There are many attempts to rank the top beautiful cities in the world. Every year, various magazines, travel agencies, travelers write their own ratings, and they always differ from each other. Although there are, of course, unconditional favorites that fall into any list. We will try to compile a generalized top 10 beautiful cities in the world. It does not claim to be the ultimate truth, but represents the opinion of most people who love to visit different parts of the globe.
Rating Features
When you decide to compile the top beautiful cities in the world, you may face a big problem: there are many cities, but the list is limited. Any ratings should be based on some objective criteria. But what are the common indicators of beauty? Style? Diversity? Historical and cultural significance? But there is still the atmosphere of the city, the charm. How to evaluate all this? The surest way is to ask people who have seendifferent cities of the world. Of course, their opinions will differ, and sometimes very much, but in general, polls help to reveal the opinion of the majority, and this is a fairly sure way to find the truth.
Our list includes only 10 beautiful cities in the world, and this is negligible. Since any settlement has its own face, and for some, it may seem the most beautiful. Undoubtedly magnificent cities remained outside our list: Florence, Istanbul, Bruges, Budapest, Cape Town, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and many others. But this is the shortcomings of all ratings, it is impossible to grasp the immensity. Here is our version of the list with the rationale for why this city entered the top, and what you must see in it.
10. London
Let's start our list of beautiful cities in the world with the main city of the British Empire. London is a city of unique history, with an original architectural image and a unique atmosphere. A special energy reigns in him: youth and maturity, money, art, irony, imperial history.
The main beauty of London is its endless variety. It really has everything: the majestic Parliament, Buckingham Palace, cozy Notting Hill, Stylish Chelsea, bohemian Soho, the grandiose St. Paul's Cathedral, the modern towers of the City. This is only the most superficial look at the virtues of the city.
Must visit the city includes the following attractions:
- Big Ben. The clock on the Parliament Tower has long been the main symbol of London. Tour guides have stories to tellfrom the life of clocks, bells and towers. The neo-Gothic Parliament building with graceful spiers, towers and lancet windows was built in the second half of the 19th century.
- Buckingham Palace. The home residence of the royal family is the epitome of monarchy. On holidays, the queen and her heirs greet the people from the balcony of the palace. And on weekdays, it is worth watching the changing of the guard and taking pictures of the famous guardsmen in high bear hats and red uniforms.
- Tower. The fortress, built in the 11th century, was a palace, a prison, a museum, and a place for storing treasures. It has retained its historical appearance almost unchanged and you need to go into it to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient history and mystery.
And you also need to walk around London, go to the British Museum and the Tate Gallery, wander through the streets of the City, lie on the lawn in Hyde Park, take a boat trip to Greenwich, climb to a height in London Eye.
9. Prague
It is impossible not to include the capital of the Czech Republic in our rating of the most beautiful cities in the world. Almost everyone who has been here falls in love with the city forever. The reason for this is the unique historical center, which was formed in the Middle Ages, and today plunges into the era of mysticism and mystery.
The city was formed from two independent settlements and now there are two distinctive districts: the Old Town with the Town Hall Square and houses decorated with signboards in medieval traditions, and the Mala Strana, lying at the foot of the majestic Prague Castle. Royal House, Prague Castle,today is the largest operating government residence in Europe. Here you should definitely see the St. Vitus Cathedral, the towers of which can hardly fit into the camera lens, go inside and admire the stained-glass windows and Gothic decoration. To the right of the cathedral there is a small lane, Zlata street. Jewelers and the writer Franz Kafka, who was inspired by Prague Castle to write the mystical novel The Castle, once lived in dollhouses here.
Connecting the two sides of the city and the two banks of the Vltava is the famous Charles Bridge with Gothic bridge towers and luxurious sculptures. You also need to see the colossal Wenceslas Square in Prague, furnished with houses in the Art Nouveau style, take a walk to the New Place and its town hall, see the two Cathedrals of St. Nicholas on each side, climb to a wonderful example of baroque architecture and an excellent observation deck - the Strahovsky Monastery, take a walk along the embankment, finding the Dancing House and little Venice on the Chertovka River. And, of course, walk and walk around Prague, looking at houses and soaking up the atmosphere.
