Travel

Have you ever wondered which are the top ranked cities that should be visited? Forbes Traveler surveyed city specialists from a range of fields, including urban planning, architecture and sustainable development to compile a list of top ten beautiful cities of the world. Read on to know more.

1 Paris, France

Topping the list is Paris chosen for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, street life and its iconic structures such as the Grand Palais, Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysses. So was Paris first in your list too?

2. Vancouver, Canada

It is known for its natural beauty. In this coastal city, open air is abundant from the green west-end campus of the University of British Columbia to the enormous Stanley Park just outside downtown. In addition, both the snowcapped Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean provide a beautiful backdrop.

3. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is also praised for its natural beauty. The Sydney Harbor, the Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House are few of the main attractions in the city.

4. Florence, Italy

No list would be complete without this beautiful city, which is rich in history and architecture. So whether it is its gothic style Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Uffizi Gallery or its spacious piazzas that are filled with cafes, Florence has lots to offer.

5. Venice, Italy

Another beautiful and mesmeric city from Italy that makes it in this list is Venice. It is a city on water and is rich with history.

6. Cape Town, South Africa

This is yet another city full of natural beauty and spectacular sights. Popular destinations here include Table mountain, Kirstenbosch botanical garden and V A Waterfront.

7. San Francisco, USA

So were you wondering why no American cities were mentioned yet? Here they are! San Francisco is praised for its bridges (Golden Gate Bridge), Fisherman’s Wharf, hills, cable cars and the natural beauty.

8. Chicago, USA.

Again makes it to the list for its natural beauty. Millennium Park, Magnificent Mile and Shore of Lake Michigan are some of the places, which are the major attractions of this city.

9. New York City, USA

Need we say more? This universally loved city is also rich in architectural beauty. Manhattan’s majestic skyline and historic buildings, contrasted by the modern structures gives the city an individuality that just cannot be ignored.

10. London, UK

History, royalty, interesting sights and sounds makes this city beautiful. The must visit places in London would be The Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Tower Bridge.

Looking to travel to a place within Asia that is beautiful and yet not a crowded tourist destination?

Cambodia might just be the destination for you. It conjures up images of its world-renowned ancient temple city, Angkor Wat. However, the country has lot more to offer besides that.

Cambodia has a lot of options for a tourist to see and explore, so if you are looking for a beach holiday, a trip in the wild, temples, history or simply for the cuisine, the country has it all.  It is not as famous as its neighbours are but just as stunning. This little country manages to pack a punch with its beauty.

Cambodia is a country rich in history. It has its roots in the 1st to 6th centuries in a state referred to as Funan, known as the oldest Indianized state in Southeast Asia. It was during this period that Cambodian language evolved, which is a part of the Mon-Khmer family, containing elements of Sanskrit.

Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. It contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The influence of Khmer art, as developed at Angkor, was a profound one over much of South-East Asia and played a fundamental role in its distinctive evolution. When French explorers discovered Angkor in the 19 th century, Siem Reap was little more than a village. With the return of Angkor to French control in 1907, Siem Reap began to grow. Siem Reap entered a long slumber with the advent of war from which it only began to awake in the mid-1990s. Today tourism is the livelihood of Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and also it’s largest. Phnom Penh has literally risen from the ashes to reassert its position as one of the must visit destinations in Southeast Asia. In 1975, it was choked with up to 2 million refugees from the war between the then U.S.-backed government and the Khmer Rouge. Following the fall to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, it was completely emptied of civilians and allowed to crumble for several years. As Cambodia s economy have risen, so have a crop of new hotels and restaurants to aid in the tourist trade.

Koh Kong is the most southwestern province of Cambodia. It has a long undeveloped coastline with a mountainous, forested and largely inaccessible interior, which embraces part of the Cardamom Mountains and a section of Kirirom National Park. The place has beautiful waterfalls for tourists who are adventurous enough to explore it. Other interesting places to explore are Kampot (a riverside town), Bokor National Park (evergreen forest reserve), Kratie and Sihanoukville.

Travelling to Cambodia is not too difficult with most of the major airlines flying there.  It is a vastly unexplored country, so if you are looking for an out of the ordinary experience, go to Cambodia.