Hong Kong
BEST 10 CITIES TO
Article by lonelyplanet
The top 10 list offers a mix of well-known and lesser-known locations: popular cities already getting attention for
their attractions and events; towns off the beaten path that are worth a second look; and cities that are have
suffered from natural disasters and deserve our focused attention.
8 8
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital of cool is
unstoppable. The city’s booming
street-food scene is smashing it
on Refshaleøen, where a former
shipyard is now rebooted food and
craft market Reffen. The Danish
Architecture Centre has moved
into Ellen van Loon’s buzz-inducing
cultural centre BLOX, while the
anticipated mid-2019 completion
of the Cityringen metro line means
even easier cross-town adventures. 3. Novi Sad, Serbia
Elegant yet easy-going, Novi Sad
basks in the limelight, defying its
second-city status and boldly
living up to its moniker. Serbia’s
‘New Garden’ hosts the rocking
EXIT festival. Bursting with
creative energy, new Gradic Fest
is reinvigorating Petrovaradin
through music, film, theatre and
art, as Novi Sad gears up to wear
another crown – that of the 2021
European Capital of Culture. 5. Kathmandu, Nepal
In the aftermath of the 2015
earthquake, news reports from
Kathmandu showed a city
broken and in mourning, but
today the narrative is all about
reconstruction and rejuvenation.
Historic sites are being returned
to their former glory, and moves
to calm the city’s infamous traffic,
smog and noise have made
Kathmandu more liveable than it
has been in decades.
2.Shenzhen, China
Welcome to China’s most
innovative city – Shenzhen – the
‘Silicon Valley’ of China. Shenzhen
now has a strumming indie-
music scene, cool cafes, a small
contingent of craft brewers and a
whole new arts district risen from
the remains of former warehouses. 4. Miami, USA
Famed for its beautiful beaches
and buzzing nightlife, Miami has
long captivated travellers seeking
a slice of tropical paradise while
the rest of North America shivers.
Although the Magic City still makes
a fine wintertime escape, the
past few years have seen Miami
transform into a centre for the arts,
and an innovator in urban design. 6. Mexico City, Mexico
The Mexican capital bears witness
to centuries of architectural
design and artistic movements.
The pre-Hispanic buildings of the
Mexica rise from the city’s soft
ground while colonial cathedrals
stand fast and modern wonders.
For these reasons, and more still,
Mexico City was named World
Design Capital in 2018.