Whichever city you choose – though we recommend all three, of course – you’ll be charmed like a snake on Jemaa El Fna in no time. And to help you sift through the noise, here’s our rundown of the best that Morocco has to offer. Marhaba!

Morocco may be a short hop, skip and a jump across the Med from Europe but it feels like another world. Salesmen flaunting their wares in the souks, robed figures rushing to prayer and ancient palaces decked with dazzling tiles – it’s easy to fall under its spell.

Marrakech, on the cusp of both desert and mountain, offers old-world glamour and an enthralling sense of adventure. Casablanca, lapped by the Atlantic, is a thoroughly modern metropolis with a special affinity for art deco. And at the northernmost tip of the country is the eccentric cliffside city of Tangier, where many a writer and artist have pitched up and sought inspiration over the years.

Authors: 

The magazine Monocle covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents — in cities from Bangkok to Bogotá, São Paolo to Stockholm — as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team’s deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

A sumptuous serving of Madrid’s outposts of good food, design, retail, and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from.

Madrid is a changed city. The recent metamorphosis has been fuelled by the economic crisis and led by a new generation of determined Madrileños who have transformed the Spanish capital for the better. Tradition and modernity thrive side by side: marvel at the centuries-old masterpieces inside the Prado one moment and enjoy sumptuous morsels cooked up by a new wave of intrepid chefs the next. 

After sating your appetite, be sure to save enough energy for nocturnal frolics in the endless mix of bars, theatres, and clubs. In fact, the native penchant for a good time is such an irrefutable character trait that Monocle challenges you not to be affected by the contagiously cheerful spirit you’ll encounter. The city has thrown off the shackles of immovable tradition; what was once a buttoned-down bastion of conservatism has become Spain’s unabashed center of the avant-garde. Enjoy a melting pot of talent, taste, and tenacity — all courtesy of fun-loving and welcoming residents.

Authors: 

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.

Get to know the most atmospheric open-air cinemas and drawn up walks around Athen's neighborhoods – one a leafy suburb, another by the sea.

Think of Athens and the first things that spring to mind are ancient ruins and camera-toting crowds (before they hotfoot it to the island-bound ferries at the port of Piraeus, that is). It’s true, the Acropolis is ever-present and during summer the city thrums with schools of holidaymakers. But there’s much more to the Greek capital than temples and tourists.

We’ve looked beyond the admittedly awe-inspiring Parthenon and explored the city’s modernist marvels, from circular school to colonnaded embassy. We’ve combed the cobbled streets for independent boutiques offering straw hats, hand-thrown ceramics and golden jewellery – all proudly “Made in Greece”. When you’re feeling peckish, choose between traditional family-run tavernas and contemporary restaurants spicing up classic Greek dishes.

Attica is a region of riches and, of course, some of the nearby islands are simply too good to miss – so we’ve included a short and sharp list of our top stopovers. For now, though, strap up your sandals and allow us to introduce you to this chaotic but ever-so-charismatic city.

Authors: 

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.

Vienna has long been a city that bridges Eastern and Western Europe with panache. Pack your suitcase and delve into the melting pot of Europe.

There's much more to Austria’s capital than Baroque palaces, horse-drawn carriages and the landmark venues where Mozart and Klimt first showcased their masterpieces. This guide will steer you away from the crowded Prater and its ferris wheel (although naturally we'll make a quick detour past the Vienna State Opera and Schönbrunn Palace) and out to explore the city's 23 diverse districts. 

We'll show you where to shop for shoes and silverware from the most venerable manufacturers and our pick of the coffeehouses for a frothy melange and slice of apfelstrudel. We'll take you to the most vibrant art galleries and toe-tapping music venues, guide you through the Museumsquartier and to our favourite brutalist buildings and also reveal the best running routes along the Danube.

Authors:

Monocle reports from around the globe from the platforms of print, radio, and online. As their editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar.

All of that invaluable information is now available in The Monocle Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to readers in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning café excursions. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the most out of a city no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning. Between the covers, there shall not be a list of a hundred places to eat, but a thoughtful focus on what's best for any occasion.

Trattorias and tailors. Museums and masterpieces. Aperitivo and lush aesthetics. The Eternal City leaves nothing to be desired.

Energetic and sprawling, brimming with culture and piled high with layers of history: Rome is a beguiling, vivacious ever-changing creature. Good guidance is essential: it’s easy to be waylaid by the big-ticket sites, myriad trattorias and cobblestoned shopping streets. Then again, who doesn’t enjoy being distracted by a scenic spot to perch for aperitivo? 

We’ve pushed past the charm of gingham tablecloths and raffia-covered wine bottles to find the innovative chefs making their mark on the food scene and the best spots for an authentic plate of cacio e pepe. The finest shops are handpicked here too, from centuries-old tailors to up-and-coming designers, and we’ll lead you through the bamboozling array of galleries, museums and architecture – even going underground at times – to reveal lesser-known gems. And then there are the colourful neighbourhoods that lie off the well-beaten path, the best rooftop venues for a late-night boogie and the places to head for an early-morning run to work off all that pasta. 

