The first place I’ll take you in Melbourne is… to the MCG, for an Australian football match. It’s not soccer, it’s not rugby and it’s not American football; it’s simply the best game is the world, and you’ll have to watch it to understand it. The atmosphere at the ‘G during a good game is something special.

The MCG in Melbourne | © Visit Victoria

Few people know that Melbourne… was called Batmania for a while. Seriously. We also have Batman Avenue, named after the same guy – John Batman. Whoever changed the city’s name to Melbourne should be ashamed of themselves!

When I want a little peace I go to… one of Melbourne’s many beautiful parks. Even in the middle of the city you can find a green oasis to help you recharge during your lunch break.

Carlton Gardens on the northeastern edge of the Melbourne CBD | © Visit Victoria

If you taste only one local dish, it should be… a barbeque cooked on a sunny day in a suburban backyard, one that has a Hill’s Hoist clothesline and a corrugated iron fence. It’s not about the food; it’s all about the classic Aussie atmosphere.

If you come to Melbourne, make sure you take a photo with… the Yarra River and the city skyline in the background.

Melbourne’s skyline at night, as seen from the Yarra River

You can tell that somebody is from Melbourne by… the way their shirt matches their hairstyle and their moustache. Tattoos, skinny jeans and thick-rimmed glasses are also signs that the person is a hipst- sorry, Melbournian…

The residents of Melbourne would never… admit that your city’s coffee is as good as theirs. Because it just isn’t. Sorry.

Your city’s coffee just isn’t as good as Melbourne’s | © Visit Victoria

When I want to escape the crowds I go… anywhere in country Victoria. The area around Melbourne is so big and spacious that you can find peace and quiet pretty much wherever you go.

In spring you should… expect the unexpected. According to the famous saying, Melbourne weather gives you four seasons in one day, and spring is the most unpredictable time of the year.

In summer you should… wear sunscreen!

In autumn you should… check out the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. For nearly a month, you can find up to 100 comedy shows every night, all across for the city. Shows range from free local acts to gala performances by the world’s most famous comedians. It’s genuinely one of the best things in the world.

In winter you should… go to a footy match at the MCG!

The best day trip from Melbourne is… down the Great Ocean Road, which starts about two hours west of the city. The coastline is spectacular and you can do the drive over several days if you have the time.

Getting a public holiday because of a horse race (the Melbourne Cup)… is classic Melbourne.

If I wanted a beer, I’d go… to one of about 1000 places. Melbourne has way too many cool bars to choose from. I’ll go with Naked in the Sky on Brunswick St for its combination of tasty beer, cheap food and awesome views.

The view from Naked In The Sky | © Visit Victoria

If I wanted coffee and sweets, I’d go… anywhere in the inner-northern suburbs. We have such a strong café culture and there are so many interesting coffee shops – literally thousands in the city – that to single one out would be unfair. Brunswick St, Sydney Rd, High St and Lygon St are some of the best-known coffee strips.

5 places you’ve never heard of until you visit Melbourne: Hungry Jack’s, Centrelink, Abbortsford Convent, Frankston, the bathroom on the 35^th floor of the Sofitel Hotel.

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Nick Johns-Wickberg is an Australian traveller/writer/digital nomad/lost cause. When he’s on the road, he assumes his alter ego: The Tragic Traveller. Nick is a Melbournite who currently lives in Belgrade, Serbia, where he spends his time eating, drinking, wandering and – very occasionally, when he absolutely has to – working.

All photos: Visit Victoria

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See also: An essential guide to exploring Australia’s Beautiful North West

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The first place I will take you to in Lisbon is… Baixa-Chiado – two neighbourhoods in the heart of the city that stretch from the coast to the main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue). The streets in Baixa are named after the shop-owners and craftsmen, who traded in the area. Here past and modernity meet. Walking around Baixa is almost magical. In addition to the magnificent buildings, the huge coastal square Plaza del Comercio, the elegant square Praça do Rossio, the main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade, the old trams and the elevator Elevador de Santa Justa, (which gives an incredible view to the city), here you can find stores offering elegant and alternative couture, fado restaurants, cafes and museums.

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquillity, I go to… Belem. In Belem you can find cafes sheltered in beautiful traditional houses, tables in the open by the Belem Tower garden.

