What are the five best cities you've ever been to and why?

Wow, so many great answers! OK, here are my top five:

San Francisco - To me this is like the Paris of the United States; so beautiful and so interesting culturally. There's an incredible restaurant on every block and always some fantastic event like a festival or concert going on. And romantic; the view of the bridge alone is enough to make you want to move there." 

Paris - If you've ever been there you know there's no explanation needed. This is my all-time most favorite city!

London - Somewhere between the culture, the weather (yes, I love rain), flowers stalls, the pomp and circumstance, the history, the people, the food...well, maybe not the food, it's just a great, great city.

Savannah - Couldn't get over how much I loved this city. I must have gained 12 pounds when I went there, the food is so good. And the people--GREAT people in Savannah! Met a few of the city's famous eccentrics and loved them. Such a wonderful, creative town! 

Venice - No words for this place. I remember almost not believing it was real. Yes, a little heavy on tourism, but I didn't care--I thought this town was nothing short of magical. 

Great question! I loved: 

1. Barcelona2. New York State3. Sydney4. London5. Palma de MallorcaSo hard to choose- and probably Palma gets a mention as it was my last holiday! Could also include: Melbourne, Brighton, Paris and Amsterdam. I do love a city.....

I love your question Courtney as I profoundly believe every city has its own beauty! My 5 fav cities are: New York City, Madrid, Toronto, Quebec City and Chicago.

Saludos!!

San Francisco and Paris are our all-time favourite cities, where we have also lived before. And then there's also Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace in Eastern France, the romantic city of Bruges that we've just explored two weeks ago, and also the British University city Cambridge (England). We love these cities for their architecture, their choice of food and culture. :) 

1. Tokyo - very dynamic and exciting, great food city
2. Rome - amazing ancient sites
3. Siem Reap - beautiful river city near spectacular Angkor Wat 
4. Lhasa - I visited Tibet in 1988 and it's never left my mind stream
5. Reykjavik - I visited Iceland in July of this year and enjoyed this beautiful capital city.... tastiest hot dogs on the planet!

If I thought about it longer I could come up with 5 completely new "best cities." I think there is no best...just different. Runners up are Istanbul, San Francisco, Seoul, Hong Kong and Lisbon. 

Hvar - island with the most beautiful views. Lavender fields, great food and wineries. Everything about Croatia is a must, but Hvar is very special.

Delhi - one of the most vibrant cities I've ever been to: the culture, the colors, the people and the food are very captivating.

Accra - one of the most impoverished places I've been, but with the most welcoming people. The views, the culture and atmosphere is something I'll never forget. The warmth of Ghanaians is unmatched.

Vienna - the easiest city to navigate. Clean, organized and friendly. Lots of young people, the city itself has a lot of energy and it's a great place to visit!

Jasper (Canada) - Nature, nature and more nature. There isn't a corner of this places that isn't filled with trees or water and it's breathtaking. Lake Morraine was one of the prettiest places. 

Assuming I can plug San Francisco (not counting it since that's where I live) I love the energy here. There's always something to do with people who are passionate. The food is incredible and the energy is intoxicating.  

Paris - people treated me great, can't beat the food, museums and attractions, a river cruise is nice

Rio de Janeiro - greatest meeting of land + sea + urbanity; the people and culture are great too.

Chicago - architecture, transportation, culture and surprisingly clean air. Half the sophistication of NYC, with a quarter the hassle.

San Francisco - best balance of natural and man-made beauty of of any city that I've visited. Foodie heaven too.

New Orleans - Its just special.

1. Cape Town

I've been here for 5 years and still haven't done enough! It has everything and anything! Rich culture, interesting history, amazing nature, beautiful beaches, wine tasting, the best road trips, and incredible wildlife! It's the best of all worlds combined in one wonderful city!

2. Bangkok

I'm not really a city girl but the warm welcome of the Thai people and their amazing culture definitely got me hooked. The country is poor but beautiful. They have great technology, incredible and cheap shopping, food to die for, temples and other beautiful places of worship that are worth the detour. One of my favourite places in the world!

3. Rodrigues

This little unknown island is part of Mauritius. However, unlike Mauritius, it is close to untouched. It feels like we have been sent in the past (but in a good way). The beaches are like heaven and the water is crystal clear. The people still have the old ways just like in the movies. It is very safe and people are very friendly. Seafood is always fresh and delicious. The views are incredible and oh so beautiful. Not a lot of buildings or pollution. And you hotel will definitely have all the luxury that you might need. If you need to relax, that's where you should go!

4. London

This one was a given. London HAD to make it on my list. One of the most incredible cities on the planet! It has anything and everything! The best of the best, la crème de la crème! The best restaurants, the best designers, the best museums, the best theatres, well the best of everything literally! London is a must-see and must-go. Spending 3 weeks in London was not enough for me to see everything. I firmly believe that you'll never ever be bored if you're in London. London is calling! Better answer ;)

5. I know that the list was supposed to have 5 best cities but since I haven't seen a  big chunk of the planet, I'm going to leave number 5 empty for now - at least until I find the next place worthy of this title of top 5 best cities in the world. Toodles!

New York City, because I live here and get the insiders view.

Havana, because the place is an architectural treasure, and because Cubans are so hip and friendly and loving and they dance their asses off to great music.

Montreal, the people and the food are outstanding, and art is taken seriously.

Paris, Impressionist art, superb food, and great goat cheese.

Kansas City (Missouri).  Shhh.  It's a secret but this place is like a little NYC, with friendlier people.  Spectacular food too.

What I love about this question is seeing many of the same answers as the "worst cities" question pop up here!

New York City has my heart. Went to school there, moved back later for four years. It's the center of the world.