No matter how well you think you know the Eternal City, this guide will give you a fresh perspective. After all, it has reimagined and reinvented itself for millennia so there’s always something new to discover. 

The magazine Monocle covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents — in cities from Bangkok to Bogotá, São Paolo to Stockholm — as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team’s deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

There’s the food, the culture, the architecture, the art — Notre Dame and Montmartre and the Louvre — and then there’s the side of Paris you’ve never seen, until now.

Paris: the city of love, the city of light — the city everyone thinks they know from movies and books. But there’s more to this vigorous new-old metropolis than Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Along its winding streets and hidden in picturesque views along the Seine, there’s so much more to do and discover, to taste and see, than what you imagine. 

The Monocle team is your guide as you explore the nouvelle cuisine in the city’s up and coming restaurants that are revitalizing classic dining. Step off the beaten path and into galleries showcasing works that will inspire future art world trends. Escape the crowds and the tourists in laid-back local bars and classy clubs. And then bundle up in designer goods from the best unknown boutiques as you stroll through history and romance. Paris is a wonderland. This is your ticket.

Authors:

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. 
These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore. 

A maritime city, Venice has long lured travellers to its shores. Set sail and discover the romantic and magical charm of a city built upon the water.

Like the tide that laps knee-high against its fine palazzos, Venice is ever-changing. Since its bog-like beginnings as a collection of mini islands in swampy marshland, the city has been forced to use its initiative. Today, faced with floods of day-trippers and acqua alta alike, it continues to rely on innovative ideas. Whether it's a museum with groundfloor channels to cope with high water levels or a theatre in a warehouse once used for stretching sails, it capitalises on its lagoon location and spouts ingenuity.

The Monocle Travel Guide to Venice looks beyond the teeming tourist traps to discover La Serenissima's true charms, from classical and contemporary architectural wonders to galleries brimming with both Venetian and international works of art. We've wended our way through the city's willowy calli to find the trattorias offering the finest seafood, as well as the best bàcari to visit when you're craving a spritz. Venice is made for walking so we've mapped out four neighbourhood trails that will show you the way, as well as our favourite independent shops and the plushest hotels.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

The Portuguese capital is a collage of cultural influences and visual imagery. Allow us to guide you through this eminently liveable and fast-changing city.

Like the seven sun-dappled hills that overlook the sparkling Rio Tejo, Lisbon has had its ups and downs. Nevertheless, the plucky city has always bounced back and today it’s positively thriving: well-travelled residents and foreign talent are opening smart businesses behind every other crumbling, azulejo-covered façade. Most visitors spend their time in the historic old town but we’re going to take you further afield. 

We’ve combed the cobbled streets to find the best bacalhau, the creamiest pastéis de nata and the sweetest ginjinha. We’ve visited museums dedicated to everything; from horse-drawn carriages to cutting-edge technology and discovered daringly modern architecture among red-tiled townhouses and baroque churches. Our favourite hotels range from a refurbished 15th-century palácio to a glossy guesthouse, while the retail we rate includes a family-run glove-maker and a snappy bookshop with an in-house gallery.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

Its unique personality finds expression in everything from the fairytale architecture of modernisme patriarch Antoni Gaudí to the neighbourhoodwide street parties celebrating the likes of local saints and a love of reading.

Here's to a city of effortless charm, a coastal gem blessed with an agreeable climate and beautiful beaches. But before you get lost in that glass of vermut, look around. There’s more to the Catalan capital than sun, sea and sand – starting with its diet-dashing food scene and lively hospitality offerings. Barcelona boasts a singular character, proudly guarded and shaped over the centuries. From the sovereign and seafaring years of the ancient Principality of Catalonia to the 1992 Olympics, it has long been a forward-thinking, enterprising and vibrant city. 

We’ve ventured beyond the tourist-beaten tracks of Barri Gòtic and explored every nook, from Sant Andreu to Poble-sec. We’ve found independent retailers and grand fashion labels that abound with dynamic designs, as well as old-world tapas bars and innovative new spots bringing a modern touch to Catalan cuisine. And don’t worry, we haven’t eschewed the beach and bottle entirely – there’s always time for those in this city.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

Amsterdam is a city that surprises first-time travellers and longtime visitors alike. Stroll with us through the city's outposts of good food, design, retail and more.

At first glance, horseshoe-shaped Amsterdam is a breeze to circumnavigate and its offerings seemingly obvious. But look closely and you'll find hidden pockets in the maze of canals and burgeoning neighbourhoods that are a quick pedal from the city centre. This archetype of liberalism and diversity is forever reinventing itself.

