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10 Worst Cities to Visit/10 Best Cities to Visit
Of course, no one wants to waste their time and money traveling to a crummy destination. In an effort to help you steer clear of those crummy destinations, Road Junky put together a list of what they consider to be the 10 worst cities in the world to visit. In no particular order, they are:
Mumbai- Dubai
- Liverpool & Manchester
- Any American Suburb
- Guatemala City
- Sao Paulo
- Beijing
- Singapore
- Milan
- Cancun
Weird. I always wanted to visit Bombay (or Mumbai, as it's now called). And Ember seems to be having a great time in Beijing, so I guess the list is colored by Road Junky's perceptions -- which is, of course, totally acceptable. Personally, I hope I never make it back to Harare. Or Bulawayo. So depressing.
Rather than simply mention the dregs and not point out the shining stars of world travel, here's Travel + Leisure's list of what they consider to be the 10 best cities in the world to visit. In no particular order, they are:
- Florence
- Rome
- Bangkok
- Sydney
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cape Town
- Buenos Aires
- New York
- Beirut*
- San Francisco
I've spent several weeks in Cape Town, and if I could retire this weekend, I'd move there and start a weekly "What's Going On About Town" newspaper. I love that place. In my opinion, other great cities to travel to include Amsterdam (easy to navigate); Cairo (Culture! History!); and Key West (F-U-N).
Nevertheless, if you think T+L's list stinks, check out Cool Town Studios for their regional run-down of the world's best cities to visit or peep National Geographic Traveler's Top Urban Places.
* T+L's list was selected prior to the war in Lebanon.
Gallery: The World's Best Cities
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Junaid May 13th 2008 7:09AM
The world's worst cities are Lahore and Karachi.
Ray Feb 1st 2009 6:36AM
You need to add Peshawar to this comment, as a worst city in Pakistan. Worked in the NWF for two years,1995 to 1997. Met some great friends. The problem is not with the people of Pakistan, but the system. Visited in early 2001, while working in Taiwan. There was no comparison. In twenty years as a Navy Seabee, saw many places, didn't like Vietnam to much, but was getting shot at.
junaid May 13th 2008 7:14AM
In Pakistan people/parents are just busy in booking appartments and plots instead of investing money in their children education/future.
Its mean that
When USA will attack on Pakistan, we fight with our plazas and plots by putting them into launchers and launch them towards USA.
FlyedLice Aug 28th 2008 1:49AM
Just another world traveler here. I'd say your list needs to be expanded a bit:
WORST:
-Bijapur, Karnataka, India. Don't, under any circumstances, go there.
-Juarez, Mexico. Border towns invariably suck. But unless you're looking to start a child prostitution ring or stock up on anabolic steroids, or want to work on your Cuban necktie in a drug-deal gone wrong, avoid this place.
-Pretty much every second-tier industrial city in China. Just don't go, mmmkay?
-Denver, Colorado.
BEST:
-Hampi, Karnataka, India. Simply amazing.
-Hong Kong. Dynamic, mesmerizing. Great hiking and not-at-all-bad beaches close by.
-Luang Prabang, Laos. Well-preserved and charming buddhist city.
-Vang Vieng, Laos. Get off the beaten path a bit and spend a few days (or weeks) here.
Koh Lanta, Andaman coast, Thailand. Endless (and less boozy and touristy compared to goddamn Phuket and Koh Phi Phi) white sand and turquoise beaches, marine national park in the south.
Accra, Ghana. OK so the city ain't much, but I love this country. Just chill in the "spots" at night and get to know the lovely people.
As for the previous poster "Brian", New York the "garbage dump of the civilized world?" Have you ever been, um, anywhere? I can name 5 cities within 100 miles of NYC that are all worse. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but you can't deny it's a center of art, culture, and an amazing mix of diff't peoples. Get stuffed you clown.
Sean Oct 9th 2008 9:07AM
should include Plainfield, Illinois on the worst cities in the world.
Callum Nov 8th 2008 9:25AM
I've been to Milan and thought it was really good,
and as for Liverpool and Manchester, i live pretty close to them so i've never been to fascinated by them, but i wouldn't say they were horrible places to visit, there's still a lot to do and people from other countries would find them interesting.
Barcelona and Paris are also pretty nice, but they aren't on the list.
I'm planning on going to USA next Summer, San Francisco and New York are the 2 places i'd most like to visit,
So if anyone would like to give me advice on which is best then that'd be good(:
RANVIR MEHRA Mar 16th 2009 11:15AM
In the TEN BEST CITIES OF THE WORLD I woud certainly add STOCKHOLM because it is really very beautiful and fascinating city full of life and vibrancy .
