Choosing the most beautiful cities in the world is a very difficult task, because each city, whether it is a "city-type village" or a huge metropolis, has its own unique features.
After reviewing the reviews of tourists and the opinions of experts on well-known resources such as The Telegraph, Rough Guides and TripAdvisor, we selected 10 places that most fully express the beauty and diversity of cities in the world.
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10. Istanbul, Turkey
The number of Russian and foreign visitors to this city has plummeted as a result of terrorist attacks and riots in Turkey. And it’s very unfortunate, because the capital of the former Ottoman Empire is incomparable.
Masterpieces created at the direction of powerful Turkish rulers include the Topkapi Palace, where the Sultans lived, as well as their eunuchs and slaves, and the Sultanahmet Mosque (aka Blue Mosque) is one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture.
But what makes Istanbul a tourist wonder is the revival of once seedy neighborhoods and their transformation into prosperous communities. Thus, the Karakoy region, once the former port outskirts of the city, is now a place of concentration of luxury boutique hotels and art galleries. The Maritime Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Jewish Museum with a 500-year history are also located there.
Best reasons to visit Istanbul:
- Istanbul is the only transcontinental city in the world located in two continents - Europe and Asia. They are separated by the Bosphorus.
- Istanbul is a land of architectural wonders. The most famous among them is the Hagia Sophia Cathedral - a former Byzantine church that has become a museum. It was built in the 4th century.
- This is one of the places where you can see the most beautiful sunset in the world.
- In spring, visitors to Istanbul can enjoy over 20 million tulips in bloom.
- The Grand Bazaar, with more than 4,000 stores, is one of the largest and oldest indoor markets in the world.
9. Luang Prabang, Laos
In 1995, this city was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage status, due to which a tourist flow poured there. The city authorities managed the money received from tourists very wisely, putting them into the restoration of ancient buildings and temples.
The beauty of Luang Prabang is explained not only by the ancient, carefully preserved architecture, but also by the unusual frame of the lush jungle at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.
This small coastal city is adorned with 33 temples with gold carvings, proudly towering among the dense forests and fog. It is also important that in Luang Prabang there are now some of the best hotels and French restaurants in the world.
Best reasons to visit Luang Prabang:
- Swimming in one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world - Quang Si.
- Watching the feeding of the monks on the main street at dawn (at 6 a.m.) is one of the ancient urban traditions.
- Visit the evening food market, which opens at sunset in a side street between the tourist information center and Wat Mai Temple.
- A walk through the Old Town with cozy streets and an interesting mix of styles: from Buddhist and Lao to colonial French.
8. Florence, Italy
Can the most beautiful cities in the world do without an Italian city that bears the title of "cradle of the Renaissance"? Every year, millions of tourists fill its streets, but despite this, Florence will always be shrouded in a halo of romance. Interestingly, in this city is about one third of all the treasures of world art.
Best reasons to visit Florence:
- Among all the art galleries in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery is the most outstanding in terms of the number of exhibits. It is also the most visited art gallery in Italy. It contains such works of art as the “Madonna Onyssanti” by Giotto, “The Madonna and the Carduel” by Raphael and the “Annunciation” by Simone Martini.
- Florence is the first place in Europe where asphalt streets appeared.
- The Florence Cathedral, built between 1296 and 1436, is a World Heritage Site and the main attraction of Florence. Its bright red dome was designed by Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi and is the hallmark of the city.
7. Jerusalem
This city - a sacred place for three religions - has been inhabited since 4000 BC. The holiest place for Jews and the third holiest place for Muslims is the Temple Mount with its shimmering gold Dome of the Rock. On the territory of the mountain were the First, and after it the Second Jerusalem Temple - the center of the religious life of Jews. Here, according to legend, the Third Temple will also be located.
A huge number of ancient sights and holy places, the atmosphere of worldly and spiritual make Jerusalem a unique city on Earth.
Best reasons to visit Jerusalem:
- The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the place of crucifixion, and then the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is considered the main altar of the world.
- Mount Zion is the Jewish symbol of the Promised Land. Here are attractions such as the tomb of King David, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and the Chamber of the Last Supper.
- Gethsemane - here in prayers spent his last night before the arrest of Jesus. The garden also houses the tomb of the Virgin and the Church of Mary Magdalene.
- The Wailing Wall is a place for prayers of the Jews. Between the stones in the Wall are thousands of notes with various requests. It is believed that they will certainly reach the Almighty.
6. Edinburgh, Scotland
The city is famous for its annual international festival, but it has something more - natural beauty. One has only to go east of the city and take a short walk up to the throne of Arthur - the highest of the seven hills on which Edinburgh rests - to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the city and understand why the capital of Scotland is one of the top 10 most beautiful cities in the world.