New Orleans is possibly the most unique city in the US. But I'm listing it because of the food - so much good food!

Venice is another place I've spend a good deal of time in and love. It's magic, especially at night when you have it all to yourself.

Cape Town is stunning, with the ocean at its feet and Table Mountain as its crown.

Salvador is so vibrant and alive, but with a definite edge. Its ocean-side setting makes it even more beautiful. 

This is super hard, but here goes:

1) Istanbul. Awesome vibes around the markets, river and into the evening. Loved the history and culture.

2) London. To visit or live in, London is bloody amazing. So much going on, so much history and always fun things happening within an hour on public transport.

3) New York City. C'mon. It's awesome! Love the sports scene, galleries & foodie spots. So good!

4) Melbourne. Great food and coffee scene. Loads of good events, shopping and cultural options (just not so nice in winter).

5) San Sebastian. Not 100% sure that San Seb passes as a 'city', but it was definitely the highlight of our last big Euro adventure.

The Londons -  London (Canada) and England.    I also enjoy Wisconsin Dells.   It is sooooo tourist friendly.   Orlando, Florida and I crossed paths at the right time.  Eau Claire (Michigan), Michigan is a small, moderate income village with friendly people and  clean spaces to kick back, ride horseback or roam barefoot and close to the Lake Michigan.   Located 12 miles south of 1-94 it is about 25 miles from Mishawaka, IN which is a nice shopping city - located in Indiana to boot!  Sorry, I listed six cities.

Paris, Venice, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Boston. All are bucket list destinations for history and culture.

Paris 

London 

New York City

Vienna

Vancouver

I was very surprised that New York was not in the top 10, especially since San Francisco was number 10. SF is the most overrated, overpriced, undeliverable on every account, city in the world. Most of that city is a mess! It's nothing like Paris. Having lived there For three years, I know to not buy into the hype.

You missed the most beautiful city, Prague, Czech Republic. It is so much more beautiful than dirty, trashy San Francisco, and certainly more beautiful than Havana or Delhi.

Rio de Janeiro is an amazing city with lots of funny places and wonderful beaches. We can have the weather of the montains and the sun for the beach on the same view. It`s a gorgeous city!

Saint Petersburg (Russia). So much history!

My favourite City: Montreal (Quebec, CANADA)

A pleasant city with a varied architecture and a lot of park and "green" place. A spirit of freedom, of tolerance fleet constantly on this town.

1.  Prague - It's a museum of architecture from Gothic and Rococo to an ultra modern Frank Gehery masterpiece.  And the omnipresent music isn't exactly bad either.

2. Brussels - Probably the most beautiful town square (The Grand Place) in the world and overall, perhaps the best food.  Certainly, the best chocolate, French fries, waffles, cookies and mussels.

3.  Vancouver - Even prettier than San Francisco, with wonderful parks, cultural diversity and one of the best markets (Granville Island) which makes Seattle's Pike Place Market look like the dump it really is.

4.  Paris - There is nothing to complain about other than the prices at the dining establishments on the Champs d'Elysee.  A city of love and beauty.

5.  Jerusalem - Unique among all the world's cities.  Home of three religions.  The sights, sounds and smells, the Arab merchants trying to sell you everything, and the 5,000 year-plus history make it a favorite of everyone.

6-10.  New Orleans, Bruges, Salzburg, Charleston and Savannah (they are really the same city), and Victoria BC.

Tokyo:  I never had a bad meal here.  It was always good to fantastic.  The people are friendly and honest.  Lots of beautiful places to go both old and new.  There is always something to do.  The best sushi in the world.  It is extremely clean.  Most of all, it is safe.

I'm going to keep this answer to consider large cities. Some of the smaller towns I've been to have completely captured my heart. But let's stick to the cities.

CopenhagenI went there in winter which is the worst time to go to any European city but it hooked me. The city is stunning. There is this buzz that emanates from every corner of the city. The streets are infinitely walkable and the train works almost on an honour system which just adds to the magic. And then, there is Christiania which apart from the liberal stance to marijuana, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The murals, the people, the philosophy behind it all. Actually, I'm not mentioning anything else. Just go visit the city! It's expensive but it's still my favourite city in the world. Well, city that I don't live in...but we will get to that!

London

Of course London makes the list. It's the city you go to if you want to understand how a city truly should look! The history is so deep and fascinating. The museums are places you WANT to visit rather than have to like in many other locations. And the beauty of the city itself...wow. There is such a diversity here and you encounter this every day as you travel the tube that started it all. And as much as the people have a bad rep, gosh, I met so many friendly people happy to share their stories and a pint. I'd go back there in a heart beat.

Hong Kong

In 2013, on my way back from Vietnam, I had the choice of a 5 or a 14 hour transit. I chose the 14 hour so I could see the city of Hong Kong. A part of me always wanted to see this city and when I walked off the train and into the city, I knew why. I love cities and this is the city that makes you love cities. There is this buzz brought about by people from every corner of the globe making their living in these buildings that are higher than one could imagine. Yet, in this intense bit of busy, there are still places you can find quiet and solitude. Cute coffee shops or modern boutiques. Or just go right to the top and look out on the city. It made me feel. It made me realise how great we are as a species.

Ho Chi Minh City

I feel that everyone needs to go to Vietnam not only for the picturesque country side and the food that is tastier than anything on earth but also to see Ho Chi Minh City. I did no research about the city and when I drove in, my mind was blown apart. It's this emerging metropolis with a complete imbalance between new and old. The trendiest hipster bar is placed right next to a tourist souvenir shop. And it just works oh so well! Within an hour, I had completely fallen in love with the city. And I'm sure you will too...

