The fun doesn't have to stop once the sun's gone down – in fact, some destinations around the world come alive at night. If you're more of a night owl than an early bird, you'll love some of these unique after-dark experiences.

Seeing LA from 70 storeys high is thrilling enough, but the viewing deck at OUE Skyspace also has a glass slide that curls around its outside for the most daring visitors to tackle. After dark, see the city illuminated before hopping on the slide and making your descent to the next floor down for an outdoor vantage point.

"Circle the island. Hear the echoes." reads the tagline for this night-time tour of Alcatraz. Exploring this island prison after dark will give even the bravest traveller chills. Hop on a boat to tour the island from the ocean, during which your guide will explain the islands uses as a military garrison before it became a prison, then head onto land and explore the cellblocks at your own pace. Daytime tours are equally fascinating, but an after-dark visit to Alcatraz is incredibly atmospheric.

By day Thailand's bustling capital can be hot, humid and crammed with traffic. Come evening however, the city cools and the traffic subsides, making it the perfect time explore on two wheels. Tours take three to four hours with Grasshopper Adventures and use back roads and routes. You'll see the Temple of Dawn (pictured), the largest flower market in Thailand and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho – as well as stopping to try tempting street food. 

Founded in 2000, Richmond Market in British Columbia, Canada, is now North America's largest night market. Over one million visitors each year come here for the street food from all over the world, live music, carnival games and kids' entertainment. It's well-known for Asian cuisine so don't miss the truffle dumplings or the Korean-style padak chicken. There are hundreds of tempting stalls here, so come with an empty stomach and a full wallet.

Snorkelling is a popular pastime in the Maldives by day, but at night the ocean floor really comes alive. At Hurawalhi Island Resort, guests can embark on a night-snorkelling trip (or diving, if you've got your PADI qualification) to see fluorescent anemones, shrimps and brain corals light up the underwater world after dark. With the use of special equipment that illuminates the creatures, you'll see shades of green, blue, pink and purple across the ocean floor.

Philadelphia is famous for being the former capital of the USA, home of the outrageous cheesesteak and having a starring role in the Rocky films, but lurking about after dark are a few chilling tales. On a 90-minute, candlelit ghost walk around Independence Park, Society Hill and the Old City neighbourhood, you'll hear stories of the supernatural. Costumed guides will talk of how Benjamin Franklin still roams the Old City and will show you around the city's most haunted spot: St Peter's Cemetery.

Sin City is one of the world's top destinations for evening entertainment and the bright lights of Las Vegas are famous the world over. But shun the typical tourist spots and instead, take to the skies for a different view of the strip. Take a night-time flight over the glittering city or if you're feeling fancy, splash out on a flight and champagne picnic experience with a spectacular view.

London's landmarks are spectacular by day or night, but Secret Adventures offers an entirely different way to view them after dark. Take to the River Thames on a kayak to see the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the Old Naval College in Greenwich, lit up from the water. The 2.5-hour paddle ends at The Sail Loft Pub with a whisky toast. For more inspiration, read our guide to London here.

The Canary Islands is a brilliant stargazing destination, so much so, that the night skies on the island of La Palma are protected by the Law for the Astronomical Quality. This means that light, atmospheric and radioelectrical pollution, as well as flight routes, are all regulated and monitored closely. For a special experience, book a stargazing tour with Cielos La Palma: feast on traditional Canarian cuisine with an astronomer before stepping outside to peer at the galaxy through telescopes. At certain times of year, it's even possible to see the Milky Way.

There are plenty of places to get high in Hong Kong, but none so impressive and beautiful as Victoria Peak. It's the highest point on Hong Kong Island, and a hike on its trails at night-time leads to spectacular views across the cityscape and waters beyond. If you arrive for sunset, you'll watch the city light up, as the skyscrapers illuminate one by one. If you don't fancy the hike at night, you can take the Peak Tram to the Sky Terrace 428.

