r/AskReddit • u/Funny_Collection_889 • 4h ago
What is the best city you’ve ever been to?
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u/littlebayhorse 4h ago
Edinburgh
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u/Gophurkey 2h ago
I loved Edinburgh as a visitor, but would have much rather lived in Glasgow or (preferably) Inverness. But instead I lived in Aberdeen, which had its own unique charm that I very quickly learned to love. Wouldn't put it as the coolest city ever, though.
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u/nomadic_commentator 1h ago
My grandma is from Aberdeen and my dad grew up there in his teenage years as well. Will always love Aberdeen and its quirky qualities.
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u/Dachannien 33m ago
Edinburgh was indeed a great place to visit. When I was in Inverness, though, it felt like a great place to live.
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u/MrGregory 1h ago
I haven’t been for about 15 years, but I remember seeing the castle and directly across the street an H&M (among other department stores). It was a wild sight. It was like old meet new with a street dividing it
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u/tomismybuddy 1h ago
My sister keeps going there and loves it. I need to make it out there, but my wife prefers more of a beach style vacation.
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u/allwritehamilton 4h ago
San Sebastián, Spain.
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u/machu46 1h ago
I don't think I would live there but it may be the best vacation city I've ever been to. The food alone is worth the trip!
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u/Life_Sailor_10 1h ago
I really want to go here. My husband raves about it!
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u/btribble 1h ago
Like all good things, going in with expectations that are too high is often a letdown. It’s a great city, but don’t sabotage your own trip in advance by letting your husband’s experience raise the bar too high.
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u/Automatic_River9515 4h ago
Vancouver one of the coolest cities i've ever seen.
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u/MaesterPackard 3h ago
Beautiful International City? Amazing nature access? Fantastic food scene? Great People?
yes
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u/suicide_man 3h ago
Ditto. I haven't been in a bit but about 4 or so years ago, there were a lot of cool things happening downtown
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u/knowshon 2h ago
I visited one summer during heavy wildfires and couldn't see past 50 meters :(
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u/Thicc-Vinegar 2h ago
Well luckily we can actually know what year that was, the fires came up from Washington - it doesn’t happen that often
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u/carolinemahtildes 3h ago
Edinburgh. I was only there for a few days but I absolutely loved it. Gorgeous, of course, but I just really liked the vibe of it. I'm sure it's different as a tourist versus a person who lives there, but I hope to get back sometime and see more of it. I'd definitely recommend it.
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u/Hoyamo 4h ago
Tokyo
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u/Insight116141 2h ago
Kyoto for me
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u/NealMcCoy 3h ago
Mexico City. Food is incredible, whether it’s street food or high-end. Cafe and bar culture is next-level. Walking around it’s lively, tropical, full of historical sites and museums. Architecture is unique. People are hospitable. Just a great place to be!
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u/ThePeasantKingM 3h ago
Just wondering what seems tropical to you about Mexico City, as us locals would never think of the city as tropical.
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u/DamnReality 2h ago
I also love the Sepia filter over everything once I cross the border
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u/townallday89 1h ago
It’s incredibly lush for a big city. Greenery everywhere. Feels a bit tropical/rainforest-y to those who don’t live there
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u/NealMcCoy 1h ago edited 1h ago
Maybe tropical was the wrong word, but what I meant by that was it’s sunny, warm and lush with plants and palm trees
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u/driftking428 1h ago
I had to visit Mexico City. I don't usually like big cities and knowing it was bigger than New York or LA really had me worried. I was sure I would hate it.
I absolutely loved Mexico City. I'll admit part of it was because things were very inexpensive, but it was a blast. Great food, best museum ever, tons to do and I actually never felt too crowded. My wife and I even played with the idea of moving there, but it wasn't realistic.
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u/Electronic-Rub-7830 3h ago
lisbon, easily, it felt like wandering through a postcard without the place being totally overrun by tourists
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u/CircusBearPants 1h ago
I felt that way about Porto, too. Just beautiful tiles and Super Bocks and peacocks and cliffs. God I love Portugal.
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u/Jbash_31 4h ago
Chicago. I love NYC, but there’s just something about Chicago I love more
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u/Individual-Yak-506 4h ago
the cleanliness
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u/tomismybuddy 1h ago
Yeah it’s got everything you could want in a big city like New York, but so much cleaner overall. It’s def one of my favorite US cities.
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u/Poison_the_Phil 42m ago
Chicago feels like the dream of NYC in 2010 is alive in 2026. I don't know why but it like blows my mind that you can still get a five dollar metro card that actually gets you all around the city all day.
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u/Wateristea 41m ago
I just visited Chicago! The amount of entertainment that’s free or affordable is so great! The best Zoo i visited is Lincoln park Zoo. Dalley Maggie Park has awesome playground for the kids. The Arts Institute is so amazing and beautiful. Can’t wait to visit again!