The best place for coffee and cake is… Antiga Confeitaria de Belem Café, where they have been serving the delicious cream tart pastry known as Pastel de nata. In fact, the great Portuguese sailors would set out for their discovery missions from Belem neighbourhood itself. There are several monuments by the river, which are worth visiting, such as the Belem Tower (Torre de Belem), the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos) and the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrao dos Descobrimentos).

If you come to Lisbon, make sure you take a picture with… the statue of Fernando Pessoa – one of the greatest Portuguese poets. The statue is on Garret Street (Rua Garret), in Chiado neighbourhood, near the emblematic cafe Cafe a Brasiliera.

From the local cuisine make sure you try… cozido à portuguesa (vegetables with different types of meat and sausage) or dried fish (Bacalhau).

When I want to escape the crowds, I go to… Gulbenkian Park. There is an open-air amphitheater for 1,000 people, the park with the lake in the background. During the day, lots of locals turn it into a special place for resting, reading or meditating. In addition, on stage are dance, theater and musical performances – mainly in the summer.

Lisbon residents would never… stop loving their city. Lisbon has a unique natural light and a special atmosphere, which make it one of the most beautiful cities I know.

Few people know that… Lisbon s cobbled pavements are a real work of art. The traditional Portuguese cobbled roads appear and develop during the restoration works after the devastating earthquake in 1755. Everything started with the cobbles at Rossio Square (Praca do Rossio), which soon reached other cities in Portugal, Brazil, Macao and other colonies.

In the spring you should… visit the Nations Park (Parque das Nacoes) – amazing contemporary architecture by the river, in full contrast with the old neighborhoods. One of the world’s most impressive oceanariums is located here. In addition, there is a watch tower, harbor and lots of places where you can grab a bite or a drink in the open while looking at one of the longest bridges in the world – Vasco da Gama.

In the summer you should… visit one of the summer festivals. The biggest is Optimus Alive – a series of concerts. Green Day, Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon among others have performed there. In addition, you should go to the beach. You can choose between Cascais and Costa da Caparica. Both places offer big sand dunes and opportunities to surf, kite surf, body-board, windsurf, etc.

In the autumn you should… take a walk around Baixa and Chiado, snuggled in a warm coat, eating roasted chestnuts bought from street vendors. The weather in Lisbon is mild and you can do the same things in spring and in autumn. You may worry about the rain only in winter.

Discover 10 beautiful quotes on Portugal

In the winter you should… find yourself a quiet and warm place to have a cup of warm tea while reading a book. You can also spare some time for culture, museums (the Fado Museum, the Design Museum), concerts or the theater. If you feel like shopping, you can choose between several trade centers. I personally prefer Atrium Saldanha because there are live piano performances in the late afternoon. The biggest malls, however, are Centro Comercial Colombo, Centro Comercial Vasco da Gama and Dolce Vita Tejo.

The best one-day trip from Lisbon is to… Sintra. It is located 30 minutes away from the capital and will impress you with its mystical hills, on which fairy-tale castles and extravagant villas are perched. North of Lisbon there are several excellent beaches – Praia da Adraga (among BBC’s top 20 European beaches), the spacious Praia Grande and Praia das Macas.

Only in Lisbon you can see… the Santos Populares celebrations. In Lisbon we celebrate St. Anthony the Matchmaker’s Day on 12 and 13 June. “Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, find me a husband” is one of the most popular refrains at this time. But as we also honor the saints Sao Pedro and Sao João, the celebrations last a whole week. We decorate the streets with balloons and colorful paper arches and in the old neighborhoods (Alfama, Ajuda, Mouraria) there are street stands where you can buy red wine and sardines. People dance traditional dances on the streets.

Along Avenida da Liberdade boulevard, on 12 June there is a parade of the city neighborhoods called Marchas Populares. Hundreds of people in colorful costumes march in the spirit of the traditions of their part of the capital – fishermen, old crafts, etc, competing to be the best among the neighborhoods.

There is another tradition on Saint Anthony’s Day – if you love someone, you give them a love letter or a love verse attached to a basil stem.

When I want to take a walk in nature, I go to… the Botanic garden in Principe Real quarter. At its opening in 1873 it was considered the best botanic garden in Southern Europe. Today, although slightly neglected in some parts, you can still see one of Europe s richest subtropical plant collections there. In addition, the thick exotic flowers, trees and bushes (18 000 species in total, all of them labeled) are the coolest place in Lisbon. The other option is Monsanto Park from where you can see entire Lisbon. There are also lots of animals here.

