The 30 Most Beautiful Cities in the World: New Entries & Classic Options
There are so many beautiful cities in the world that I don’t think that a top 100 would do it justice. But I want to start showing you the urban beauty of our planet – and I will start by sharing the 30 most beautiful cities for now.
I have included some newer entries or hidden gems on my list, as well as classics that will always be here. I’m not only talking about famous landmarks or postcard views – these cities have a presence, a certain something that makes them truly special. And even though beauty is indeed personal and subjective, I am sure you will love them all.
From medieval canals to futuristic skylines, from mountain-backed harbors to floating palaces and everything in between, here are my picks for the 30 of the most beautiful cities in the world, listed below in no particular order.
1. Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg looks like a fairy tale drawn to life, as you can see in the photo above. Half-timbered houses line narrow canals, flower boxes spill over bridges, and the Gothic cathedral rises like a masterpiece of stone lace to perfectly complement the dreamy scene.
The old town area is a joy to visit, with its pastel façades glowing at sunset, giving the whole city an almost cinematic warmth and convincing you that this is indeed one of the most beautiful cities out there.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen’s beauty is understated, minimalist, like their entire hygge concept, but also irresistible – a perfect blend of old-world charm and sleek Scandinavian design. Nyhavn’s colorful townhouses, seen above, reflect in the water like an artist’s palette, while the city’s clean lines, bicycles, and waterfront parks give it a light, balanced feel. Quiet elegance or elegance without excess – perfection!
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3. Venice, Italy
No other city looks like Venice, although I was surprised to find out that there are many out there that give you a similar vibe.
But with its narrow waterways, graceful bridges, and centuries-old palazzi that seem suspended between the water and the sky, with gondolas gliding past the marble facades and the golden light on the Grand Canal at dusk, Venice is basically a living painting.
4. Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto’s beauty lies in serenity and that specific design that doesn’t feel familiar at all if you are a Westerner.
Wooden teahouses, scarlet torii gates, and temples hidden among maple and cherry trees give it a timeless grace. In every season, from spring blossoms to autumn leaves, Kyoto feels like a quiet meditation on the art of impermanence and perfection.
5. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is nature’s masterpiece. Table Mountain towers above ocean and city alike, wrapping the skyline in dramatic contrast, as you can see in the photo above.
Bright houses in Bo-Kaap, the curve of Camps Bay, and the meeting of two oceans all make Cape Town feel wild and refined at once – a rare kind of coastal grandeur that doesn’t necessarily impress with architecture, but with how everything blends so nicely.
6. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a city that doesn’t really require an introduction, and one that offers beauty in so many ways. Antoni Gaudí’s surreal architecture, from the spires of Sagrada Família to the flowing lines of Park Güell, gives the city its truly unique feel and visual appeal.
But there’s a lot more, including the Mediterranean sea breeze, tree-lined boulevards, mountains in the background, and terraces filled with life – all making Barcelona feel like a real work of art. A masterpiece, I’d say.
7. Florence, Italy
Florence is by far my favorite city in Italy – a city that feels eternal, even though each year it seems to get more and more crowded with tourists.
But they’re here for the right reasons – every corner reveals something beautiful: a Renaissance dome, a quiet piazza, beautiful sculptures, a hidden garden, or a bridge glowing gold at sunset. The city’s stone streets carry centuries of art and craftsmanship, making it undeniably beautiful.
Related reading: Most Romantic Cities in the US
8. Sydney, Australia
Sydney’s skyline rises from one of the most stunning harbors on Earth. The Opera House and Harbour Bridge stand as sculptural icons, framed by deep blue water and golden beaches.
Beyond the famous views, the city’s coastal trails, ocean pools, and outdoor energy give it a beauty that feels open and free and adding to the overall beauty of the place.
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
I might consider Amsterdam overrated, but I will still list it here because it is indeed beautiful. It is the perfect city for wandering. Its elegant canals curve through rows of 17th-century houses with tall windows and decorative gables.
Bicycles roll past reflections on the water, café lights shimmer at dusk, and everything feels effortlessly balanced – graceful, calm, and quietly romantic in most cases.
10. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon glows with sunlight and color and you have to be there to truly feel and experience its beauty, which comes in many ways.
Its hills roll toward the Tagus River, where pastel buildings, tiled facades, and the yellow, well-known trams create scenes that feel cinematic and are always Instagram-worthy. Golden rooftops, ocean air, grand sculptures and tiny yet charming houses, as well as the warm glow that seems to linger long after sunset – all of these make it special.
11. Singapore
Singapore feels like a glimpse of the future in full bloom. If the previous recommendations are all about history and serenity, Singapore is about modernism and mind-blowing design.
Gardens spill from rooftops, tropical trees line spotless avenues, and glass towers shimmer under the equatorial sun or light up at night to create a unique spectacle. The contrast between the futuristic skyline and the peaceful green spaces makes the city glow both day and night – usually literally.
12. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ubud is perfect for those looking to connect with nature. While the city itself has few truly special areas, its surroundings complete it so well and make it special. After all, it’s one of the most popular digital nomad destinations out there – and travel destinations, overall.
Terraced rice fields ripple across the hills, mist drifts through palm forests, and temples peek out from the jungle. Every path feels in tune with nature: calm, earthy, and luminous, as if time itself has slowed to let beauty breathe. I have a dedicated article to the entire island, so make sure to check out my Bali, Indonesia guide.
13. Seoul, South Korea
We’re staying in Asia with a city that is striking in its contrasts. Sleek glass towers rise beside centuries-old palaces, and the Han River divides a city alive with color and light.
At night, neon reflections dance on the water while the nearby mountains frame the skyline – a seemingly unique match between modernity and quiet tradition (although don’t associate “quiet” with a slow pace here!)
14. Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou has a beauty that’s bold and architectural, similar to Singapore and many of the modern, large cities in Asia.
The Pearl River mirrors a skyline of futuristic shapes – the Canton Tower spiraling upward like a ribbon of light, the skyscrapers competing for dominance, the futuristic bridge… Yet traditional gardens, colonial-era buildings, and tree-lined streets remind visitors that this city still has a softer side rooted in history.
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15. Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington sits gracefully between hills and sea, giving it a cinematic backdrop in every direction. Colorful houses cling to steep slopes, the harbor sparkles in shifting light, and the windswept coastlines feel both raw and inviting. It’s a compact city wrapped in complete symbiosis with nature, even though it remains modern and impressive.
16. Savannah, Georgia, USA
Savannah’s beauty feels timeless and that’s one of the reasons why I decided to have it here instead of better-known or larger cities (like the spectacular San Francisco, for example).
But here, Spanish moss drapes over oak-lined streets, cobblestones glisten after the rain, and historic mansions frame leafy squares filled with light and shadow, while the parks are filled with old trees that seem ready to tell you stories from the past.
17. Doha, Qatar
Doha dazzles with geometric precision and desert light, being one of the most impressive cities you will ever visit.
The skyline reflects in calm Gulf waters, while museums and mosques showcase graceful contemporary design inspired by tradition – but, paradoxically, everything is built to impress. The city’s clean symmetry, warm hues, and interplay of glass and sand make it one of the Middle East’s most striking visuals, though.
18. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Few cities blend nature and urban life like Rio. Mountains, rainforest, and ocean meet in an unforgettable panorama – with the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer watching over it all.
From the golden arcs of Ipanema and Copacabana to the jungle peaks of Sugarloaf, every view feels larger than life, alive with sunlight and rhythm. Just as it’s supposed to be in the city of the renowned carnival.
19. Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang rests gently where rivers meet mountains, being the most out of the beaten path city on this list.
Golden temples rise among the trees, saffron-robed monks move through quiet streets, and the air carries the glow of sunrise and incense. It’s one of those places that seems untouched by hurry or even modern problems – it’s graceful, soft, and deeply photogenic, showing that beauty doesn’t always have to be flashy and grand.
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20. Kobe, Japan
Kobe is another city that sits between sea and mountains, giving it a beauty defined by contrast. At dusk, the harbor lights shimmer like stars against the dark slopes behind the city. Elegant streets, modern architecture, and peaceful waterfront views come together in a balance that feels effortlessly refined and a bit ahead of its time.
