When the doors opened and the first curious travelers stepped inside, they encountered a world that has changed little even to this day—with elegant French colonial architecture, steep stone stairs, heavy trees, and droning cicadas. Unlike so many other mega cities, Singapore has found innovative ways to reject the wholesale creation of emptily banal non-places. While Rome may get the credit for being Italy's most historic city, Florence holds … Rather, it is home to a glamorous and burgeoning creative set who have fueled its proliferation of buzzy bars, award-winning, nouveau southern cuisine, world-class distilleries, and stylish hotels.For those who live in London and New York, it is easy to become accustomed to the idea of a ‘city’ as a place of sprawling development, where nature can seem very far away. Home to the world’s largest annual arts festival, the city houses a robust collection of gorgeous Victorian streets (such as the stately Royal Mile), charming pubs and markets, and high-flying architecture, not least iconic Edinburgh Castle. If you think Dubai needs a low-dose chill pill prescription, then you might find Doha to … But its size and its modernity has not seen it sacrifice beauty to development. A city made famous (and powerful) by European trade during its 17th century Golden Age, Amsterdam is a true treasure box of gilded canal-side buildings, ornamental facades, and beautifully detailed churches. From the natural splendor of its Arashiyama District (through which the tranquil Honzu River flows), thick with cherry blossom in March and April, to the 1,000 red torii gates of the recognizable Fushimi Inari Shrine, the beauty in Kyoto is mesmerizing. Monks in orange robes weave through market-day traffic on bicycles, and the sky is filled with the plaintive call of birds. Some will fall for the mightily beautiful Teatro Colón (one of the world’s premier locales for opera and ballet), whereas others still will get their kicks in Café Tortoni, the moody 160-year-old bar where Borges used to hang out.A city framed by fjords, Bergen has, drawn crowds in recent years from Oslo (Norway’s eclectic capital) and beyond. Elegant, grand hotels—those of the gilded golden age—and moody tabernas hold sway alongside chic cocktail bars and modern music venues. Once a down-at-heel area made famous by the film A trip to India wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the grandeur of Old City, a near cinematic journey through the colors of the vast City Palace complex, the pink-hued Palace of Winds, and the gigantically geometric sculptural instruments of Jantar Mantar. A compact, bright and charmingly beautiful city, Cartagena—a former Spanish colony adjoining both the Caribbean and Pacific—trades muscular city planning for European details and history. Rambling lemon-yellow houses with Andalusian-style wooden balustrades sit alongside cobbled pavements and vine-thick courtyards. Sun-soaked, small, and steeped in atmosphere, Seville’s Gothic and Renaissance charm has made it one of Spain’s hottest new urban destinations.Some 175 miles southwest of Madrid, Merida—a historic city in Spain’s Extremadura region—is a hidden gem of faded, grand old buildings, atmospheric Roman ruins, and flower-strewn cobbled streets. Denver, Colorado. Despite the boulevards of The Battery (a street lined with grandly charming houses) and the Bermudian limestone and cobbles of Chalmers Street, this city—founded way back in 1670—is no ossified relic. Historically, its message has been: Keep the flame of tradition alive. From the Groenerei (or ‘green canal’), with romantic 17th century manses, trees, and fronds lining its banks, to the gilded glamor of The Burg—the city’s Baroque central square, where the commercial and civic heart of the city still beats—this city paints a vivid tapestry. Also a must-see? Tapas bars and cocktail joints give the city’s pretty center a bright nocturnal energy.Across its pretty alleyways, broadly beautiful canals, and Hanseatic streets, there is ample evidence why Van Gogh found such inspiration from his homeland’s charming capital. And it really works.Much is spoken about Barcelona and Madrid (and with good reason), but when it comes to glamorous urban beauty, Seville holds the crown. It includes tiny Adamstown, a microscopic settlement in the Pitcairn Islands with a population of only 48; it includes Venice, a floating city laced by idyllic canals and breathtaking palazzos. This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. This, ultimately, is a city of boutique beauty. Regardless, it’s captivating. The world is home to some 4,416 cities - from the crumbling grandeur of Rome to the bristling, ultra-modern towers of Shanghai. Think faded terracotta roofs, pink-plastered courtyards, and the trembling sound of pouring water.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. The ultimate source of travel inspiration plus 2 free giftsIt seems like every European city boasts a beautiful central square, but we'd argue that Krakow's Rynek Glówny ranks among the best. Tom Marchant is the co-founder of luxury travel company and trip planner,