Want to veer away from the obvious tourist trail? Well, here are some options for doing things differently in ten cities that are popular on round-the-world tickets.

Sydney

The well-trodden paths in Sydney are generally found around the harbour and the beaches of the Eastern Suburbs. But Bondi is, frankly, overrated – if you want to play in the surf at some of the city’s finest beaches, then head north of the harbour to the long stretch between Manly and Palm Beach. The L90 bus will get you to most of them. It’s also worth exploring Sydney’s Inner West, a patchwork of grungy, arty suburbs that give the city its real heart. Newtown and Glebe are particularly good areas to hang out in – think live music pubs, arthouse cinemas, cheap eats from around the world and gay/ student-friendly cafés and bars.

Los Angeles

LA is so sprawling that there are bound to be pockets that people don’t tend to explore. The extremely brave/ foolhardy can take tours of South Central’s gangland areas led by a former gang member (LAgangtours.com), but there are some slightly less hair-raising options. The hills and valleys lead to some excellent hiking trails, believe it or not. Runyon Canyon and the Malibu Creek State Park are good options for the actively-inclined. Otherwise, how about watching archaeologists hunting for dinosaur bones at the La Brea Tar Pits? The Page Museum next to the oasis of black, sticky gunk showcases many of the previous finds.

Auckland

Auckland’s city centre is hardly the world’s most appealing, and why so many travellers don’t seem to venture away from it is utterly perplexing. There are a few good escape options, however. One is to get on a boat to one of the harbour islands. Rangitoto is great for its volcanic landscape, while Waiheke is more indulgent and has its own wine-tasting trail. Otherwise, the city has some great beachside suburbs to the north – Devonport is particularly lovely – while the forests and black sand coast of the Waitekere feel a world away from the utilitarian Central Business District.

Dubai

It’s easy to fall for the lazy stereotype that Dubai is all 47-star hotels, ludicrously tall towers and giant ski slopes in shopping centres. Sure, if that’s what you want then go for it, but the Deira and Bur Dubai areas either side of the Dubai Creek offer a pleasing contrast. This is where to find the old fashioned souks that the air conditioned shopping malls can’t kill, and reams of grubby shisha cafés where middle-aged men puff on hookah pipes and slowly ingest tea. The best way of crossing the creek, meanwhile, is to get on one of the abras. These invariably rammed wooden boats regularly transport people, shopping and any associated animals, usually clanging into jetties and other abras as they go.

Bangkok

Seen the temples, done the Khao San Road and eaten more than your fair share of pad Thai? Well how about enrolling in a Muay Thai (Kickboxing) camp? These martial arts schools are becoming increasingly popular amongst those who give Bangkok more than a couple of days before heading out again – and it’s certainly an impressive skill to learn on your holidays. Otherwise, try heading to Lumphini Park for a bit of peace and fresh air – and look on bemused as scores of people practice their Tai Chi techniques every morning.

Singapore

Singapore can feel incredibly crowded and claustrophobic, and when it all feels like it’s getting a bit too much, it’s worth heading up to Changi Village and getting the ferry over to Pulau Ubin. It all feels a lot more relaxed on Pulau Ubin – it’s the sort of place where you can hire a bike then cycle round avoiding kamikaze chickens. There’s proper rainforest to explore once you get away from the shoreline, and a slightly disturbing number of military camps to peer over the barbed wire fences of. Once you’ve finished your pedalling, hand the bike back and tuck into the incredibly messy chilli crab at one of the restaurants near the ferry terminal.

Hong Kong

There’s more to Hong Kong than just Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. There are loads of little islands that can be explored by ferry, all of which have their own character if not obvious tourist attractions. But the New Territories manage to show off the part of Hong Kong that most visitors miss. Closer to the border with China proper, this area is largely either residential or cultivated, but it’s a lot more relaxed. Outdoorsy types should try hiking along the MacLehose Trail (yes, believe it or not, Hong Kong is a great walking destination) or the Hong Kong Wetland Park. There are even some decent beaches to kick back on, while the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery is ace.

New York

Manhattan can be terribly intimidating, but there are different ways of looking at. For example, it’s possible to hire out kayaks and paddle around New York’s most famous borough if you so wish. Otherwise you can escape beyond the skyscrapers to the jazz clubs of Harlem in uptown Manhattan or hang out with the skinny jeans and ridiculous hair set in Williamsburg. The latter is just over the bridge in Brooklyn. It’s also possible to get ferries to the relative respites of Staten Island and Governor’s Island.

Melbourne

Albert Park isn’t exactly unknown but surprisingly few people bother to stop by on their way to the beaches, cake shops and live band venues in St Kilda. After all, there are few other places in the world where you can walk around a Formula One Grand Prix Circuit (the Australian GP is effectively a race around the park). The suburbs of Fitzroy and Collingwood are well worth the detour too – the Yarra Bend Park is lovely and there are plenty of galleries, indie shops and cool bars to keep you entertained. Finally, while everyone else is mooching around the South Bank or trying to find the street where Neighbours is filmed, dip into the Immigration Museum in the city centre – it’s brilliant and makes a great stab at telling Australia’s story.

Cape Town

Cape Town is unquestionably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but behind the make-up of the waterfront, beaches and mountain lies a damaged body. It’s one worth investigating to get a clearer idea of the divisions in South Africa’s draw card city. Life is slowly getting better in the sprawling townships of the Cape Flats, but the poverty is still very evident. Companies such as the excellent Coffee Beans Routes (Coffeebeansroutes.com) take visitors out on tours with themes such as storytelling, football and reggae. It’s a chance to meet the people that are all too easy to forget about and hear their stories.

By David Whitley