Johannesburg

I love this city so much that I call it home. It's the most intricate, fun, harrowing, interesting, crazy, insane, beautiful city in the whole world. There is such stark contrast between the rich and poor. The history then weaves inbetween this and creates an identity that's totally removed from both of these. If someone tells you they understand Jozi, they're lying. If someone tells you it's too dangerous, well, just laugh in their face. It's a city that will steal your heart, squeeze it, destroy it, but at the same time, make you realise that you've never known a love like this. Come visit - I'll gladly show you around...

1. Paris-It IS like the movies whenever I go. I usually go alone and on a budget. You don't need much. Sit at a cafe and people watch. Buy cheese wine and bread and sit by Eiffel tower. Again a touristic city that is easy to get lost in (in a good way) and easy to escape crowds. Plus, don't listen to stereotypes of the French or Parisians.....discover your own impression.

2. Istanbul- East meets West, it is true. Colors, spices, smells, traffic- it is my kind of city. A mix of architecture along the Bosphorus and green space to drink your tea. Plus the Turks' love of Atatürk is really inspiring.

3. Rome- History everywhere, quaint roads, and so easy to walk lost for hours and be away from crowds and take it all in.

4. Barcelona- A beach city that respects tradition, culture and FOOD. If only my visa would let me live in EU forever this would be my pick. You can do fancy or backpack because Barcelona has so many options. However going anytime but summer is recommended because it does get a little ehem, crowded.

5. Baltimore- Yes it is my home, but it is a great city darn it! The more I travel the more I compare things to where I am from. Baltimore has a great creative, artistic, musical spirit. Young life is trying to pull the city up. Because yes the city's got problems. Drugs, crime and poverty. No city is perfect. Paris had a reign of terror and now it's my top pic. Was 2nd biggest immigration port so you have many ethnic neighborhoods that are proud of their history as seen in their churches, food and festivals and architecture. There is a saying, Baltimore is a drinking town with a baseball problem. There ya have it. Oh, and eat crabs. 

Does anyone here ever been to Indonesia ?There are so many beautiful and amazing cities you can visit with family or in a backpacker style :). Here are my 5 favorite cities : 

1. Bali, world famous as the city of gods. This is the city where you can have the best time to relaxation and adventure all in one place. You will experience the beautiful nature such as beaches ( Sanur, Jimbaran, Tanah Lot, etc ), the Hindu's temple ( Pura Besakih ), the good hospitality from the native's people, the amazing culture, and not to mention the cuisine's delicious too. 

2. Yogyakarta, world famous as the city with one of the seven wonder of the world ( Borobudur Temple ) and also as one of world heritage. In this city , you will find many javanese fine art and the sweetness in most of the cuisine ( Nasi Gudeg ). 

3. Lombok, if you love beach , you love to swim and surf. This is the place where you wanna be for a it! 

4. Palembang, this is my hometown, the one and only place where you can eat best signture's cuisine , it's called Pempek :). 

5. Salatiga, why i love this city ? It's because i find my true love in this city :), and it's because this city is quite and peaaceful surrounded by mountains ( Merbabu, Merapi, Ungaran, Telomoyo ).

New York City - shopping & amazing food. 

Rome - Historical sights 

Mumbai - High energy & food

San Francisco - charming 

Paris - architecture 

What a great question! And so not easy. These are my favorites so far:

1) San Francisco - because of the cute houses, Golden Gate Park, the beaches, the goth scene, the thrift shops & book shops, the vast LGBTQ-community, the air of "we can change this world to the better" AND the amazing food. I simply loved everything about this city.

2) London - since there is so much to explore when it comes to museums, history and shops. Also the fact that you nowadays can eat great food and yummy desserts in London - that's a huge bonus! It's a cliché but I really like the Soho district. And the English pubs! Mitre is one of my favorites with a decor that feels very 1920s and a huge amount of beers to choose from.

3) Stockholm - well, yes I live here. But that's an active choice. I wouldn't stay here unless I loved this little city. The diverse architecture, the closeness to water & nature, the old churches and the fact that this city keeps changing are some of my reasons for having my life here. And thank god for all the hipsters that provide me with lovely homemade ice-cream in crazy flavors (like StikkiNikki Götgatan), art & design markets and lots of pretty clothes!

4) Miami Beach - okay, this might not be a very city-like city but it's still a city, even though mostly filled with hotels, restaurants, sand and palm trees. I spent 4 great days here last summer bathing, walking and eating. Watching the pink/purple/blue sunset, sitting on the marvelous beach eating take-away lobster rolls from Joe's Stone Crab - well, that was pure magic. Next time I'll take the time to visit central Miami.

5) It's a tie between Nice and Aix-en-Provence in France. Nice is a real city with much more than the amazing beaches. But mark my words: the beaches are truly something special with the rattle of the stones, the turquoise water and Promenade des Anglais as a backdrop. Not as posh as other places along the French Riviera. Museums, parks, a cute old town and I love the fact the every house in the city center looks different from the other. And since the trains are fast and easy. Nice is a great hub when it comes to exploring other parts in the region over a day excursion. But the medieval town of Aix-en-Provence offers the closeness to lavender fields, is lively, has shops where you can sample every thinkable olive oil and sweet, hundreds of fountains AND Cours Mirabeau - a street lined with trees and with fountains in the middle. It has been named the most beautiful in all of France. No, I can't choose. Love them both. 

So that's my top 5 cities, even though I would have liked to add New York, Berlin and maybe the small costal towns of Cinque terre in Italy or Skiathos in Greece as well. And I´m going to Hawaii in two weeks - I guess that will change the order of things. ;) Everything there seems amazing!

1. Charleston We moved here from the UK when I was 10, and in my opinion it's the best city in America.  It's got plenty of history, good food at any price range, a fantastic cultural scene and very friendly locals.