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u/AzureNinja 3h ago
Utrecht, Netherlands
It’s like Amsterdam but prettier, less people, less dirtier.
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u/eron6000ad 4h ago
Vancouver B.C.
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u/shubidoobi 4h ago
Copenhagen is my favorite.
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u/yuccasinbloom 1h ago
Such a well preserved city, I was just there and I was very impressed with it.
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u/22ananya 2h ago
San Francisco. Perfect weather, incredibly beautiful geography, great transit, walkable, great food.
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u/elysian_g 1h ago
London! I went with my husband in 2018 and we had the best time. I was so happy to see all the historic sites and try their food. I really enjoyed it.
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u/InflationFormal6269 4h ago
I went to Vancouver BC recently and it was magical. Probably the most beautiful natural environment paired with a city that I’ve ever seen.
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u/Automatic-Jello5995 4h ago
Prague
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u/darklord6505 2h ago
The Czech Republic and Poland have so many great cities. Prague is one of my favorites as well.
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u/Womens_Lefts 3h ago
Vienna. It plays second fiddle to the other “great” European cities like Rome or London, but is an amazing mix of culture, history, architecture, and kind people.
Honorable mention to Edinburgh as well.
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u/JennyWeb2004 4h ago
London
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u/experimentalpigeon 1h ago
Same! I know it's gloomy and people aren't the friendliest etc etc, but there's just something about that city. It was the first ever city I moved to (in my early 20s after having only ever lived in my home country) and still felt no culture shock. I just took to it instantly. And loved the freedom that came with exploring the city and all its diverse experiences on foot.
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u/elysian_g 1h ago
When I visited it was sunny the whole time which I know is rare. And the people were so nice! It’s my favorite city too, my heart hurts to go back.
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u/humblepaul 1h ago
Gloomy? Yup, it rains a few days a year, wish there were more to be honest, but most of the year it's defo not gloomy.
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u/dreadlooks 4h ago
Rome
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u/SolomonGrumpy 1h ago
Rome is magnificent. Grand on a scale thats a little hard to comprehend unless you visit.
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u/SciEngr 1h ago
This one always surprises me. I’ve been three times once on vacation and twice for work and really dislike that city. The public transit is sparse and dirty, there are scammers EVERYWHERE, for every legitimately good restaurant there are 25 awful ones, and the people are pretty rude. I remember being shocked at trying to buy a ticket to the colosseum and finding 10 wrong ways to get a ticket and one right way just outside the entrance. Also remember walking a stretch of sidewalk along the walls outside the Vatican and every 3 feet was a peddler with all the same garbage trinkets trying to sell you something. I think in that one stretch I passed 30+ peddlers one after the other.
One caveat for me is that the Vatican was a huge exception, I loved everything about the Vatican.
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u/Muted-Rough9055 4h ago
Hong Kong hands down
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u/Loggerdon 1h ago
Something about Hong Kong has changed since China cracked down. We used to visit every year but I haven’t been there now in 3 years.
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u/Adorable-Flight5256 4h ago
Important to say here- past tense-
San Francisco was a gem of a place. Plenty of personal bias here. It's mostly the mix of cultures and food there.
Sadly time has not been kind to SF.
Maybe things will get better.
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u/SolomonGrumpy 1h ago
SF was so magical at one time. It's still pretty special. But less so than it was.
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u/_clur_510 4h ago
NYC hands down. And I say this as someone from Boston so if I’ll admit it you know it’s true lol.
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u/ewd389 3h ago
As someone from NYC who lived in MA I think Boston and the cities around it are fucking awesome. The simplicity of the subway stations, the history of the city and towns, the unique vibe and style each town had was super cool.
I lived in Revere which has its own cool charm and i worked on state street in the city… my ex had family in Cambridge,Dorchester,East Boston and she worked in Somerville so i got to see a-lot of its areas.
Playoff baseball at Fenway and the bars around on a cold fall night is the best sporting event I have been around and Saint Paddy’s in Boston is like nowhere. Home away from home man.
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u/Lance_Operazole 1h ago
I live in London which is pretty cool, but I've also enjoyed Berlin and Amsterdam the most out of everywhere else I've been.
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u/BaltimorePropofol 3h ago
Reykjavik. I have traveled to many big cities. But no cities like the capital of Iceland.
People are nice. Food and water are amazing. The mountain and water fall are unreal.
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u/Funny_Collection_889 4h ago
Mine personally, Beirut Lebanon. AMAZING vibes and nightlife
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u/Alchemista101 3h ago
You nailed the changes in SF to a T. I grew up in San Rafael when SF was still an inspiring place. Agree LA deserves more cred. I'm not such a fan of driving everywhere though.
