The world’s 10 most rewarding cities, based on character, cultural attractions, art, street and urban life:

1. New York – It defines the urban lifestyle and the ultimate cosmopolitan destination. You’ll be tempted into shopping more than you wished, paying high admissions to some of the world’s best museum collections, and find yourself having to make tough choices when it comes to dining out. New York is the city of cities, a place where you can’t help it but give in to hedonistic pleasures.
2. Paris – The world’s most beautiful metropolis is unbeatable when it comes to offering the utmost sophistication. Its boulevards invite aimless strolling, window-shopping, and café breaks, while admiring the most elegant fashions and sampling the most refined food as you go. It’s the one city that doesn’t leave anyone disappointed, as its romantic images are proven to actually be true time and time again.
3. London – The world’s best shopping experience is not always cheap, but combine a London shopping spree with sampling its outstanding restaurants and you’ll know you can’t possibly have a better time in any other city. It’s also above all a city to be experienced outdoors, an ironic fact considering its usually grey and rainy skies. But that just shows the power of London’s streets with their constant flow of creativity, edginess, and cosmopolitan spirit.
4. Rome – It’s an ancient city that has managed to survive to the present without being just a museum city. Sure its timeless landmarks can give it the feel of a huge open-air gallery, but experiencing Rome is really about experiencing la dolce vita, the feeling of living life at a slower and more laid-back pace, where stops for a glass of wine or a gelato are daily necessities. And while Milan may be the country’s shopping mecca, as the capital of Italy the city is also the place for great shopping which inevitable takes you through elegant piazzas and streets forcing you to slow down even more. There aren’t and never will be many more pleasing destinations than the eternal city.
5. Barcelona – This is an example of how cities can constantly evolve, reinvent themselves, and become an enviable metropolis. Singular architecture, some of the world’s top chefs and restaurants, cool design, and hip bars and clubs give Barcelona all the ingredients to make it one of the most fantastic cities on the planet. Add the Mediterranean beaches and an always-welcoming atmosphere and you can actually argue that this is the perfect city.
6. Madrid – Home to some of the world’s best art and nightlife, this city manages to be one of the planet’s must-do destinations without having one single instantly-recognizable monument or landmark. That’s because in addition to the outstanding art collections it’s the city’s streetlife that’s the major attraction. Its movida movement of the 80s lives on every weekend and you haven’t been to Madrid until you stay out until breakfast before you finally go to sleep on Sunday.
7. Amsterdam – It’s a symbol of freedom and tolerance, a place where everyone feels free to just be. That welcoming spirit is what makes Amsterdam a must-see city, although its art galleries and elegant canals would be enough to attract visitors to this irreverent city. Many destinations can claim that there is no other place like it, but in Amsterdam’s case you’ll discover that there’s no arguing with that.
8. Berlin – This city dares to be different. It’s an edgy 24-hour party city offering an incredible variety of restaurants, shops, and nightlife options thanks to its mixture of cultures and styles. In between its renovated old buildings and contemporary architecture are major international exhibitions and cultural events, meaning there is always something interesting going on, whether it’s a film festival, a fashion fair, or a design expo attracting international attention and cosmopolitan travelers.
9. Lisbon – It’s the world’s most underrated city and that’s because it doesn’t flash its shambolic beauty. Still, Lisbon is quietly seducing its way into the top of the European travel itinerary now that you not only get to see the continent’s most scenic capital but also its growing number of modern attractions complementing its ancient charms. See the best of modern art next to a 16th century World Heritage monument, and dine at a stylish restaurant reached through a street of potted plants and hanging laundry. It’s the birthplace of the world’s explorers and now a place to be discovered.
10. Istanbul – This city is so grand that it’s located in two continents. And by grand we’re not just talking size, but history, monumental wonders, and fascinating streets. It’s European and it’s Asian, it’s ancient but also very much in the 21st century. Watch it all from one of the many rooftop bars or restaurants and you won’t be able to resist falling for its almost mystical spirit.

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