For many, exploring a big city is all about the culture and food scene – after all, why go to a city if you’re wanting rural pursuits? But there are some cities that offer the best of both worlds – they’ve got the museums and restaurants, but they’ve also got plenty of natural beauty and activities to keep the outdoors-minded happy. Whether it’s a case of hopping in a kayak, slogging your way up a mountain or learning to surf – these ten cities have an energy of a different kind…
Sydney, Australia
Australia’s largest city pretty much covers the full range of activities. On the harbour you can learn to sail or take a kayaking tour, at Bondi Beach you can learn to surf and it’s possible to go stand-up paddle boarding in Manly. Centennial Park offers horse-riding and bike hire, while canyoning trips go out into the Blue Mountains. Oh, and the fabulously picturesque clifftop walking trail from Bondi to Coogee is a practically mandatory experience.
Cape Town, South Africa
It’s Table Mountain that makes Cape Town special. There are plenty of walking paths if you want to make the sweaty journey to the top, while mountain bike tour companies offer fairly hair-raising descents where you spend an inordinate amount of time squeezing the brakes. It’s also possible to go canyoning (known as kloofing there), following rivers through ravines and abseiling down waterfalls.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Rio is justifiably famous for its beaches, and you can always plunge into the water if lying on a towel isn’t quite energetic enough for you. There’s also some pretty decent surfing to be had there, while the surrounding Tijuca rainforest is ideally geared to those who want to strap on the boots and take in some killer views of the city.
Los Angeles, USA
Another city blessed with long stretches of sand, LA is well known as a surfer city. But it’s not just conventional surfing – stand up paddle-boarding has taken off in a big way here too. Landlubbers should head to the canyons in the Hollywood Hills, which manage to give a taste of desert hiking while being besieged with joggers and outdoor yoga classes.
Vancouver, Canada
Stanley Park is Vancouver’s jewel, and the paths going around its seawall for miles are prime fodder for joggers, in-line skaters and cyclists. It’s easy to hire your wheels nearby. Otherwise, you’re always likely to see a few windsurfers off Kitsilano Beach, there are ski resorts within a few minutes of the city and the particularly masochistic might like to take on the “Grouse Grind” schlep up Grouse Mountain.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is usually looked at in terms of big city energy, but it takes on a different vibe once you start getting the ferries out to the little islands. The likes of Peng Chau and Cheung Chau are brilliant for head-clearing walks and tiny beaches. For proper hiking, though head to Lantau or into the New Territories – the surprisingly crumpled landscape offers some spectacular ridge-top treks.
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck’s enviably gorgeous position in a mountain valley makes its outdoorsy charms immediately obvious. The cable cars up Mt Hafelekar start on the cusp of the city centre, while if you head the other way, you’ve got prime hiking and biking territory in the little villages that effectively make up Innsbruck’s outer suburbs. Turn up in winter, of course, and the skiing’s right on your doorstep.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is famed for its beautiful setting, and once you get out of the old town it’s an outdoorsy paradise. Get a ferry out to one of the islands for some excellent walking and cycling on photogenic paths, or head up into the mountains rising steeply behind the city. It’s also possible to go kayaking around the walls of the Old Town, stopping for a snorkel on the way.
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland is set on a field of volcanic cones, meaning there are plenty of grassed-over volcanoes to climb. You can also try your hand at sailing round the harbour or head out on a boat to one of the many islands that are a short chug offshore. And if you want something wilder, head out west to the rainforest trails and black sand surf beaches of the Waitakere Ranges.
Munich, Germany
In Munich, it’s only a short hop to the Bavarian Alps, but if you’ve not got time for mountain action you’re still in one of the world’s greenest cities. In recent years, the paths along the Isar river have been prettified, while the humungous Englischergarten is one of the largest city parks in the world. It’s also home to an unlikely surfing scene – a community of surfers have taken to hanging out at the Eisbach wave on a channel coming off the river.
Oslo, Norway
Oslo’s generally not the warmest city in the world, but given the vaguest hint of blue sky, the locals will head out into the surrounding forests. That’ll be with cross country skis if there’s snow on the ground or hiking boots in summer. Oslo also has the bonus of having lots of little islands just off the coast – which are perfect for taking a little boat ride out to in the sunshine.