21. Santorini, Greece
Santorini is pure drama in white and blue and probably one of the best known beautiful destinations in the world, although Santorini is not a city, but the name of the entire island. However, since everybody uses the island’s name instead of the names of the small towns and villages there, I decided to do the same.
The island’s clifftop villages seem to float above the Aegean, each terrace spilling light over the sea. Domed churches, sunlit stairways, and golden sunsets create scenes that feel almost unreal – a perfect meeting of human architecture perfectly blended with nature’s color palette.
22. Chefchaouen, Morocco
Chefchaouen is a dream in shades of blue, even though – truth be told – it looks a lot more spectacular in photos than it does in reality.
But here, many walls, staircases, and alleyways are painted in soft tones that shift with the sun, creating a calm, otherworldly glow. Framed by the Rif Mountains, this small city feels serene and deeply artistic – a living canvas shaped by light and color and seemingly frozen in time.
23. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s beauty lies in its depth and contrast, having so much to offer that you probably need a few years just to scratch the surface.
Minarets and domes define the skyline, bridges stretch across continents, and the Bosphorus sparkles between worlds old and new. Golden sunsets over the mosques and the echo of calls to prayer give the city a visual and emotional richness found nowhere else.
24. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest glows with elegance and, if you are an old time reader of this website, you know that it’s one of my favorite cities ever.
Here, the Danube divides two faces – Buda’s hills and Pest’s grand boulevards – yet both shine with historic architecture and graceful bridges. At night, the Parliament building reflects in the river like gold leaf on water, turning the whole city into a masterpiece of light, while every street and every corner has a beautiful secret waiting to be discovered.
Also read: Best Hotels Near the Budapest Airport
25. Beijing, China
Beijing blends monumental history with modern scale and is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive cities in the world.
The Forbidden City’s (seen above) red walls and golden roofs stand as timeless symbols, while contemporary towers rise beyond the ancient gates. Wide avenues, serene parks, and architectural harmony make Beijing a visual story of past and present interwoven.
26. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena glows with Caribbean warmth. The old town’s colorful facades, flower-draped balconies, and stone fortifications create a city that feels both tropical and timeless, one that always manages to put you in a good mood. Each sunset bathes its walls in amber light, turning every street into a photograph waiting to be taken.
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27. Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s beauty is quiet and regal – and chances are that, if you like Budapest, you will like Vienna too.
Grand palaces, gilded halls, and sweeping boulevards reflect a centuries-old devotion to art and order. The symmetry of its architecture, softened by parks and music drifting through the air, makes Vienna feel both refined and welcoming.
28. Bruges, Belgium
Bruges looks like a city painted for a storybook. Its canals mirror medieval spires, stone bridges cross peaceful waters, and cobbled streets twist between gingerbread-like houses. When evening falls and the lights flicker on the water, Bruges feels suspended between centuries and proves that a city doesn’t have to be huge to offer a lot.
29. Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos shines with simplicity and contrast, and just like Santorini, it is actually the name of the entire island, and not a city. But here, you have whitewashed houses, vivid blue shutters, and the famous old windmills that make every trip here feel like time traveling.
For some reason, I always preferred Mykonos to Santorini, with those small, white houses that feel cozy and warm at all times – always bathed in sunshine and joy. But definitely visit both to decide which one’s your favorite.
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30. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is modern beauty at its most ambitious scale, and a perfect city to round out today’s list. Glass towers rise from desert sands, lights shimmer over the marina, and futuristic shapes reflect in the calm Gulf waters.
The skyline glitters under a vast sky, turning the city into a visual symbol of human imagination and you’re only left with one question after visiting it: what amazing thing will they build next?
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Conclusion
I hope that this list managed to impress you and put you in the mood for travel. I also know that there are many more amazingly beautiful cities out there. I would love to see your recommendations – share with the world which was the most beautiful city you have ever set foot in and what you liked about it.
Or keep exploring amazing destinations based on my list I previously published here. For example, I am sure you will love the best cities for digital nomads in the US here, or the top 10 most affordable cities in the US (including some truly beautiful options as well!)
