. Book, if you must, the Marc Chagall Museum, but otherwise just wing it – too much planning is exhausting this far south. Day trips, it’s worth noting, are a breeze, with fast trains along the coast to Monaco, Antibes and more.

Where to stay: In blissful indolence at the Hôtel du Couvent, with its cloistered gardens, farm-to-table restaurants and orange-scented courtyard.

Safe and with seamless public transport, Tokyo is one of the easiest big cities to explore. Instead of sweating the details, just decide which neighbourhood to make for: hip Shimokitazawa, perhaps, with its coffee geeks and vinyl shops, izakaya-lined Kichijoji or the timelessly charming Yanaka, awash with temples and traditional wooden houses. Casual dining, too, is part of the city’s DNA, whether we’re talking six-seat ramen counters or sprawling basement food halls.  

Where to stay: At Yuen Bettei Daita, a ryokan-style stay near Shimokitazawa, with soaking tubs and hot spring baths. 

BA flies direct to Tokyo 14 times a week.*