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

Speaking of delicious dishes, Seoul is known for its street food. “I dare anyone to have a bad meal in this town,” challenges Fathom’s Pavia Rosati. “Seoul fascinates in ways that continue to change, excite and delight.” Picture modern neon lights juxtaposed against a backdrop of thousands of years of tradition – talk about sensory overload! A visit to the Namdaemun Market, the oldest and largest in Korea, offers more than 10,000 stores that are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, try the oxtail soup, vegetable-filled griddle cakes, and North Korean–style cold buckwheat noodles.

Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Who isn’t? Well, Dubrovnik might look a bit familiar to you, as it was the main location for filming the scenes of King’s Landing. While you won’t run into any Lannisters while visiting (which is probably a good thing – remember Cersei’s Walk of Shame through these streets?), you can still pretend you’re an extra in the cast by walking along the city’s ancient walls. Climb up the stone walls and walk the circumference of Dubrovnik, while overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the city’s terra-cotta rooftops. These stone walls were built in the 13th century to protect the city from foreign attacks and are protected by strong forts, two round towers, five bastions and two corner towers. The limestone walls against the blue sea make for a beautiful photo.

As long as you’re on a GoT kick, add these amazing destinations from Game of Thrones you can visit in real life to your travel list.

Let’s get back to our foodie tour of the world with a stop in San Sebastian. Why this coastal city in northern Spain? “[It’s] the culinary capital of the world!” says Abbey Sharp of Abbey’s Kitchen Inc. “The juxtaposition between high-end Michelin-star restaurants and cheap tapas bars makes this coastal city a must-visit.” The traditional northern Spain version of tapas is called pintxos, so be on the lookout for bars and cafés specialising in those as you walk through the Old Town area, or Parte Vieja. After your belly is full, head to the popular crescent-shaped La Concha Beach and watch the sun set over the water.

As the 1980s song from the musical Chess goes, “One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster.” There’s so much to see and do in Thailand’s capital city, starting with the floating markets – a system of canals that’s been transformed into a giant marketplace, where you pay a tour boat to paddle you around so you can buy sweets, noodle dishes, and souvenirs from vendors who are floating by on their own boats. When you’re back ashore, check out the Grand Palace, a complex of several buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. If you’re into the club scene, Bangkok’s nightlife offers a little something for everyone, from ladyboy shows and go-go bars to nightclubs blasting EDM and more tame rooftop bars.

Despite what you’ve seen in movies or what you read in the paper back in the 1980s, Colombia is a so-called “dangerous” country that is safer than you think. Cartagena is located off the coast of the Caribbean, so a day trip to Playa Blanca will give you the powder-white sand and turquoise waters you’ve been yearning for. The most famous landmark in the city, San Felipe Castle, was built by the Spanish during the colonial era. This fortress sits on the Hill of San Lazaro, and it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Surrounded by an 11-kilometre wall, Cartagena faces the sea and provides tourists and residents with a place to stroll,” says Max Hartshorne of GoNOMAD Travel. “The city is full of life and colour, the vendors wear bright-coloured clothing, and the horse carriages take tourists around the city. It’s all beautiful.”

Everything seems more beautiful after a pint (or two) of Guinness, not that Ireland needs any help from beer goggles to be beautiful. You can’t walk for more than a minute up and down Dublin’s charming cobblestone streets without finding an inviting pub to pop into – and once you do, it’s hard to leave because everyone from the bartenders and wait staff to other patrons are so friendly. Dublin Castle is a great place to tour for a little history lesson, and Trinity College is a gorgeous campus that houses the Book of Kells (which makes Dublin one of the best cities in the world for book lovers). Take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse for a quick course on beer-making, and make sure to head to the Gravity Bar on the top floor for 360-degree panoramic views of Dublin and beyond.

What do you get when a major economic centre mixes with mosques, palaces and gardens? The fourth-largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. One of the most beautiful sights in Morocco is the Jardin Majorelle, or the Majorelle Garden. Here, you’ll find two-and-a-half acres of botanical gardens unlike any you’ve seen before. In fact, Yves Saint Laurent once said, “For many years, the Jardin Majorelle has provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and I have often dreamt of its unique colours.” Another hot spot is the Koutoubia Mosque, a 12th-century tower that stands 253 feet high with its spire and orbs.

Is there anything more beautiful on this planet than being surrounded by mountains, fjords, and colourful, hygge cottages? If you aren’t familiar, hygge loosely translates to “cozy” and “content,” and it’s one of 11 words that capture feelings you didn’t even know you had. No need to rent a car, as the light rail system is super easy to navigate, with only one track going from the airport to the city centre. This town is so adorable that each of the 27 stops plays a different musical interlude to alert you that your stop is coming. When you reach the city centre, head straight to the Bergen Fish Market, which has been around since the 1200s. Here, you can point to any seafood you want, caught by local fishermen, and they’ll cook it up into a delicious dish for you on the spot. Grab a picnic table and enjoy!

Known as the Pink City for its trademark building colour made out of sandstone, Jaipur is the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. In the city centre, you’ll find the City Palace; the architecture outside is beautiful, but be sure to go inside for truly spectacular and colourful decor. Even more awe-inspiring is the Palace of the Winds, which boasts 953 windows on the facade that resemble latticework. And if you enjoy having wildlife eat out of the palm of your hand, visit Galta-Hanuman, the oldest temple in Jaipur, and bring some snacks for the curious monkeys.

Let’s focus on this city’s claim to fame: one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China. Talk about absolute beauty. That said, the wall was erected to defend the area from enemies long before Christ was born, so they probably never imagined how much tourists would appreciate the views of mountains, the sea, the verdant valley and the wall itself snaking through the countryside. While there are many gorgeous sections of the wall to explore, the Great Wall of Badaling is a popular choice that’s been restored and is wheelchair friendly.

What else should you do in Beijing? Don’t miss the Pajniayuan Flea Market for local crafts and antiques, Tiananmen Square if you’re a history buff, and the Forbidden City to visit the Palace Museum.

Now discover some of the world’s best destinations according to Time.

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Source: RD.com