Our 10 Favorite Cities Around the World
Cities have never been our preferred places to visit or spend tons of time, but in retrospect, certain cities we would love to go back to all over again. Urbanites across the globe agree on a few things about their built environment, they want great architecture, food, activities, parks, open space, and transportation. We may be in the “century of the city”, but the most integral factor, which is included in all of the points above, is clearly a city’s people. They will ultimately set the tone for when you explore our top ten favorite cities below…
Our 10 Favorite Cities
Favorite Cities #10 – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nestled into a valley of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai can be a sanctuary, where many stay much longer than they had anticipated. The city is laid-back and international but the landscapes and temples celebrate a traditional culture ideal for travelers, hipsters, nature lovers, and city connoisseurs.
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Moto Rental
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Chiang Mai Zoo
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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Chiang Mai Zoo
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Green Curry Stalls
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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Tiger Kingdom
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Tiger Kingdom
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Mae Sa Waterfall
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Stir Fry
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Wat Phra Singh
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Red Taxi Truck
Favorite Cities #9 – Cape Town, South Africa
Surf the Atlantic, climb mountains, indulge in wine tours and still find time to relax on the beach (with or without penguins). Cape Town continues to reinvent itself as one of the most livable cities in the world.
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Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
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Castle of Good Hope
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District 6 Museum
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Iziko South African Museum
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Cape of Good Hope
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Clifton Beach
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Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
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Table Mountain
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Boulders Beach
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Cape of Good Hope
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Ostridges
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Stellenbosch
Favorite Cities #8 – Bangkok, Thailand
Shiny Buddhist temples next to slick skyscrapers where long-tail boats race the automobile. The sweet and spicy food—served on the street or from the top of high-rise towers—Bangkok is addicting, affordable, and delicious.
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Grand Palace
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Koh San Road
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Grand Palace
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Grand Palace
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Markets
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Cityscape
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Tuk Tuk
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Grafitti
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Roof Top Bars
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Roof Top Pools
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Thai Food
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Lub d Hostel – Bangkok
Favorite Cities #7 – Mandalay, Myanmar
Mandalay is the economic center of northern Myanmar and considered the center of Burmese culture. We feel lucky to have visited Myanmar in 2014 before it has rocketed to the top of must-go-now lists everywhere as travelers try to get in before the country is overrun with development. A metropolis of Buddhism, we have not found a friendlier city in our travelers.
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U Pain (Bain) Bridge
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Mandalay Hill
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Mandalay HIll
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Teak Delivery
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Watermelon Break
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Sagaing Pagodas
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Donuts?
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Artist
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U Pain (Bain) Bridge
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Busy Street Junction
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Local Moto Rental
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Fried Crabs
Favorite Cities #6 – Athens, Greece
Worshiped by gods, Athens is a city with the most magical history in the world. A city where democracy was born and you can stroll through one of the most famous archaeological monuments in the world.
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Parthenon
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Old Temple of Athena
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Temple of Olympian Zeus
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Athenian Acropolis
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Cityscape
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Eggplant & Greek Salad
Favorite Cities #5 – Hanoi, Vietnam
The 1,000-year-old capital, considered one of the most affordable cities to visit is one of the best values for your money. A low-rise city of lakes, peaceful parks, and outstanding cuisine, the city is a pleasant experience of exploring an often understood culture. A cruise through nearby Halong Bay will be unforgettable.
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Temple of Literature
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St. Joseph’s Cathedral
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Ha Long Bay
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Hanoian Girl
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phở
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Traffic Jams – Hanoi
Favorite Cities #4 – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
One the “happiest” cities in the world, famous for its Carnival festival, Rio’s gorgeous natural surroundings lend themselves to endless outdoor activities. Even away from the samba and the soccer, Rio’s parks, beaches, gardens, and cultural sites kept everyday exiting and pleasant.
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Botanical Garden
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Ipanema Beach
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Sugarloaf Mountain
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Christ the Redeemer
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Soccer Match
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Tijuca Forest
Favorite Cities #3 – Beijing, China
Rich in history, both ancient and modern, Beijing is home to an assortment of premier sites, most famously the Great Wall of China. Must sees, also include the Forbidden City, the largest ancient imperial palace complex in the world; the Temple of Heaven, an awesome site of imperial worship; and the Summer Palace, a lovely imperial garden. There is also Tian’anmen Square where the People’s Republic of China was inaugurated by Chairman Mao and sure to be the site of many future events as China takes its next steps as a World power.
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Great Wall – Jinshanling
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Nan Luo Gu Xiang Lane
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Beijing Subway
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Forbidden Palace
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Great Wall – Jinshanling
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Beijing “Hot Pot”
Favorite Cities #2 – Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is a vibrant city, straddling Europe and Asia as well as Christianity and Islam for thousands of years. The reality is that it’s very easy to travel, locals don’t try to hassle you or rip you off. The city is beautiful, cheap, and full of life, cool bars, delicious food, and great sites. Most of all, its and great place to witness where east meets west and get to know someone from a different background.
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Hagia Sophia
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Sultanahmet Mosque
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İstanbul Metrosu
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Istanbul Universitesi
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Turkish Lamb Stew
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Turkish Hamam
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Hagia Sophia
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Istiklal Street Grub
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Kapalı Çarşı
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Topkapı Palace
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Turkish Delight
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Sultanahmet Mosque
The Smithsonian doesn’t rob you of 24 bucks to experience history. It’s centrally located to a bunch of great places: Philadelphia, New York, Ocean City, Richmond, Baltimore and you can drive an hour one way and reach the mountains, an hour another way to the beach, and an hour yet another way to the farmlands and country roads of Maryland. Again, I may be a little bias here, but based on livability, sprawl, green space, natural assets, cultural assets, connectivity, isolation, and pollution, it tops the list in the US and is on par with any city world wide.
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National World War II Memorial
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National Mall
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White House
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Washington Monument
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Lincoln Memorial
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United States Capital
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National Zoological Park
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National Museum of Natural History
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National Gallery of Art
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
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Metro
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Lincoln Memorial