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Only in Rome, you can… walk through history.

When I want to take a walk in nature, I go… 20 minutes by car from Rome, to Albano Lake. It is a really nice place – green all around.

Few people know that…  if you are ‘thirsty’ (for a drink with a kick) but you don’t want to spend a lot, you should go to a bangla (mini-market).

Make sure you try… Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe, the most typical types of pasta in Rome.

…and the best place to try it is… around Trastevere quarter.

The best place for coffee and cake is… Giolitti. It’s very good, but it’s not the only cafe worth checking out.

The famous Giolitti – Andy Montgomery / Flickr

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquility… I like to sit near the Pantheon at night.

The best view of Rome is from… Pincio or Giardino degli Aranci. Near Giardino degli Aranci there is a place where you can see San Pietro Church through the keyhole.

Panoramic view from Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) / Wikipedia

When I was a kid my favorite place to go was… the sea. When I was a child I always went there with my parents.

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Viewing Platforms of Lisbon

Lisbon is also known as the city of seven hills, which means that there are plenty of places you can go to enjoy the Portuguese capital from up high. My advice is to visit at least a few of the viewing platforms, called miradouros in Portuguese. Some of the more famous ones are Miradouro da Graca, Miradouro da Penha da Franca, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Miradouro de Santa Katarina, Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara, and Mirarouro do Castelo de Sao Jorge.

Miradouro Senhora do Monte, Lisbon | Raphaël Chekroun

Bairro Alto

This is Lisbon’s liveliest nighttime neighborhood. The colorful facades and fences, covered in graffiti, are camouflage for numerous restaurants, serving local and international food, Fado houses, bars, and alternative shops, which remain open to visitors until late at night.

Discover 10 beautiful quotes on Portugal

Fado House Tasca do Chico

This is the oldest Fado house in Bairro Alto. Here you won’t simply hear the music, you will experience it.

Fado in Lisbon

Docks of Santo Amaro

The docks underneath the bridge 25th of April, stretch through the Alcantara neighborhood, from Baixa to Belem. This is one of the most relaxing places to enjoy a late afternoon drink, while in the evening the docks become cheerful and crowded. Abandoned warehouses, with a view of the yacht port, have been transformed into cosmopolitan bars, clubs, and restaurants for every taste. If you prefer leisurely walks, then this can be your starting point to the landmarks of Belem. Getting there takes about 30 minutes by foot, through the lush meadows around the river.

LX Factory

LX Factory in Alcantara district is a chain of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants housed in old factory premises. This urban fragment was kept secret for years but is now available for fashion, marketing, cultural and many other events and exhibitions. Perfect for a cup of coffee in creative surroundings.

LX Factory in Lisbon

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Only in Zagreb, you can see… The Museum of Broken Relationships.

Stop by and check our redesigned souvenir shop! 🙂 #brokenships #museumofbrokenrelationships #shopdesign

A post shared by Museum of Broken Relationships (@brokenships) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

When I want to take a walk in nature I go to… Sljeme (the highest peak of Medvednica Mountain, just north of Zagreb); Maksimir Park.

Few people know that… Zagreb is a city of dragons and tunnels. Dragons are well-incorporated into Croatian culture – in Zagreb, there are two sculptures of St George slaying a dragon, a reference to the famous myth in which he saved the princess of Silene from the jaws of the beast. Dragons have found their place in many local brands’ logos, too. And there is even a secret society in the city called the “Order of the Brethren of the Croatian Dragon”.

Another mystical element of the city is its secret tunnels. It’s believed that there are underground passages throughout the whole old city – some of them are open to tourists and you can join an organized tour to explore them.

Zagreb is also home to the shortest cable car in the world. The Zagreb funicular is only 66 m (216 ft) long and connects the Upper and Lower towns.

Make sure you try… zagrebački odrezak (breaded and fried veal steak, filled with ham and cheese); štrukli (dough with different fillings).

Mouthwatering štrukli / Wikipedia

The best place for coffee and cake is… Kava-tava place.

The best view of Zagreb is from… the Zagreb Eye; the Upper Town.

Zagreb as seen from the Zagreb Eye / Zagreb 360°

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquility I go to…  Zrinjevac Park.

When I was a kid my favorite place to go was… Trg Bana Jelačića (Ban Jelačić Square); the Upper Town.

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