2. Madrid It's not the most attractive place, but it's got more "soul" than anyplace else I've visited.  Great culture, food and nightlife too.

3. Singapore Yes, it's full of glitz and flash, and parts of it feel like Las Vegas in the rainforest, but it's got the best shopping and the best food culture in the world, bar none. 

4. Taipei Again, it's not the most attractive big city on the planet, but it's full of nooks and crannies to explore.  It's also got a youthful and hip vibe to it and a great food culture.  Like Singapore, you can eat phenomenally well on the cheap here.  And just minutes outside the city you'll see scenery that is just like the China you read about in the storybooks - bamboo forests, pagodas and ancient temples.

5. Reykjavik It's tiny, the weather usually sucks and not one single tree grows here, but it's got the best clubs, bars and nightlife anywhere that I've found.  The city is full of hipster types, but unlike the hipsters found in the USA and elsewhere in Europe, they have no pretenses and are always friendly and fun to party with.  And as the only city of any size in Iceland and home to over half the country's population, the food and cultural scenes is surprisingly good too.

London, Istanbul, New York City, Rome, Paris

Havana

Tokyo

Chicago

Hong Kong

Jerusalem

Tough question, there are so many great cities I have been to.

But if I have to name five in random order: Reykjavik, Ljubljana, Luang Prabang, London, Krakow

If I had to choose I think my personal favourites would have to be Istanbul, Kyoto, London, Beirut and Moscow - all really vibrant cities with so much to do and see, amazing food and just an incredible vibe :)


My list would be......Dublin, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Boston!!!

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Panama City (Panama),Rincón (Puerto Rico) and Monaco. All great safe fun cities.

Rome, Vancouver, New York City , Venice, and Charleston.

Budapest Prague Paris  Kyoto and Dublin

Love this! Paris, Florence, Prague, Barcelona, Seville.

Hi Courtney,

Great question. My top 5 are: Bergamo Seville Boston Venice and Sydney 

If there was a second tier - next 5: Paris Lisbon Gothenburg Amsterdam and Edinburgh

1. New York City

I love this place because you can spend 2 weeks here and still only just scratch the surface. Anyone who says they don't like New York didn't do enough of New York. 

2. Havana

This place stole my heart. It's vibrant, the people are warm and courteous, it's cheap and it's not completely over-run with tourists. Most importantly, it's quite literally like stepping back in time. Anyone who doesn't make an effort to speak or understand at least a little Spanish might find it difficult at times. But seriously, ditch your phone and white shoes and just lose yourself here!

3.  Amsterdam

What's not to like? Not too big, easy to get around, welcoming, diverse activities, artistic, cultured, good shopping.
Amsterdam can be as luxurious or budget as you'd like...

4. Guilin

A beautifully peaceful city in Southern China. Locals gather all along the riverbank at all hours of the day just to move around, dance, practice Tai Chi. It offers some of the best flavours in China. Cruise the Li River, visit the Longshen Rice terraces and go exploring in the Reed Flute Cave. There's so many wonderful things to do here. Guilin has a great vibe.  5. Paraty

If you just truly want to get away from it all and value being surrounded by nature and beautiful secluded islands...

I haven't travelled so much as those of you who answered here, but by now my favourite city was: Florence/ Firenze. 

I was there at the end of April (I don't know how crowded it is during summer), but I simply felt like it was so warm, artsy and although very dynamic, so calming at the same time. I can't describe it. 

Not to mentin that architecure that everyone talks about; impressive and overwhelming; sometimes you just feel like stopping and simply stare at the buildings

I found it easy to navigate, with plenty of little shops and workshops of local artists. Although one day it rained a lot, I put my raincoat on and explored a little bit the outter part of the city; I simply wandered and reached an old castle, then walked through a forest and finally when the rain stopped I found myself right on top of the city on Piazzale Michelangelo. 

I just visited some countries in Asia and was impressed by some cities like Siem Reap, Hoian, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang.

I had fun  in these towns. I follow music and outdoor sites.

Victoria amazing beauty , fresh salmon !

Budapest( people,music, & history)

Memphis music, history & great people

Christchurch Antarctic center,.  Hiking , white water rafting, Harbor cruise Hector dolphins, surprising number of good/- great Thai restaurants

Kona,  great outdoors hiking, Volcano National park ,rain forest - amazing coffee daily !1

Hong Kong all the way!! So much atmosphere, excitment and things to do!! I am absoutley addicted!! Have a look at all my faviourte things to do: http://www.coffeewithasliceoflife.com/travel-destinations/hong-kong/

The five best city:

1. Montreal
   
2. New York City
   
3. Madrid
   
4. Helsinki
   
5. Mexico
   

Siem Reap, Cambodia!

A hidden gem but still a little rustic. Use to be a 2 night stay to see the famous Angkor Wat but has matured to become a destination in itself. 5 star hotels to hostel accommodations, world cuisines, safe and walkable. Added bonus, still very affordable and uses the US dollar.

My Fave Five are:

1) Bangkok, It's like a polite New York city. It's history, colors with flowers and shrines everywhere are breathtaking. It's malls are as contemporary as any in the world and it's people are the most friendly and courteous that I have met anywhere in the world.

2/3 Tie Prague and Athens

Prague's People are industrious, and out going. It's a relatively clean city not particularly large. The main tourist attractions are found in New Town and Old Town squares. But the King Charles bridge and river area is also a very attractive interesting part of the city. The Theater where the great musicians like Mozart and Tchaikovsky performed still stand and are all adorned in gold. The baroque architecture and cathedrals are just outstanding, you can see the mixture of Roman Catholic and Byzantine Catholic worlds. The food is fabulous and not expensive. But The history and structures hundreds of years old did it for me.

