About my blog

Explore cities beyond the default checklist

Your guide to exploring cities the way locals do. Beyond the highlights, into the streets, stories, and hidden corners that make every destination unforgettable.

View of the Manhattan Bridge framed between buildings in Brooklyn, with the Empire State Building visible through the archway.

Woman in a patterned dress stands by a stone wall with coastal village and hillside in the background.

Two people holding pints of beer outdoors, one glass from Stewart Brewing and one from Camden Town Brewery.

A woman looks at an indoor waterfall surrounded by lush greenery under a glass dome at Jewel Changi Airport.

This hanging spherical sculpture, reminiscent of a virus model, features a metal box inside, set against a dark background. It could easily find its place among the avant-garde collections in museums in New York.

Woman in sunglasses and black coat smiling in front of ancient Roman ruins on a sunny day.

A mural on a city building shows a black figure with “PEACE ON EARTH” and colourful graffiti below.

Every city has a story waiting to be told

Hi, I’m Niké. I believe every city has a story waiting to be told… and the best ones are never found on the first page of a guidebook. Every recommendation on my blog comes from real time spent in a place: walking neighborhoods at my own pace, finding the cafés the locals actually go to, and staying long enough to feel what a city is really like from the inside.

Whether you’re planning your first trip somewhere new or ready to see a familiar city through fresh eyes, you’ll find honest tips, personal insights, and the kind of inspiration that makes you want to book the next city trip.

New York City skyline with skyscrapers and blue sky, viewed across the water during the daytime.

Travel is not just about discovering other cultures. It's about discovering yourself.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that travel is not just about getting to know other cultures. It’s a great way to learn more about yourself. Every city has a different vibe, teaches you something new and often asks you to adapt in order to fully enjoy it.

What I love most isn’t simply going somewhere, it’s uncovering the deeper layers of a place: its stories, its people, the small details you only notice when you slow down. The energy of New York, the laid-back ease of Valencia, or the timeless soul of Kyoto.

My story

Travel has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my mom took me & my brother around the globe, from Egypt to Brazil and Cuba. I collected passport stamps, tasted unfamiliar food, and heard languages I didn’t understand. Those trips weren’t just holidays; they were adventures that shaped who I am today. Over the years, travel became more than a hobby. Let’s just say… I get nervous if I don’t have a trip planned.

A line drawing of a person with a box head is projected on a wall, half obscured by a white horizontal band.

Woman with a floral rucksack looks out over a city skyline and river from a high vantage point.

The month in NYC that started everything

A few years ago, I spent a full month in New York City, and that experience changed everything. Instead of rushing through the famous sights, I slowed down. I walked different neighborhoods, tried local cafés, watched everyday life, and searched for those spots you don’t always find in a guidebook. I wanted more than a checklist of attractions. I wanted to really understand what to do, where to go, and how it feels to be there.

That month in New York is when the idea for this travel blog was born. I realized how much I enjoyed digging deeper into a city and then sharing what I found. It took a while to actually do it, but here I am today, so proud that I made the decision to start this blog. This is my way of collecting my journeys, my tips, and my favorite places, and putting them into words and pictures.

I hope my ideas bring you unforgettable stories!

Let's Work Together

If you’re a tourism board, travel brand, or hospitality business that shares a passion for authentic, in-depth travel experiences, I’d love to connect. I work with partners whose values align with meaningful, curiosity-driven travel.

Get in touch at nike@nextcitytrip.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Woman in sunglasses smiling on a bridge over a river, with a large historic building in the background.

Cities I have visited so far 🛸

Asia: Taipei, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown, Malacca, Osaka, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Nagano, Kyoto, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Hanoi, Dà Nẵng.
Africa: Marrakech, Fes, Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor.
North America: Boston, New York, Philadelphia , Washington D.C.
South America: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador (da Bahia), Paramaribo, Havana.
Europe: Reykjavik, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Tirana, Berat, Stavanger, Bergen, Bremen, Antwerp, Paris, Avignon, Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Córdoba, Madrid, Seville, Naples, Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, Krakau, Gdańsk, Lisbon, Porto, Lagos, Funchal.

Next: Vancouver & Montreal