Top 10 Most Ideal Tourist Cities in the World

Venice City - a beautiful city located in northern Italy, exuding its characteristic beauty with various vibrant colors. The best time to visit Venice is perhaps during the summer, combined with visits to other cities in Italy. Additionally, in February, Venice hosts the Carnival Venice (Carnevale di Venezia) for 11 days, offering a cultural experience. Venice is always crowded, even during the off-peak season. If you take a boat to islands like Murano or Burano, expect to wait in line for at least 2 turns during the low season, such as in January. You should try to wake up very early to catch the bus.

Venice is one of the rare cities in the world where motorcycles are absent. All transportation is done by boat, water-bus... thus, the narrow streets and squares are always bustling with pedestrians. The city spans across multiple small islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeastern Italy. This saltwater lagoon stretches along the coastline between the Po River (south) and the Piave River (north). Therefore, Venice City is often called the 'city of canals'.

Notably, Venice has played a significant role in the history of symphonic music and opera, being the hometown of the great Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Despite facing some major challenges (including financial difficulties, pollution, excessive tourism), Venice remains a highly popular tourist destination, an iconic city of Italy, and has been ranked as the most beautiful city in the world.

The City That Never Sleeps - New York is a famous tourist destination in the United States. The best time to visit New York is in the fall. Fall in New York is beautiful, with pleasant and cool weather, and the trees along the streets turn into magnificent shades of red. Visiting the City That Never Sleeps, you'll have the opportunity to experience a vibrant and modern city with bars and pubs that operate all night long, allowing you to enjoy yourself and immerse in country music or other attractions such as Times Square, Luna Park Arcade, Disney Store,...

Many people believe that a trip to New York is incomplete without visiting the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty has been a beacon in New York Harbor since 1886, symbolizing this city and also serving as an iconic symbol of the United States. Additionally, Times Square is one of the most famous and bustling places in the world at night, shaping New York's nightlife. Especially during the end of the year, New Yorkers often gather here to welcome the new year, and the installation of the crystal ball in Times Square last year attracted countless tourists, especially during major holidays.

Seville, located in southern Spain, is famous for its exports of wine, olive oil, oranges, minerals, and tourism,... Seville is suitable for travelers who love tranquility and classical beauty. Situated on the Guadalquivir River, Seville is also home to the Plaza de Espana square, a filming location for many blockbuster movies such as Star Wars Episode I and II, The Dictator, and Lawrence of Arabia. The square features a semicircular wall designed by Anibal Gonzales.

Visitors to Seville can explore famous landmarks such as the Plaze de Toros de la Real Maestranza, where spectacular bullfights take place during the famous bullfighting festivals in Spain, the Alcazar Palace in Seville, the oldest royal palace, which was once the residence of the royal family of Spain, and the Seville Cathedral, once the resting place of the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus, featuring typical Romanesque architecture.

Especially in April every year, for 6 days and 7 nights, visitors exploring Seville can participate in La Feria de Abril de Sevilla, a spring fair where locals and tourists gather to celebrate life during the festival period.

Rio de Janeiro is located in southern Brazil. It was once the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960 and of the Portuguese Empire from 1808 to 1821. Rio de Janeiro is known for its natural landscapes, carnival festivals, samba music, and famous beaches. As a political center of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro has witnessed many historical periods and the glorious past of its people and nation. UNESCO recognized Rio de Janeiro as a World Heritage Site in 2012. Today, Rio is a must-visit tourist destination when traveling to Brazil.

It is often said that a trip to Brazil without visiting this 'marvelous city' is incomplete. Rio de Janeiro boasts stunning natural scenery, tropical beaches with smooth white sands, and shimmering golden sunshine. Rio de Janeiro also has a distinctive culture, vibrant festivals, and incredibly friendly locals. Travelers often refer to the city as Rio.

If you're traveling to Brazil and want to visit Rio de Janeiro, February in the Gregorian calendar is a good time to go as the weather is cool and pleasant, convenient for outdoor activities and joining in the lively Carnival celebrations, attracting many tourists from around the world.

The City of Lhasa serves as the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is considered one of the highest cities in the world (3,650m). This city is steeped in tradition as the former residence of the Dalai Lamas and home to the Potala and Norbulingka palaces, regarded as the most sacred centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Lhasa literally translates to 'place of the gods,' although ancient Tibetan texts and inscriptions suggest it was originally called Rasa, meaning 'court place.'

Lhasa boasts numerous historical landmarks, including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Zhefeng Temple, Drepung Monastery, and Norbulingka Palace. The city is surrounded by three concentric roads used by devotees to circumambulate the sacred Jokhang Temple. Many individuals prostrate themselves along these paths to show reverence. The innermost route, Nangkor (Nang-skor), lies within the Jokhang Temple and encircles the most revered statue in Tibetan Buddhism, the Jowo Shakyamuni. The middle route, Barkor (Bar-skor), winds through ancient neighborhoods and encircles the Jokhang Temple and surrounding buildings. The outermost route, Lingkor (Gling-skor), encircles the entire traditional city of Lhasa. Due to the construction of a new wide road, Beijing Lam, the Lingkor route is now less frequented by devout pilgrims.

The city of Marrakech lies in southwestern Morocco. Known for its ancient architecture and historic landmarks, Marrakech stands as one of the premier tourist destinations globally. Rarely does a city exude as much red hue as Marrakech, with its buildings, walls, and even streets painted in shades of pink or red. This North African city offers a multi-dimensional, mysterious, and highly alluring lifestyle. Since the 13th century, Marrakech ceased to be the capital but remains one of Morocco's four imperial cities and a significant commercial center. Marrakech is also an artistic hub, attracting domestic and international tourists alike.

