It could be a nicetravel itinerary, a nice purpose for a trip: to visit the most beautiful cities in the world! Yes, but... which are they? The problem in these cases is always which one to exclude, as there are thousands of wonderful cities, and in truth, every one of them certainly deserves to be on this special list.
We have tried to establish our top 25 most beautiful cities to visit.
Classification Criteria
To compile the ranking, we called upon members of the Travel365 community.
After selecting a group of 100 magnificent cities around the globe, we asked a sample of more than 100,000 users to indicate five preferences, evaluating for each one the beauty of the landscapes, the historical, artistic and cultural heritage, the wealth of leisure opportunities and the cleanliness/quality of the tourist services. Analysing the data collected, we were able to decree the most beautiful city in the world! Let's find out which one it is...
25 - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
A city with colonial charm at 2,000 metres above sea level, less than 100 km from Mexico City. Yes, we are in Mexico, but no, there are no beaches, no resorts... we are not in Cancun. The identity of this country lies in its colonial history, with architecture reminiscent of Catalan architecture embedded in a 100% Mexican culture.
Don't miss: Jardìn principal, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcàngel, Casa de Don Ignacio de Allende, El Chorro spring, Jardìn Botànico.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 6/10
History, art, culture: 6/10
Leisure and entertainment: 4/10
Cleanliness and services: 6/10
TOTAL: 22/40
24 - Istanbul, Turkey
Mystery and beauty, monuments and churches, markets...no, Bazaar... no... the Grand Bazaar, which is something else entirely. The Turkish metropolis combines dreamy architecture with a Middle Eastern charm that smells of spices.
Don't miss: the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Aya Sofia.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 6/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Leisure and entertainment: 6/10
Cleanliness and services: 3/10
TOTAL: 23/40
23 - Bergen, Norway
Norway's second-largest city after the capital Oslo, it is perhaps even more 'identity' than the latter, less cosmopolitan and more connected to the origins of Nordic culture. Called the'Gateway to the Fjords', it is an extraordinary mix of mountains, harbours, music and culture.
Don't miss Bryggen harbour, Bergenhus Fortress, Mount Fløyen, Hardangerfjord and the'Tongue of the Troll'.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 5/10
Entertainment and fun: 6/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 23/40
22 - Cairo, Egypt
The most important city in Egypt and one of the oldest in the world, it rises on the banks of the Nile. It is probably the benchmark for fans of ancient history and, of course, ancient Egypt, with everything revolving around it: mysteries, pyramids, sphinxes and hidden treasures.
Don't miss: the Giza Necropolis and its 3 Great Pyramids (Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus), the Great Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, the Alabaster Mosque and the Coptic Quarter.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 9/10
Leisure and entertainment: 4/10
Cleanliness and services: 3/10
TOTAL: 24/40
21 - Charleston, South Carolina (USA)
We have gone back in time, to the pre-industrial revolution period: horse-drawn carriages, cobbled streets, pastel-coloured buildings. In the'Holy City' one breathes southern hospitality, embraced by a small gulf in the Atlantic Ocean. From its'Downtown' to the French Quarter, via the Cooper and Ashley rivers, it is impossible not to fall in love with it.
Don't miss: Arthur Ravenel JR Bridge, French Quarter, Waterfront Park, Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Fort Sumter National Monument.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 6/10
History, art, culture: 6/10
Leisure and entertainment: 6/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 25/40
20 - Quebéc City, Quebéc (Canada)
One of the most fascinating cities in the giant Canadian state. Perched on a rocky hill and crossed by the St Lawrence River, it is divided into the upper and lower city. In 1985 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: visit its Citadelle and theChateau Frontenac Hotel... you'll understand why.
Don't miss: Chateau Frontenac, Montmorency Falls, Citadelle, Notre Dame de Québe Cathedral, Terrasse Dufferin.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 6/10
Leisure and entertainment: 5/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 25/40
19 - Athens, Greece
Here democracy is born, here politics (the real one, or at least the one that'should be') is born. Many things are born here: we are in the cradle of Mediterranean civilisation, we are in a city where the weight of history is such that it creates a boundless echo. Although the economic situation is not flourishing, Athens remains an indispensable reference point for those who love ancient history. But also for those who do not.
