Best cities to travel to

For density, food, energy, and 24-hour life.

Some travelers want to be in cities — and not all cities are worth the trip. These are the destinations where the urban experience is the point.

32 destinations

France

Western Europe

Paris is only the opening act — wine country, the Alps, and two coastlines.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Japan

East Asia

Extraordinary food, culture, and cities. Nothing quite prepares you for it.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Off-season $$$–$$$$ Mild

Spain

Western Europe

Food, beaches, and three or four cities that each justify the trip.

Peak months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Good now $$–$$$ Mild

United States

North America

A continent pretending to be a country — cities, deserts, and the best national parks anywhere.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Mild

China

East Asia

Ancient history and hypermodern cities at a scale that's hard to grasp until you're there.

Peak months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Good now $$–$$$ Mild

Czech Republic

Central Europe

Prague earns the crowds. The rest of the country is the bonus.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$–$$$ Cold

Lisbon, Portugal

Western Europe

The best value city in Western Europe.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Singapore

Southeast Asia

The best two days you can spend between flights — or on their own.

Peak months: Feb, Mar, Jul
Good now $$$–$$$$ Warm

South Korea

East Asia

Seoul alone justifies the flight — food, nightlife, and mountains inside the city.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Good now $$–$$$ Mild

United Arab Emirates

Middle East

Dubai and Abu Dhabi: superlatives, desert, and a stopover worth a few days of its own.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Off-season $$$–$$$$ Warm

United Kingdom

Western Europe

London, then the parts most visitors skip — Scotland, Wales, and the coast.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Mild

Colombia

South America

Medellin is one of the most exciting cities in the world right now.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jul, Aug, Dec
Good now $–$$ Warm

Germany

Western Europe

Serious cities, river valleys, and the Alps in the south.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Dec
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Hungary

Central Europe

Budapest is the best-value great city in Europe.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $–$$$ Cold

Netherlands

Western Europe

Amsterdam, then the cities and coast most visitors never reach.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Mild

Poland

Eastern Europe

Europe's best-value city break, with the history to match.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $–$$ Cold

Italy

Western Europe

The benchmark for food, history, and beauty.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Mexico

North America

Mexico City is world-class. Add the coast, ruins, and food culture.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec
Good now $–$$$ Warm

Australia

Oceania

Vast, varied, relaxed. Reef, Sydney, and proper wilderness in one.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Off-season $$$–$$$$ Warm

Croatia

Eastern Europe

Dubrovnik, the Adriatic coast, ancient cities. Compact and beautiful.

Peak months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Switzerland

Western Europe

The most concentrated mountain scenery in Europe — and you'll pay for it.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
Peak now $$$$ Mild

Argentina

South America

Buenos Aires has the best steakhouses and nightlife in South America.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Off-season $–$$$ Mild

Austria

Western Europe

The Alps done properly — skiing, hiking, and Vienna for the culture.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Dec
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild

Brazil

South America

A continent of a country. Pick two or three things and commit.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Sep, Oct, Dec
Good now $$–$$$ Warm

Canada

North America

Wilderness on a continental scale — Rockies, coast, and the cities between.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Cold

Ireland

Western Europe

Rent a car, chase the coast, accept the weather.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Mild

Malaysia

Southeast Asia

The most underrated food trip in Southeast Asia.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jul, Aug
Good now $–$$$ Warm

Morocco

North Africa

Medinas, desert, mountains, and coast — sensory and varied.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Good now $–$$$ Warm

Turkey

Middle East

Istanbul alone is worth the trip. Add Cappadocia, the coast, and ancient ruins.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Warm

Vietnam

Southeast Asia

The best food in Southeast Asia, remarkable scenery, a long coastline.

Peak months: Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
Off-season $–$$$ Warm

South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Cape Town, safari, and wine country in one self-drive trip.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Good now $$–$$$ Mild

Taiwan

East Asia

Best street food in the world, dramatic gorges, deeply welcoming culture.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
Off-season $$–$$$ Warm

Frequently asked

Best city for food and nightlife?

Spain — Food, beaches, and three or four cities that each justify the trip.

Other ways to find a destination

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