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There are plenty of ways to have a perfect weekend in Singapore. For a small place, it packs a mighty punch of delight. For first timers, a taste of the outdoors, a splash of shopping, and more than a few hearty servings of food will leave you craving more. Browse the National Gallery Singapore. Explore the Gardens by the Bay. Sip a sundowner at one of the stunning rooftop bars. And eat eat eat. (The food is so incredibly good.) Make your way outside of the city center to see the world-famous Singapore Zoo.

I’m on the hunt for perfection, Japanese style.

Argentina at a Gallop

There are few more picturesque destinations than southern Italy’s Sorrentine peninsula. Stretching from the Bay of Naples to the Gulf of Salerno, the dramatic coastline is dotted with cliff-side towns that overlook brilliant blue waters and are favored by the jetset for their pebbled beaches and terraced gardens, dreamy lemon groves and villa retreats—think Amalfi, Ravello, Positano. Want your own piece of la dolce vita? Here are the hotels and resorts where you’ll find it.

Like all of the best Spanish tapas restaurants, Barrafina has no tables. In London’s Covent Garden, all the eating is done at a long marbled bar, lined with red leather stools, and there are no bookings: you get here first, you get served, all the while watching the chefs at work. The idea is that it’s just like being in Spain (the inspiration for Barrafina was Barcelona’s Cal Pep), and it really is: the atmosphere is chaotic and the food comes from all corners. One minute you’re eating a ortiguilla (a type of sea anemone found in the Balearics) in a paper cone, the next a chicken wing served in a Canarian mojo picón sauce.

Kitty Fisher’s is the antithesis to the New York exposed brick brand of cool. Named after a Georgian courtesan, this tiny restaurant in Mayfair is rather a wood-clad room flickering with candles and exuding a intimate, “make yourself at home” vibe. The food is some of the best in London: the original chef, Tomos Parry, won the Young British Foodie award during his tenure, and his successor George Barson, formerly of the River Cottage, continues to surprise with innovative dishes cooked on the wood grill. If you can’t get a booking, fear not: a second restaurant, Cora Pearl, named for a 19th-century courtesan this time, recently opened on Covent Garden’s Henrietta Street.

To the west of Santiago’s historic heart of downtown, here the Chilean capital was founded at present day Cerro Santa Lucía with its lush garden. Now a trendy neighborhood, here top restaurants, bars, cafés, boutiques, parks, and stately apartment buildings make up this happening area around Lastarria street.

Passionate Mexico City foodies are rediscovering and reviving Mexico’s rural culinary delights.

Beyond the beach, the billboards, and the freeways, there’s a city of neighborhoods waiting to be explored.

Lisbon is rich in art and culture. Visit palaces and the cathedral, and hear concerts in gardens and live music in bars. Enjoy art galleries and the colorful tiles at Museu Nacional do Azulejo. (Note that many Lisbon museums are free on Sundays till 2 p.m.) Art can also be found in the streets or parking lots, where the walls are covered with street art. Lisbon’s cultural offerings are many.

Wondering where to eat traditional Bavarian cuisine in Munich? Well, all the breweries and beer gardens in Munich serve Bavarian food, and if you’re looking for dining options other than a beer hall, you can find both family and upscale Bavarian restaurants all over Munich. A word to the wise: Even though you won’t find hamburgers on the menu, Bavarian cuisine is hearty, so go hungry!

This list of 12 must-do experiences in Munich helps you make the most of your time here in the Bavarian capital. Without a doubt the #1 thing to do in Munich is to visit Marienplatz. From there, continue on to medieval courtyards and historical buildings. Then visit the sprawling English Garden to see Munich’s most unique attraction—surfers on a standing wave on the Eisbach River!

A 2010 renovation transformed a traditional lodge into a 12-room inn that’s both cutting- edge and cozy. Built by the former Olympic skier Gerardo Mussner in 1963, the hotel is now run by Gerardo’s daughters. His wife, Helga, serves South Tirolean dishes such as almond-crusted venison. In 2010, the hotel was reimagined with larch wood, glass, and local stones that match the mountains. The curved roof stands out against the peaks. A 758-mile network of 12 ski areas, Dolomiti Superski is just five minutes away. The closest section, Val Gardena, hosts two Alpine Ski World Cup events in December. From $2,284 per week. 39/471-795-274. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue.

Not long ago, the flat whites served in Darwin were a little too flat. The city hadn’t yet been swept up in the coffee craze that’s taken Darwin’s cosmopolitan cousins by storm. But the beards, bikes, and baristas have arrived, and with them local roasters, single-origin beans, filtered pour overs, and cold brews—a godsend in the sweaty summer. From a garden oasis to a cafe serious about sweets, here’s where travelers can find the best coffee in Darwin.

Nationally known for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena is more locally known for another Rose, the monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market. A short drive or Gold Line train ride from LA, Pasadena is a town worth exploring. Start the day in nature with either a hike or a visit to the Botanical Gardens. Then, wander the quaint Old Town Historic District spotted with coffee shops, specialty stores, art museums, comfort food cafes, and fine dining restaurants.