When you’re on a tight travel schedule, you need to make the most of every minute – even if that means exploring a city at 3 a.m. If you’re a night owl looking for a destination that goes full speed all night long, here are six cities around the world that never sleep.
New York City
The “official” City that Never Sleeps earns its reputation with trendy nightclubs and bars that offer all-night libations and parties. Restaurants are often open all night in NYC, too, and you can always make your way around the city, thanks to the Big Apple’s 24-hour public transportation. You can even catch a midnight view of the New York City skyline from the Staten Island Ferry, which also runs all night long.
Seoul
The South Korean capital is filled with 24-hour entertainment options, from coffee shops and restaurants to spas, karaoke rooms and night markets. Nightclubs and bars are open until the wee hours of the morning, and if you need to refresh yourself before heading back to your hotel, you can always pop into a 24-hour jjimjilbang (public bathhouse) to unwind in the mineral water baths and sleep on the heated floors.
London
London is just as beautiful by night as it is by day, and the night buses are a convenient way for you to explore the city after dark. Late-night clubs and pubs also offer after-hours entertainment, and even after the clubs close their doors, you’ll find plenty of 24-hour coffee shops and restaurants in Soho.
Las Vegas
Looking for a steak dinner at 2 a.m.? How about a midnight game of bowling? You’ll find all that and more in Las Vegas, where phrases like “last call” and “lights out” simply don’t exist. All night long, you can hit the slot machines, party at one of Sin City’s renowned night clubs or satisfy your cravings for munchies at dozens of buffets and diners.
Madrid
You won’t have to wander far to find a bar or terraza (street-side cafes-turned-bars come nightfall) where you can get your night in Madrid started. After making the rounds through the city’s lively bar scene, you can hit up the party city’s nightclubs to dance to nonstop beats until the sun comes up.
Tokyo
Late-night shopping and drinks at a local izakaya are musts as evening rolls over Tokyo. Gaming parlors throughout the city offer round-the-clock entertainment, while districts like the hip Roppongi Hills area hold all the nightlife you can handle. Before dawn, you can watch as fishermen and restaurant owners haggle over prime cuts of tuna as the Tsukiji Fish Market comes to life.
(Main image: Danny Choo used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
