Trippy Users’ 15 Best Cities They’ve Ever Been To

If given a chance to vote for the best cities you’ve ever been to, which would be your top five cities?

Trippy had a poll to see what users had to say about the best, and 74 users responded. Here’s the question, followed by the 15 best we pulled out from the responses.

What are the five best cities you've ever been to, and why?
I was just looking at a Trippy question about the world's five worst cities. It got me wondering what everyone's five favorite cities would be. So, what are your five all-time most beloved cities, and what makes them so special?

1. Paris

Paris received the most votes (23) and is in the top five destinations for Trippy users. Julie from Milan said:

It IS like the movies whenever I go. I usually go alone and on a budget. You don't need much. Sit at a cafe, and people watch. Buy cheese wine and bread and sit by Eiffel tower. Again a touristic city that is easy to get lost in (in a good way) and easy to escape crowds. Plus, don't listen to stereotypes of the French or Parisians.....discover your own impression.

Paris is always a good idea is a line often attributed to Audrey Hepburn in her 1954 movie, Sabrina. You can enjoy the city any time of year, but for the ultimate people watching and al fresco dining, go during the warm months where you can soak up the sun, people watch, and enjoy delicious French cuisine. Or just enjoy a cup of coffee and dessert in one of the outdoor cafes. Bruce concluded:

There is nothing to complain about other than the prices at the dining establishments on the Champs Elysee. A city of love and beauty.

2. New York City

New York City took second place (20 votes) and Jeyme, an avid traveler can’t get enough of the city, she wrote:

I love this place because you can spend two weeks here and still only just scratch the surface. Anyone who says they don't like New York didn't do enough of New York.

Laura from Buenos Aires and Lola from Ireland felt the same way, and they penned these:

Laura:

I think it's pretty apparent why but the first time I went, almost 15 years ago, I felt I was in the center of the (occidental) world, and I was there last week for the second time, and it is even more exciting. There's so much going on, so many places to see, so many experiences to have. And there is always something new. It's truly amazing.

Lola:

My top city is New York City. I loved it so much. I moved there from another state in the USA and stayed for ten years. There's so much culture and always something new to discover. I am sure in the time I was there I didn't see everything!

Besides Broadway shows, diverse cuisine, and lots of shopping options, New York City has world-class museums and galleries. And if you’re looking for a unique museum only found in New York City, Sean recommended Tenement Museum:

I heartily recommend the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 97 Orchard Street, on the lower east side. This 1860's building is set up to reflect the various immigrant groups the settled in that area throughout the years. Each apartment is set up to reflect immigrants of different origins, and costumed actors recreate the day to day lives of these people. The ground floor is set up as a business from the past. There are walking tours of the neighborhood, as well as various events throughout the year. It is highly recommended!

3. London

London came in third with 16 votes. Stella and Edward had this to say:

Edward:

London, since there is so much to explore when it comes to museums, history, and shops. Also, the fact that you nowadays can eat great food and yummy desserts in London - that's a huge bonus! It's a cliché, but I like the Soho district. And English pubs! Mitre is one of my favorites with decor that feels very 1920s and a vast amount of beers to choose from.

Stella:

This one was a given. London HAD to make it on my list. One of the most incredible cities on the planet! It has anything and everything! The best of the best, la crème de la crème! The best restaurants, the best designers, the best museums, the best theatres, well the best of everything literally! London is a must-see and must-go. Spending 3 weeks in London was not enough for me to see everything. I firmly believe that you'll never be bored if you're in London. London is calling! Better answer.

As Stella said, three weeks is definitely not enough time when visiting London. Whether you’re there for three days, three weeks, or three months, one experience not to be missed is an afternoon tea at one of the hotels or museums. Here is a list provided by Visit London.

4. San Francisco

San Francisco came right behind London as one of the top five best cities that Trippy users visited. Edward from Stockholm had a great time and shared his thoughts:

San Francisco because of the cute houses, Golden Gate Park, the beaches, the goth scene, the thrift shops & book shops, the vast LGBTQ-community, the air of "we can change this world to the better" AND the fantastic food. I simply loved everything about this city.

Thomas from Baltimore listed San Francisco as his top five. He said:

San Francisco - best balance of natural and man-made beauty of any city that I've visited. Foodie heaven too.

Some of the must-sees in San Francisco are the cable cars, most crooked street (Lombard Street), Fisherman’s Wharf and Golden Gate Bridge. The city is also famous for its famous sourdough bread, Dungeness crab, and Joe’s Special (a dish consisting of egg, garlic, spinach, and ground beef).

