What makes a city attractive in the eyes of tourists? Unique architecture, diverse cultures, hospitable people or historical stories that have been imprinted through many generations? If you are a travel enthusiast and love to explore, you probably have your own answer.
25 cities on the list ofTravel + LeisureThese are the answers compiled from many travelers around the world with their experiences in those cities. These may be new options for you when the world tourism industry reopens in the future.
1. San Miguel de Allende (Mexico)
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city in the Central Mexican highlands, with a unique blend of neo-Gothic and Spanish colonial architecture. Looking at the exteriors of the buildings lined up along the road leading to the tallest building in the city - Parroquia de San Miguel Archangel, will make you even more curious about what is designed inside the closed doors before your eyes.
Not only invested in architecture, the city seems to have attracted tourists here with a very unique "magic" based on historical stories, diverse landscapes, bearing the mark of time along with a cuisine that is increasingly influential in the world. You can walk through the main streets or small alleys to enjoy the most authentic feeling that San Miguel de Allende brings, because this place is considered extremely easy to travel. Enjoying the beauty of the city from the rooftop of restaurants to the center of El Jardin and Museo Historico is also a perfect choice and is loved by many tourists.
2. Udaipur (India)
Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is a city located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan. It has many royal palaces, beautiful lakes, handcrafted temples and many gardens to explore. You cannot experience all the wonderful things that this city has to offer in just one visit. Udaipur will always be a new experience for you when you come back to visit this city again.
3. Istanbul (Türkiye)
If you are in the city, look up and you will be overwhelmed by the soaring minarets of the Blue Mosque - the oldest symbol of Istanbul. You can also experience the unique feeling of standing between the two continents of Asia and Europe, just by crossing a bridge.
4. Ubud (Indonesia)
The most interesting thing when coming to Ubud is that you completely step into an ancient space, with sacred ancient temples and royal palaces that are not only large but also extremely majestic. One thing that cannot be missed is visiting the Ubub monkey forest, Tegalalang rice terraces, Goa Gajah elephant cave, Tegenungan waterfall and many other tourist attractions. Immersing yourself in the space filled with the rich cultural colors of Indonesia in Ubud promises to leave you with unforgettable memories of this Southeast Asian country.
5. Kyoto (Japan)
Once the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun, Kyoto is a place that preserves many unique traditional cultural features of Japan with many temples, pagodas and countless other historical relics that are still preserved intact until now. In contrast to modern and vibrant Tokyo, Kyoto appears with an ancient, elegant beauty combined with a slow, peaceful pace of life that you can completely feel from the scenery to the people here.
6. Florence (Italy)
If you are an art enthusiast and want to enjoy the romantic atmosphere in the heart of Italy, Florence will be a perfect choice for you. This is a place where Renaissance art values converge, many museums or galleries inside ancient mansions, preserving countless works of art from paintings, sculptures to unique frescoes and reliefs. The ancient and unique cultural architectural works are also an important point that makes Florence one of the top attractive destinations in Europe.
7. Mexico City (MEXICO)
Mexico City is an ancient highland city with an altitude of more than 2,000 m above sea level. Not only does it have many unique ancient architectures such as San Miguel de Allende, but it also has many modern buildings in the Mexican style. With famous tourist attractions built by both Indians and Spaniards centuries ago, this place is considered the intersection of all three distinctive civilizations, creating a unique culture that you can only find when coming to Mexico City.
8. Oaxaca (Mexico)
Oaxaca is often referred to as one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. It is considered a cultural hub, famous for its vibrant festivals and street art performances. You will also be amazed by the impressive landscapes of Oaxaca - from the majestic mountain ranges to the colorful buildings that line the bustling streets.
9. Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Chiang Mai is an ancient city of Thailand, still retaining a distinct culture from the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Besides the unique festivals, Chiang Mai is also known for its spiritual aspect of the Thai people with more than 300 Buddhist temples inside the city. When coming to Chiang Mai, you can go to the most famous night market in Thailand, Bazaar, which every tourist wants to experience at least once.
