Top 10 cities you should visit in 2008

Moscow

Bone-chilling winters, crooked cops, lousy customer service, and a truly painful exchange rate; of the many reasons (which are all debauched) to visit Moscow, its hospitality is not one of them. This unforgiving Slavic beauty has been ruining young foreigners for 875 years with easy access to sex, vodka and other things designed to accelerate moral decline. The air of danger and criminality surrounding everything she does only serves to entice us more.

In 2008, the excitement surrounding Russia’s icy capital is bound to heat up. When March’s presidential elections end the relatively stable Putin era, will Kremlin in-fighting send the country back to the lawless Animal Kingdom-esque early 1990s? Or will Russia, riding on a tidal wave of oil money, continue to prosper to the chagrin of the rest of Western civilization? Will the mighty Ruble continue to rise, putting Moscow on par with Copenhagen, albeit more depraved? Will Moscow’s CSKA win the European Champion League final, causing the streets to flood with soccer hooligans in raptures of ecstasy? Stay tuned to this dial because in Moscow life might be hard and cold, but it is never, ever boring.

San Diego

San Diego’s 2008 event calendar probably makes it the most fun city in America. Case in point: The city is hosting the International World Beer Cup (a bottomless tap of the best brews from around the world), the U.S. Open (one of the few sporting events that mandates short skirts) and Comic-Con (quite possibly the biggest comics convention in the universe).

These high-profile social activities make an already attractive vacation destination just downright sexy. As a guy, you can’t really go wrong with San Diego. It’s great for singles on the prowl or proud pops looking to show the wife and kids a good time. The glittering seaside city is rife with opportunity, from the sultry old Gaslamp Quarter to the world-famous San Diego Wild Animal Park. San Diego has great weather, snazzy bars, slamming clubs, and scrumptious food. It’s positively seductive, a perfect place for adventure, spicy nightlife or even some plain-old rest and relaxation. The weather is pretty much fantastic year-round, and there’s a modern cityscape as well as a naturally stunning beachscape. Surf’s up!

Oslo

Florence has art, Paris has food -- but Oslo, the capital city of Norway, has character. Often overlooked by American tourists craving a predictable jaunt through Europe’s southern states, Oslo has something different that every man can enjoy -- history, culture, nightlife, nature, and some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Oslo is a small urban oasis surrounded by a scenic, rugged environment that consists of fjords, mountains and islands. This natural beauty, coupled with Oslo’s trendy nightlife, fashionable (and attractive) people, unique culture and rich Viking history make Oslo a prime destination for any man looking to explore somewhere new in 2008.

In addition to the permanent attractions that make Oslo unique, 2008 marks the opening of one of the city’s most well-known landmarks, the Opera House. Perched on the Oslo waterfront, the Opera House -- long considered old-fashioned and out-of-date -- has been renovated and will re-open in April 2008 under the hand of Norway’s Kind Harald. The long-awaited opening is considered one of the biggest boosts in the history of Norwegian culture.

So, if you’re looking for something different in 2008, we’ve got the scoop on what to see, where to rest and how to party in Scandinavia’s hottest city.

Bombay

There’s no dearth of reasons why you should visit Bombay (also known as Mumbai) any time of year, and given by the number of Westerners moving there for corporate career upgrades, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stay either. Bombay is a glorious, chaotic, Technicolor riot, whether the city is awash in torrential Monsoon rains or baking under the soil-cracking May sun. Sprawling slums rub up against skyscrapers spotting some of the world’s most expensive real estate at Cuffe Parade and Nariman Point.

So why make 2008 the year to visit Bombay? Because it’s likely to be Bombay’s best year yet. Mira Nair’s film Shantaram, based on the best-selling novel, is scheduled for release this year and it’s going to do for Bombay what The Motorcycle Diaries did for Latin America. Bombay is in a bubble of immense well-being, with superb established restaurants like Khyber, and new places like Origami -- a sushi restaurant that imports some of its seafood from Japan.

In March, a relatively cooler time to visit Bombay, is the festival of Holi, where masses of people get together, get high on an Indian hooch called “bhang,” and literally smear each other for hours in every powdered color of the rainbow. And during September’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations to mark the end of the Monsoon season, hundreds of thousands of devotees march massive painted clay idols of the elephant-headed god to the sea to the megaphonic tunes of Bollywood songs.

Vienna

Vienna has long been a bastion of elegance and culture, and 2008 will be a testament to this fact. Art connoisseurs will be thrilled by the Albertina museum’s Max Ernst, Monet, Picasso, Kokoschka, and Van Gogh exhibits. Enthusiasts can also visit Viennafair 2008, the international contemporary art festival. Equally promising is the Kings of Chrome: Cars with a History exhibit, showing in the Museum of Technology.

Music fans can bask in the classical music Vienna is famous for or opt for something modern, like the Rebellion Punk Music Festival. The Vienna Jazz Festival is guaranteed to please, as is the Music Film Festival. For something more romantic, try the Johann Strauss Ball on Valentine’s Day. And don’t miss the relatively new Haus der Musik, an incredible museum of sound.

