Focus on the most beautiful cities to visit not to be missed at all

In this article, I will talk to you about cities to visit in Europe and around the world if you are going on a world tour or just making a stopover in these countries. Among this selection are the most beautiful cities in the world in my opinion and they could be among your destinations if you don’t know where to go in 2020? I have been to each of them during my travels around the world, with the opening of many flights departing from Paris, almost none of the destinations are expensive by plane except during the high season.

Which city to visit in Europe or which destination for a weekend?

Here are my selections of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe, you will find my choice:

• Barcelona in Spain,

Barcelona has much more to offer you than the capital Madrid, you can go to Park Guell, visit Dali’s creations, party on La Rambla, visit the Sagrada Familia basilica or even go to the beach or the mountain at Montserrat. You can easily spend a week here and still not have seen everything.

• Rome, capital of Italy,

Rome is a historic city over 3000 years old with its open-air and outdoor museums. You must see several symbolic places such as the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and many others. I really enjoyed the guided tour of the Vatican with Michelangelo’s works, the Sistine Chapel or the Pantheon which resembles the one in France in Paris but prettier. There are also other cities in Italy to visit such as Florence, Pisa or Milan.

• Kiev in Ukraine,

This city has wonderful architecture with its churches, friendly and historic neighborhoods. A mix between a city moving from the Slavic east to the Western west. You can walk endlessly and relax in the many parks in the heart of Ukraine’s capital. In the heart of Kiev, you can find Independence Square Maidan and its famous shopping street. There are many museums to visit such as the Second World War museum or the Chernobyl museum.

• Krakow in Poland,

It is a student city with a city center easy to access on foot and has tourist attractions outside the city such as the salt mine or the Auschwitz concentration camp. It also has a famous Jewish quarter, a castle in the city and an old town. Although the center is touristy, it remains a human-sized city and it is pleasant to stroll around. Other European capitals I could have mentioned, accessible by plane for a weekend: Budapest, Berlin, Tallinn or for holidays: the Greek islands or the beaches of Bulgaria. I would have also told you about France, which is the most beautiful country in Europe (a little trip from Mont St Michel to Saint Malo in a weekend), but I will do that in another article. Discover my more specific choice of European cities to see that you can visit over a weekend. The advantage of Europe is that each of these places can be reached within a few hours from Paris by taking the right flight. For Ukraine, I often have a stopover in Poland, so Paris to Warsaw or Krakow then Kiev, taking 2 flights to Kiev. In Europe, the best cities to visit are the capitals of the country, for example London, the capital of England, or Brussels for the capital of Belgium, easily accessible by train from Paris.

Cities to visit in North America

Staying in this part of the world costs more than in others but it is really worth it.

• San Francisco in California,

This city is the center of Silicon Valley and I visited it in 2009. It has a lot to offer among other things with museums, street art, its European side, and it is convenient with transportation compared to Los Angeles. It is the city destination I preferred with its contemporary art museum, bike rides on the Golden Gate Bridge, or its seaport with the seals.

• Las Vegas in Nevada,

This city embodies the American dream and downfall, with its casinos, nightclubs, and activities in the heart of Vegas. You would think you are in another city, because each casino has its own identity: Paris, MGM, Bellagio, The Venetian (Venice), Caesar Palace, or Planet Hollywood. When you go a little outside the strip (center or heart of Las Vegas), you can see loan agencies or the underbelly of old Las Vegas.

• Vancouver in British Columbia,

It is a city that combines everything you could love: the beach, the mountains, and the city. It is a mix of everything and that is what makes Vancouver incredible. You can sunbathe in the heart of downtown, go canoeing, hiking, and go to the mountains at Mount Grouse north of Vancouver. This city is really underrated but the potential is truly there with everything you might look for during a trip. These cities are on the west coast, you will probably need more than one flight to get there. I also recommend going to Montreal at Mont Tremblant in Canada and New York in the USA but these are places or big cities that I like much less. Most hotels in North America are super expensive, so I recommend staying in a youth hostel instead of a hotel; otherwise, the motel option can be considered if you are only staying one night in a place.

Where to go in 2020? Destinations to visit in Latin America

Each destination has exceptional heritage, and you will definitely enjoy your stay in these cities to visit.