The Medina in Marrakech is always a top tourist destination in Morocco. Medina refers to the ancient walled city neighborhoods. In Morocco, every city has medinas dating back hundreds to thousands of years. These areas serve as residential and commercial hubs, bustling with local trade in traditional products and unique handicraft villages specializing in various crafts like wood carving, leatherwork, metalwork, and more. Typically, tourists opt to stay in hotels within the 9 km-long walled medina, surrounded by vibrant markets buzzing from night till dawn.

This North African city is also home to some of the world's most beautiful and intriguing landmarks. For instance, the Ali Ben Youssef Medersa - North Africa's largest Quranic school built in the 16th century and remarkably preserved. It is considered one of the most exquisite schools globally, featuring intricate designs and a courtyard adorned with marble and cedar wood, exuding grandeur. After its closure, the school underwent renovations to reopen as a historical site open to the public. Countless high-end fashion photoshoots have taken place here.

The city of London, the capital of England, is regarded as the world's largest economic, financial, and cultural hub. London enjoys a pleasant climate typical of Southeast England, with mild winters and mild summers. London is renowned for its museums, art galleries, and concert halls. The British Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums globally, housing over seven million artifacts from all continents, cultures, and civilizations. The National Gallery, located on Trafalgar Square, boasts numerous European paintings. Tate Gallery showcases British and modern art. London's theaters stage works by Shakespeare and other great playwrights. The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden hosts performances by London's major orchestras.

To the west and north of Trafalgar Square lies the West End, London's primary shopping and entertainment district. Most of London's major theaters are located here, as well as the Royal Opera House. Oxford Street is one of the world's most famous shopping streets. Stretching from Tottenham Court Road in the east to Marble Arch in the west, passing through Oxford Circus, where it intersects with Regent Street, it is home to many large department stores (Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer). Soho and Covent Garden are lively areas with numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes. Further west are the green park areas, such as Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and Regent’s Park.

Rome serves as both the capital and the largest city of the Lazio region in central Italy, situated on the confluence of the Aniene and Tiber rivers. Rome stands as one of the oldest capitals in the world. The city itself resembles a colossal museum with numerous squares, monasteries, palaces, arenas, temples, ancient fortresses, and fountains. Rome offers an abundance of sights to behold and perhaps is the only European capital city where you can rent motor scooters (mostly Vespa, Lambretta types) for sightseeing. The Roman Colosseum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tops the list of attractions in Rome. Constructed around 70 or 72 AD, it stands over an artificial lake covering an area of approximately 24,000 square meters. This is where gladiatorial contests between fighters, fighters against beasts, and beasts against beasts took place.

Another must-visit destination is the monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II, distinguished by its gleaming white edifice adorned with numerous colossal equestrian sculptures. Erected in the 19th century to honor Italy's first king, it's a remarkable sight to behold. Among the religious landmarks, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and the Vatican Museums are Rome's most renowned attractions. Apart from the ancient and religious landmarks mentioned above, Rome is also romantic, lively, and adventurous with various other attractions. At the Trevi Fountain, you'll listen to tales of tossing coins for good luck.

The city of Petra is a historic and archaeological city located in southern Jordan. The ancient city of Petra is a gem of the country of Jordan, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Petra means “rock” in the ancient Semitic language of the Middle East, while locals refer to it as Raqmu – “multicolored.” The name truly befits the place. The naturally vibrant red sandstone, adorned with intricate veins of blue, gold, white, and black, forms layers that are exquisitely beautiful. No one knows when Petra was formed. What is known is that this land was strategically positioned for trade, lying on the commercial route connecting Western Asia and ancient Egypt. Hence, the Nabateans chose this location as their capital, and the city began to flourish several centuries before and after the Common Era (BCE). The Nabateans were an ancient Arab nomadic tribe, adept at commerce. They were both hydraulic engineers and skilled architects.

Today, despite the influx of tourists, the wilderness and tranquility of the desert perhaps still overshadow the crowds that flock here daily. Therefore, Petra is affluent and pleasant rather than chaotic like other wonders of the world. The heart of Petra stretches along a grand avenue paved with large flagstones, Roman-style. From here, the large architectural structures are planned based on the structure of the deep gorges penetrating the natural valleys, radiating in all four directions. Through their talents, architects from Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Nabateans collectively contributed to building a magnificent Petra, parts of which still stand to this day.

Varanasi is located about a 1-hour flight from the capital New Delhi, or if you prefer trains, it takes about 10 hours. Despite the distance, the city of Varanasi, also known as Benares, Banaras, or Kashi, is always a must-visit destination in India. It's an address for travelers seeking to understand and explore the roots of the millennia-old culture of this country.

Nestled along the legendary Ganges River, the city of Varanasi appears with splendid yet incredibly friendly beauty. The ghats of the Ganges are where the dead are cremated and then carried away for water burial every day. Here, you will also encounter images of people performing daily rituals, ablutions, and prayers each early morning. If you're on an India pilgrimage tour, Varanasi is an unmissable stop. In the evenings, the Ganges River hosts sacred ceremonies, rich in cultural essence, like a vibrant stage, while the riverbanks are adorned with a giant fire stage burning throughout the night. If you have the opportunity to travel to India and visit Varanasi in the evening, you will feel the sacred atmosphere and truly be impressed along the banks of the Ganges.

Many not only joyfully bathe and fetch water from the sacred Ganges but also drink it with reverence. Pilgrims from afar who come here return home overnight carrying small plastic cans of Ganges water as a precious gift for their loved ones. Coming here, you will feel the sacredness that this land brings.