Visit New York City, the most populous city in the United States. See the Statue of Liberty (iconic symbol of freedom, gifted by France in 1886), walk through Central Park (843-acre urban park with lakes, trails, and the Bethesda Terrace), explore Times Square (bustling commercial hub known for its bright billboards and Broadway theaters), and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (one of the world's largest art museums with over 2 million works).
Visit London, capital of England and the United Kingdom. See the Tower of London (historic castle housing the Crown Jewels and ravens), ride the London Eye (giant Ferris wheel with panoramic city views), explore the British Museum (home to the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies), and watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (ceremonial tradition with red-coated soldiers).
Visit Tokyo, Japan's bustling capital. See the Shibuya Crossing (one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections), explore the historic Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo's oldest temple with a vibrant Nakamise shopping street), and admire the Tokyo Skytree (the world's tallest tower at 634 meters).
Stack 28 centuries into one city: Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Sistine Chapel, and the best carbonara on earth
Visit Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital. Explore the Fushimi Inari Shrine (famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates), see the golden Kinkaku-ji temple (a Zen Buddhist pavilion covered in gold leaf), stroll through the historic Gion district (known for geisha culture and traditional machiya houses), and admire the rock garden at Ryoan-ji (a UNESCO World Heritage site).
Visit Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Explore Tivoli Gardens (one of the world's oldest amusement parks with historic rides and gardens), see the Little Mermaid statue (iconic bronze sculpture inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale), wander through Nyhavn (colorful 17th-century waterfront with historic ships and cafes), and visit the Round Tower (17th-century observatory offering panoramic city views).
A city built on water with no cars — gondolas, Byzantine mosaics, and getting happily lost in the back canals
Visit Paris, the capital of France. See the Eiffel Tower (iconic 324m iron lattice tower with panoramic city views), explore the Louvre Museum (home to the Mona Lisa and ancient artifacts), stroll along the Champs-Élysées (famous avenue leading to the Arc de Triomphe), and admire the stained-glass windows of Notre-Dame Cathedral (historic Gothic masterpiece on the Île de la Cité).
Visit Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. Cruise the UNESCO-listed canal ring (17th-century waterways with over 1,500 bridges), see masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, explore the Anne Frank House (historic hiding place during WWII), and wander the Jordaan district (picturesque streets with cafes and boutiques).
Visit Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Walk across the historic Charles Bridge (14th-century stone bridge with baroque statues), explore Prague Castle (largest ancient castle complex in the world), see the Astronomical Clock (medieval clock with moving figures in Old Town Square), and try traditional Czech dishes like svickova (marinated beef with cream sauce) or trdelnik (sweet pastry).
Visit Singapore, a vibrant city-state in Southeast Asia. Explore Gardens by the Bay (futuristic Supertree Grove and Cloud Forest dome), shop and dine at Marina Bay Sands (iconic integrated resort with rooftop infinity pool), sample local dishes like Hainanese chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre, and stroll through Chinatown (historic shophouses and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple).
Visit San Francisco, a vibrant city in California. Ride the historic cable cars (the last manually operated system in the world), walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (iconic 2.7 km suspension bridge with views of the bay), explore Alcatraz Island (former federal prison with tours of its notorious cells), and see the Painted Ladies (row of Victorian houses at Alamo Square, famous from TV shows).
Visit Barcelona, capital of Catalonia in Spain. See the Sagrada Familia (Antoni Gaudí's unfinished basilica with intricate facades and towering spires), stroll down La Rambla (tree-lined pedestrian street with street performers and La Boqueria market), explore Park Güel (Gaudí's whimsical public park with mosaic-covered structures and city views), and admire the Gothic Quarter (medieval streets with the Barcelona Cathedral and Roman ruins).
The world's smallest state holds its biggest art: St Peter's, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine ceiling
Visit Osaka, Japan's vibrant second city. Explore Osaka Castle (a reconstructed 16th-century fortress with museum exhibits and panoramic city views), sample street food like takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) in Dotonbori (a bustling entertainment district with iconic neon signs), and experience the thrill of Universal Studios Japan (home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World).
Visit Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace (the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built in 1395), shop and eat street food at Myeongdong (a bustling district known for cosmetics and tteokbokki), and see panoramic city views from N Seoul Tower (a landmark with love locks and observatory).
Visit Dublin, capital of Ireland. Explore Trinity College (home to the Book of Kells, a 9th-century illuminated manuscript), stroll through Temple Bar (historic cultural quarter with pubs and live music), see St. Patrick's Cathedral (largest church in Ireland, founded in 1191), and tour the Guinness Storehouse (seven-story experience on the history of Ireland's famous stout).