Don't miss: the Acropolis, the Agora, Syntagma Square, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Plaka and Monastiraki districts.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 9/10
Leisure and entertainment: 7/10
Cleanliness and services: 3/10
TOTAL: 26/40
18 - New Orleans, Louisiana (USA)
One of the most fascinating destinations on the stars and stripes, home of the blues and jazz, and with a troubled history still inextricably linked to the first slave trades from Africa. Not even Hurricane Katrina in 2005 managed to wipe out its soul, which reveals itself in the French Quarter, the Café du Monde, even in its famous cemeteries! And it's even the city of Ghosts and Voodoo... need anything else?
Don't miss: Jackson square, Bourbon street, Frenchmen street, St. Louis Cemetery
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 6/10
History, art, culture: 6/10
Entertainment and fun: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 5/10
TOTAL: 26/40
17 - Kyoto, Japan
The city of 1,000 temples, Japan's ancient capital, where you can experience the soul of the oriental country in its quintessence. From the Buddhist temples to the Geisha quarters, Kyoto, unlike the capital Tokyo, is a city to be lived slowly, a city to be breathed in at the top of one's lungs.
Don't miss: Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), the Nishiki Market, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the Pure Water Temple(Kiyomizudera).
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 7/10
Leisure and entertainment: 4/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 27/40
16 - Vienna, Austria
More than a city on a human scale, we would describe it as'on the scale of kings, queens and princesses'. Vienna cannot (and should not) abstract itself from its imperial past, from having been the residence of the Habsburgs, but at the same time from being the city of Klimt and Sachertorte! Feel like kings, queens and princesses for a weekend, in Vienna you can!
Don't miss: Hofburg Palace, Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, St Stephen's Cathedral, Danube Cruise.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Leisure and entertainment: 6/10
Cleanliness and services: 6/10
TOTAL: 27/40
15 - Bangkok, Thailand
Culture and busy life find a perfect synthesis here, a shining example of postmodernism that wants a cocktail in the skybar on who knows what floor above, a Thai massage and a visit to Buddha. Yes, you really can find everything here. The culture is cut to ribbons, the scenery is eye-popping and.... the food... well, we are in the street food capital of the world!
Don't miss: Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), Royal Palace/Wat Phra Kaew.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Leisure and entertainment: 8/10
Cleanliness and services: 5/10
TOTAL: 28/40
14 - Cape Town, South Africa
A port city on the slopes of Table Mountain, among the 7 natural wonders of the world, it is a favourite destination for surfers, lovers of adventure, African history, photographic safaris... It is also the city of Nelson Mandela and Robben Island prison, the'Big Five' and the Cape of Good Hope, a reserve inhabited by ostriches, baboons, warthogs and other strange animals!
Don't miss: Blouberg and Boulders Beach, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Kruger National Park.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 7/10
Leisure and entertainment: 6/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 28/40
13 - Siena, Tuscany (Italy)
Pearl of the Tuscan region, still tied in architecture and soul to its medieval identity. It is the land of the Palio and good wine, but also of museums and art galleries. Just a few minutes away is even the legendary Sword in the Stone of British memory, and in general the surroundings are also spectacular.
Don't miss: Duomo, Piazza del Campo, Fortezza Medicea and Enoteca Italiana, Montepulciano, Montalcino.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Leisure and entertainment: 7/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 30/40
12 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It's the city of carnival, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Mount Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer. It is simply Rio, one of the most famous cities in the world, and there must be a reason why. Gigantic (around 6 million inhabitants), it is also known for its favelas, it is true, but also for football and the Tijuca National Park. A lifetime is not enough to get to know it, but a moment is enough to love it!