5. Rome

Steve said:

Rome is so full of history. It is everywhere you look in this city. The Vatican is there, Osteria Antica (an old settlement similar to Pompeii, but less visited). It is an exciting city to wander in. Great food, coffee & gelato. There are catacombs, the ancient aqueducts, the ancient road, which cars still drive on—a pretty fantastic place.

Founded around 753 BC, Rome is almost 3,000 years old. History buffs will find this city rich and fascinating, coffee enthusiasts will enjoy the espresso, and the young and old will love the gelato.

Rome also houses the world’s smallest city - Vatican City, and if you visit Rome and Vatican City, you have visited two countries.

6. Prague

Douglas from Cleveland wrote:

Prague's People are industrious and outgoing. It's a relatively clean city, not particularly significant. The main tourist attractions are found in New Town and Old Town squares. But the King Charles bridge and river area is also a beautiful part of the city. The Theater where the great musicians like Mozart and Tchaikovsky performed still stand and are all adorned in gold. The baroque architecture and cathedrals are just outstanding; you can see the mixture of Roman Catholic and Byzantine Catholic worlds. The food is fabulous and not expensive. But The history and structures hundreds of years old did it for me.

Bruce echoed:

It's a museum of architecture from Gothic and Rococo to an ultra-modern Frank Gehry masterpiece. And the omnipresent music isn't exactly bad either.

Beer lovers are in for a treat when in Prague because beer is affordable, and there’s an array of choices. Pivovarský Klub has over 240 types of local, foreign, hard-to-find brews besides serving excellent local food. For local food, Martin recommended:

Lokal Dlouha (basically any branch) is the number one pick if you want to try authentic Czech cuisine. My other tips are: Čestr, a restaurant serving the so-called Czech spotted cow - “Čestr” and Nota Bene, which offers a combination of traditional local food and small breweries on tap.

7. Istanbul

Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. For over 1,500 years, it has been the political, cultural, and economic center of the empires and now Turkey. It’s also the only city in the world that sits on two continents - Europe and Asia. Soak up the unique culture, famous architectural monuments, and more in this imperial city like Julie and Sos, who are two of the eight Trippy users that voted for Istanbul as their top cities.

Julie said:

East meets West; it is true. Colors, spices, smells, traffic- it is my kind of city. A mix of architecture along the Bosphorus and green space to drink your tea. Plus, the Turks' love of Atatürk is inspiring.

Sos:

Awesome vibes around the markets, river, and into the evening. I loved the history and culture.

8. Barcelona

Laura from Buenos Aires listed Barcelona along with Paris, New York City, and Rio de Janeiro. She recalled her visit to Barcelona and wrote:

It may be the perfect city for me with its combination of history, great architecture, art, a beautiful sea, and a bright sky. It's also irreverent and enjoyable.

Krista also enjoyed Barcelona. She said:

The art, color, and architecture were incredible. I loved the wide boulevards of Eixample, and the stark differences in El Born Park Guell was a dream come true.

Barcelona has everything for a perfect vacation, including beaches. Julie recalled Barcelona as:

A beach city that respects tradition, culture, and FOOD. If only my visa let me live in the EU forever, this would be my pick. You can do fancy or backpack because Barcelona has so many options. However, going anytime but summer is recommended because it does get a little them, crowded.

9. Vienna

Kristal from San Francisco named Vienna her top five, so did four other Trippy users, including Steve and Veronica. Here are their comments:

Kristal:

Vienna is the easiest city to navigate. Clean, organized, and friendly. Lots of young people, the city itself has a lot of energy, and it's a great place to visit!

Steve:

Vienna also is a fantastic city, especially at Christmas. St Stephens Cathedral is magnificent. The underground tour is worth going on....maybe not if You're squeamish? Dark, damp, and sometimes there are human bones. There was an amazing underground ancient roman site downtown. I thought it was interesting. Down by the River, there is a lot of amazing art. Murals, sculptures I liked it. There are some amazing schnitzel shops that I found in Rick Steve's book. It's a couple of blocks towards the River from St Stephens. The Rathaus was pretty impressive as well as the royal palace area. They had some excellent museums. Outside of town, some. Walking distance for the healthy was a military history museum that I enjoyed very much.

Veronica:

Vienna is easily the best - beautiful buildings, fantastic art galleries, and the best cream cakes in the world. Bruges has to be next - the best-preserved medieval city in Europe and just the right size to explore fully.

10. Dublin

Lola who hailed from Panama City and have lived in New York City and Dublin said:

I moved to Ireland this spring and loved it! I got to see Dublin at the beginning of summer for a long weekend, and it's great. There are friendly people and loads to do. You can find cultural events, art events, outdoor activities and make a few new friends at a pub.

