10 commonly confused capital cities - International Traveller Magazine

If you thought these famous cities were the official capitals, you were wrong. Test your geography knowledge…

Here are 10 countries where famous cities are regularly mistaken for the capital while the low-key number-ones go quietly about their business.

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Real deal: Ankara, whose population is only around one-third of Istanbul’s, cannot match the beauty of Turkey’s most famous city. Ankara is, however, renowned for its long-haired (Angora) goats and cats.

Night view of Ankara, Turkey — Ankara is much smaller than Istanbul.

2. Geneva, Switzerland

Real deal: Bern. Geneva is headquarters to the Swiss branch of the UN and the Red Cross, but Bern (the fifth largest city in the country) is the capital. Zurich is also often mistakenly crowned number one.

Bern Old Town Switzerland — The Old Town comes to life around the Aare river, Bern, Switzerland.

3. Marrakesh, Morocco

Real deal: Many people even put Morocco’s other well-known city Casablanca (thanks to Bogie and Bergman) before the country’s actual number one, Rabat.

Rabat Morocco Africa — The historical Medina of the city of Rabat, capital of Morocco.

4. Auckland, New Zealand

Real deal: Unless you are from the Southern Hemisphere, you probably assume New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, is head honcho. It seems Windy Wellington suffers from a version of the ‘Canberra Complex’.

A cable car in Wellington, New Zealand — Wellington is nicknamed Windy Wellington.

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Real deal: Whenever Brazil hits our television screens (Olympics and the Soccer World Cup) clichéd pictures of the statute of Christ surveying Rio de Janeiro are the focus so it’s no wonder people don’t even know what real capital Brasília even looks like, let alone that it houses the country’s parliament.

Bridge in Brasília, Brazil — Brasília is the capital of Brazil.

6. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Real deal: It’s the gateway to Zanzibar and has been a major trading port for centuries (spices and slaves), but Dar, as the locals know it, is not the full-blown capital. Yet while Dodoma houses the government, Dar es Salaam is considered the ‘commercial’ capital.

7. Johannesburg, South Africa

Real deal: The largest city in South Africa is presumed to be the capital by many, followed by Cape Town. Strangely, in fact, the capital duties for SA are shared between Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein (executive, judicial and legislative).

Beachhouses at Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town.

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8. Toronto, Canada

Real deal: Canada’s capital Ottawa (complete with bilingual parliament) is sometimes at number four on people’s lists. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and even Quebec City may overshadow their little brother in publicity, tourism and beauty – if not political might.

River in Ottowa Canada — Ottowa is not often on people’s bucket lists – but look how nice it is!

9. La Paz, Bolivia

Real deal: While the 3,000-metre-above-sea-level city is the administrative capital of this land-locked South American country, the much smaller city of Sucre takes the power by being the constitutional capital.

A view of Sucre, Bolivia — Sucre is only small, but is the capital of Bolivia

10. Tel Aviv, Israel

Real deal: It’s the financial capital, substantially larger in size, and a thriving sea-side metropolis, but Tel Aviv actually plays second fiddle to one of the most ancient cities in the world, Jerusalem – home to three of the world’s main religions.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

10 global cities that seem like a capital – but they’re not