Don't miss: Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Monte Corcovado, Sambodromo, Maracana Stadium, Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 7/10
Entertainment and fun: 10/10
Cleanliness and services: 5/10
TOTAL: 30/40
11 - Sydney, Australia
Off to a good start... if a paradise like Sydney is at the bottom of the top 10, what's waiting for us higher up? Will Australia's largest city console itself in being at the top of the world's most liveable cities rankings, meanwhile its beaches, Harbour Bridge andOpera House take tenth place!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 6/10
History, Art, Culture: 6/10
Leisure and Entertainment: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 9/10
TOTAL: 30/40
10 - Venice, Italy
Second Italian city in the special ranking, and the most romantic city in the world could not be missed. Its lagoon and its carnival, its gondoliers and St Mark's Square are topics that alone would be enough, and that have made it a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 10/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Entertainment and fun: 7/10
Cleanliness and services: 5/10
TOTAL: 30/40
9 - Prague, Czech Republic
Photos by Mauroonline. For many, the Czech capital also tops other rankings, namely those of cities with the most beautiful women in the world! But Prague also has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Old Town by night is a daydream!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 8/10
Leisure and entertainment: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 31/40
8 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
And enough of saying that Amsterdam is all transgression, red light districts and legal cannabis! Goodness, it certainly is, but it is much, much more. Amsterdam is its canals, it is the capital of modernity, it is art. It is mills and it is Van Gogh, and it is also much, much history and identity.
Don't miss: Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Rijkmuseum, Red Light District, canal boat tour.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 7/10
Leisureand entertainment: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 31/40
7 - San Francisco, California
Economic, financial, as well as cultural and artistic centre of the San Francisco Bay area, famous for, among other things, the Golden Gate Bridge, skyscrapers such as the Transamerica Pyramid and the Millennium Tower, and parks such as Golden Gate Park, it is also linked to key figures of the'Beat Generation' such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 7/10
History, art, culture: 7/10
Leisure and entertainment: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 31/40
6 - Florence, Italy
You couldn't miss the mother of the Renaissance, the birthplace of Dante Alighieri, the cradle of art and architecture.
Whoever says Florence says Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli... says Uffizi Gallery, and could go on and on for one and countless lifetimes.
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 10/10
Entertainment and fun: 7/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 32/40
5 - Rome, Italy
And with this, the Bel Paese takes home three! But how could Rome Caput Mundi be missing, the absolute centre of the ancient world, a city where every corner shines its own light. The Colosseum is among the 7 wonders of the modern world, but Rome as a whole, in terms of monuments, cuisine and history... here it is fourth, but certainly second to none!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 10/10
History, art, culture: 10/10
Entertainment and fun: 8/10
Cleanliness and services: 5/10
TOTAL: 33/40
4 - Barcelona, Spain
We are in the top 5, in the elite of the world's most beautiful cities: and here comes Barcelona, the city of Gaudí and the Sagrada Familia, the Parc Guell and Montjuic. But also las Ramblas, and why not the football temple of Camp Nou, the stadium of Barcelona's multiple Golden Ball winner Leo Messi!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Barcelona
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 9/10
History, art, culture: 9/10
Leisure and entertainment: 9/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 35/40
3 - London, United Kingdom
On the lowest step of the podium is the cosmopolitan city par excellence. The city of parks, the European capital that sets trends and is itself a trend-setter. The city of red double-decker buses and the'changing of the guard', the largest in Europe, the city of Tower Bridge, the Queen and... Pink Floyd! Pink Floyd!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 8/10
History, art, culture: 9/10
Leisureand entertainment: 10/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 35/40
2 - New York City, USA
Missing out by a hair, and coming in second place is the city of Manhattan and the Bronx; the city of paradoxes, of one of the world's most impressive skylines and the Statue of Liberty. Also the city of the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum and... Friends!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 9/10
History, Art, Culture: 8/10
Entertainment and Fun: 10/10
Cleanliness and services: 8/10
TOTAL: 35/40
1 - Paris, France: The Most Beautiful City in the World
Here we are at last in what, according to the community of travellers, is the most beautiful city in the world: Paris, muse of writers, singers and artists, capital of fashion and elegance, is an extraordinary melting pot of culture, history, traditions and legends. Here, from the Eiffel Tower to Mont Martre, from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Louvre, if it becomes a museum, even a cemetery... oh yeah, but at Père Lachaise there is even Jim Morrison! So say it then...!
Landscapes and environmental beauty: 9/10
History, art, culture: 10/10
Leisure and entertainment: 10/10
Cleanliness and services: 7/10
TOTAL: 36/40