8. Hong Kong
Listing the beautiful cities of the world, it is worth remembering the stunning Hong Kong. It surprisingly combines the traditions of Asia and the East, history and modernity. This city on 260 islands was a British colony for more than 100 years. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, it experienced rapid economic growth and became a true financial capital of Asia. Today, Hong Kong is largely seen as the city of the future, although many national traditions are preserved here. There is so much to see in this city.
BBe sure to take a look at Victoria Peak - this is the highest point in the city, it offers a fantastic view. To complete the experience, it is best to climb the mountain on an old funicular tram. Hong Kong is a city of skyscrapers, today there are more than 300 such structures, and many of them are real masterpieces of architecture. Tourists should definitely see the sitting Buddha statue, which is one of the ten tallest sculptures in the world. The beauty of the city is created not only by buildings, but also by the most beautiful parks: Kowloon, Hong Kong, Ocean, as well as embankments with stunning views of the city panorama. And in Hong Kong there are several temples and monasteries that amaze with their elegant traditional oriental look.
7. Barcelona
Choosing the most beautiful cities in the world, many people think of the capital of Catalonia. Barcelona appeared in the 3rd century BC. But her modern beauty, of course, is of later times.
The heart of the city is the Gothic Quarter, which has retained its appearance since the 14th century. Life here is in full swing, today there are many restaurants, shops, bars. But the spirit of the Middle Ages is preserved, and the cathedral plays an important role in this. The Gothic spiers of the temple, its stained-glass windows are an excellent example of the architecture of the late Middle Ages. The "new" part of the city is a unique example of urban planning. Under Queen Isabella, the ancient fortress walls were destroyed and a new city with a clear linear structure was founded. This area of the Eixample is today the most prestigious andrespectable in the city.
Here is an incredible number of Catalan Art Nouveau houses, as well as the famous buildings of the architect Antoni Gaudí, for which millions of tourists come here. The main buildings of the architect are the still unfinished, grandiose Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Holy Family), the houses of Mila and Batllo, the palace and the Park Güell. But besides this, there are many beautiful places in Barcelona. This is Plaza de España with a monumental building of the Museum of Art, a former bullring and a “singing” fountain, this is Ramblai Street, Grazia Boulevard, Montjuic Hill with an ancient fortress, a river port, the Olympic Village area. You can't see Barcelona in one day, it deserves a big and deep dive.
6. Saint Petersburg
The northern capital of Russia, of course, should be included in the top most beautiful cities in the world. Its historic center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most beautiful cities in the world (photo attached) are always distinguished by their special architecture. The historical center of the city was planned by Emperor Peter the Great. It is worth starting to explore St. Petersburg from the Peter and Paul Fortress - the heart of the city. And then you can go to the other side of the Neva. Be sure to take a walk from the end of Nevsky Prospekt to its very beginning, to the Admir alty. The walk will allow you to see a large number of palaces of the aristocracy, Anichkov and Green bridges, Kazan Cathedral, and, finally, go to Admir alteisky Prospekt, and from there to Palace Square.
You can continuewalk to St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Bronze Horseman, wander along the embankments, walk to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and the Mikhailovsky Palace. A special look at the beauties of St. Petersburg opens from the water. Therefore, it is worth taking a boat ride and seeing the majestic and ceremonial city. Since the Northern capital is included in the list of the 10 most beautiful cities in the world on the water, bridges acquire special significance here, many of which are real masterpieces of architectural and engineering thought. The most mystical and complex character of the city opens up during the White Nights, when amazing light reigns here, giving a romantic touch to all buildings.
5. Paris
Describing the most beautiful cities in the world, the top 10 of which we make, it is impossible to ignore the capital of France. Poets, writers, artists have written about her beauty more than once. "Gray Rose", as M. Voloshin called Paris, strikes with elegance and style. The city is ideal for romantic walks, for a leisurely promenade. The obligatory program in the French capital begins, of course, with Notre Dame de Paris. This is the heart of the city, from this place the city was once born. The second thing everyone who comes to Paris wants to see is the Eiffel Tower. She is the most photographed object in the world, her lacy silhouette can be admired day and night, and she is extremely photogenic.
