25 Most Beautiful Cities in the World

1. Florence, Italy

Best months: Apr–Jun · 13–23°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Renaissance at every street corner, Duomo, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Tuscan hills

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Best months: Jul–Sep · 15–25°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Medieval old town + castle + Charles Bridge + the most-photographed European city

3. Paris, France

Best months: Jul–Sep · 15–25°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Eternal beauty — Seine + Sacré-Cœur + Eiffel + Louvre + boulevards

4. Venice, Italy

Best months: Apr–Jun · 13–23°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Canal labyrinth + St Mark's Square + Doge's Palace + no cars + dream

5. Rome, Italy

Best months: Apr–Jun · 13–23°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

2,800 years stacked: Colosseum + Vatican + Trastevere + Trevi + ruins

6. Kyoto, Japan

Best months: Sep–Nov · 14–22°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Bamboo groves + 2,000+ temples + geisha district + autumn leaves + serene

7. Edinburgh, Scotland

Best months: Jul–Sep · 12–18°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Castle on extinct volcano + Old Town + Royal Mile + foggy mystery

8. Lisbon, Portugal

Best months: Jun–Aug · 18–28°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

Seven hills + azulejo tiles + trams + fado + Atlantic coast

9. Bruges, Belgium

Medieval canal town + chocolate + lace + frozen in time

10. Cape Town, South Africa

Best months: Jul–Sep · 7–21°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

Table Mountain + ocean + winelands + most-dramatic urban setting

11. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Best months: May–Jul · 19–25°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf + Copacabana + Carnival + tropical

12. Santorini, Greece

Best months: Jun–Aug · 23–29°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

White buildings + blue domes + caldera + sunset photographers' dream

13. Charleston, USA

Pastel mansions + horse carriages + Spanish moss + Southern charm

14. Salzburg, Austria

Best months: Jul–Sep · 17–26°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)

Mozart + baroque + Alps + Sound of Music + fortress city

15. Sydney, Australia

Best months: Jul–Sep · 8–18°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Harbor + Opera House + bridge + beaches + perfect setting

16. Saint Petersburg, Russia

Imperial palaces + canals + Hermitage + Venice of the North

17. Istanbul, Turkey

Best months: Jul–Sep · 21–30°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

East meets West + Hagia Sophia + Bosphorus + Grand Bazaar + 16M people

18. Marrakech, Morocco

Best months: Nov–Jan · 7–21°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

Souks + Jemaa el-Fnaa + Atlas Mountains + Saadian Tombs + sensory

19. Granada, Spain

Best months: Apr–Jun · 12–25°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Alhambra + Sierra Nevada + Albayzin + Andalusian magic

20. Cusco, Peru

Best months: Jun–Aug · 5–18°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

Andes + Spanish-Inca architecture + gateway to Machu Picchu

21. Marrakesh, Morocco

Best months: Nov–Jan · 7–21°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)

Magical medina + riads + Sahara extensions

22. Quito, Ecuador

Best months: Jul–Sep · 7–19°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Historic colonial center + UNESCO + Andes setting

23. Antigua, Guatemala

Best months: Jan–Mar · 13–25°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Colonial pastel + volcanoes + colorful colonial old town

24. Hoi An, Vietnam

Best months: Nov–Jan · 14–22°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)

Lanterns + ancient houses + tailors + Yellow buildings

25. Tbilisi, Georgia

Old town + sulfur baths + Caucasus + modern art + emerging beauty