I was browsing in a camera shop tonight and got thinking about taking photos at night. I suddenly realised that of all the outdoor photos I have uploaded or taken, about 95% of them are daytime! So here's 5 of my favourite cities by night, for views.
This list features mostly lit up skyscraping type cities. Mostly because at night they are easier on the eye and ultimately more inspiring. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping in deserts,but your night view of a following a torch to a toilet isn't exactly much cop when you're blessed with staring down on a city like Budapest at night...
1. Victoria Harbour in HONG KONG:
Hong Kong at night is totally fantastic. There are lots of places you can go to view it's lit up skyscrapers, most of which are centred around Victoria Harbour, either there on that side of Kowloon, or across the water on Hong Kong Island. With a backdrop of mountains on one side and hundreds of lit up skyscrapers all around, this place provides you with endless shiny, happy moments relaxing, enjoying the view. You have a choice of where to go to see it:
(a) go to The Peak!
(b) find a mate whose flat has a decent view (I've lived in 3 places in Hong Kong all of which had amazing night views!)
(c) eat your dinner in a top floor restaurant such as Aqua or Sky 100 . Aqua has no entry fee - pop in for a cocktail and enjoy the view. Sky 100 is considerably higher and with a better view but they charge an entry fee.
2. Tokyo in JAPAN:
Although I'm not a fan of Tokyo (for whatever reason I am not sure - I normally love all the big cities), at night it livens up and the amazing lights give the city a whole new buzz. At night I visited Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinkiba and Ginza and was impressed by the bouyant array of lights, people doing whatever they wanted (mostly eating and shopping). For a travelling Northern Irishman, I did find Tokyo a little bit crazy and actually haven't even written about my trip there properly yet.
3. Sydney, AUSTRALIA:
It's quite obvious to be honest. Sydney Harbour at night has it. Places such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour etc. at night are just outstanding. I lived in Sydney for a few years and the night view became second nature to me. I caught the incredible New Year's Eve fireworks display in 2009, which is highly recommended. Do it for free as well - chill down by Sydney harbour in a bar admiring all around you.
4. FRANCE: St. Malo:
OK, so you're baffled by my choice of St. Malo in France but honestly as a traveller you go with fond memories and places that really shone out at you. And the glorious walled city of St. Malo is quite spectacular at night. What's more is it isn't that busy so you can enjoy a nice quiet time while eating crepes and drinking French beer or wine in traditional streets and with endless boats docking in the lit up harbour. I might be slightly biased though as I used to work on boats in St. Malo so the night view of leaving the harbour at night is a memory that just stuck and has yet to be replaced. Go and check it out - you'll be pleasantly surprised!
I spent a fair few nights in the city itself, but most of my views of the gorgeous St. Malo were from the bow of the ship as we sailed in or out of this splendid French Port! If you live in the south of England, hop on a Condor Ferry and spend a night at least in St. Malo!
5. HUNGARY: Budapest:
Eastern Europe offers some alternative night view magic, as I find it less commercial. Lit up advertising boards are replaced by lit up parliaments and lamposts by rivers. Well that's the beauty of Budapest. You can head up to Gellert for a sensational view down over the city at night. It's a wonderful city to see from high up. While you're at it try some of the amazing sweet Hungarian wine and grab some goulasch. The two sides of the city, Buda and Pest are separated not just by the Danube but also small island called Margit Sziget.
Pretty amazing eh? I know it won't be everyone's top five but this is mine from my travels. I love all these places, but I also love Sao Paulo, Macao and Seoul by night, they'll have to wait for another day...
Don't Stop Living!
.
This list features mostly lit up skyscraping type cities. Mostly because at night they are easier on the eye and ultimately more inspiring. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping in deserts,but your night view of a following a torch to a toilet isn't exactly much cop when you're blessed with staring down on a city like Budapest at night...
1. Victoria Harbour in HONG KONG:
Hong Kong at night is totally fantastic. There are lots of places you can go to view it's lit up skyscrapers, most of which are centred around Victoria Harbour, either there on that side of Kowloon, or across the water on Hong Kong Island. With a backdrop of mountains on one side and hundreds of lit up skyscrapers all around, this place provides you with endless shiny, happy moments relaxing, enjoying the view. You have a choice of where to go to see it:
(a) go to The Peak!
(b) find a mate whose flat has a decent view (I've lived in 3 places in Hong Kong all of which had amazing night views!)
(c) eat your dinner in a top floor restaurant such as Aqua or Sky 100 . Aqua has no entry fee - pop in for a cocktail and enjoy the view. Sky 100 is considerably higher and with a better view but they charge an entry fee.
2. Tokyo in JAPAN:
Although I'm not a fan of Tokyo (for whatever reason I am not sure - I normally love all the big cities), at night it livens up and the amazing lights give the city a whole new buzz. At night I visited Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinkiba and Ginza and was impressed by the bouyant array of lights, people doing whatever they wanted (mostly eating and shopping). For a travelling Northern Irishman, I did find Tokyo a little bit crazy and actually haven't even written about my trip there properly yet.
3. Sydney, AUSTRALIA:
It's quite obvious to be honest. Sydney Harbour at night has it. Places such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour etc. at night are just outstanding. I lived in Sydney for a few years and the night view became second nature to me. I caught the incredible New Year's Eve fireworks display in 2009, which is highly recommended. Do it for free as well - chill down by Sydney harbour in a bar admiring all around you.
4. FRANCE: St. Malo:
OK, so you're baffled by my choice of St. Malo in France but honestly as a traveller you go with fond memories and places that really shone out at you. And the glorious walled city of St. Malo is quite spectacular at night. What's more is it isn't that busy so you can enjoy a nice quiet time while eating crepes and drinking French beer or wine in traditional streets and with endless boats docking in the lit up harbour. I might be slightly biased though as I used to work on boats in St. Malo so the night view of leaving the harbour at night is a memory that just stuck and has yet to be replaced. Go and check it out - you'll be pleasantly surprised!
I spent a fair few nights in the city itself, but most of my views of the gorgeous St. Malo were from the bow of the ship as we sailed in or out of this splendid French Port! If you live in the south of England, hop on a Condor Ferry and spend a night at least in St. Malo!
5. HUNGARY: Budapest:
Eastern Europe offers some alternative night view magic, as I find it less commercial. Lit up advertising boards are replaced by lit up parliaments and lamposts by rivers. Well that's the beauty of Budapest. You can head up to Gellert for a sensational view down over the city at night. It's a wonderful city to see from high up. While you're at it try some of the amazing sweet Hungarian wine and grab some goulasch. The two sides of the city, Buda and Pest are separated not just by the Danube but also small island called Margit Sziget.
Pretty amazing eh? I know it won't be everyone's top five but this is mine from my travels. I love all these places, but I also love Sao Paulo, Macao and Seoul by night, they'll have to wait for another day...
Don't Stop Living!
.
About the Author:
You can learn more about amazing cities at night here: Top 5 Cities At night and to stay up to date with Jonny Blair's travel stories and tips check out his travel, work and lifestyle websiteDont Stop Living.
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