Perth, Australia

Although its lack of urban grime creates a favourable first impression, it's hard to get too excited about PERTH. Western Australia's modern capital of 1.5 million people has a reputation for sunshine, youthfulness and an easy-going lifestyle – after work, people often go sailing or swimming. It is perhaps because of this complacency that Perth lacks the substance and charisma, and the tension, of diverse wealth and ethnicity, that make a really great city something more than just a group of modern skyscrapers and people enjoying the good life.

In the 1980s mineral prosperity and a spate of cocky, self-made wheeler-dealers (now largely bankrupt or disgraced) set off a mini-boom which continues with development almost for development's sake. But although upbeat campaigns have managed to attract some people back into the city centre outside office hours, apart from shopping and some museums and galleries, the CBD has little to offer tourists bar the adjacent restaurant and club district of Northbridge. If you're looking for action, imitate the locals and head for the hills, the beaches, the western suburbs of Leederville, Subiaco, Claremont and Cottesloe, or cruise on down to the port of Fremantle, 20km from Perth.