Visit Athens, the historic capital of Greece. Explore the Acropolis (ancient citadel with the Parthenon temple, built in the 5th century BC), wander through the Plaka district (old neighborhood with narrow streets and traditional tavernas), see artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum (one of the world's greatest museums of ancient Greek art), and watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square.
Visit Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world in Nevada. Walk the Las Vegas Strip (4.2 km of iconic resorts like Bellagio with its fountain shows and Venetian with gondola rides), see the Fremont Street Experience (historic downtown with a 460-meter LED canopy and zip line), and catch a Cirque du Soleil performance (acrobatic shows at venues like The Mirage).
Visit Berlin, capital of Germany. See the Brandenburg Gate (18th-century neoclassical monument symbolizing German reunification), explore the Berlin Wall Memorial (preserved section with historical exhibits on Cold War division), visit Museum Island (UNESCO site with five museums including the Pergamon Museum with ancient artifacts), and try currywurst (iconic street food invented in post-war Berlin).
Visit Washington DC, capital of the United States. Explore the National Mall (home to the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument), see the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, tour the Smithsonian museums like the Air and Space Museum (largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft), and walk through the historic Georgetown neighborhood (cobblestone streets and waterfront views).
Visit Porto, Portugal's second-largest city. Explore the historic Ribeira district (UNESCO World Heritage site with colorful houses along the Douro River), taste Port wine at a cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia (like Sandeman or Graham's), admire the intricate azulejo tiles at São Bento railway station (over 20,000 tiles depicting historical scenes), and cross the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge (designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel).
Visit Bangkok, capital of Thailand. Explore the Grand Palace (home of the Emerald Buddha and intricate Thai architecture), take a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River (passing temples and local life), shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market (one of the world's largest markets with over 15,000 stalls), and sample street food like pad thai and mango sticky rice at Yaowarat (Chinatown's vibrant food scene).
Visit Vienna, the capital of Austria. Explore the historic Schönbrunn Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site with 1,441 rooms and Baroque gardens), see masterpieces at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (housing works by Bruegel and Vermeer), stroll through the Naschmarkt (a vibrant market with food stalls and antiques), and attend a classical concert at the Vienna State Opera (one of the world's leading opera houses).
Visit Oslo, the capital of Norway. Explore the Viking Ship Museum (home to remarkably preserved 9th-century Viking ships like the Oseberg), stroll through Vigeland Sculpture Park (the world's largest sculpture park by a single artist, with over 200 bronze and granite works), and see the modern Opera House (a sloping marble roof you can walk on for panoramic fjord views).
Visit Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Explore Hallgrímskirkja (iconic Lutheran church with a 73-meter tower offering panoramic city views), relax in the Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa with silica-rich waters), see the Sun Voyager sculpture (stainless steel artwork symbolizing hope and discovery), and learn about Viking history at the National Museum of Iceland (exhibits spanning from settlement to modern times).
Visit Boston, one of America's oldest cities. Walk the Freedom Trail (2.5-mile path past 16 historic sites like the Paul Revere House and Old North Church), explore Harvard University (founded in 1636 in Cambridge), see the Boston Public Garden (first public botanical garden in the U.S. with swan boats), and catch a game at Fenway Park (iconic baseball stadium home to the Red Sox).
Visit Sydney, Australia's largest city. See the Sydney Opera House (iconic sail-shaped performing arts centre on Bennelong Point), climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (134m summit with panoramic views), relax at Bondi Beach (famous surf spot with ocean pool and coastal walk), and explore the Royal Botanic Garden (heritage-listed gardens with native plants and harbour vistas).
Visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital. See the Petronas Twin Towers (once the world's tallest buildings, with a skybridge at 170m), explore the Batu Caves (a Hindu shrine with a 42.7m golden statue and 272 steps), wander through the Islamic Arts Museum (largest in Southeast Asia with over 7,000 artifacts), and sample street food at Jalan Alor (famous for satay, nasi lemak, and char kway teow).
Visit Lisbon, Portugal's hilly capital on the Tagus River. Ride the iconic Tram 28 through historic Alfama (narrow medieval streets and Fado music venues), see the Belem Tower (16th-century fortress and UNESCO site), explore the Jeronimos Monastery (Manueline architecture and Vasco da Gama's tomb), and taste pastel de nata (custard tarts) at Pasteis de Belem.
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