• Rio de Janeiro in Brazil,

  City	Continent	Recommended Duration
  Tokyo	Asia	5-7 days
  New York	North America	4-5 days
  Buenos Aires	South America	4-5 days
  Cape Town	Africa	3-4 days
  Sydney	Oceania	3-4 days
  Istanbul	Europe / Asia	4 days

One of the most legendary and unforgettable cities in the world, you go to Rio for the city’s atmosphere, to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, for the beach, and to take a guided tour of the favelas. There are events not to be missed such as the Rio Carnival or New Year’s Eve on Copacabana beach. You should also go to a soccer match in the legendary Maracana stadium. The first time I took my flight from Paris, France in 2013, I never imagined that I would learn Portuguese and that I would return to this country and visit about ten cities.

• Cartagena of the Indies in Colombia,

It is a city with a lot of history and the most visited city in Colombia, as there are many flights from this city. It is a port city with a pretty downtown area that has an old town very easy to explore on foot. Hotels are generally located in Getsamani, which is the tourist center of the city. You can go to the beach, the mud volcano, or even take a party bus, go to the scarlet beach.

• Playa del Carmen in Mexico,

It is a much less known city than its neighbor Cancun, but its center remains human-sized even though you can see the influence of the Western world. The activities here are mainly water-based with swimming in water holes or a kind of lake (Cenote), scuba diving, swimming with turtles, or visiting water parks. There are also many bars on the Quinta. Playa del Carmen is the atmosphere of beach holidays and a stay in a Latin country which can help you adapt if you continue to Guatemala. That’s what I did during my stay here where I took language classes.

• Antigua in Guatemala, about a good forty minutes from the capital

This city is more like a large village because it is possible to do everything on foot. It is the starting point for several good hikes such as Acatenango or a small walk to the top of the cross in town (Cerro de la cruz) or the Pacaya volcano nearby. What I liked most about this trip is that I improved my Spanish in this city; you can also take salsa classes. Booking a hotel or Airbnb accommodation is inexpensive and that’s a big advantage. I also recommend going to Buenos Aires, but I have not been there; I have only heard good things during my trip to Argentina.

Where to go in 2020? Cities to see in Africa

Africa is a continent often forgotten, but it is the continent with the most authenticity, yet it has difficulties for traveling with or without a guide. It is truly a destination to prioritize if you don’t know where to go in 2020!!

• Cape Town (the Cape) in South Africa,

For me, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the sea and the mountains, a city with very present nature. However, you need to get around by car, as public transportation is not the best in the city. You can take an Uber to move around easily. You can also do a bar crawl on Long Street, but be careful of thefts at night. You can hike on the mountains, Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, or go to the beach at Cable Beach. My choice on this continent is limited, as I have only been to the southern zone of Africa (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia).

Cities to Explore or Destinations to Discover in Asia

There are many cities to visit in Asia.

• Beijing, the capital of China,

It is a city with an incredible historical and cultural heritage, with must-see places such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square with Mao’s portrait, the Summer Palace, or the many viewpoints to see the Great Wall of China if you like walking. If you don’t feel like making the trip by yourself, there are many agencies with guides to go there but they will also take you to shopping malls where prices are overpriced.

• Kyoto in Japan,

Very accessible by train from Tokyo via the Shinkansen, Kyoto is the traditional Japanese city with its temples, palaces, the traditional Gion district, and Japanese shrines. It can be your base to go discover the deer in Nara or to visit Himeji Castle. A stay in this city to visit will show you the traditional aspect, history, and heritage of Japan.

• Singapore,

  Advantages

  • Varied itinerary across 5 continents
  • Discovery of very different urban cultures
  • International flights simpler than in rural areas
  • Air hubs for easy travel
  • Cost of living varies by city

  Weak points

  • Pollution in some megacities
  • High cost in Tokyo and NYC
  • Fatigue from consecutive large cities
  • Risk of urban saturation

It is one of the destinations not to be missed in Southeast Asia. Very different from other Asian cities, there is a mix of Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur in this city. It is a blend between South Asian culture and the West. Accessible by transport, it has many shopping centers and shopping streets. It is a city known for its buildings with amazing architecture, including the airplane-shaped one on 3 buildings with a hotel with a rooftop pool that overlooks the bay.