Athens, Great people, lots of panhandlers, but the ruins just run away with your imagination. An Island cruise is a must. Prices are reasonable Transportation can be a bit much. I stayed at the Royal Olympic Hotel it has an open air restaurant on the roof right next to the Temple of Zeus. Food is just fabulous! and again the history is just mind blowing. I didn't care for the fact that the museum didn't allow photos to be taken.

4) Las Vegas, Self explanatory! city exemplifies 24/7 if you want it you got it. Can be pricey but doesn't have to be.

5) Nashville Tenn. not a large city, but for music there's no place like Nashville! Every kind or music is there although country western is what it made it's name with. Bar-Hoping on 3rd st. is an experience all to itself. Living in the rust belt I was shocked to see that even cars that had been in accidents didn't appear rusted. It's home to Vanderbilt and Tennessee State Universities. Food is great and not too expensive. But for this alone, Nashville ranks among my top 5 cities. Gaylord Opryland Resort! You have to spend at least one night there. Its like 4 hotels combined all under a glass roof. The conservatory gardens have twin waterfalls, the magnolia has a set of "gone with the wind" style staircase, the Delta has shops and restaurants even a working paddle boat ride and a fabulous Steak house. It's usually decorated in the theme of the nearest holiday they really go all out for Thanksgiving and Christmas. All of the amenities of southern hospitality under one roof and night sky. One truly must experience it, words don't do it justice.     

My top city is New York City. I loved it so much I moved there from another state in the USA and stayed ten years. There's so much culture and always something new to discover. I am sure in the time I was there I didn't see everything!

I enjoyed my visit over the summer to Krakow in Poland. A small city compared to New York but with much to offer. I found great street art and amazing medieval architecture. Plenty of bars, restaurants and shopping to enjoy. 

Amsterdam is so fabulous with it's canals and narrow streets. I just spend a day on my way to Ireland but I am planning on going back for a few weeks visit.

I moved to Ireland this spring and love it! I got to see Dublin at the beginning of summer for a long weekend and it's great. There's friendly people and loads to do. You can find cultural events, art events, outdoor activities and make a few new friends at a pub. 

My birthplace is Panama so I had to include Panama City (Panama). It's cosmopolitan with good bars, restaurants, shopping and galleries. You got beaches in the Atlantic and Pacific near by. There's also a couple of islands you can take a ferry to. Plus, you can explore the Panama Canal.

I am sure I will discover more favorite cities as I go on more adventures...next stop Porto, Portugal :)

Lahore, Pakistan (The Paris of Pakistan) From culture to food to people to hustle and bustle of the citiy ---- it is the most vibrant and lively city

Dublin, certainly, the music is exhilarating; New York City, well the big Apple  is everything; Rio de Janeiro, the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, plus the women of course, all stunningly beautiful; Delhi, modern yet ancient, today's vibrancy alongside awesome culture and history; and, London, civilization and stability, all reflected in the People and the Architecture.

1. Sydney: There is water everywhere- cute little coves- wonderful vantage points. Shelly Beach is one example.

2. Paris: Everywhere you look is beautiful architecture, sculptures, fountains, parks with leafy trees, and of course, you get to hear French spoken!

3. Santa Barbara CA: You have the sparkling blue sea and right behind it high mountains, plus Spanish architecture. It is so beautiful!

4. New York City: Central Park is just incomparable. http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/New_York_City/Central_Park.html And Rockefeller Center is magic day or night. http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/New_York_City/Rockefeller_Center_Ice_Rink.html Times Square sparkles.

5. Monterey CA: The vegetation is unique. Nowhere looks quite like Monterey. It is magic! http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/Monterey/Walk_to_Lovers_Point_Park.html

For the USA I would say 1. San Francisco for the setting, food and bohemian vibe 2. Boston for the seafood, history and fall foliage 3. Portland, OR, Mt Hood (when you can see it) food and Reed College (my alma mater) 4. New Orleans for the food and 5. New York City, so intense and non stop.  

International would be Paris, Vienna and I am sure there are so many great ones I will visit soon.

Europe:  

Kavala  

Prague  

Dublin 

Oxford 

Paris

Yeah, I love Kediri very much. Yap, just Kediri, small and nice city in East Java, Indonesia--it's near Surabaya and my own city, Lamongan.

London - just great all around place to visit and live

Istanbul - great mix of east and west with very friendly people

Seoul - living here now and is modern and can be quite fun as Korean people are very welcomng

Vancouver - great city and nature combined

San Diego - beach and perfect weather

Since there is no place for disagreement,....I'll put it here.

Have you ever been to San Francisco? The dichotomy between the hipster techies and the homeless and street level workers is so intense and depressing that it calls into question ALL of your selections.  My god, you are so wrong it is sad, and depressing.

1- New York City Because it's THE CITY. No more, no less. 

2- Amsterdam romance, avant garde, culture, food, people, history, perfect streets, perfect shops. Best city in Europe.

3- Barcelona: perfect weather, delicious food, lively streets, Gràcia, Borne, beach, culture, Gaudí and nightlife. What else can I say?

4- Rome Museums, history, food, romance.

5-  Madrid because of it's food, people and lively streets. Malasaña.

1) Rome

2) Paris

3) Florence

4) Venice

5) San Francisco

6) Chicago

I've been to most of North America & Europe. My favorite cities would probably all come from Europe. One of my favorites that I always go back to is  

Prague, walking through the old parts of the town. They have a beautiful castle there. A pretty good underground tour, torture & ghost museum. One of the very best astrological clocks in Europe.  

Berlin, they have numerous museums along Unter den linden. There is a underground society that does various period underground tours for WW 2 & Cold War era sites. There are tenements to the old Berlin Wall DDR Museum & the Checkpoint Charlie museum. There were numerous old churches, some with interesting museums. And last, but not least. The Ramones museum is there.  

