It's easy to put Paris atop a list of the most magical cities in the world since the thing that surely separates a magical city from an...
It's easy to put Paris atop a list of the most magical cities in the world since the thing that surely separates a magical city from any other is that is has a certain "joie de vivre", or "a little something special" to it. Whether it's what you would call the most beautiful city in the world or the prettiest city on the planet, there's just a little something to all of these cities that sets them apart from the rest of the places most people vacation and live.
Many of these cities make the list because they are home to the landmarks to see before you die and others because the local culture is world renowned and the occupants of a different mindset than the rest of the world. There are places such as Cairns, with its vast access to the Great Barrier Reef, that perhaps you shouldn't visit because you'll never leave. Others, such as Las Vegas, offer an overload of visual and visceral stimuli that make you think you're in a bubble (but it's important to never forget: what happens in Vegas only stays if you don't post pictures to Facebook). "
London
Seville is known for its tapas, or small plates. People bar hop and enjoy small dishes, which are oftentimes seafood. It also has a large live music scene. The music and food only enrich the culture of Seville and complement the historical architecture found there.
Amsterdam has a rich architectural history, with the oldest building in the city dating back to 1306. Its Renaissance and Baroque architecture set a romantic vibe as they're nestled strategically along the canals the snake through the city. It also has many parks and outdoor squares scattered throughout the city, which are easily accessed by bicycle.
Tokyo is home to several museums, art houses, music venues and festivals that pump the city with culture. Additionally, their cuisine is internationally acclaimed, having some of the finest restaurants in the world. In the spring, the city's cherry blossoms bloom, making for a spectacular and magical site.
Berlin has one of the most thriving nightlife scenes in Europe, making the city a destination just for its bars and clubs. Because clubs don't have a fixed time to close on weekends, club parties often go into the morning. Berlin is also known for its cuisine, and being accommodating to vegetarians and vegans, as well as using sustainable and fair-trade foods.
Munich was established in 1175, lending itself buildings of different ages and architectural styles, giving the city a quaint feel. Additionally, it is a hub of arts, culture, and literature. The famous festival, Oktoberfest, takes place for two weeks every year, attracting millions from around the world to taste world-class beer.
Being the third most populous city in the world, Istanbul has served as capital for four different empires under its former name, Constantinople: the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul also is a transcontinental city, straddling Europe and Asia.
Bumping up along the edge of the Tasman Sea, Sydney is a hub of arts and culture, sports, and it has a thriving nightlife. The city is also freckled with parks, botanical gardens, and waterways. It's been used as a filming location for over 200 movies now.
One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Hong Kong is the world's most vertical city, lending itself to being a center of modern architecture. It is also famous for its martial arts film genre, where many famous actors and performers originated from, including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li.
Vancouver is consistently listed as one of the top cities in the world for having a high quality of life. Because of its high immigration rates, more than 52% of residents don't speak English as their first language.
One of the oldest cities in the world, Jerusalem is considered one of the holiest cities as well. Its many museums and important artifacts bring tourists from all over the world, as well as the deep religious significance it holds. Jerusalem has been completely destroyed twice, attacked 52 times, and captured 44 times.
Known as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is a hub of culture, music, and cuisine. It's celebratory culture also plays host to the famous festival, Mardi Gras, a two-week long festival that includes several parades a day, masquerade balls, and king cakes.
Geneva has been dubbed the "Peace Capital," and in 2009 was voted third for having the highest quality of life in the world. The entire old city of Geneva is officially being preserved, so the historical buildings and architecture give viewers a wonderful eye into the history of the city.
Many of these cities make the list because they are home to the landmarks to see before you die and others because the local culture is world renowned and the occupants of a different mindset than the rest of the world. There are places such as Cairns, with its vast access to the Great Barrier Reef, that perhaps you shouldn't visit because you'll never leave. Others, such as Las Vegas, offer an overload of visual and visceral stimuli that make you think you're in a bubble (but it's important to never forget: what happens in Vegas only stays if you don't post pictures to Facebook). "
London
Photo: Anirudh Koul/Flick
With being such a historical and sophisticated city, it's easy to see why London is so magical. From old historic neighborhoods to it's lavish and beautiful gardens, London will keep any visitor staring in awe at all its glory.
Venice
Photo: Moyan_Brenn/flickr/CC-BY 2.0
Built on an archipelago, Venice is the only European city that functions as a modern day city without using motorized vehicles as its main source of transportation. Canals are the veins of the city, making the condola the most classic mode of transportation. This in itself is enough reason to make anyone feel like they're in a dreamland.
Rome
Photo: Moyan_Brenn/flickr/CC-BY 2.0
Also known as "The Eternal City," Rome is one of the oldest cities where people have consistently lived in Europe. Just the fact that the Collosseum is still standing is enough to place this city on the list. Rome is also the only city in the world that has an entire country, Vatican City, inside of its borders.
