48 hours
City breaks in Bilbao, San Francisco and Vancouver
The beating heart of the Basque Country, Bilbao has emerged from its gritty industrial past as a flourishing arts hub with the world-famous Guggenheim at its core. Stumble the Seven Streets admiring gothic churches and medieval terraces then descend on Plaza Nueva, where Bilbaínos argue passionately about which bar makes the best pintxos (snacks) over glasses of effervescent txakoli (local white wine). While it is no longer necessary to wear flowers in your hair (as suggested by Scott McKenzie), you might still leave your heart in San Francisco. California’s most romantic city has a proud history of innovation and tolerance. Fifty years ago it spawned the hippie movement, while today a new generation of entrepreneurs are shaping our digital future and immigrants are reimagining the city’s food scene. Next stop is Vancouver, the Canadian city whose cultural kudos is matched by its glorious location. Steeped in aboriginal history and ringed by the snowcapped North Shore Mountains, it’s a place where eagles soar between gleaming skyscrapers. In May, creative types sip craft beer in the shade of the giant cedars in Stanley Park and feast on flavoursome spot prawns in waterfront restaurants.