Take a look at the Student Flights list of ten of the top cities around the world complete with the nightlife we think you should be exploring when you visit these great cities.
Each city has its own take on what makes it rock when the sun goes down, it’s all about choice and with 2012 being your year of travel – the choice is yours.
London
London’s West End is home to many bars, clubs and restaurants, and Soho is one of the trendiest and coolest places to drink. The perpetually cool Notting Hill and Portobello Road areas still draw large crowds and local areas, such as Camden and Angel up north and Clapham and Brixton down south, boast some fantastic pubs and bars, all with their own unique flavour.
New York
For legendary nightlife New York is outstanding. From jazz bars, nightclubs, lounges, comedy clubs and live shows, there's literally something happening around every corner. The Village, Broadway, Bowery and Madison Square Garden are just a few of the best destinations for evening entertainment in New York.
Paris
Bastille has a mixture of noisy nightclubs and bars best suited to twenty-somethings, including the bordello-themed Sans Sanz and the salsa club La Balajo. Or catch a show at the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. Nearby Pigalle is seedy, but offers some good rock music venues.
Amsterdam
Famed for its wild nightlife, Amsterdam offers visitors something quite unique when the sun goes down. A mixture of all sorts of entertainment, Amsterdam is sure to have something for everyone.
Amsterdam's nightlife wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for the infamous Red Light District, which serves up its own unique brand of entertainment along the bustling canal-lined streets. Travellers who choose to visit this notorious spot should stick to main streets and beware of pickpockets and other petty criminals.
Sydney
For rocking nightlife Sydney is all go, go go. With everything from pubs and jazz bars to rock venues and nightclubs. The best party areas include Darling Harbour, Oxford Street and The Rocks. Coogee Bay Hotel has a great beer garden and the Opera bar is a good waterside venue. One of the best nightclubs is Home, housed in a space-age building in Darling Harbour and nearby, the Cargo lounge bar has trendy house music.
Rio
Home to Carnival, samba and the Copacabana, it's not surprising that the nightlife in Rio de Janeiro is one of a kind. A popular way to warm things up is to start off in the cooler early evening at a beach bar for a coconut juice or cocktail. Head off to one of Rio de Janeiro's trendy beach communities, such as Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon and explore the bars and clubs, but be warned, some of these places may not grant entry to people wearing shorts and T-shirts or flip-flops.
Auckland
The ‘City of Sails’ has a great selection of clubs and bars catering for up and coming businessmen, highflyers and young students. The main nightlife areas include High Street, Ponsonby, Viaduct Harbour, Parnell and Karangahape Street
For those wishing to dance the night away head to Lime on Ponsonby, Club 4:20 on Karangahape, Coco Club on Fort Lane and Suede on Symonds Street. Some quirky nightspots in Auckland are Minus 5, an ice bar with the temperature set at a constant five degrees below zero; Honey, which has more than 30 choices of champagne on offer; and Chic at Viaduct Harbour which is kitted out with a selection of beds and pillows instead of tables.
Dubai
Thanks to its large and international population of expats, Dubai has an incredibly vibrant nightlife, but finding the best parties entails tapping local knowledge and planning your evening with care. Check out the local newspaper listings and Timeout Dubai for concert and party news.
Some good options for a night out include the Parisian-style Boudoir, ever-trendy Zinc, and Kasbar, in the opulent One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel. Buddha Bar, in the Grosvenor House Hotel complex at Dubai Marina, has great open-air views of the Arabian Gulf and two levels, a restaurant, a bar and a lounge.
Bangkok
Neon lights, go-go bars, ladyboys and mysterious cocktails: Bangkok's nightlife enjoys an international reputation for wild abandon.
Go-go bars in Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and in the strip clubs surrounding Pat Pong night market aren't only the territory of the unscrupulous but also expat hangouts with cheap drinks and an open air feel. The bright lights, cat calls, costumed patrons and scandalous behaviour will make one's head start to swim.
Hong Kong
The nightlife in Hong Kong may appear somewhat modest, but there is still plenty to tempt those with an appetite for a party. With plenty of bars for locals and foreigners to choose from, Hong Kong serves its own unique brand of entertainment.
The Central district's Lan Kwai Fong is known as having one of the biggest drinking crowds in Hong Kong and the bars to sustain it, and is also a well-known people watching spot. SoHo has a number of ethnic bars and restaurants, and off-the-path Knutsford Terrace is popular for its open-fronted bars and cafes.
For more information on travel to these great cities call Student Flights on 0860 400 737 or visit www.studentflights.co.za