The Case For A Walkable Summer

Travel may shape who we are, but the places we choose often reveal what we are craving. For GCC residents, summer travel is rarely about chasing the sun. The heat, the beach, the resort stay and the luxury mall are already part of everyday life. What feels more compelling is often the opposite: cooler weather, walkable streets, independent boutiques, antique stores, green spaces and cities layered with history. With that in mind, this edit looks at the cultural cravings behind the GCC summer escape, and the destinations best suited for soaking them in.

Helsinki | Helsinki Design District

With summer temperatures that are typical for a GCC winter, Helsinki makes for an ideal city to explore. And within that is their design district, which isn’t one singular location but a range of districts and neighbourhoods, spanning across 25 streets. A brief walk south of Helsinki Central Station and the streets begin to open up, revealing the best of Finnish design. By the streets lie art galleries, concept stores, design studios, and vintage fashion stores. A key principle of Finnish design is sustainability and accessibility, so expect to find plenty of pre-loved treasures and antiques. Alongside these stores are cultural institutions made to help understand Finnish design even better. The Design Museum and Museum of Finnish Architecture sit side by side, bringing the stories and cultural context behind Helsinki Design District to the forefront. 

Dimes Square

A tiny downtown pocket between the Lower East Side and Chinatown, Dimes Square gives New York a more specific walking route than the usual postcard version. It is all galleries, cafés, indie restaurants, vintage stores, bars and people-watching with a slightly chaotic creative charge. Come for the walk, stay for the sense that half the city’s next mood is being workshopped on the pavement.

Taipei | Treasure Hill Artist Village

For those curious about an artist’s behind-the-scenes process, the Treasure Hill Artist Village allows one to get a peek at just that! Located by the Fuhe Bridge, the Treasure Hill Artist Village used to be an actual village housing military veterans. Now it’s the hub for many artist studios, usually kept open for anyone to observe, while the alleyways feature street art and fascinating sculptures. 

Tokyo | Kanda-Jinbōchō

One of the most unique neighbourhoods in the world, Kanda-Jinbōchō, also known as just Jinbōchō, is Tokyo’s centre for books. It is also the spot for Tokyo’s best curry, having over 50 curry restaurants across the neighbourhood. Here you can find publishing houses, curio shops, local cafes, bustling curry spots, and many, many book stores. The book shops here range from rare books, used books, and books dedicated to a single subject. While a significant portion of the books are in Japanese, the neighbourhood also features foreign-language stores to shop from. While not catered to tourists, it is still a worthwhile neighbourhood to explore, and the famous Kanda-curry is the perfect treat after all that walking. 

Vancouver | Granville Island

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Don’t be fooled by the name, Granville Island is actually a peninsula and a vibrant arts and shopping district. It’s a spot to people-watch, whale watch, indulge in local cuisine, shop locally, and explore Vancouver’s art scene. There’s the Granville Island Public Market, Granville Island’s most popular address, and over 100 art galleries and studios showcasing different mediums of art, from sculptures to woodworks to photography.  

Yerevan | Kentron

Visa-free and relatively close to the GCC, Yerevan offers a suitable respite from the GCC summers. And its central district, Kentron (literally translating to centre), comes with the Republic Square, a unique architectural ensemble of Soviet-era buildings, galleries, and fountains. Beyond the square, Kentron features plenty of performance art theatres, concert halls, libraries, and museums.