# Most Beautiful Cities In the World **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772 "2011-02-27T03:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/61 "2011-02-28T01:59:38Z")
Locally: [Sandpoint, ID](http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS351US351&biw=667&bih=679&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=sandpoint%2C+ID&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g7g-m3&aql=&oq=) Nationally: Seattle, Washington D.C. in the government areas Internationally: Vancouver, BC, Prague ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/62 "2011-02-28T02:05:20Z")
My mom’s pen pal says Perth Australia is beautiful. IIRC, Scott Carpenter commented it looked nice from above during his space flight. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/63 "2011-02-28T02:23:19Z")
Agreeing on Istanbul, Venice, Montreal, and Quebec. Adding Santa Fe, Boulder, and Savannah-- my faves in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/64 "2011-02-28T02:54:37Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I’ve read that it was basically flattened during the Second World War, and they decided to go all New York in the city centre instead of restoring what was there before.I’ve never actually wanted to be you before. 🙂 AND he got to hang out with me. I’m sure it was the highlight of the trip. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/65 "2011-02-28T02:59:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Another vote for Kathmandu. It, Patan and Bhaktapur, all within the [Kathmandu Valley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu_Valley), are a trip to stroll through. > > [Hoi An](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%99i_An), in central Vietnam. It somehow escaped damage in the Vietnam War. > > [Luang Prabang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang), the old royal capital of Laos. > > Santa Fe, New Mexico. > > Honolulu, Hawaii. Beautiful place. > > Saint Gallen, Switzerland. > > Vienna, Austria. > > No doubt I can think of some others. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The wife says to add Barcelona, Spain and Bruges, Belgium, both of which she’s visited but I’ve not. Agree with San Francisco. And Hong Kong too, the harborfront is always stunning, especially when it’s lit up at Christmas. Not a big fan of Shanghai, but I do admit strolling around the French Quarter can make you feel like you’ve gone back in time a century or so, and the Bund (riverfront) is beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/66 "2011-02-28T06:21:35Z")
This is difficult. Every city I have visited has its own personality, quirks, and rhythm. I can’t identify one as being the fairest of them all. I’m going to go with a spot rather than a city: Plitvice Lakes in Croatia > [@Superhal](#): > > Rumor has it that the most beautiful people are in Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. Well, I lived in west LA for several years, and I found that to be an urban legend. Ymmv though. ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/67 "2011-02-28T11:22:42Z")
I would like to nominate Maastricht,The Netherlands ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/68 "2011-02-28T11:39:26Z")
I’ll admit bias as it is in my home county, but [Durham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham) is a beautiful city. The approach by train is one of the great city arrivals in my opinion. You come in at high level and look across the river to the castle and cathedral perched on the peninsula. Really quite lovely. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/69 "2011-02-28T12:52:47Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I’ll admit bias as it is in my home county, but [Durham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham) is a beautiful city. > The approach by train is one of the great city arrivals in my opinion. You come in at high level and look across the river to the castle and cathedral perched on the peninsula. Really quite lovely. I’m intending to take a trip to Durham at some point in the not too distant future. My mate lives near Newcastle so was thinking of going to see him, then doing a tour. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/70 "2011-02-28T13:07:27Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Milton Keynes. > [@Giles](#): > > I’ve been to the bus station on the outskirts of MK: is that enough? I have travelled by bus through MK from the railway station Eastwards. I didn’t see any town at all. Is that a good thing? 😉 I know I’m partial to my home town, but many visitors find Stockholm very beautiful and I tend to agree with them. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/71 "2011-02-28T13:15:20Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’m intending to take a trip to Durham at some point in the not too distant future. My mate lives near Newcastle so was thinking of going to see him, then doing a tour. The great thing about being in Newcastle is that you have the option of the direct trains down to Durham and York, and up to Edinburgh. Really well placed for exactly that sort of touring. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/72 "2011-02-28T13:31:03Z")
Hangzhou is incredible - although it’s not really the whole city, but just because of West Lake. Some others I really like for various reasons: NYC, Queensland (NZ), Amsterdam, Rhodes Really tough question - I may have to reserve judgment until I take a few trips this year. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/73 "2011-02-28T21:21:55Z")
I haven’t done a ton of traveling yet, but of the places I’ve been I will say that Helsinki, while not too much different structurally from most cities, was the cleanest, shiniest city I’ve ever visited. Most cities have some levels of grime, dirt, construction, graffiti, etc. dispersed throughout but Helsinki was absolutely pristine, almost like there are hoardes of elves with brooms and mops that come out at night and scrub everything down. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/74 "2011-02-28T21:35:38Z")
This really needs a poll attached. I’m going to vote for Paris, Vancouver, BC, San Francisco and Lucerne. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/75 "2011-03-01T03:04:35Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > I haven’t done a ton of traveling yet, but of the places I’ve been I will say that Helsinki, while not too much different structurally from most cities, was the cleanest, shiniest city I’ve ever visited. Most cities have some levels of grime, dirt, construction, graffiti, etc. dispersed throughout but Helsinki was absolutely pristine, almost like there are hoardes of elves with brooms and mops that come out at night and scrub everything down. For clean and shiny, there’s Singapore. I’m not sure I would call it a beautiful city, although it is in some areas, but it certainly is pleasant surroundings – and very clean. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/76 "2011-03-01T09:16:19Z")
Venice. Why are we having a discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/77 "2011-03-01T12:58:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > This really needs a poll attached. I’m going to vote for Paris, Vancouver, BC, San Francisco and Lucerne. I dont get you, you said you thought Paris was totally unimpressive (or are you voting for Paris, Texas?). ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/78 "2011-03-01T18:57:49Z")
Paris. Speaking as one who walks compulsively, it’s the greatest small (geographically) city to walk for hours in, and most likely get lost in. I lived for a few years in the 18th and the staircases on “the” Butte alone are remarkable, and it’s only a tiny aspect of the many neat things to find even by accident. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/79 "2011-03-01T20:09:46Z")
Budapest, hands down. I’ve lived here three years now and still marvel at the city. It’s gorgeous. Prague, Vienna, Venice and Florence are also gorgeous, as is Rio de Janeiro. Fez, Morocco is beautiful as well, but in a totally different way. Wait, Lisbon was pretty great, too, and Toronto. And Chicago. And Bruges. And Sintra, Portugal. And … Never mind. There are too many totally beautiful cities out there. But Budapest is the most beautiful to me. ---
**Author:** ![Jules28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@Jules28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules28)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772/80 "2011-03-20T13:12:09Z")
I think for me it has to be Barcelona hands down. Went a few years ago with a group of friends to see the Modernista Hospital Sant Pau and stayed at the lovely [Marina Suite Apartments](http://www.sletoh.com/hotel/Marina-Apartments-17836.html)which were really close by and in the middle of everything. That city is gorgeous! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world/572772.md?page=5)