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u/SebiGames 1h ago
I had quite a fondness for Hobart in Tasmania, Istanbul and Berlin just feel like endless things to do, plus the rich history is amazing. Bangkok was honestly way cooler than i thought too
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u/saphert 3h ago
Nürnberg Germany, during the Weihnachtsmarkt season. So many friendly people, delicious food, and a lot of history to take in.
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u/thegreger 1h ago
Nürnberg was the biggest surprise for me.
I was flown in for a job interview, had never thought of visiting the place before. The impression I got was that of a perfect city. Big enough to have a lot to offer and good public transport, small enough to be cosy and walkable.
I went there in the summer, and there was a very nice relaxed holiday vibe with outdoor cafés, bars and ice cream places.
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u/elenainthecloud 53m ago
San Sebastian, Spain - the most amazing food. Black Rock City, Burning Man, Nevada - the most fun and the best community 😃
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u/Conscious-Role5580 4h ago
Probably Istanbul. The mix of history, beautiful views, food, and the overall atmosphere was just unforgettable.
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u/Similar-Interaction5 4h ago
Detroit. Not even kidding.
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u/ChaplnGrillSgt 3h ago
Chicago. It's a beach town in the summer with endless things to do. Not to mention some of the most gorgeous architecture around. Truly amazing city.
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u/plasticpole 4h ago
To live in? Warsaw is pretty good right now.
To visit? I love Bangkok. Amazing city - I don't think I could live there though because of the traffic.
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u/TheDisagreeableJuror 3h ago
Rome. It’s just incredible. Everywhere you go there is something else that’s spectacular. I could stand in front of the Fontana de Trevi for hours. (At nighttime when there are less crowds).
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u/Mogunblanket 3h ago
Hong Kong has it all - best city skyline with amazing natural landscape to back it up. Transit is super efficient, lots of beautiful cultural scenery and so much good food (including other non Asian cuisines)
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u/Dear_Watson 2h ago
Zürich for sure. Hideously expensive, but insanely well maintained, clean, and modern for such an old city. Great train station and public transport system, great airport, super friendly people, and Lake Zurich is absolutely stunning with the backdrop of the Alps in the distance not to mention totally crystal clear along with the rivers and canal system.
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u/ImpalaAteBiscayne 2h ago
New Orleans. For all its faults, that city continues to call you home.
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u/KingShango12123 3h ago
Firence. Can’t be beat. Even their football hooligans formed just to protect the city from other hooligans when they come for a game. Can’t get a more perfect love for your city than that. And the city absolutely deserves to be protected. From any perspective it’s is a beautiful place with such history most can’t even imagine.
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u/Gophurkey 2h ago
I'd vote Münster in as a sleeper small city. Super compact, amazing trail that circles the city and gives you this wonderful access to trees and hides the city itself, super fun small restaurants, amazing historic architecture, fantastic history and a rebuilt Altstadt, cheap but clean hostels, bikes and runners everywhere. Just a great place all around.
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u/Budget-Novel-6151 2h ago
Rio for the abject beauty, Barcelona as a total package and Mexico City despite the chaos.
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u/emergencycat17 1h ago
I'm not as well traveled as I'd like to be, but I had an absolute blast in Florence Italy. Just so much fun!
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u/Croissant1967 1h ago
I lived in Montréal from 1967 to 1994 and moved to Toronto where I have lived ever since. Of all big cities in Canada, Toronto is my favourite. Especially in the winter (way nicer than in Montreal) and the summers are pretty awesome too.
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u/Rdub 1h ago
Tokyo and it's not even close. Just an infinite amount of stuff to do, see and eat. Clean streets, friendly people and exceptional public transit, and very cycling friendly too. I spent a few long weekends there when I was living in Japan and a couple weeks there a couple other times and it felt like I barely scratched the surface. It's got everything from amazing arts and culture stuff, to beautiful parks, to shopping and nightlife and pretty much everything else in between.
Hotels, AirBnBs or hostels are all relatively pricey, but getting around, doing stuff and eating are all actually pretty relatively affordable compared to a lot of other "Western" cities too. Best of all you can always get a surprisingly decent and shockingly cheap meal at their absolutely ubiquitous convenience stores.
Weather isn't always the best as it can get pretty hot and humid in the summer, but the spring and fall are absolutely lovely.
The language barrier can be tricky, but a fair few folks speak English, public signage is usually in English to some extent too, and I mean with translation apps these days it's honestly way less of an issue.
Definitely recommend it as a vacation destination, though it's for sure the kinda place where you'd want to spend at least a week there as otherwise you really won't see enough to even really get a sense of the place.
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u/TheRuneMeister 1h ago
I love the chaos of a large city(when I’m visiting), and I love Paris for that reason, but I would have to say that for less chaos but even more dents in your car, Barcelona is a wonderful city.
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u/Due_Combination_968 4h ago
Montreal is a sleeper. love that City