Ireland’s largest city Dublin is also the center for education, arts, good food, and entertainment. If you’re looking for great eats, Maria a local recommended these:

The thing to remember about eating out in Dublin is that most restaurants, even the outstanding ones, offer a great value pre-theatre menu on weeknights, and some on weekend nights, usually from about 5 pm - 7 pm. You can eat then for a *fraction* of the A La Carte price and typically need to vacate your table by 8 pm. If you're on a budget, always check out the early-bird or pre-theatre options. I love The Vintage Kitchen - great food, byo wine, byo vinyl. It's tiny, so book ahead for dinner and allow time to taste the Guinness beforehand in Mulligan's next door. Brother Hubbard (North) is suitable for brunch, as is Coppinger RowChameleon in Temple Bar serves really good Indonesian food. Take the DART to Sandycove to eat the best Indian food in Dublin at Rasam Restaurant and the best fish for lunch in Cavistons, across the road. If you like Lebanese food, go to Keshk Cafe Restaurant - exceptional value and a byo too. For a real treat (and here the Irish Coffee is a must, and made at your table) go to Chapter One Restaurant a Michelin starred place that has a great (and good value) pre-theatre option - you must book ahead as it's always busy and although a little expensive the food is worth the price.

11. Cape Town

Tom loves Cape Town:

So far, I've been there twice. It's sort of a mix between LA and Miami...where urban sprawl spills down from the mountains directly onto café and palm-lined streets right on the beach (think South Beach). The city is simply drenched in sunshine. You can jog along beautiful, suburban cliffs for dozens of miles before you hit the skyscrapers of downtown. Pick a scenic hotel anywhere between Sea Point and Clifton (I love Clifton) and simply "live." Cape Town is a city where you can lounge all day on the beach and eat and drink well at night. It also has a lot for thrill-seekers and outdoor-lovers (and it's cheap; the rand is at record lows now). When I was there the first time, I climbed Table Mountain, spend a few days in Fish Hoek and Table Mountain National Park on remote beaches, and spent an entire day in Stellenbosch on a wine-tasting tour. The second time I was there, I went shark-cage diving and more wine-tasting in Constantia Valley. The locals are friendly, and if you meet the right crowd, you'll get invited to local parties, BBQs, and "sundowns" (drinks on someone's balcony while watching the sunset).

Polly from DC felt the same way, and she shared her short answer:

Cape Town is stunning, with the ocean at its feet and Table Mountain as its crown.

13. Amsterdam

The Dutch capital Amsterdam is a city of canals and canal houses. Built in the 1700s, the over 400-year-old Canal Ring is a network of waterways that encompasses 395 acres of land and with 80 bridges. A cruise around the canal is the best way to discover Amsterdam.

Ros voted for Amsterdam, along with four other users who loved Amsterdam. Here are their remarks:

Ros:

The perfect size city to visit for a long weekend, and new sights round every corner. Beautiful.

Gemma:

Romance, avant-garde, culture, food, people, history, perfect streets, perfect shops. Best city in Europe.

Lola said:

Amsterdam is so fabulous with its canals and narrow streets. I just spend a day on my way to Ireland, but I am planning on going back for a few weeks' visit.

14. Rio de Janeiro

Nowhere else can compare with the urban beaches of Rio de Janeiro. There’s not just one, there are at least four gorgeous sandy beaches (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Arpoador) in Rio located right in the heart of the city. Rio is also home to the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer Statue perched atop Corcovado mountain.

Laura said:

I'd go there every year if I could. Brazil is a beautiful country, full of life and music, and Rio is it's the best expression. I don't think many other cities can offer such a beautiful landscape and such a vibrant spirit.

Denise from Rio touted her city. She added:

Rio de Janeiro is an amazing city with lots of fun places and beautiful beaches. We can have the weather of the mountains and the sun for the beach in the same view. It`s a gorgeous city!

Asgar loved Rio because of:

The sea on one side and the mountains on the other, plus the women, of course, all stunningly beautiful.

15. Tokyo

Allan was among a handful that voted for Tokyo. He wrote:

I never had a bad meal here. It was always good to fantastic. The people are friendly and honest—lots of beautiful places to go to both old and new. There is always something to do. The best sushi in the world. It is extremely clean. Most of all, it is safe.

To experience old Tokyo, Mai recommended the Yanesen neighborhood and staying at a ryokan, a traditional home converted into guesthouses. This is her list:

If you'd like to experience the old Tokyo since the 18th century, I recommend Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi area called "YANESEN CENTER." JR Nippori Station or Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Sendagi, or Nezu station. There are a lot of peaceful temples, Shinto shrines, little souvenir shops, and cafes.

About Yanesen ryokan

Hotel Ryokan Sawanoya

Ryokan Katsutaro Tokyo

Read Tokyo Travel Guide for First-Timers.