What makes a city beautiful? Some might say a city’s scenic appeal comes down to an abundance of green space and tree-lined avenues; others might vouch for pedestrian-friendly streets, striking skylines or palatial architecture.
We’d argue a city’s beauty comes down to its unique, one-of-a-kind appeal. On ’s list of the world’s most beautiful cities right now, each destination serves up something different, from the cascading buildings of Porto to the beach-lined fringes of Cape Town and the towering skyscrapers of Chicago.
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To curate this list, we asked 24,000 locals in cities worldwide one simple question: Would you describe your city as ‘beautiful’? In these 20 hubs, a majority of locals would.
The world’s most beautiful cities, according to locals
1. Cape Town
Beauty score: 86 percent
A whopping 86 percent of Capetonians would describe the Mother City as beautiful, more than any other city surveyed. The city, which climbs the hills between the flat-topped Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, is fringed by powder-soft beaches and surrounded by natural beauty, from the botanical riches of Cape Floral Kingdom to the dramatic cliffs of the Twelve Apostles.
2. Edinburgh
Beauty score: 84 percent
With its collision of architectural styles, from the New Town’s crescents of Georgian townhouses to the Old Town’s tight, higgledy-piggledy medieval streets and striking Gothic spires, the Scottish capital is famously an absolute delight to walk around. And so say the locals, 84 percent of whom would describe their hometown as a looker.
3. Sydney
Beauty score: 78 percent
Water-bound Sydney has one of the planet’s most striking and recognisable skylines, defined by the shell-like, swooping arches of the Sydney Opera House and distinctly angled skyscrapers. Its streets feature a mix of golden sandstone and glassy towers, and then, of course, there are all those lovely golden beaches. No wonder 78 percent of Sydneysiders think their city is a beaut.
4. Chicago
Beauty score: 77 percent
It might be known for its skyscrapers, but the Windy City is actually one of the greenest on the planet, according to our survey. Alongside its hundreds of parks, Chicago boasts sweeping Lake Michigan views and the snaking waterways of its namesake river. With 77 percent of locals describing it as beautiful, Chicago can lay claim to being America’s best-looking city. Take that, LA.
5. Lisbon
Beauty score: 74 percent
Ah, Lisbon. A city where coastal sunlight casts everything in a golden glow. Where yellow trams cruise down steep streets stacked with pastel-colored buildings, and where azulejo tilework plasters the walls. Seventy-four percent of locals would call this place beautiful, and we’re in no position to argue with ’em.
6. Paris
Beauty score: 68 percent
It wouldn’t be a list of the world’s most beautiful cities without Paris, would it? The French capital has famously resisted building skyscrapers; instead, it’s a hub of grand boulevards and Haussmannian architecture, all wrought-iron balconies and elegant stone façades. Then there are all the charming cafés, spectacular parks and vantage points, the sparkling Seine and – yes – that big old glittery tower.
7. Stockholm
Beauty score: 68 percent
A city that’s, in fact, an archipelago? You bet. Where freshwater Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is surrounded by water, giving the city a distinct visual identity. Its 14 island neighbourhoods, from the narrow medieval streets of Gamla Stan (The Old Town) to the elevated bohemian hub of Södermalm, are connected by more than 50 bridges.
8. Porto
Beauty score: 67 percent
Porto is a famously layered city: red-roofed buildings seem to cascade into the Douro River, creating an absolute feast for the eyes (best taken in from the Jardim do Morro, a hilltop park in Vila Nova de Gaia). Its buildings are a hodgepodge of colours and textures, from the iconic blue-and-white tiled interior of São Bento Station to weather-beaten homes and the Art Deco Batalha Centro de Cinema.
9. Medellin
Beauty score: 66 percent
This mountainous city sits in a naturally formed river basin called the Aburrá Valley, meaning there’s lush, green nature pretty much everywhere you look. Its architecture is a blend of colonial-era churches and nature-first structures, such as the Orquideorama, a wooden canopy in the Jardin Botánico that’s part honeycomb, part flower.
10. Riga
Beauty score: 65 percent
Riga is all gargoyles, sphinxes and lavish floral motifs; in short, a bloody whimsical place for a stroll. The Latvian capital is famous as a hub for Art Nouveau architecture, concentrated on UNESCO-listed Alberta Street, but there’s also your classic cobbled Old Town and plenty of medieval buildings to admire.
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