The Monocle Travel Guide to Amsterdam is an ode to this vibrant European metropolis, featuring all (well, as many as we could fit in) of our favourite haunts. We'll lead you through the cobbled streets to the best independent retailers, recommend restaurants that cater for every craving and spotlight the cosiest bruine cafés for a beer or two. We'll take you on a tour of the Dutch masters, as well as the works of subsequent generations of artists, and steer you towards a fetching mix of classical and contemporary architecture inhabiting the waterside landscape.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

From the historic to the hip, Berlin is a city of palpable creative energy with a healthy dose of cultural relevance

This is a city in perpetual flux and its ability to reinvent itself can be attributed to its complex history. Today there’s a seductive allure to the German capital’s dynamism and willingness to create anew. Be it a luxury hotel in an old bathhouse, experimental artwork in a former margarine factory or an ever-evolving roster of musicians and designers, the city thrums with diversity and ingenuity.

The Monocle Travel Guide to Berlin will take you to our favourite pockets of independent retail and the best places to eat and drink, whether you’re after a venerated dining room or a hidden cocktail bar. We’ll lead you through the mix of envelope-pushing art hubs and didactic museums. And then there’s our round-up of the architectural landmarks that reveals the narrative of this once-divided city.

Berlin is about more than nightclubs and hammering hangovers – although a night on the tiles here still rarely disappoints. We guarantee that this guide will show that there’s plenty more to discover.

The magazine Monocle covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents — in cities from Bangkok to Bogotá, São Paolo to Stockholm — as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team’s deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

A portrait of Istanbul’s outposts of good food, design, retail, and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from

On first impression, Istanbul can seem a touch demure. But beneath its inimitable skyline is a teeming, triumphant metropolis with imperial history, intrigue, and entrepreneurial zeal written into its streets. It’s a city constantly being remade and reimagined, and the resulting sense of opportunity and vigor is palpable.

Monocle has sought out must-sees with an eye beyond the obvious, whether it’s visiting the next up-and-coming neighborhood — teeming with bars, discerning clothiers, and coffee houses — or dropping in to an old-school kuafor for a haircut. This guide will point you in the right direction for the finest places to eat, drink, and shop, and navigate you through the city’s architectural gems, from Ottoman follies converted into art centers to backstreet Byzantine beauties. So join Monocle for a cross-continental jaunt with bites of simit-size lore thrown in for good measure. Now don’t miss that ferry.

Authors: 

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.

A journey through New York’s outposts of good food, design, retail and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from

New York used to be such an easy city to crack for the visitor. Not only was there that simple-to-master grid of streets but, really, who wanted to stray from Manhattan? Today, while that stretch from Wall Street to the Upper East Side and beyond still enchants, awes, and bamboozles, you really do need to cross some bridges and head upstate. The city’s focus has fractured and shifted and you ignore the appeal of, say, Brooklyn at your peril. This is especially true of anyone wanting to grasp the city’s fast-evolving food scene, discover some fresh design ateliers, go for a run, or buy some less-exposed art.

Monocle has had a bureau in New York since its launch in 2007 and it has a shop in the city too. This has made the Monocle team passionate about the place and its ambitions. This book is a celebration of all that they know and love about New York and it should be used to take you beyond the obvious spots (although who wouldn’t want to hit the museum biggies). New York can easily live up to its movie-star good looks but let it be a city that surprises you, too — in a good way.

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets.

These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.

A parade through London’s outposts of good food, design, retail, and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from

Vast and sprawling, a tangle of roads and lanes, a muddle of rising and falling neighborhoods: London can be a big beast to tame, even for the people who get to call it home. But this ever-changing and regenerating capital can also charm you with its beauty, from wind-rustled parks to that winding River Thames. Its mix of people, abundance of culture, and the occasional louche night on the tiles also makes it a city that will surprise you and win you over.

The Monocle Travel Guide to London is a celebration of all the things that the Monocle team loves above this mighty metropolis (and they are brave enough to let you see the wrinkles too). It’s a guide to the bars, shops, restaurants, music venues, and museums that they think should edge their way on to your itinerary. They will lure you to some fresher neighborhoods and fill your head with lots of “We really have to see…” ideas. And they will leave you with a clear, crisp view of how the capital is changing. London is a global city but the Monocle team will help you see it as a series of friendly local gems. Hold on to your hat.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.

Hamburg is a historic but forward-thinking city, home to arbiters of tradition and avant-garde artists alike. Ready? It’s time to pull up a chair and meet the lot of them.

If Berlin is Germany’s clubbing capital then Hamburg is the dinner party that’s as raucous as it is refined – and the guests are a varied bunch too. Stroll around this prosperous port city and you’ll brush shoulders with local fishermen casting their nets on the banks of the River Elbe, world-renowned gallerists hosting exhibitions by cutting-edge artists, and independent retailers flaunting wares that are either “Made in Hamburg” or highly exotic.

The magazine, Monocle, covers the world with its network of bureaus in New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Singapore. It also employs more than 30 dedicated correspondents - in cities from Bangkok to Bogota, Sao Paolo to Stockholm - as well as a team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. This team's deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has now been compiled in The Monocle Travel Guide Series.