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City exploration is a great way to immerse yourself in a new destination and discover new cultures.
The world’s best museums, architecture and cultural activities tend to take place in city destinations, not rural retreats.
There are so many incredible cities to choose from, meaning it’s easy to tailor your next city break to your unique interests. Traveling to city destinations can also be affordable.
So, where should you go next?
The experts at Euromonitor have currently discovered the top 10 city destinations in the world.
5. Milan
At 5e Place on the Euromonitor list is Milan, based on both its tourism performance and the established tourism infrastructure in the city.
The epic Duomo Cathedral is the centerpiece of a city full of diverse architecture.
To visit the cathedral you need a visit pay an entrance fee of €5 ($5.29) and if you want to see the city view from the roof terrace, you’ll need a separate ticket with prices starting from €15 ($15.87).
Some of the other amazing attractions you can explore in Milan include the beautiful architecture of the Sforza Castle, and if you like shopping, try the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a beautiful 19th century shopping arcade and the oldest shopping arcade in Italy. .
Whether you are interested in fashion or food, art or architecture, there is something for everyone in Milan.
4. Rome
To show how popular Italian getaways are, there are two Italian cities in this top 10 list. The only thing that sends Milan to 4th place is Rome.
Rome is the Eternal City and some of Italy’s most iconic sights are found here.
The Colosseum, Vatican City and the ethereal Sistine Chapel are all located here.
Rome has a lively atmosphere and is buzzing with tourists all year round, but it is especially busy during the summer months, so visit out of season to avoid being part of the people’s soup!
My favorite thing about Rome? The food.
Pizza, pasta and gelato galore. Although it is in the touristy heart of the city, I recommend the Ristorante Caffè Martini & Rossi where you can drink Aperol spritz and dine with a picturesque view of the Colosseum.
3. Tokyo
It’s no surprise that Tokyo is on this list, as the city has already exploded in popularity, breaking all visitor records this year. I’m not surprised either because this is my favorite city in the world!
Tokyo is an interesting city because it offers a unique mix of new and old, with temples often located directly beneath skyscrapers.
You will find architecture with Western influences, such as Tokyo Station, but also Asian architecture.
Some of the best things to do in Tokyo right now include enjoying the tranquility of Sensoji Temple and the rich history of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. My best tip for both attractions is to visit them early in the morning to beat the crowds.
Tokyo is also a hotspot for amusement park junkies. From the mainstream crowd-pleasers of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea to the more niche attractions at Sanrio Puroland and the Ghibli Museum, you’ll find that theme parks are a bigger part of the Japanese experience than you might expect!
2. Madrid
Madrid took the 2i.e place on this official list, surprising some by beating Barcelona to take the title of Spain’s top city.
But Madrid is a beautiful city; it is one of the most walkable big cities in Spain and has a great tourist infrastructure.
If you are an architecture lover, then wandering the streets of Madrid is an incredible experience in itself. You can see an incredible range of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, often side by side.
Some of the best attractions in Madrid include relaxing in the immaculately manicured Buen Retiro Park or visiting the iconic Prado Museum, where you can find works by all the major Spanish masters.
1. Paris
Paris has been chosen as the best city destination in the world for the 4e year in a row.
This should come as no surprise as the City of Love is perennially popular and the success of this year’s Paris Olympics has only brought more attention to the city.
Visit Paris for its stunning architecture, delicious food and rich cultural heritage.
From walking along the Champs Elysse to climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the biggest attractions in Paris are nothing short of iconic. And Notre Dame Cathedral finally reopened its doors this month.
But you should also not miss searching for hidden treasures at the Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market or seeing the work of the squat artists at Le Squat du59 Rue de Rivoli.
The complete top 10 list
According to the Euromonitor report, six of the top 10 city destinations in the world this year are in Europe. The full top 10 list is:
- Paris
- Madrid
- Tokyo
- Rome
- Milan
- New York
- Amsterdam
- Sydney
- Singapore
- Barcelona
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
