The world’s 50 most beautiful cities, ranked by travel experts

When it comes to the most popular travel destinations in South America, Buenos Aires is high on the list. And one of its most beautiful sights is the Jardín Japonés, or Japanese Garden – one of the largest in the world outside of Japan. Each season here is special, so there’s no bad time to visit. You’ll see cherry flowers in winter, violet water lilies in the summer, yellow ginkgo biloba leaves in the fall, and azaleas in the spring. If you find beauty in the macabre, the Recoleta Cemetery is one of the most unusual cemeteries in the world. It contains some notable graves, including Eva Perón’s, and monuments in every architectural style from Greek temples to Baroque cathedrals.

As the most populated city in Canada, Toronto is a melting pot of cultures from all over the world. Bring your appetite to ethnic neighbourhoods like Chinatown, Little India, Greektown, and Little Jamaica, which are sure to please any palate. Make time to visit the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, where you’ll take a 58-second high-speed, glass-fronted elevator ride 1,136 feet up to see breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. Finally, check out the Royal Ontario Museum, which offers diverse galleries and featured exhibitions.

Thomas Melville of the San Diego Community Newspaper Group may be a bit biased when he says that San Diego is “the best city in America to experience sun, sand, and sunsets – while enjoying fresh fish tacos,” but we don’t blame him one bit. San Diego has some of the best year-round weather in the United States and no shortage of ways to keep busy while enjoying it. Start with a visit to the world-famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, which houses more than 3,500 animals of more than 650 species. Then chill out at Mission Beach and Pacific Beach while watching surfers and skaters. Since San Diego is a big military town, history buffs will appreciate a tour of the USS Midway Museum. After dinner, make your way to the Gaslamp Quarter, 16 blocks of Victorian-style buildings that house shops, trendy restaurants and nightlife.

Whoever says you can’t get a taste of Europe in North America has never been to one of the continent’s oldest cities, Quebec City. The narrow cobblestone streets will transport you to a village in France, while Old Quebec’s walled fortifications have a medieval European feel. To get a lay of the land, begin your tour at the Observatoire de la Capitale for a 360-degree view. And even if you can’t afford a room, stop by the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a historic hotel from the late 1800s that was visited by Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in the 1940s. For more spectacular views, hop on the Quebec-Levis ferry across the St Lawrence River.

As an autonomous territory that was once a British colony, Hong Kong (officially Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China) may surprise visitors. English is widely spoken and used in signage, it often only takes about a 20-minute drive to get away from the world’s largest collection of skyscrapers and onto beautiful beaches and mountainous hiking trails, and there are literally hundreds of islands to explore. The free Victoria Harbour light show happens every night at 8pm, and it is best viewed from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre or from any of the sightseeing ferries in the Victoria Harbour.

Let’s talk deep-dish pizza, Italian beef and hot dogs with all the toppings. Where else could you get these delicious dishes except Chi-Town? Anyone with taste buds and an appreciation for Midwest manners will understand why Chicago has been named the best city in America. In the summer, the city really comes alive with boat tours focused on architecture, rides on the Navy Pier Centennial Wheel overlooking Chicago and Lake Michigan, a visit to the top of Willis Tower (the tallest building in the Western hemisphere), and a walk on its Skydeck if you’re brave enough to get into a glass box that extends 1.3-metres out on the 103rd floor. There’s also the Instagram-worthy Cloud Gate sculpture, otherwise known as “The Bean,” at Millennium Park and a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. (Make sure you sit in the bleachers for a truly authentic experience.)

There are few cities that feel like a fairy tale come to life, and Bruges may well top that shortlist. Known as the “Venice of the North,” due to its extensive canal system, Bruges’ entire city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a walk along the canals, or hop on a tour boat for a ride through the waterways, where you can peer at the Baroque-style and Gothic architecture while gliding under bridges. Climb 366 steps to the top of the Belfry of Bruges, a medieval bell tower in the city centre, for spectacular views, and then reward your efforts with Belgian chocolate and waffles at one of the many shops. “Come early before the crowds, when swans in the canals are bathed in pink light, or late afternoon when the setting sun turns the Gothic town hall’s windows into diamonds,” suggests Lea Lane of Forbes.

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As the capital and the most populated city in Spain, Madrid may at first seem overwhelming, but it’s actually quite walkable and friendly. Stop by Plaza Mayor in the heart of the city and feast your eyes on the Statue of Philip III in the middle and Casa de la Panadería on the north side. For an unexpected sight in Spain, visit the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple that dates back to the 2nd century BC; it was dismantled in Egypt and rebuilt in Madrid in the early 1970s as a sign of gratitude for the help Spain provided Egypt. Of course, there’s also the quintessential Spanish experience no tourist should miss: seeing a flamenco show. Beauty lies not only in the way these dancers move, but also in the stamping, clapping and singing that accompanies it.

For another step back in time, but not quite as far back as ancient Egypt or the medieval period, travel to Cuba. “Havana is stuck in a 1950s time warp with its American-made cars and Spanish colonial architecture,” says Jack Sheldon of Jack’s Flight Club. “It does not disappoint!” With gorgeous beaches and spectacular snorkelling, it would be easy to spend all your time on the coastline. But don’t miss out on the vibrant city life with cobblestone streets, yummy cafés, street vendors and artists, and convertible classic cars in bright colours. Be sure to spend one evening at the Tropicana Club, a cabaret show highlighting Cuban culture.

You probably already know that Dubai is known for its “bigger is better” mentality when it comes to luxury and architectural feats: the world’s largest shopping mall; the seventh-tallest hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab skyscraper; and the world’s highest swimming pool, observation deck and mosque, inside the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. When you’re done visiting the sky bars of these awesome engineering feats, head down to Kite Beach and join in on the water sports this strip of sand is famous for.

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