The Top 50 Cities to See in Your Lifetime

[flamingdem]

* A list to make you feel like you haven't seen much! Of the top five I've only been to NYC.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minube/the-top-50-cities-to-see_b_5547308.html

1.) Venice, Italy - How could we not include Venice? From its picturesque canals and grandiose basilicas to its colorful homes and cozy wine bars, there's simply nowhere like it on Earth.(Photo by Jesus Lopez)

2.) Seville, Spain - Seville is the crown-jewel of imperial Spain and visitors can delight at the city's narrow streets lined with orange blossoms, Moorish castles, and some of Spain's most legendary tapas joints. (Photo by Zu Sanchez)

3.) New York City, USA - It's no wonder New York is often called the "Crossroads of the World." Nowhere else can you find such a mind-blowing concentration of art, culture, cuisine, and business. (Photo by Iker F. Gavilan)

4.) Lhasa, China - Lhasa is the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism and the rugged Himalayas set against Lhasa's incense-filled monasteries and palaces make for one of the most unforgettable views on Earth. (Photo by Juanjo Fontanet)

5.) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - From the world-famous Carnival to its iconic skyline, Rio de Janeiro is an experience for all five senses. The fact that its home to two of the most famous beaches on Earth doesn't hurt either! (Photo by Stocklapse)

.. etc

[HeiressofBickworth]

1. Wow, what a slug I've been.

I've only been to six out of 50.

[merrily]

2. It's always nice to read these stories, but the headline is funny.

The Top 50 Cities to See in Your Lifetime

As opposed to seeing them in your afterlife?

I get it, though. Usually, these stories are titled "to see before you die," which can be a downer.

Why can't we just say "the top 50 cities in the world to see"? Not dramatic enough?

[Sherman A1]

3. From the list I have seen 2

and many of them I will never see, nevertheless an interesting assortment.

[MrModerate]

4. I've got a ways to go: 21 of 50 . . .

And I always thought I was well travelled.

Of course, I've also been to a lot of places you wouldn't necessarily want to go.

[Duppers]

5. 8 here.

[unionthug777]

6. 2 here

perhaps someday i'll get to some of those places.........after I win the lottery !!!!!

[danriker]

7. 8 here, but they missed some

I've been to London, New York, Kyoto, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Las Vegas and San Fran, all but Kyoto and Singapore more than once, New York, San Fran and Las Vegas many times. Paris and San Fran rank 1-2 on my list.
Cities that should be among the top 50 that I have visited multiple times: Hong Kong, Boston, Washington, DC and Chicago.

[MrModerate]

9. Not to mention Barcelona n/t

[TuxedoKat]

18. I was going to say that

How could they leave out Barcelona. I've been to ten of those cities.

[Paka]

8. I have only five more to go!

One deviation from the list. I was in Jerulasem, Jordon, about six weeks before Israel overran it in 1967.

[flamingdem]

11. wow, you're quite the traveler

I would have loved to see those places in the 60s. Many are sketchy these days, especially the Middle East.

[Paka]

16. It gives away my age,

but I got bit by the travel bug very early in life, when the world was a very different place. I set as my goal to see as much of Planet Earth as I could fit in, and I'm still working on it. I've written three books of travel memoirs since spurred on by a friend of mine who teaches creative writing.

[Mosby]

19. Jerusalem is in Israel not Jordan

[Paka]

20. Not in April 1967.

The West Bank and Jerusalem were in Jordan at that time, before the 6-day war.

[CTyankee]

10. 12 out of 50 and will go to one more, Lyon, in November

I've not been to the MIddle East or China.

[flamingdem]

12. Lyon sounds fantastic

This list was helpful for learning about some great cities that many miss. Have fun!

[CTyankee]

13. I am determined to go to Granada and Seville, too...

I've been to South America so I checked off Rio de Janeiro -- what a beautiful place (altho poor)...

[flamingdem]

14. Those are the top of my list

So far was only in Barcelona and it left me wanting to see more. I found Barcelona very touristy so I hope Granada and Seville are a bit more mellow.

[CTyankee]

15. Put Valencia on your list...go to see the City of Arts and Sciences there and for the music

I hope to take my granddaughter there next May so she can visit the aquarium (largest in Europe).
We'll also visit Barcelona...too bad it is so touristy but it is a fabulous place.

[Paka]

17. Totally agree with you on Valencia.

It's a great city and I'm lucky enough to have a friend I visit there.

[CTyankee]

36. I'd really like to know if there are any good restaurants we should definitely to to when we are

there next May. My guess is we'll get a hotel room near the City of Arts and Sciences (my granddaughter is a Marine Biology major so we'll be in that aquarium!).

I notice judging by some recent articles in the NYT Sunday Travel section that Valencia is up and coming after being a kind of rust belt city and the reason they got Calatrava to design a tourist draw (similar to what Frank Gehry did for Bilbao, another gritty factory town before the Guggenheim went in).

Is the paella really wonderful there? I was in Spain in 2008 on an art trip and I adored the Spanish dishes. They were fresh and delicious!

[flamingdem]

22. Great, I was wondering if that was as

good as Sevilla. I heard it was wonderful so this confirms that I'd better add that one to the list.

I guess the train is the best way to get to all three, not sure, but I'm not driving.. maybe cheapo plane.

[CTyankee]

27. I did price out my trip from Barcelona to Valencia and back by train and found it was much cheaper

than a flight. Trains in lots of places in Europe are pretty good deals. I love Rick Steeves but his advice about flights by airlines of a country within that country are good deals I did not find to be true (in my experience).

[MrModerate]

35. Granada is fantastic . . .

Just went back in March. Got an apartment up the hill across a small valley from the Alhambra, so it was our vista whenever we sat on the porch. Highly recommended.

[elleng]

21. Darn! Just

17!

[flamingdem]

23. I think that's very good!

I'd be happy with 17. I've been close to some but maybe missed something great - as in Cuzco, gave up on getting there since it was expensive and the bus was full for a week. Got to Huancayo, the place people leave from.. thinking oh I'll get back here soon.. that was in the early 80s and haven't made it back.

For Colombia, I got to see Popayan before the earthquake, I'd trade that for Cartagena.

[elleng]

24. Western Europe has been my thing,

guess I'm 'slanted!' Did visit Acapulco, but that's it.

[flamingdem]

25. Do you have a favorite in Western Europe

even one that wasn't listed?

[elleng]

26. Generally I love Italy,

love the language, love the food, and the people were fun. (its been years.) Rome (and Florence?) were mentioned, and I traveled around the country; saw much of it.

Britain too, attended 1 college year in England, and separately, visited Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

[liberal N proud]

28. I have seen several and there are 4 that I refuse to see

I have no desire to ever visit India.

[flamingdem]

30. I know what you mean

Friends are crazy about India and it looks visually stunning but their stories of the trains, descriptions of aggressive begging and "Delhi Belly" have put me off.

[Blue_In_AK]

29. There are some of these I'd like to see,

but most of them, I couldn't care less. I enjoy my provincial life.

[matt819]

31. I've got 14

But can't take a list like this seriously if Cape Town South Africa isn't on it.

[flamingdem]

32. What do you like about Cape Town?

A lot of people mentioned it in the comments of that article too.

[matt819]

34. I lived there

Lived there for seven years during the 1990s. Putting politics aside, it's easily one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

[indepat]

33. Wow! Paris not in the top ten. Wow!

[CTyankee]

37. good lord, how can it NOT be in the top ten? Paris is fabulous...