Blantyre

When it comes to competing for the title of the nation's economic kingpin, Blantyre, a business-minded metropolis of nearly one million people, is the only real rival to Lilongwe.

However, history runs deep here, and the town dates back more than 150 years, when it was founded by missionaries working for the Church of Scotland – hence the moniker: a namesake of Blantyre on the outskirts of the highlands in the United Kingdom. Visitors can explore historic structures such as the Mandala House or get a sense of the revitalized Malawian economy by visiting the Malawi Stock Exchange and the various tobacco packing factories that have sprouted up in recent decades.

• Best place to visit: La Caverna Art Gallery, The Society of Malawi Library, St Michael and All Angels Church, The Way of the Cross/ Njira ya Mtanda, Chichiri Shopping Centre, Malawi Stock Exchange, Chichiri Museum, The Responsible Safari Company, Al Pacino's Bar, etc.
• Location: Southern Region of Malawi