Paris
Photo: Freebase/CC-BY-2.5
Between the majestic views, the lush gardens, the to-die for food, and the jazz music, Paris creates a romantic and dreamy setting for anyone looking to visit. Try checking out the Luxembourg Gardens, which is right next to the magnificent Luxembourg Castle, or the Seine River, which is home to the famous bridge on which so many people have been filmed kissing.
Prague
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Prague is over 1,100 years old, with countless historical buildings and neighborhoods to explore. The city was largely built during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, lending its architecture and scenery to picturesque and movie-like qualities.
Vienna
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Known as "The City of Music" and "The City of Dreams," Vienna was ranked first globally for its culture of innovation in 2007 and 2008 by the Innovation Cities Index. The city boasts its many baroque castles and gardens, as well as its legacy of music.
Edinburgh
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One of the most visited cities in the UK, Edinburgh has a rich history, which can been seen in much of the architecture and historical buildings throughout the city. Arthur's Seat, a group of hills located in the center of the city and next to the historical Edinburgh Castle, is one of the oldest sites recorded to have human habitation. Many believe Arthur's Seat is named after the legendary King Arthur, who settled his kingdom, Camelot, in these hills.
Moscow
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Moscow, Russia's largest city, holds some of the country's most prized pieces of architecture, including the Saint Basil's Cathedral, The Seven Sisters, and the Novodevichy Convent. It is also home to several theaters and art houses, as well as the Russian ballet.
Athens
Photo: LachieB1/Flickr
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, being established for almost 3,400 years. Its several historical monuments and buildings that still exist from the Greek empire are some of the most famous historical landmarks in the world.
Dublin
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Nearly 97% of Dublin's residents live within 300 meters of a park, making Dublin one of the greenest cities in Europe. Additionally, UNESCO named it a City of Literature because of its famous literary pioneers and references, including William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, and Nobel Iaureates. It also houses the largest libraries and literary museums in Ireland.
San Francisco
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Being one of the most walkable cities in the U.S., San Francisco is the second densest city in the country, only behind New York City. Its unique architecture, liberal culture, and microclimates gives tourists all different kinds of experiences, depending on which part of the city you're in. Watching the fog settle on the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset is worth a trip to San Francisco alone.
Seville
Photo: ccdoh1/Flickr
Florence
Photo: GettyImages
Budapest
Photo: Freebase/Public domain
Listed as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest has a very large World Heritage Site, with several historical buildings and sites. Its laden with many theatre and opera houses, as well as having over 200 different museums within the city limits.
Amsterdam
Photo: YankoPeyankov/Pixabay/CC0 1.0
Barcelona
Photo: via Imgur
Tokyo
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Berlin
Photo: Freebase
Milan
Milan has been around since 400 B.C. The Roman Empire seized the city in 222 B.C. and later became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The city wears its long, rich history in its architecture and historical buildings, some of which are still standing from the Roman Empire. Additionally, Milan houses some of the most important works of art in history, including The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
Photo: Freebase/CC-BY-2.5
Bruges
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Munich
Photo: Freebase/GNU Free Documentation License
New York City
New York City | CBRE
New York City is the most photographed city in the world. Its iconic landmarks such as Time Square and the Statue of Liberty bring in over 55 million tourists annually. Its also the most linguistically diverse city in the world, with over 800 different languages being spoken there.
Pisa
Rio de Janeiro
Photo: Kirilos/Flickr
Istanbul
Photo: via Pinterest
Stockholm
Photo: via Reddit
Nice
Photo: via Reddit
Brussels
Sydney
Photo: Freebase/CC-BY-2.5
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, sitting on the Mediterranean Sea in Croatia, is a walled city, and considered one of the best medieval walled cities in the world. Despite a devastating earthquake in 1667 that leveled much of the city, several historical buildings still remain, including Rector's Palace. Dubrovnik is also where King's Landing is shot in the TV series Game of Thrones.
Photo: Freebase/GNU Free Documentation License
Hong Kong
Photo: via Imgur
Vancouver
Photo: via Pinterest
Jerusalem
Photo: Freebase/Public domain
New Orleans
Photo: Kathy Kimpel/Flickr
Casablanca
Photo: Freebase/Public domain
Geneva
Photo: Freebase/Public domain
Shanghai
Shanghai is a true urban jungle. Being the largest city in the world, it is home to over 24 million people in the metropolitan area. While it's known as the leader of modern technology in China, Shanghai also has quieter, beautiful suburban areas that are worth exploring, including Fuxing Park, a must-see French park full of artists, dancers, card players, and tai chi.
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Singapore
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Singapore is ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Dining and shopping are considered to be the national pastimes, and draws people from all over the world eat the variety of foods here.
Agra
Photo: Nathan Jones/Flickr
Home to the famous Taj Mahal, Agra is a city chalk-full of of historical buildings and monuments, as it was the former capital of Hindustan. Agra lies in the Golden Triangle with Jaipur and Delhi, which is a tourist circuit to visit historical gems.