Ascending Mount Snowdon is one of the most popular activities in Wales and hikers have been known to queue to reach its summit during peak times (no pun intended). Climb this mountain after dark, though, and you'll likely be one of few on its trails. It's possible to do it alone – though not advised for the inexperienced – but Discover Adventure runs guided moonlight hikes. Clear skies permitting, gaze up at the stars and enjoy stunning silence on the mountainsides. On the descent, you'll see the sun rise over the surrounding national park.

Dubbed 'street helicopters', cycle rickshaws are ubiquitous in Kathmandu. Riding one of these is an adrenaline sport as they weave wildly in and out of traffic jams. Hop aboard one in Thamel – the city's main tourist district – with Urban Adventures and you'll get a three-hour guided tour through the backstreets of Nepal's capital. The tour takes in in the famous Durbar Square, which was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake but has been painstakingly restored, and Freak Street, once the centre of the hippie movement in Nepal during the 1970s and 80s.

Dubai is the city that grew out of the desert but not far outside is a reminder of its dusty origins: the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Take a tour away from the skyscrapers and into the wilderness of the reserve to spot elegant Arabian oryx by torchlight and see scorpions glow under a blacklight. Out here the night sky doesn't glitter with glassy buildings but instead sparkles with stars. Spot constellations through a telescope as you sip hot chocolate on the dunes. Explore more of Dubai with our guide.

The Northern Lights are famous and often associated with the snowy landscapes of the Arctic Circle or remote locations in northern Canada and Alaska. Little do many in the northern hemisphere know, Australia has its own version called the Southern Lights, or aurora australis. Best seen in Tasmania, Australia's island territory, they're as beautiful as their northern counterpart. For the best view, head up 4,100-foot-tall Mount Wellington. Check the Aurora Australia Tasmania Facebook group for when they might put on a show.

This Edinburgh pub crawl is led by a pair of professional actors and guarantees an unusual evening of entertainment. The two characters, bohemian Clart and intellectual McBrain, guide tourists around some of the Old Town's booziest establishments, musing and bickering along the way about the many writers – from Sir Walter Scott to Robert Burns – who frequented them over the years. Sink a half pint or three in historic drinking holes such as the Beehive Inn and the Ensign Ewart.

Some say you haven't experienced Petra until you've seen it in both daylight and darkness. After dark, more than 1,000 candles are lit at the foot of the Treasury, giving the red rock facade a stunning orange glow as visitors sit and listen to traditional music played by Bedouins and hear stories of the city's history. Evenings in the desert can be cool, so a traditional mint tea is served at the end of the experience.

Jerusalem's Tower of David is one of city's most popular sights. The museum within its ramparts charts the history of Israel and the views over the Old City are unparalelled. Come night-time, you can see the citadel in – quite literally – a different light. Around 20 projectors and 10 computers create a spectacle on the fortifications, telling the stories of how King David, the Roman conquest and Suleiman the Magnificent came to this city. The show lasts around 30 minutes and is shown nightly except Fridays.

There's one way to almost guarantee a sighting of the spectacular but elusive Northern Lights: stay in one of the glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. In the north of Finland, surrounded by forest, the resort is in prime position for aurora viewing, and the cosy glass igloos (complete with beds and a toilet) ensure you won't miss a thing come nightfall. If that's not adventurous enough for you, there's also a 30-metre-high igloo tower for incredible views of the surrounding wilderness.

Sydney is a beautiful city by day, with views of the harbour and iconic Sydney Opera House drawing thousands of travellers to its various vantage points. But there's no better way of seeing everything than from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and climbing it at night offers a different experience. Strap on your harness and make your way along its steel arches for an adrenaline kick and arguably the best view of the city.

One of Rome's most popular sights, the Colosseum is a must-visit. It can get extremely crowded, though – four million people visit this landmark each year – so opt for a night-time tour. You'll get up close and personal with the history here, as well as visit ordinarily restricted areas such as the arena stage and underground dungeons, where Roman slaves were kept between fights.

Let your inner child out without having to elbow battle with kids at the Carnegie Science Center's 21+ nights. From 6–10pm on selected evenings, you can explore the Robot Hall of Fame, a two-storey replica of the International Space Station and the miniature railroad and village. There's live music, themed adult-focused activities and more than 100 interactive exhibits.