Sports lovers can look forward to Vienna hosting Euro 2008, the European soccer championship. Avid runners will enjoy the Vienna Marathon, and those seeking thrills should check out Masters of Dirt, the Freestyle Motocross show. The famous Vienna Prater -- one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, which dates back to 1766 -- will see its renovations complete this year, boasting new attractions which include a flight simulator and special-effects theater.

Belgrade

While many Americans might imagine Belgrade to be a gray and dull place that’s best left to journalists and political correspondents, those who are adventurous enough to visit the largest city in Serbia have found what is fast becoming the party capital of the world. In 2008, Belgrade will host the Eurovision Song Contest in its newly built Belgrade Arena, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Each European country will be represented by a pop group in this competition, and pop fans from all over the continent will gather to see the most attractive live performances in the hemisphere.

For a more rugged experience, the annual outdoor Belgrade Beer Festival takes place in August. Spanning four days and nights, the festival features all the beer you can drink and is accompanied by live rock music.

If neither pop music nor beer are your thing, you can be one of the first to try your luck in the newly opened Casino Belgrade. The $44.5 million casino on the banks of the River Sava stretches over 30,000 square feet and features 25 gaming tables, 250 gaming machines and a staff of 300.

If you visit Belgrade in July, you will not want to miss a short excursion to the EXIT Festival in the nearby city of Novi Sad. The festival lasts for four days and nights and features partying and dancing along the walls of an 18th-century fortress.

Buenos Aires

Known as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is a city deep-rooted in culture and beauty. From its landscaped parks to its architecturally brilliant churches and cathedrals, this Argentinean city has much splendor to offer locals and tourists alike.

At the core of Buenos Aires is a city drenched in culture. Music, art and theater are esteemed parts of this city’s character. Consequently, marking a major event in Buenos Aires’ history is the reopening of the Teatro Colon on its 100th anniversary. The Teatro, one of the greatest opera houses in the world and the crown jewel of Buenos Aires, will be unveiled on May 25th after undergoing massive renovations.

Adding to the sultriness of this South American city and its love for music is the annual Festival Buenos Aires Tango, which features performances from the best tango dancers in the world. The closing night of the festival culminates in a huge dance on one of the city's grand boulevards.

New York City

New York -- it’s a hell of a town. It’s a smorgasbord of spectacles, it’s a chameleon of a city and it’s full of surprises and glorious hot spots. While some things may be priceless, New York is not among them and it’s no place for penny-pinching. Here then, are a few events that make New York an exhilarating place in 2008.

In addition to New York’s standard attractions, such as the Chinese New Year’s parades, the Belmont Stakes, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, be sure to check out the last few seasonal shows of Cirque du Soleil’s Wintuk in January at Madison Square Garden. If you happen to attend this modern circus, be sure to check out Brooklyn’s old-school circus in Coney Island for a shocking counterpoint.

When baseball season rolls around, New York will be a different kind of baseball mecca. Not to ignore the Mets, but Yankee Stadium will field a drastically different team: George Steinbrenner has handed the reigns over to his sons, Joe Torre is gone and Alex Rodriguez is an unrestricted free agent with no plans to return. 2008 will also say goodbye to The House That Ruth Built, but not before it hosts baseball’s All-Star Game.

To truly enjoy New York, you first need to know where to eat, sleep and meet women.

Manchester/Liverpool

Liverpool and Manchester are less than an hour apart on public transportation, but their historic rivalry (and incredibly different accents) has always made them seem worlds apart. 2008 might just be the best year to see the best of both these worlds by enjoying a trip to take in two of the most exciting cities in the United Kingdom.

Manchester is sports central: The city hosts the World Track Cycling Championships in March, the World Aquatic Championships in April, the UEFA Cup Final in May, and the World Squash Championships in October. You'll want to count yourself in for a little bit of art in Liverpool: It’s the 2008 European Capital of Culture and the Tate Gallery is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The Liverpool Arena will be opening and, to celebrate this occasion, Liverpool’s prodigal son, Sir Paul McCartney, will be its first act.

Both cities are no longer the drab, bleak beacons of industrial England they used to be. London may be the biggest city in Britain, but it may not necessarily be the best. The North is not only cheaper, it’s also friendlier. From Manchester’s refurbished main square, with terrific shopping and restaurants, to Liverpool’s growing waterfront district, these two sexy, stylish, urban centers are just waiting to be discovered.

Beijing

Stadiums, subway stations and shopping malls are springing up overnight, grass is being planted on rooftops to tackle the smog and taxi drivers with smelly cabs have been lectured on cleaning up their act. For the last three years, seemingly everything in Beijing has been about the 2008 Olympics scheduled for August.

By spring 2008, Beijing will be well on its way to being the city the government wants visitors to see. The Forbidden City will have shed all its scaffolding, the national Olympic Stadium -- the Bird’s Nest -- will be hosting practice events and the futuristic national theater, hailed as the capital’s new architectural icon by some, will open for business. Even the language barrier is set to be demolished following the introduction of a multilingual information service accessible via mobile phone, which can recommend restaurants according to the whims of users’ stomachs.

But while Beijing is flung headlong down the development path, life in what remains of the city’s shrinking ancient heart, with its narrow alleyways known as hutongs and traditional courtyard homes, trundles along regardless. This is something visitors should appreciate while they still can.

source: http://www.askmen.com