• Siem Reap in Cambodia,

The city of Siem Reap is full of attractions including the holy temple of Angkor Wat, which is a temple shaped like a Buddhist city with over a millennium of history. The sunrise view is sublime! There are also several other things to do such as floating markets and cycling around Tonlé Sap lake. The city also has a “pub street” with many bars for partying, and hotels are also very cheap. These are cities that gave me very good memories and where I experienced the local culture of the country. I have also been to other cities that I recommend such as Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Tokyo in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Taipei on the island of Taiwan, Bangkok in Thailand, the island of Hong Kong, Mandalay in Burma. These are cities to visit, but they left less of an impression on me.

There are many cities in India that I want to visit soon on my next vacations.

The most beautiful cities to discover in the Middle East, Central Asia:

• Dubai in the Emirates,

If Las Vegas is the sin of greed then Dubai would be that of lust with its many skyscrapers, you can and will find many skyscrapers to sip a good cocktail. There are many shopping centers or you can take a tour in the desert. There are many restaurants with all types of international cuisine throughout the city. The drawback for now in Dubai is that there are no very good hostels, but I prefer to stay in hotels, because if you come here, it is really to feel the holiday atmosphere in the desert.

• Istanbul in Turkey,

  The classic trap to avoid

  Do not plan more than 4 consecutive days in a major city. Beyond that, urban fatigue sets in (noise, crowds, pollution). Alternate cities and nature in your world tour itinerary.

There are many oriental tourist sites in this city that give it its charm, you can take a cruise on the Bosphorus, go to the Asian side, visit the various mosques of the city, go to the central square at Taksim, a square full of history or go to one of the neighborhood bars. There are also many good restaurants in the city where you can taste Turkish cuisine. What you need to know is that I have limited knowledge in this part of the world, I will fill this section when I have traveled to more countries there.

Where to go in 2020? The most beautiful cities to enjoy in Oceania

You will generally need 2 flights to reach this continent, but it’s worth it!

• Sydney in Australia,

It is the place not to be missed in Australia with several celebrations such as New Year’s or Australian Day. The advantages of this city are the beach 30 minutes from downtown, the mountain an hour away, and a diversity of unique neighborhoods, such as the harbor or the Opera House district, you can also relax in a city park.

• Cairns in Australia,

It is the seaside town in northern Australia and the center of many activities such as cruises on the coral reef, visiting waterfalls or an ecological village, very close to the rainforest and also the beach. It has an open and free swimming pool in the city center and offers unbeatable prices for a hotel or youth hostel. The youth hostels have partnerships with bars, I remember paying 15 euros for a bed, breakfast, and dinner in one of the partner bars.

• Queenstown in New Zealand

  If you are preparing your departure, take a look at our guide on world tour which complements the topic well. The feedback around mid-trip review also provides useful benchmarks to avoid unpleasant surprises. And for further inspiration, the article on story up to the day is worth a detour.

It is a small town in the south of the island with magnificent mountainous landscapes and a lake. You can do many hiking activities and have a view of the lake by taking the cable car or walking, you can also bike around. It is possible to party in the many bars in town.

View of Lake Wakatipu

I also recommend Melbourne and Perth in western Australia, but I know them less well than the other 3 cities.

The most beautiful cities to visit in the world according to me

• Paris: you have to live there to know, culture, food, cultural activities, multiple outings, and jobs.
• Vancouver: mountains, quick change of scenery, and underrated.
• Cape Town: landscape, diverse activities, and prices.
• Rio de Janeiro: culture, diversity, landscape, and joie de vivre.

Where to go in 2020 worldwide, itinerary?

You will find the destinations you can visit in 2020.

• Budapest – Vienna – Prague – Krakow loop, a little classic 10-day trip in Europe for art, history, and culture. It is possible to make this trip by bus or train.
• The Greek islands on a holiday stay in an all-inclusive hotel or in southern Italy such as Sicily or Sardinia for a more adventurous route by car.
• Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Florianopolis, Paraty, Ilha Grande, and Rio de Janeiro in 15 to 20 days in America by bus.
• Tour of Taiwan (Taiwan, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Hualien) for authenticity, art, food, ease of getting around, and price. It is a truly underrated destination.
• The Trans-Siberian by train from Mongolia to Moscow in 1 month that I would like to do.

If you haven’t had enough, I recommend reading this article on: the most beautiful countries in the world.