CITIES THAT NEVER SLEEP

Fear of jetlag putting you off travel? Try one of these destinations worth staying wide awake for, writes Sarah Marshall.

JETLAG 1 New York

Switched on after sunset, when buildings become a polka dot of lights, this restless city roars through the night. Climb the Empire State Building at 1am for a cinematic skyline that’s larger than celluloid life or slide into a booth at a 24-hour diner. Usher in dawn with a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry, greeting Lady Liberty as millions of immigrants did decades ago.

2 Tokyo

Quirky by day, even quirkier at night — Japanese idiosyncrasies are played out after dark. In Akihabara, gamers make a dusk-to-dawn date with Super Mario in action-packed arcades, while grills in Shinjuku’s lantern-lit alleyway izakayas roast meats until the last raucous patron agrees to go home. Head to Shibuya for nocturnal retail therapy and a chance to see its famous pedestrian crossing bathed in neon lights.

3 Venice

Overcrowding can dampen the magic of Italy’s floating treasure, but once tourists are tucked up in bed a different atmosphere takes shape. Like a starry sky, St Mark’s mosaic facade sparkles golden, and in the absence of noisy distractions it’s a beauty to behold. A labyrinth of calles and empty bridges allows imaginations to run wild through Renaissance times, while a taste of latenight modern living can be found in the cicchetti bars spilling from Cannaregio.

4 Lisbon

Inside windowless salons lit only by lamps, it’s easy to lose track of hours, months and years. Some institutions in the Portuguese capital have resisted change, serving drinks in art nouveau surroundings until at least 3am. Bars in Bairro Alto overflow to become a street party in the early hours. | 10.02.19 |

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