The Best City Breaks to take in 2025/6

Culture

The confluence of history, culture, cuisine and architecture… that spark of individuality, the character of a place, defined by its culture and people, history and daily life. City breaks are an opportunity to explore some of the world’s most dynamic destinations, to see what makes a place truly great. From the glorious ruins of Athens and Rome to Tokyo’s neon cityscape, from London’s iconic cultural sights to New York’s incomparable pizzazz.

Each city offers a different experience: some invite slow, purposeful exploration, others demand complete immersion, an embrace of the chaos and serendipitous explorations. But whether your curiosity leans toward ancient wonders, modern contrasts, or the simple joy of discovery, we’ll pair your luxury city break with an iconic hotel, each with excellent service and a range of VIP benefits.

Rome: Cacio & Colosseo

With its ornate skyline of spires and domes, and the eminent Vatican City at its heart, Rome is a classic destination for the city lover. If this is your first time in the Eternal City, start with the impressive Colosseum, even better after dark when lit in warm amber lights. Take a morning to stroll the atmospheric Roman Forum and climb the Spanish Steps to the Trinità dei Monti church for far-reaching vistas before relaxing in the sublime public gardens of Villa Doria Pamphili.

Off-grid sights include the underground passages and chapels of the Vatican — explorable by private tour, and the spot where Julius Caesar was murdered: Largo di Torre Argentina, now a sanctuary for cats. For a truly remarkable evening, consider a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel, and when it’s time for food, the classics are the best — plates of Pasta alla Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe in a time-worn trattoria.

Stay at the Bulgari Hotel Roma

For Bulgari, everything began in Rome. A Greek silversmith established Bulgari in 1884, and now, 140 years later, Bulgari has opened what is arguably its finest hotel in its beguiling home city: Bulgari Hotel Roma. Indeed, along with the usual luxuries, the Rome address includes a Bulgari Dolci chocolaterie and patisserie and a library dedicated to the capital. Rooms are boldly Bulgari, with coffee table books and bedding bearing the Bulgari name. But the signature Bulgari Suite is its most impressive, with ten windows perfectly framing the Mausoleum of Augustus, Rubelli fabrics and a bathtub made from a single block of Arabesque Corchia marble. The rooftop La Terrazza bar boasts panoramic views of the Tiber and Villa Medici, while below ground, the spa channels the aesthetics of ancient Rome, with marble columns and coloured glass lending the central pool a dreamlike aesthetic.

New York: Bagels & Broadway

There’s no place quite like New York. From the galleries of Chelsea to the neon blaze of Times Square, from the bright billboards of Broadway shows to boutique-lined SoHo streets and bagels stuffed with cream cheese, New York City has everything. In winter, New York glitters under festive lights, while spring and summer bring colourful blooms to Central Park.

Year-round, world-class dining, art, and fashion are everywhere, from the boutiques on Bleecker Street and eclectic eateries of the photogenic West Village to the Michelin-starred restaurants and dive bars of the Upper East Side.

Take a bright yellow cab to Chinatown and you’ll find a lantern-lit slice of Shanghai in Manhattan, while in Nolita, you can try a more traditional slice of cheesy indulgence at Lombardi’s, often credited as America’s first pizzeria.

Stay at the Waldorf Astoria New York

Recently reopened after an impressive renovation led by Pierre‑Yves Rochon, the Waldorf Astoria New York on Park Avenue is the perfect address for a luxury New York City break.

There are 375 guest rooms and suites — many with jaw-dropping skyline views, all redesigned for enhanced privacy and spaciousness. Interiors combine elegant Art Deco features with modern comforts, and original elements such as the Waldorf Astoria Lobby Clock have been beautifully restored.

Food lovers should know it was here that the iconic breakfast dish, Eggs Benedict, was created, along with the Waldorf Salad. Today, there are three dining venues in which to refuel between the sights and shows: the Japanese kaiseki-inspired Yoshoku, Chef Michael Anthony’s Lex Yard brasserie, and the chic Peacock Alley lounge.

London: Sights & Shopping

London is an iconic showcase of world culture: the castle-like structure of Tower Bridge reaching across the Thames, animated by red buses and black cabs, the neon-drenched London Eye, the postcard pretty streets of Kensington, and the change of the guard, uniformed in their red tunics and bearskin hats, at the gates of Buckingham Palace.

For shopping, you might try the tried and true: Harrods for quintessential luxuries rooted in elegance, Selfridges for a distinctly modern edge, or hunt under-the-radar boutiques on Redchurch Street. A recent opening to book to be amongst an A-list of fellow diners is the British outpost of New York’s Carbone, taking up a glamorous slice of Grosvenor Square (next to the Chancery Rosewood). For exceptional cuisine, try Kol, a Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant making waves in Marylebone (ask and your 360 concierge will secure the reservation).