Rome, Rome is so full of history. It is everywhere you look in this city. The Vatican is there, Osteria Antica (a old settlement similar to Pompeii, but less visited). It is a interesting city to wander. Great food, coffee & gelato. There are catacombs, the ancient aqueducts, the ancient road, which cars still drive on. Pretty amazing place.  

Kiev, there is bit of a language barrier here from my experience. Less people speak English, there is less signage in English. But the people were friendly. The museums and sights here are amazingly inexpensive. One of the best outdoor museums I have ever been to, was here. There was interesting architecture, I was able to see a soccer match. Which was interesting. The sky here is so amazing, I took numerous pictures of it. But none did it justice. The food was also very good and inexpensive.  

Salzburg, I was here at Christmas time. Which usually adds to the magic of many Germany cities. Vienna, Nuremberg, Berlin, Budapest are all other amazing cities at Christmas. There were numerous wonderful Christmas markets around Salzburg. There is wonderful area to hike and see natural things. The castle is amazing. There was a really good WW 1 museum in the castle that covered Austria's part in the mountain portion of WW 1 fought in the Alps. Berchtesgaden is nearby and bus accessible depending on time of year. The cathedral is pretty amazing, I went in for Christmas mass. Although I am not religious. It was powerful and moving. There are caves in the hillside where monks prayed. By the small cemetary in downtown. By a water wheel where monks make this very amazing bread in a basement. The River and downtown areas are very scenic. They also do Sound of Music tours, which I didn't go on. But appeared very popular. The public transportation, as in many European cities was amazing. 

Vienna, Vienna also is a amazing city, especially at Christmas. St Stephens Cathedral is really good. The underground tour is worth going on....maybe not if Your squeamish? Dark, damp and sometime there are human bones. There was a amazing underground ancient roman site downtown. I thought it was interesting. Down by the River there is a lot of amazing art. Murals, sculptures I really liked it. There are some amazing schnitzel shops that I found in the Rick Steve's book. It's a couple blocks towards the River from St Stephens. The Rathaus was pretty interesting as well as the royal palace area. They had some good museums. Outside of town some. Walking distance for the healthy was a military history museum that I enjoyed very much.

Great question! 

1. Berlin - I loved it so much I moved here. Fascinating city, great food, amazing nightlife... all surrounded by lakes and forest and CHEAP!  

2. London - A truly world-class city. I spent seven years living there and barely scratched the surface. 

3. Bangkok - I loved the few days I spent in Bangkok. Incredible food, great energy and amazing sights to see. 

4. Montpellier- I love this little city on the Mediterranean. Pretty, friendly,  not too touristy, and only a tram ride to the beach. 

5. Amsterdam- The perfect size city to visit for a long weekend, and new sights round every corner. Really beautiful. 

My favorite cities include:

1. Las Vegas - I'm not a big gambler (I'll sit at a slot machine for about 15 minutes and then I'm done) but they have alot of shops, restaurants, shows, and attractions. My favorite things to do in Vegas is walk through the casinos to see what changes they have made. I also enjoy trying a new restaurant. On my most recent trip to Las Vegas I did a helicopter ride over Red Rock Canyon and it was amazing.
   
2. Savannah, Georgia - I traveled here for work years ago but I remember the welcoming feeling I had here. I remember dining at a restaurant along the riverside and walking past the beautiful historic homes on tree lined streets.
   
3. Orlando - you can't go wrong in Florida and Orlando has something for everyone. From theme parks and water parks to entertainment districts like City Walk near Universal Studios. There are buffet, fine dining, and casual restaurants to choose from. Outlet shopping, Disney World, and short drive to beaches.
   
4. Cannes, France - this city made me feel wealthy (just for the few hours I was here during a cruise stop). This city is absolutely beautiful, clean, and colorful. I went in June and the water was quite chilly but the beach was nice. We stopped for lunch at a local cafe to just take in the sights and walked a bit up and down the small streets. We saw some very beautiful and expensive yachts but no celebrities. :-)
5. Palma de Mallorca, Spain - With the sun shinning brightly, I saw crystal clear waters, clean streets, happy people, souvenir shops, cafe, restaurants, and beautiful architecture of the Palma de Majorca Cathedral. I purchased some nice pieces of jewelry not too far from the marina and took a rest from all the walking a did to look out at the Mediterranean sea.
   

New York City- the buzz and the shopping 

Rome- the historical sites 

Hanoi- the culture and the people 

San Francisco- walkable city 

Venice- the canals, the landscape

San Francisco is beautiful and has various great things to see.

Paris is so special by almost any criteria.

New York City is so remarkable and has almost anything a tourist can think of it.

I have been to these cities a few times and still haven't seen all they have.

I recommend them all to every person who have been there (again) and who did not.

Uhhh. How difficult! But...

New York City. I think it's pretty obvious why but the first time I went, almost 15 years ago, I felt I was in the center of the (occidental) world and I was there last week for the second time and it is even more exciting. There's so much going on, so many places to see, so many experience to have. And there is always something new. It's truly amazing. 

Paris. What can I say? I've never seen a city so beautiful in almost every block. It's elegant, fancy, charming, bohemian, avant-garde, vintage and many other things at the same time. And it's also not perfect! It's noisy, dirty and a little smelly and that makes it more appealing for me. 

Barcelona. It may be the perfect city for me with it's combination of history, great architecture, art, a beautiful sea and a bright sky. It's also irreverent and really fun. 

Rio de Janeiro. I'd go there every year if I could. Brazil is a wonderful country, full of life and music, and Rio is it's best expression. I don't think many other cities can offer such a beautiful landscape and such a vibrant spirit. 

