Where to Find the Most Beautiful Cities in the World

The historic Colombian port city of Cartagena has Spanish colonial architecture, locally owned boutiques, and military walls from centuries past. The well-preserved old city was even named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beaches along the northern Colombian coast only enhance the city’s beauty and are easily accessible from neighborhoods like Bocagrande and La Boquilla. And finally, the street art is the definite x-factor adding to Cartagena’s beauty. The city’s brightly colored buildings are often decorated with art whose sole purpose is not praise or accolades but simply to add another adornment to an already spectacular canvas.

Where to stay: Conrad Cartagena, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property curating a mod-tropical feel for an upscale South American retreat.

Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, and yet somehow, that’s only the beginning of the city’s beauty. From the scenic left bank of the Garonne River trimmed with flower beds, to the Queen once proclaiming that the city was “the essence of elegance,” Bordeaux stuns from all angles. One of the most intriguing Bordeaux phenomena is the stark contrast between the more classic architecture, like the 1700s Place de la Bourse, and the exceptionally new-age buildings, as seen at La Cité du Vin (the wine museum). 

Where to stay: InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel, a regal property in the heart of the city with 130 rooms and suites designed by Jacques Garcia.

Luxor lights up the Middle East, between the lamp-lined east banks of the Nile River and the world-renown Sofitel Winter Palace, once home to the Egyptian Royal family in the winter months and the venue from which Howard Carter announced the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Luxor is affectionately known as the “world’s greatest open-air museum,” which is spot-on considering it served as Upper Egypt’s capital during the age of the Pharaohs. Home to Luxor and Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, Luxor puts you in the heart of the ancient Egyptian must-see sights. For a comprehensive tour of the city, book with Original Travel, a luxury tour company that will arrange your stay at the Sofitel Winter Palace, followed by a “Taste of the Nile” river cruise aboard the S.S. Sudan.

Where to stay: Sofitel Winter Palace in a room overlooking a luxurious stretch of tropical Egyptian gardens.

The largest city in the Azores is Ponta Delgada, which sits on "The Green Island," São Miguel. A city in the midst of the nine-island Portuguese archipelago, it captures São Miguel’s beauty, making for a perfect launch pad to the island’s black sand beaches, breathtaking hiking trails, otherworldly gastronomic scene, and endless opportunities to observe marine life. Ponta Delgada is home to beautiful old churches, like the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Esperança, which dates back to the mid-1500s. The city has the classic red-roofed, white-washed Portuguese buildings and narrow pedestrian streets you’ll follow to traverse Old Town. From Ponta Delgada, it’s 15 minutes to Lagoa das Sete Cidades, a bright-green lake in a volcanic caldera, and 40 minutes along the coast to Furnas Valley, where you can swim in bubbling hot springs. For a historic tour of Ponta Delgada and the surrounding natural landmarks, you can book with Azores Getaways.

Where to stay: Azor Hotel, a boutique hotel with a pool overlooking the waterfront.

Jackson has been a favorite Wyoming wilderness escape among celebrities for years, blanketed by snow in the winter months and boasting vibrant greenery in the summer. Jackson takes its spot as one of the most beautiful cities in the world purely because of the unspoiled natural scenery. Home to much of Grand Tetons National Park and not far from Yellowstone National Park, Jackson is within the valley of Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole’s valley is, of course, created by the surrounding Grand Teton Mountains, which is how Jackson comes to offer panoramic views of the mountains.

Where to stay: Amangani, a Teton Mountain paradise at 7,000 feet. Amangani means “peaceful home” and lives up to the name year-round.

In the Land of Smiles, Chiang Mai’s beauty is attributable to both historic and natural scenery. The city is home to beautiful temples but is also largely considered an entryway to the country’s forested mountain ranges to the north. While touring the city, the temples at the top of your list should be Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on Mount Suthep and Wat Chedi Luang in the Old City, with ruins dating back to the 1400s. 

Where to stay: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property along the Mae Ping River.

On the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv serves sunny skies and warm weather for all 12 months of the year. The Beach Promenade extends for miles, lined with surfing beaches, bike paths, and volleyball courts. Neve Tzedek is a great neighborhood to explore, packed with inviting cafes and local boutiques—in general, Tel Aviv is an excellent shopping destination thanks to the city’s keen fashion sense. The Tel Aviv neighborhoods each offer distinctive architectural style, like the White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with German-influenced Bauhaus architecture. The Old City of Jaffa is cobblestone pathways and narrow alleys with views of the Mediterranean, offering travelers simultaneous access to one of the oldest ports in the world and new five-star hotels. Tour Tel Aviv and Jaffa with guide Alex Stein who provides much-needed historical and architectural context in a thoroughly non-boring way.

Where to stay: The Jaffa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, a Legend Award honoree with a design-forward lobby and the courtyard dreams are made of.

A refreshingly logged-off destination, visiting Hoi An is only possible by car because there’s no airport or train station in the city. Hoi An is seemingly the intersection of Buddhist temples and French colonial influences which makes for spectacular scenery along the city’s canals. Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and was built up in the 16th and 17th centuries when Hoi An served as a major Vietnamese trading post. While wandering the seaside enclave, visit the famed Japanese covered bridge and Fujian Assembly Hall.

Where to stay: Four Seasons The Nam Hai, also a Legend Award honoree, with luxurious ocean-view villas.

Nordic design alone could be the reason to regard Copenhagen as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But it truly goes beyond that—from their Meatpacking District that rivals New York's to the "Venice of the North" reputation that comes with sitting right along the water. To see the beauty of Copenhagen, you need only stroll along the Nyhavn to see the colorful homes, roam through the Tivoli Gardens, or rent a bike to do as the Danes do.

Where to stay: d’Angleterre, a five-star hotel that's been a city landmark since 1755.

Adelaide is a sleeper hit in terms of Australia’s most beautiful cities. Tourists tend to gravitate toward Sydney, Melbourne, or Cairns, but Adelaide captures a rare slice of southern Australian beauty. Their Gothic architecture is notably influenced by the city’s German settlement, offering a unique juxtaposition against the coastal backdrop of Adelaide. A bikeable city, travelers will find pathways through lush green parks and along the red gum tree-lined River Torrens. Adelaide also has tucked-away streets dotted with fairy lights and diamond-in-the-rough foodie spots, like Orana, as well as being home to Adelaide Central Market, the largest covered market in the Southern Hemisphere.

Where to stay: The Playford Hotel, touted as “Australia’s most awarded boutique hotel.”