Reflecting on My Favorite Cities Thus Far

As another year goes by, I find a certain catharsis from reflecting on all the places I’ve been. And yet another reason to create a list…I realize I’m very fortunate to have been able to visit so many cities across the world. Even so, There’s still so many places left to see. So here is my top 29 favorite cities all ranked!

My 29 Favorite Eclectic Cities

• #29 Denver, Colorado – Denver is a pretty chill city easy access to exhilarating snowboarding and hiking. Although there’s not much going on after the sun sets.
• #28 Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada – The Canadian side of Niagara Falls feels a bit more like a carnival than a city, but the majestic falls make this an amazing destination.
• #27 Luxor, Egypt – Luxor feels like stepping back in time as you walk around this incredible open air museum. It’s much slower paced than Cairo, but has just as much hagglers.
• #26 Washington DC – The capital of the USA has iconic monuments and a plethora of museums to enjoy. However, once you’ve waked around the National Mall you’ve pretty much seen it all.
• #25 Los Angeles, California – Diverse neighborhoods, famous landmarks, and perfect weather are LA’s strongest points. But there are many parts around the city with less than glamorous appeal and the sprawling city is difficult to get around.
• #24 Las Vegas, Nevada – Astounding nightlife makes Vegas a top competitor for the party spot. Unfortunately there are lots of sketchy areas and the constant loudness of the city can be exhausting.
• #23 Baltimore, Maryland – The Inner Harbor is enough to make Baltimore a great city. It’s a picturesque area where you have lots of options for things to do.
• #22 Boston, Massachusetts – Boston is filled with tons of history and charming areas to walk around. Too bad its too cold for half the year.
• #21 Oranjestad, Aruba – The entire Island of Aruba is basically one city, and it has many thrilling water sports and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The only downside is that the heat can be a bit much at times.
• #20 San Diego, California – San Diego is the epitome of the west coast paradise. There’s not much going on, but the vibes and weather are perfect.
• #19 New Orleans, Louisiana – NOLA is essentially the party capital of the south. There’s so much delicious food, soulful jazz music, and intense nightlife to enjoy despite the occasional cringy moments.
• #18 London, United Kingdom – London has an immense amount of museums and history to absorb. The drawbacks are that almost everything is too touristy, expensive, and the food leaves much to be desired.
• #17 San Francisco, California – San Francisco represents the amazing blend of small and large cities combined. Lots of great attractions, food, and nightlife, but also with a more relaxed atmosphere.
• #16 Ghent, Belgium – This unexpected city exudes hidden charms around every corner. The food and beer are on another level while the tiny city allows you to walk anywhere easily.
• #15 El Gouna, Egypt – Another hidden gem, El Gouna rests directly on the Red Sea. Compared to the rest of the Egyptian cities, the chill Caribbean vibe makes it seem like you are on a completely different continent. Soak in the beautiful weather and endless amounts of water sports.
• #14 Berlin, Germany – Berlin is the personification of artistic style and rebellious empowerment. The entire city feels like a creative expression of colorful individuality. Unfortunately, it’s not as clean and traditional as other German cities.
• #13 Seattle, Washington – Seattle is a wonderful city with great food, iconic sightseeing, and an interesting bar scene. However the often rainy weather and amount of hills you’ll probably have to walk up might subtract from the positives.
• #12 Chicago, Illinois – The windy City is one of the best in the US for food, iconic landmarks, and interesting history. The frigid temperatures for a majority of the year is the only thing keeping Chicago from being top tier.
• #11 Munich, Germany – Munich is exactly what you would expect from a traditional German city. Amazing beer, hearty food, and interesting architecture everywhere you turn.
• #10 Miami, Florida – As the unofficial capital of Latin America, Miami is an international hub for delectable Hispanic cuisine, culture, and nightlife. A night out in South Beach will definitely be one to remember.
• #9 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – If you ever have the chance to experience Carnival in Brazil, Rio is the place to do it. There are beautiful beaches surrounded by voluptuous mountains in every direction. The disparity between luxury and poverty is clearly visible however. As long as you avoid the sketchy areas there’s plenty to enjoy.
• #8 Florence, Italy – One of the most quaint cities you’ll find anywhere in the world, Florence has a peaceful vibe with amazing food and intricate architecture around every corner. It’s easy to walk all over the city at your own pace.
• #7 Kyoto, Japan – The temples that comprise the traditional Japanese city emanate a magical presence. Kyoto contains a magnificent synergy of traditional architecture and nature unlike anywhere in the world.
• #6 Venice, Italy – The radiant waterways of Venice make it one of the most distinctive cities on Earth. Its brilliantly designed canals have inspired countless other cities across the globe to emulate the unique ambiance. Paired with some of the best seafood and monuments, Venice is a place like none other.
• #5 San Juan, Puerto Rico – San Juan is the quintessential Caribbean Island experience, along with historic forts, amazing food, and sensational nightlife. The heart of Puerto Rico allows easy access to the entire island with an infinite amount of enchantment to discover. Puerto Rico is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
• #4 Rome, Italy – Few cities can match the grandeur of the Eternal City. Just walking around exposes you to some of the most historic monuments in the world. This gigantic open air museum transports you back in time as the ancient landscape becomes your backdrop for every dinner.
• #3 Seoul, Korea – Korea is the perfect blend of futuristic utopia and traditional culture all in one. Seoul offers a dynamic of bold flavors and vibrant nightlife which might be the best on the planet. The unbelievable street food can’t be matched by anywhere.
• #2 New York City – I’m fortunate to have my home town also be the greatest city in the world. Despite the million times exploring the streets of NYC, I am always amazed at how many new and exciting things there are to discover. New York has a nightlife that never sleeps, a diverse melting pot of cultures, phenomenal cuisine, and an endless amount of world-class attractions that keeps this influential city on the top of anyone’s list.
• #1 Tokyo, Japan – The enigmatic city of Tokyo is the symbolic dichotomy of an of ultra modern metropolis crossed with a traditional aura. No other city has had a comparable impact on the traveler I’ve become. The most divine food, marvelous culture, and overstimulating atmosphere make Tokyo the greatest city in existence.

These are just some of the cities I enjoyed the most while traveling. Hopefully I will get to visit even more new places I can add to this list. The world is immensely huge so I have no doubt the next list is going to be completely different. Which of these cities is your favorite? Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!