The third most important object is the Louvre with its glass pyramids. But the beauty of Paris is not limited to these sights. To feel its charm, you need to walk through the Tuileries Park, walk to the Arc de Triomphe, walkalong the embankments, looking at bridges and houses, reach the perfect Place des Vosges, look into the Palais Royal. Stop at the Conciergerie Palace, see the Les Invalides, the Pantheon, the building of the Opera Garnier. The Montmartre district deserves special attention with its cabarets, restaurants, artists on the square, the Sacré Coeur and the funicular. The charm of this area cannot be expressed in words, it must be felt. The modern and technological district of De Fance skyscrapers evokes emotions of a completely different kind, walking there, it’s even hard to believe that this is Paris.
4. Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands is a special city, it does not hit the eyes with brightness and does not amaze with the scale of buildings. But Amsterdam should undoubtedly be included in the ranking of the most beautiful cities in the world due to its restrained and austere architecture, distinct national flavor and special character. People go to the capital of Holland, first of all, for the atmosphere of freedom and romance. The city has almost half a thousand bridges, many of which are quite remarkable, and more than 50 canals. You should definitely swim under the bridges; a special, unforgettable view of the city opens up from the water. All visitors tend to get to the main square of the city, called Dam, from the word dam. The second place where any tourist goes is the Red Light District. In addition to the refuge of sin, the beautiful Old Church (Oude Kerk) of the 13th century and many houses from the 15th-17th centuries have been preserved here.
Several interesting temples have also been preserved in the city. It is also worth seeing beautiful examples of the Dutch Neo-Renaissance -Railway station and Rijksmuseum. The impressive remains of defense structures - the towers of Montelbanstoren, Monetnaya, the Wailing Tower - make a strong impression. But, probably, the main attraction of Amsterdam is the narrow houses stuck along the edges of the canals, boat houses and endless bridges.
3. Venice
Many beautiful cities of the world, located on the water, are compared with Venice. This is a certain standard, an example of style and unusualness. The city is located on 118 islands, which are connected by more than 400 bridges.
The most famous bridges worth seeing are the following: Ri alto, Sighs, Academies, Straw. Be sure to swim under them, and then go through them. In this case, two Venice opens. Although, of course, the view of the city is more mesmerizing from the water. Its beauty is made up of famous objects: the Doge's Palace, San Marco's Piazza and Cathedral, the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, the palazzo along the Grand Canal, the churches of San Giorgio Maggiore and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
An additional bonus to the beauty of the city are the nearby islands of Murano, Burano, San Michele, Torcello, each of which is original and incredibly interesting. Venice is a city for unhurried walks and admiration, here you need to wander along the streets and embankments, looking at houses, bridges, churches.
2. Madrid
When asked what is the most beautiful city in the world, the answer is often "Madrid". It really amazes with luxury and scope. Vibrant, noisy Madrid was created especially forto make a lasting impression on the visitor. Local attractions are always huge, richly decorated, luxurious.
This is the Communications Palace in Piazza Sibelis, these are the buildings along Gran Via and Mayor. The Royal Palace, the Mayor Square complex, the Almudena Cathedral embody the greatness of the Spanish crown, symbolize the times when the country was among the leaders of world powers.
The city has excellent conditions for walking: wide, green boulevards, squares, spacious squares and streets. All major attractions are concentrated in a small space. It is worth taking a walk along Prado Boulevard, along the most famous museums, seeing the modern Atocha train station, walking along Alcala Street to Las Ventas Arena and going out to the eternally crowded Sol Square - the very heart of the city.
1. Rome
Remembering the most beautiful cities in the world, one cannot help but think of the capital of Italy. The Eternal City is infinitely diverse and beautiful. It combines ancient monuments such as the Forum and the Colosseum with stunning Renaissance architecture. Baroque coexists with classics and modernity. There are so many sights in Rome that they can even be listed for a very long time. Must-haves include St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona and del Popolo complexes, the Spanish Steps and more.