This small but brilliant Swiss city overlooks both the Alps and the glistening waters of Lake Geneva. Gorgeous by day, it's an intriguing place by night too. For six centuries the city has hired a watchman who circles the bell tower of the Cathedral of Lausanne every night between 10pm and 2am. For almost 30 years, Renato Häusler has done the job and today, tourists can book onto a special tour to climb the tower and meet him at midnight. You don't have to stay up with him until 2am but you might just want to as the view is enchanting.

In the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, embark an indulgent journey through the city by way of its best street eats. Sample Hanoi classic bánh cuốn – fermented rice sheets filled with minced pork, onions and mushrooms – and dig into a dessert of condensed milk, crushed ice and fresh fruit. Best of all, the tour ends at a secret little café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.

Seeing giant beasts such as elephants, lions and hippos is spectacular no matter the time of day. But night-time safaris offer a truly exciting experience at Pilanesberg National Park – just a few hours from Johannesburg – where much of the wildlife is most active after dark. Take one of the night game drives from Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge to seek out as many of the big five as possible, then head back for a braai where you'll enjoy dancing by local schoolkids, eat traditional South African barbecue and sit around a warm fire pit until the early hours.

Hidden in the basements of crumbling buildings or behind facades that look more like apartment blocks, Budapest's ruin pubs are a quirky place to spend an evening. The bars, in abandoned buildings or boiler rooms full of gawdy, mismatching furniture and quirky decor, started springing up after Szimpla Kert opened in 2004. Now, there are lots all over the city, ranging from sprawling clubs open until 6am to more refined versions like Mazel Tov, where the tables and chairs match. Various companies run organised tours at night taking in some of the best.

Amsterdam at night probably conjures up images of seedy, brothel-lined streets and canals heaving with stag dos and hen parties. But there's a much more savoury (and sweet) side to this city, best explored on an Eating Europe food tour. Taste an Iranian chef's perfected hummus recipe, eat the classic Dutch snack bitterballen and Belgian fries with a tangy mayo. As you walk around the city, your guide will offer historical context and interesting stories.

Much of Costa Rica is blanketed in thick jungle and rainforest, harbouring hundreds of thousands of animal, insect and plant species. Manuel Antonio National Park is small but spectacular, with a prime location on the Pacific Coast and over 184 species of birds alone living within its lush confines. Once you've explored by day, take a guided night walk to meet the nocturnal creatures that live here and listen to the glorious cacophony of toads, frogs and insects that all come alive after dark. 

A walking tour with a difference, the Secrets of Grič is a night-time theatrical exploration of Zagreb, Croatia. Over a one-hour guided walk, visitors watch costumed actors perform events from history, urban legends and scenes from novels by Mary Juric Zagorka – the first female journalist in Croatia – throughout the city. Lantern in hand, wander the quaint cobbled streets and pretty squares, all while being entertained by an eclectic mix of characters.

Zealandia is the world's first fenced urban eco-sanctuary and has a 500-year plan to restore Wellington's forest ecosystem to its pre-human state. The sanctuary is home to 40 different bird species (around half of which are endemic), as well as reptiles and an astonishing array of plant life. Visit Zealandia at night on a torchlight guided tour and meet glow worms, the unique wētā insect and some of the 130 spotted kiwis that reside here. The highlight? Standing still, listening to the sounds of a forest alive in darkness.

East of Chiang Mai's old walled city lies a half-mile-long bazaar where hawkers sell everything from handmade clothing and DVDs to traditional crafts and Thai street food. Start at Tha Phae Road and make your way through the colourful, commercial chaos (buy a map for an area-by-area breakdown of what's on sale). This is the place to practice your bartering skills – you'll rarely find prices displayed and instead have to ask, then talk the vendor down to the price you're willing to pay.

Some things are only visible in the dark, including the fireflies that swarm above the mangroves near Puerto Princesa in the Philippines. These fascinating little creatures are actually winged beetles, rather than flies, and use bioluminescence to attract a mate after the sun has gone down. Boat tours leave from the city and head out to the Iwahig River – a prime spot for seeing the bright bugs in action.