14 Cities as Beautiful as Paris That You Should Visit
The Eiffel Tower stands out as the main backdrop to this French city. Tourists from every significant country flock to Paris to taste the finest desserts in the world and cruise down the idyllic Seine River. Artists browse the Louvre, searching for the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo, architectural appreciators marvel at the Notre Dame building for hours, questioning its foundation.
While Paris hosts some of the most beautiful icons in the world, other locations offer different gorgeous scenes, too. We’ve split this list into international and U.S. cities.
1. Vik, Iceland
A flawless church sits atop a hill, straight out of a Wes Andersen film. Black sand beaches line the shore, inviting visitors to walk across the miniature pieces of volcanic sand. The Atlantic Ocean laps on the shore, producing massive waves.
Near the ocean, towering rock pillars entrance beachgoers with their mythical appearances. Adrenaline seekers zip line over the rustling river at the crux of two intersecting mountains, feeling the icy air brush over their helmeted heads.
2. Reykjavik, Iceland
An enormous, symmetrical church juts into the sky, surrounded by astonishing northern lights. Behind the city, a cluster of snow-capped mountains stands tall.
A rainbow road leads to the bustling downtown metropolis, which is filled with punk rock museums, folklore sculptures, and delicious local cuisine. A few miles outside of downtown, the Blue Lagoon warms visitors as they lounge in the volcanic hot springs.
3. La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Miles of switchbacks from the Costa Rican airport unveil a charismatic town built around a volcano. Don’t worry, though. La Arenal hasn’t erupted in decades, resulting in tours around the dormant centerfold.
Piping hot springs pool throughout the volcanic town, making the Costa Rican destination a fabulous place for a relaxing vacation. In the waterways surrounding the volcano, specifically Lake Arenal, visitors engage in paddleboarding, swimming, kayaking, and extreme water rafting.
4. Cusco, Peru
This has to be my favorite Peruvian city. On the other side of the vibrant Lima nightlife, Cusco favors a laid-back attitude, soaking in the beauty of nature and jaw-dropping architectural aesthetics. The Plaza de Armas serves as the city’s center point, welcoming visitors to a square filled with symmetrical brown buildings overflowing with historical significance. A fountain flows in the middle of the square as locals and visitors walk around the public area.
Cobblestone streets lead through the city markets and local vendors. Nature enthusiasts favor hiking up the green Andes Mountains for a closeup peek at Cristo Blanco, a 26-foot sculpture of Jesus. Saqsaywaman, an Incan ruin site, borders Cusco, along with numerous other historical sites paying homage to the Incan tribes.
5. Monteverde, Costa Rica
Up in the clouds lies a Costa Rican wonderland. Waterfalls stream down the high-altitude city, roads run on a vertical axis, and sky bridges permit tourists to suspend between treetops and nature. Tourists coexist with the 250 mammal species prevalent in the forest.
Night tours spot nocturnal mammals jumping through branches suspended in the air, creepy crawlies meandering the rainforest, and predators lurking on leaves or tree bark.
6. London, England
A snapshot of London reveals a massive Ferris wheel lingering over the iconic River Thames. From that Ferris wheel to the London Eye, one can see the whole layout of The Big Smoke.
The monumental tower clock, Big Ben, alerts residents and tourists of the time. The 72 stories of the shard shoot into the sky, and a double-sided bridge, the Tower Bridge, transports people from one side of The Thames to the other.
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bicyclists fly through the green streets of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Public transportation options interweave with tiny cars and pedestrians moving about the city. A canal streams through the middle of Amsterdam, with buildings peppering either side of the waterway.
The smell of fresh stroopwafel lingers through the air, met with whiffs of the best cheese you’ll ever taste. Aside from the pleasing backdrop of bikes and canals, tulips pop up in the fields, and gingerbread-style buildings hug each other throughout the city.
8. Sanibel Island, Florida
Tucked behind a bridge in Fort Myers stands an astounding island brimming with plentiful marine life, turquoise water, white silky sand, and delicious food. Sanibel Island prides itself on respecting the natural wildlife prevalent on the island, so keep an eye out for armadillos exploring the nightlife, otters swimming in the rivers, bobcats hunting in the woods, coyotes, pigs, and alligators.
Bicyclists cruise down the paved sidewalks, breathing in the sandy island air and basking in the natural beauty of Sanibel. Palm trees form a protective layering throughout the Floridian island, also providing visitors with shade. Thousands of shells furnish the sand (pro-tip: waking up in the middle of the night during low tide ensures you will find heaps of large shells).
9. Zion Canyon, Utah
For technicality purposes, Zion Canyon is located in Springdale, Utah. The striking gorge canyon plunges into southwestern Utah, and red rock formations fill the landscape.
In higher elevations, layers of snow cement the top of the rocks, creating this serene scenery. In lower elevations, the canyons open up into gatherings of water or emerald pools, where visitors break from hiking the rock for a dip in the green water. In addition to these otherworldly green pools, waterfalls run down the rocks, collecting in valleys.
10. San Diego, California
This Pacific Coast wonderland houses seals, sea lions, low humidity, and astonishing architecture year-round. The perfect climate, matched with the serenity of the beaches and wildlife, makes San Diego a bucket list destination.
In La Jolla Cove, sea lions mingle and bark while visitors admire them or embark on snorkeling and diving tours for a closer look at San Diego wildlife. Boat tours depart from the shore deep into the Pacific, offering a chance to spot humpback, minke, and fin whales fluking.
11. Telluride, Colorado
This mountainside town snuggled in the Rocky Mountains appeals to all kinds of residents and travelers. During winter, skiers and snowboarders rejoice in the model skiing conditions. Pounds of powder pile on the mountains and provide skiers with a smooth ski down the Rockies. Non-skiers can try hiking up any of a variety of trails lining the hills. The town consists of boxy buildings peering out to the mountain range behind the civilization.
12. New York City
In the distance, Lady Liberty stands tall, symbolizing freedom and autonomy. On the other side of town, the Empire State Building reaches 102 stories into the sky, again promising strength and capability. Skyscrapers pop up every turn you make, instilling a sense of hope and dreams within the onlooker.
World-famous museums like the Met and the Museum of Modern Art treat patrons with prestigious artwork only spoken about in avant-garde film and literature. Horses with carriages trot through Central Park, stopping at picturesque points for riders to snap pictures and marvel over the looming elm and maple trees.
13. New Orleans, Louisiana
Home of the annual Mardi Gras celebration and a cultural touchstone regarding voodoo, New Orleans sees millions of tourists yearly. Though the city acknowledges its roots in witchcraft, voodoo, and spirituality, the Louisiana city also acted as one of the formational locations of jazz. Names like Louis Armstrong and King Oliver thank the southern town for their start in the complex music genre. The Jazz Museum, a gorgeous burgundy Greek Revival building, allows tourists to journey back into the history of the significant music movement.
New Orleans’ architecture stands out compared to the other entries on this list. When one steps foot into New Orleans, it seems they transport back hundreds of years, what with the well-restored buildings (The Cabildo) and century-old churches (St. Louis Cathedral) decorating the city.
14. Anchorage, Alaska
“It’s so green,” were my mom’s first words after arriving in Anchorage. We visited in the summer, hoping to miss the freezing, snowy winter. Instead, we experienced cool weather, loads of wildlife trailing through parks (moose and bears catching their salmon), and a comfortable look at glacier formations.
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a perfect walking or biking path set in the middle of Alaska’s unique landscape. Spot Mt. Denali as you pedal through the nearly 20-mile trail. Also, keep an eye out for moose and Alaskan flowers.
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