10. Bangkok (Thailand)
The bustling and bustling capital of Bangkok is always one of the top tourist attractions in Asia. Although it is known for its modernity with countless skyscrapers and large-scale shopping centers, Bangkok still retains its traditional beauty through its old quarters and unique architectural works of Thailand from many centuries ago.
11. Taipei
Taipei - the capital of Taiwan, is a developed and modern city, and is also home to many famous tourist attractions that make many visitors look forward to.
12. Krakow (Poland)
Krakow, located on the banks of the Vistula River at the foot of Wawel Hill, is the largest and oldest city in Poland. This place not only has a peaceful beauty but also can overwhelm you with its massive cultural heritage and ancient architecture with a strong Central European style.
13. Luang Prabang (Laos)
This ancient and peaceful city on the banks of the Mekong River was once the capital of Laos. The most special thing that attracts tourists here is the Buddhist culture with more than 30 ancient temples that are still preserved to this day.
14. Rome (Italy)
The capital of Italy is famous for its architectural works bearing the appearance of an ancient and legendary Roman kingdom. Coming here, you will feel more deeply the intersection between historical ruins and modern, vibrant life on every street in Rome.
15. San Sebastian (Spain)
With its calm blue beaches, elegant ancient architecture and rich cuisine, it is not difficult to explain why San Sebastian is known as the favorite resort of the Spanish royal family. It is famous for having more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world. Enjoying the best Mediterranean cuisine alongside the romantic beaches is what many people look forward to when coming to San Sebastian.
16. Bodrum (Türkiye)
Bodrum was originally just a rustic, quaint fishing village on the coast. But with the strong development of tourism since the 1940s, this place has become a vibrant port city, attracting tourists from all over the world.
17. Jaipur (India)
A city with many long-standing cultural heritages like Jaipur will be an interesting destination for those who want to learn about Indian culture through ancient buildings. In addition, the pink color covering the city not only shows its own characteristics but also expresses Jaipur's hospitality and warmth to tourists. This was also the original purpose of the ruler of Jaipur - Raja Jawai Singh when welcoming the British royal family to his city in the 18th century.
18. Charleston (South Carolina, USA)
If you want to see classic American design as seen in movies, Charleston is the perfect choice for you. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage tour around the streets to add a more authentic feel to your experience.
19. Tokyo (Japan)
Tokyo is known as a busy city with a fast and bustling pace of life. The hustle and bustle has long been a characteristic of this city, from the main streets to the small alleys. This is also a paradise for those who love anime, manga or Japanese music, with the fascinating Akihabara electronic district that no one wants to escape once they are "lost in".
20. Cape Town (South Africa)
Cape Town is considered the most beautiful city in South Africa and became known to many people around the world when it was crowned World Cup host in 2010. The tourist impression of this city is the brilliant natural landscape between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, from blue beaches to majestic mountains, and cuisine is also a point worth noting when you set foot in this city.
21. Trieste (Italy)
Not only does it have the "breath" of an elegant and romantic Italy, Triest is also a place where many different cultures intersect because it is located right next to Slovenia and was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
22. Ljubljana (Slovenia)
The beauty of Ljubljana lies in the serenity and the pleasant atmosphere that the city offers. Apart from the old European architecture that you will notice as you walk through the streets, you can also enjoy the famous traditional dishes here and be welcomed by the warm locals.
23. Seoul (South Korea)
The capital of South Korea is one of the most famous and modern cities in Asia. Besides the bustling and bustling neighborhoods, you can also find a romantic and nostalgic Seoul like nowhere else through Gyeongbokgung Palace, ancient villages and tree-lined streets that are most beautiful when the leaves change color.
24. Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)
Guatemala’s incredible natural beauty is everywhere you look. Not only do you see many tourists coming to this city to soak up the wild and ancient beauty, but you also see countless explorers coming to explore the ancient ruins, looking for the unique blend of Spanish and indigenous Mayan culture here.
25. Porto (Portugal)
The special thing about Porto is that you will have an extremely exciting experience when you let yourself go on the streets that were originally high and long mountain slopes. Every corner of the street exudes sophistication and contains a mysterious beauty that captivates visitors. Enjoying a glass of wine by the river when the sunset falls may be the perfect choice for you when coming to Porto.