Arielle Mar 20th 2009 9:45PM
I think San Antonio, Texas should be on the best list. Because the riverwalk is beautiful. its a river you take tours on a boat 2 miles around the river... the tour guide on the boat will show you illusions on buildings... they also have almost 35 or more different restaurants on the river walk and a mall is on it too.
you also have the alamo to visit or six flags, some wildlife exhibit, a zoo, seaworld, ripley's beleive it or not and many more Oh! and this restuaant high in the sky you have to take an elevator to get there, and it revolves while your eating, not fast to get sick very slowly...I live in austin texas i like san antonios activity though
Feras Apr 22nd 2009 4:55PM
I don't know about most the cities that are mentioned, but I'm definitely sure about one thing. the worst place to visit in the world is the Caribbean, yes it's true, the travel agencies they don't want you to know the truth because they are making a lot of money by sending you to these horrible islands.
these islands are very over-rated and the crime rates there is very very underestimated. I personally lived in the Caribbean for two years and I don't have absolutely any good memories to recall.
Anyway, if you are going there be careful from the following islands: St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Antigua. not only there is nothing there to enjoy but also they are very very dangerous .... just be careful.
Meer Apr 23rd 2009 5:48PM
Singapore is one of the best cities that I have visited.
akl168 May 2nd 2007 5:14PM
Often times, I feel like these authors write stories without actually doing any actual research. We visited Singapore earlier this year and found it a great place to visit - and will definitely be back. What is wrong with visiting a clean country? If you've actually been there, you would have noticed that Singapore is extremely green (from real trees). In fact I cannot recall seeing a plastic one at all. Maybe I should have just looked at pictures instead of actually visiting.
There's actually quite a lot to do and see there. Plus it was very easy getting around the place using public transport (cabs, buses, MRT).
Now 'living' there would be different from 'visiting'. Try not to confuse the two.
Nancie May 2nd 2007 5:41PM
I'm surprised to see Singapore on this list. I did a stop over there a couple of years back and took one of their free tours. My impression was that I would like to go back for a visit. I haven't yet, but it's still on my list.
http://www.360.yahoo.com/bunni56531
K May 3rd 2007 12:17AM
Milan?
Are they nuts? From where do these judgmental people come?
I love Milan. They tend to forget that DaVinci's "The Last Supper" is in a little church in that city.
Not only that, let's not forget the San Siro, the cauldren of Italian football and home to AC Milan.
People in that city are always dressed nicely, in fact, on any given day, you would think you were in a fashion parade for the designers because the people are dressed so well. What do you expect - it's Milan!
The Principe Hotel is amazing, classic style and grand elegance oozing from its walls.
That is a stupid list.
jon May 3rd 2007 3:30AM
Dubai?
There are places way WAY worse than this list - actually this list might qualify as the best places to visit for some.
Personally, my worst city would be Douala in Cameroon (not actually the capital, that's Yaounde, but it is the administrative centre). utterly, utterly devoid of anything interesting whatsoever.
Best would be Saan'a in Yemen. Built by Noah's son after the flood apparently, and it hasn't changed much since..
World Traveler May 3rd 2007 9:45AM
SINGAPORE??? You must be kidding me!? You are either biased or clueless on how to rate good cities. I lived there for a year and I long to go back and visit...
Nick Hawkins May 3rd 2007 10:22AM
This is a stupid list and it makes me want to punch the author in the nuts.
1) Dubai. This city rocks. Sure, it's super crazy and in the middle of the desert, but it's so trippy that if you put yourself in the Disney state of mind, you will love it. I spent a week there in December and was like "This place rocks."
2) Singapore. Singapore is awesome.
3) Beijing. I spent 5 days there last May and wish I could have spent more time there. Really - it was one of the few places I've been to where I felt disappointed because I didn't get to see enough.
4) The American suburbs. Hey, was this a Brit who wrote this and hates the US? What the hell? I'd be willing to wager that you can't find someone in the world who would say "Hey kids, let's go to Schaumberg, Illinois!"
5) Cancun. Sure it's a crappy, depressing place propped up by tourism and reminds you of a border town, but it's sunny and the drinks are plentiful.
I don't know if Road Junky has ventured deep into Africa and ever experienced "the worst." I'd be willing to bet that lovely Mogadishu is slightly worse than Milan or Mumbai.
Benji Lanyado May 3rd 2007 11:47AM
how ridiculous. manchester is culturally Britain's second city- the BBC are relocating there, it is responsible for most musical movements that didn't come out of london over the last few decade (see the Smiths, New Order, the Hacienda, Oasis, i could go on), and has some ridiculously good clubs, including Sankeys Soap- Mixmag club of the year last year. http://www.youngineurope.com/guide/view.aspx?id=94&activity=4&dest=43
Karen Walrond May 3rd 2007 11:41AM
What, no Houston?!?
rrgg May 3rd 2007 1:57PM
What? Beirut and Sydney beat Barcelona?
David May 5th 2007 12:42AM
I for one can understand why Singapore is on the list. It has to be by far the most characterless, featureless, sanitised and therefore boring places in Asia. Little point in going there if you want the real Asia! Although if shopping is your life ...