Stay at Raffles London at The OWO

This iconic Whitehall address has hosted everyone from Churchill to Ian Fleming, who found his inspiration for Bond while working here, long before the recent restoration turned this iconic address into the sleek Raffles London at The OWO. There are 81 rooms and 39 suites crafted by Thierry Despont, alongside 85 luxurious private residences. Interiors evoke private members club aesthetics: oak panelling, antiques, mosaic floors and roaring fireplaces, lit by bronze chandeliers and given bursts of vivid colour with rose-filled vases. Wellness at Raffles London at The OWO is offered in a 27,000 square-foot Guerlain Spa, with a 20-metre indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms. There are nine restaurants, but the highlights are three Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco at the OWO and Kioku By Endo on the rooftop, a Japanese-Mediterranean dining experience, paired with Big Ben views.

Athens: Classical & Contemporary

One of Europe’s most essential city breaks, Athens is as enchanting as it is culturally rich. Take the funicular to the top of Lycabettus hill and you’ll see the city undulate in waves of boxy white houses, many with fluoro pink Bougainvillaea climbing their walls.

Hike the winding old town of stone staircases, many acting as make-shift seating areas for cafes and restaurants, and you’ll eventually reach the Acropolis, the ruins of the Ancient Greek city, where sweeping vistas meet incredible close-ups of some of Greece’s most impressive classical ruins.

For a more laid-back day, stroll the old churches and temples in the Ancient Agora, explore the backstreets of Anafiotika, a warren-like village of beautiful Cycladic architecture or head to the seaside suburbs for a few days of sun on the sublime Athenian Riviera.

Stay at The Dolli at Acropolis

The Dolli at Acropolis in Athens’ historic heart is a boutique hotel with just 46 rooms, suites, and private apartments. Housed in a restored early 20th-century landmark building, it interweaves contemporary design with chic Athenian touches.

Views abound, but the hotel’s rooftop is the showpiece. There, an infinity pool seems to float below the Acropolis’s Parthenon, and there’s a restaurant offering panoramic views of Athens.

Interiors throughout the property mix contemporary with classic, with creative highlights like hand-painted plates and vintage furniture, but overall, the rooms are modern with excellent use of space, particularly in the smaller spaces. Larger rooms are irresistible, especially the junior suites with their magnetic views of the Parthenon.

Tokyo: Shrines & Skylines

Beneath Tokyo’s dizzying skyline of glittering glass towers lies innumerable layers of culture. Travel the width of Tokyo and you’ll encounter ancient shrines, laden with incense, Sumo stables where you can watch student wrestlers train, classical kabuki theatre shows (with an English-speaking guide to whisper the nuances of the performance), and some of the world’s best restaurants where exacting chefs prepare everything from Japanese twists on Italian food to otherworldly sushi creations — including fugu, deadly if not prepared correctly.

Indeed, Tokyo is one of the great foodie cities: stroll through stylish Shinjuku, and you’ll stumble into lively izakayas scented by sake and smoke, while Ginza is almost blinding with all those Michelin stars.

Stay at Aman Tokyo

Ascend to the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, home to Aman Tokyo, and you’ll witness some of Tokyo’s most staggering views, particularly at night, when the city skyline undulates amongst a background of mountains, the skyscrapers taking on an amber pixelation as windows are bathed in the glow of countless city lights. The signature Panorama suite is the perfect choice for views, with an abundance of light from floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Tokyo Tower, and there’s a sumptuous stone furo bathtub. A 2,500-square-metre spa is splashed across two floors, with onsen-style baths and a 30-metre pool, and you can indulge in traditional Japanese-inspired experiences such as a Misogi Shinto purification ritual as well as detoxification programmes (ask your travel designer about a recent programme led by Novak Djokovic).

Amsterdam: Canalboats & Cycles

Amsterdam’s canals are charming year-round. Spring and summer lend them a cheery ambience with flowers bringing a riot of colour as cafes spill onto cobbles, while the reflections of long, narrow houses flicker in the water.

By December, the air may glisten with a sprinkling of frost, but the evenings are busy in De Wallen and Leidseplein, and the annual light festival sees artists from around the world drape playful light sculptures across the city, best seen from a boat.

Summertime explorations by bike can be rickety as you brave the cobbles, but rewarding as you become one with the flow of traffic in one of the friendliest cities for cyclists.

Museums like the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are essential for art, while the vast Vondelpark is sanctuary-like and a perfect place for a post-lunch walk, all the better when the tulips are in bloom.

Stay at De L’Europe Amsterdam

A regal 19th-century building perched on the banks of the Amstel River, De L’Europe Amsterdam hotel has been a European icon since 1896 and is ideally placed for exploring Amsterdam’s central canals and museums.

Rooms and suites combine classic and contemporary touches: marble bathrooms with heated floors, Coco-Mat beds, 400-thread-count satin sheets, and a fine selection of river-view rooms with private balconies or terraces.

The ‘t Huys wing adds an artistic layer, with individually styled suites curated by leading Dutch creatives, each oozing a unique style.

Restaurants are exceptional, none more so than the two Michelin-starred Flore, a gastronomic theatre for locality and sustainability.

Whether your ideal luxury city break absolutely needs delicious food: a private tour of Tokyo’s best sushi, or culture: ancient wonders in Athens and private access to Rome’s historic sights, your 360 Private Travel Designer will tailor every detail. From Europe’s grand capitals linked by your favourite luxury hotels to thrilling escapes in New York, we’ll ensure your journey is stress-free and entirely bespoke.

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The Best City Breaks to take in 2025/6