Buenos Aires. I know I'm parcial because it's my home town but it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Really, you should give it a chance. 

That's my -realy hard to make- top five. If it was a top ten I'd add London, Istanbul, Chicago (which is ascending positions in my charts really fast), Rome and... well, there are so many cities I have to know yet. 

Killarney Magic.

Munich for its festivals

Tokyo  

Istanbul for everything

Isfahan for monuments 

Shiraz for historical buildings 

Beijing for shopping

Istanbul (East meets West!), Isfahan (Persian Culture!), Cape Town (Stunning Location!), London (Always Interesting!), and Paris (Attractiveness and History!)  --- In North America, visit Santa Fe, New Orleans, Quebec City, Vancouver, and San Francisco...

New York City because it has everything.

Paris because it has the best of everything.

Barcelona because it's so much fun. 

Prague because it's beautiful and musical.

Shanghai because the energy is thrilling. 

Ah, fun question!

1. Rome. I love the history, the monuments, the food. I love the scooters, the cute cars, the laundry out to dry. The hand gestures!
2. Barcelona. The art, color, and architecture were incredible. I loved the wide boulevards of Eixample and the stark different in El Born Park Guell was a dream come true.
3. Pompeii exceeded all of my expectations and is definitely one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I could have spent a week exploring the inner parts of each house, imagining what life was like inside.
4. Paia . Mama's Fish House Restaurant, Anthony's Coffee Co. , the beach, the beginning of the road to Hana. Paia was the perfect little Hawaiian hippie town, different from anything I'd ever seen.
   
5. San Francisco I call it home, but that's because it's my favorite place in the world. The temperate climate, beautiful landscape and never-ending list of things to see and do make me blissfully happy. :)
   

Paris, of course. Lived for 2+ years in Buenos Aires years ago and liked that. Seoul. Berlin. Shanghai.

It's really hard because each city is different with the positive and negative things... 

First I love Amsterdam because it's a small city and really beautiful with the river, is easy to walk around Amsterdam and is cheap. 

Barcelona also is a vibrant city, só excited, with a lot of nightlife, coffes, culture, nature, I love Barcelona.  

Múnich in Germany I was surprise with this city, is beautiful and the People are só kind. 

Rio de Janeiro one of the mostrar beautiful city in the World, with a good lifestyle. 

Ibiza, it's much more tan parties and drugs. Ibiza is an positive city, with secret wonderful places, baches, good view, nightlife, and it's for everybody.

Istanbul, Porto, Venice, Salzburg, Sousse

York, England. This medieval town with some of its wall still surrounding the walk-through small town will give you some idea of the way people lived six hundred years ago. Also, the York Minster is the largest in northern England and its stained glass windows are so beautiful you will want to sit and enjoy for hours.  Also, the train station with its iron architectural design is interested. There are several museums to see also.

Tastes differ, but many people like similar cities) 

My top is the next:

1. Los Angeles thanks to trip from http://easyusatravel.com/

2. San Francisco

Really, it was amazing tour from that company and I fall in love with this cities!

3. London

4. Prague

5. Chicago

And many other cities, but had to make TOP 5)))

There will be a lot of qualifiers here for what you mean by "the best."  For example, a lot of people may say New York City, Paris, London; obvious choices.  I love these cities but they can be overwhelming for a visit.  When I think of "the best" I think of tranquil, easy, and not overladen with tourist traps and "must-sees." That can get pretty tiresome and stressful for a traveler like me.  So that in mind, here are Top 5:

Cape Town:  So far, I've been there twice.  It's sort of a mix between LA and Miami...where urban sprawl spills down from the mountains directly onto café and palm-lined streets right on the beach (think South Beach).  The city is simply drenched in sunshine. You can jog along beautiful, suburban cliffs for dozens of miles before you hit the skyscrapers of downtown.  Pick a scenic hotel anywhere between Sea Point and Clifton (I love Clifton) and simply "live."  Cape Town is a city where you can lounge all day on the beach and eat and drink well at night.  It also has a lot for thrill-seekers and outdoor-lovers (and it's cheap; the rand is at record lows now).  When I was there the first time, I climbed Table Mountain, spend a few days in Fish Hoek and Table Mountain National Park on remote beaches, and spent an entire day in Stellenbosch on a wine-tasting tour.  The second time I was there, I went shark-cage diving and more wine-tasting in Constantia Valley.  The locals are friendly and if you meet the right crowd, you'll get invited to local parties, BBQs, and "sundowns" (drinks on someone's balcony while watching the sunset). 

Tel Aviv/Jerusalem:  I put these two together because they're so close geographically and so totally different.  Tel Aviv is similar to Cape Town in that it is on the beach, drenched in sunshine and dotted with interesting cafes, bars, restaurants, and people simply living outdoors.  The only difference is that the entire city feels walkable if not a bit dingy with a bit of an edge (think a much smaller Athens but elongated directly on sparkly clean beaches).  I jogged from one end of the city down to Jaffa in 30 minutes.  The beach is lined with hotels and outdoor gyms.  I'm sure you're seeing a theme here.  There aren't a lot of "must-sees."  There's just a lot of ambience to digest.  You'll spend more time thinking about where to eat and dance than what to see.  You'll concern yourself more with soaking up a specific neighborhood rather than hitting a specific museum.  There's a liberal, easy-going vibe in the air where Israelis from all walks of life come to be themselves and find work.  That comes in stark contrast to Jerusalem.  In one tiny square km, the three monotheistic faiths comingle seemingly without issue (not so much now apparently).   You can spend days meandering the old town, visiting the old sites, and going on daily excursions to places like the West Bank, Masada, and the Dead Sea.  It's a conservative city so it doesn't feel as relaxed.  But it's mesmerizing to witness so many different types of people, from Filipino Christian pilgrims dragging a crucifix and singing through a crowded street to Greek Orthodox monks chanting in all black garb.  Little Orthodox Jewish children playing in the street rub shoulders with Islamic women in full niqab haggling over produce.  One of the most moving experiences I had was watching a group of Russian Orthodox women with their heads fully covered signing themselves in the Orthodox way while kissing the tomb of Christ literally right next to a Muslim man with his head and hands turned upright praying (apparently, our similarities are greater than our differences).  It was so awe-inspiring that I filmed it.  In a nutshell, as a microcosm of the world's great religions, it's a city that gets into your brain and makes you think.