Best reasons to visit Edinburgh:
- The Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the oldest in the UK. It contains over 6% of plants growing on the globe.
- The Royal Mile is the heart of the city, a place where you can see one of the scariest women in the world and visit many shops.
- The Scottish National Museum, which has about 800 exhibits, including the oldest color television in the world and samples collected by Charles Darwin himself during his Beagle trip.
- Edinburgh Castle, where the Stone of Doom is located. English and Scottish monarchs were crowned on it. Films about Harry Potter were filmed here.
5. Rio de Janeiro
Fun and noisy Rio is simply created for fans of everything bright and pompous. It hosts the largest holiday in the country, which both local residents and visitors are looking forward to.
However, this city is famous not only for holidays. From the statue of Jesus to the Tijuca forest, the Brazilian metropolis abounds in its natural and man-made beauty.
Best reasons to visit Rio:
- Christ the Redeemer, located at an altitude of 700 meters on the Corcovado Mountains, is the most famous landmark of Rio de Janeiro and an icon of Christianity. This 30-meter statue with arms spread out is one of the seven new wonders of the world.
- Rio Carnival is the largest carnival on the planet. The grand festival begins 40 days before Easter and lasts for five days. The event annually attracts more than 2 million visitors from around the world. About 200 samba schools (the genre of Brazilian music and dance) participate in it.
- Copacabana beach with white sand and turquoise water is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
- The Tijuca Forest is one of the largest urban forests in the world. It protects hundreds of plants and animals. Visitors can hike to the highest peak of the forest - Pico da Tijuca (1021 meters high).
4. Havana, Cuba
This city combines the fading glamor of the mid-20th century: large American cars, the smell of gasoline that fills the air and beautiful hotels with collapsing colonial buildings, a look that inspires sadness. Havana is idiosyncrasy, which attracts and upsets equally, where surprisingly well-groomed and informative museums, the 18th-century Virgin Mary Cathedral and pharmacies with wooden windows are adjacent to contemporary art shops, paladars (home restaurants) and town houses.
Best reasons to visit Havana:
- Enjoy Caribbean, Spanish and Latin American cuisine in the famous Havana restaurant Los Nardos with live music and reasonable prices (an average of $ 5 per dish).
- Selfies on the background of the National Capitol - a kind of Cuban version of the Washington Capitol. Only Cuban is a little higher and richer in interior.
- Walk along Cienaga Square, where the beautiful Cathedral of St. Christopher is located - both objects are on the World Heritage List.
3. Kyoto, Japan
Being the center of Japanese culture for hundreds of years, and surrounded by picturesque mountains covered with lush greenery, Kyoto is one of the most amazing cities in the world. If Tokyo amazes tourists with high-speed trains, flashes of neon and skyscrapers, then Kyoto's life proceeds in a different, calmer rhythm. During World War II, the city was spared the bombing and today it still houses 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
Top reasons to visit Kyoto:
- In the Gion district you can admire the geisha and their maiko students, mincing the streets in one of the tea houses.
- Follow in the footsteps of Nishida Kitaro - the most famous thinker of the city and try to unravel the secrets of the Universe during a meditative walk along the Path of the Philosopher. This walkway starts from Ginkaku-ji Temple and runs in close proximity to Shinto shrines and shrines. It becomes especially beautiful during the flowering of cherry trees located on both sides of the path.
- If you are tired of numerous Kyoto temples, then the International Manga Museum will dispel boredom. It offers a crash course in everything related to Japanese comics, and boasts the world's largest manga collection.
2. Suzhou, China
This city is often called the "Venice of the East." Its gardens are on the World Heritage List and are known as masterpieces of classical Chinese garden design. For the Chinese, they reflect the deep metaphysical significance of natural beauty.
Best reasons to visit Suzhou:
- The humble official's garden is Suzhou's largest garden. It contains about 700 dwarf trees and 48 buildings. A visit to the garden will cost 90 yuan.
- Tiger Hill 36 meters high - it is believed that it contains the tomb of Emperor He Lu, who lived in the 6th century BC
- Confucius Temple - is located north of another city attraction - Panman Gate.
1. Venice, Italy
From Venice of the East, we move on to true Venice, consisting of 118 tiny islands connected by bridges. There are no roads in it and this is one of the things that make the city unique. Water buses and gondolas (traditional Venetian rowing boats) are the main ways to get to the right place.
Best reasons to visit Venice:
- A gondola ride along the Grand Canal is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Venice. The Grand Canal is an S-shaped 3.8-kilometer canal that runs through the city.
- In addition to canals and gondolas, Venice is also famous for its unique architectural style called "Venetian Gothic." His best example is Doge's Palace.
- Of the 139 churches, St. Mark's Basilica is the most famous and beautiful Venetian church. 85,000 square feet of mosaics were used to create its interior.