Mykonos Town:  I'm always amazed at how this tiny little, international town - a labyrinth of narrow alleys and dead-end pathways, can still confuse and surprise me.  I've been there 4 times and each time, I get serendipitously lost.  As you maneuver your way through the maze of streets and beautiful, well-dressed crowds of sun-tanned locals and foreigners, you will run into people you haven't seen in years, hear 10 different languages over the span of 5 minutes, and stumble across either a Michelin-rated eatery or a hole-in-the-wall, family-run restaurant serving up the tastiest, traditional Greek fare. In Mykonos Town, picture a spotlessly clean, nearly perfectly whitewashed mosaic of restaurants, bars, and designer boutiques surrounded by the crashing waves of the Aegean.  Again, a common theme here.  Spend a day on a catamaran, sailing at high speeds over wind-swept waves, stopping occasionally to hop off into the crystal clear blue waters of the sea to cool off.  Rent a moped and cruise around the cliffs picking any of the dozens of beaches to lounge about on.  And definitely plan on spending a day at Nammos - a pretty glamorous beach restaurant/club (make reservations well in advance and get ready to sip on champagne and dance on tables with Arab royalty).  The only drawback of Mykonos is that it's expensive

Buenos Aires(Palermo):  At over 16 million people, Buenos Aires is so immense that you'd think I was violating my own rules by selecting it.  But the thing is, there isn't all that much to see in BA (some may disagree).  Like Tel Aviv, t's a city of neighborhoods each one offering up its own unique and festive atmosphere which takes time to fully absorb and appreciate.  I just got back last week and it was my second time there.  The group I was with was considering sailing off to Colonia in Uruguay for a day or spending time on a gaucho ranch 70km outside the city.  Ultimately, we reached a conclusion....why would we leave?   BA has some of the best steaks, Malbecs, and craft beers in the world.   Now combine that with world-famous nightlife and a record-low peso value (I'll get back to this). We settled on staying the full week in the affluent and sprawling neighborhood of Palermo which we used as a base to explore other areas of the city including Recoleta, San Telmo, and Montserrat.  To be honest, you could spend the full week in just Palermo (it's that big) and visit all the little sub-neighborhoods it has to offer such as Palermo-Soho and Palermo-Hollywood.  It's such a walkable part of town, with its pleasant, green parks, tree-lined streets, and outdoor cafes.  It just feels "easy."  Back to the peso.  BRING DOLLARS.  The "official" exchange rate (the one you get by paying by credit card or using an ATM) is now 9.5 to 1.  However, exchanging dollars on the "blue" market (they don't call it "black" in Argentina) will yield you 15 to 1 (at the current exchange rate).  Just hear out for people saying "cambio" and make sure you ask your hotel for reputable dealers as some bills are fake.

Udaipur, India:  Charming isn't the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Indian cities.  But Udaipur breaks with this stereotype.  Udaipur is a relatively small-ish, easy-going, and predominantly Hindu city, surrounded by low mountains and built around a large and beautiful lake with an island hotel directly in the center accessible only by boat (it's called the Taj Lake Palace and was the set for the movie Octopussy).  From a distance, the city looks all "white".  It is considered the "white city" of Rajasthan along with Jaisalmer (gold), and Jaipur (pink).  It also looks tame.  But at the street-level, it's alive with color, custom, and cows.  If you're easing your way into India for the first time, this is a great place to start as it lacks the more shocking images one might see in places like Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai.  My favorite thing was getting into a tuk-tuk and telling the driver that I had no real destination.  I negotiated an amount with him to spend some time zigzagging me through the narrow streets to get my first glimpse of Indian city life - markets filled with produce, jewelry, and spices, colorful Hindu temples, cows meandering freely and unbothered between people and merchandise, men getting their hair cut and shaved in a makeshift salon (picture a single chair in the middle of the street), monkeys crawling down telephone poles and onto rooftops, locals cooking soups and curries in large black cauldrons, merchants hawking their wares in open air markets, and camels pulling carts of agricultural goods.  On one dizzying excursion from Udaipur to the city of Ranakpur (a site of a huge and beautiful Jain temple), we passed a decorated elephant with its rider lumbering directly into oncoming traffic (e.g. us).  We also happened to be there during the Holika Dahan Hindu festival of fire.  Locals had built a huge pyre and took turns jumping over it in a variety of different somersaults.  India really is a sensory overload but Udaipur allows you to experience it in a more relaxed and appreciable way.

Great answers! I recently went to Spain for the first time and most definitely added Seville to my list of cities where you can parachute me any time and I'll be happy. Climate, people, street scene, entertainment, food, wine, history, art - it checks all my boxes.

Vienna is easily the best - beautiful buildings, fantastic art galleries and the best cream cakes in the world. Bruges has to be next - the best preserved medieval city in Europe and just the right size to explore fully. Bremen too is gorgeous: historic, trendy and arty. At the risk of being biased, I would have to list York as number four - so much to do and see, and some lovely hotels. And finally Oxford, but I'm definitely biased as I studied there. The buses are awful but nothing beats the architecture.