25 Of The Coolest Cities, According To Travelling Netizens

As a new year begins, it’s the perfect time to map out your plans for the next 365 days. Deciding where to travel and what to experience takes a bit of forethought, so we’ve done some of the work for you. Drawing from a thread for avid globetrotters, we’ve compiled a list of destinations that Redditors say are must-visit spots. These are some of the coolest cities around and are well worth adding to your itinerary. If you’re a travel-hungry soul in search of highly recommended places to visit, scroll down to find a few standout names for your list.

#1

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Tokyo is hard to beat – it’s like ten different worlds stacked on top of each other: quiet neighborhoods, neon chaos, tiny ramen shops, hyper-efficient trains, and somehow it all works.

#2

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Budapest is a very fun city.

#3

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Osaka, Japan easily. It needs to be at the later half of your Japan trip if you go. You start in Tokyo, and Tokyo IS amazing. You go to all the main Tokyo districts, and get used to the transportation system and realize that everyone is very reserved and not talkative, you get used to it.

Then you go to Osaka, night and day. People talk to you, you engage in conversations you would not get the chance to in Tokyo, and it’s like an explosion of culture right in your face. Takoyaki stalls, 15+ story malls you could spend all day in and not see everything, the best Sushi you will ever eat, best drinking culture ever. Osaka never stops giving.

#4

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Marseilles (and I’m from Paris). Lived there in the 70s, no real fit. Came back in June, and it really changed for the better.

Otherwise no city is “cool” but there are cool areas in most cities, you just have to know where you look, and your taste could be different.

#5

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Prague. It is like stepping into a fantasy postcard.

#6

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Reykjavík had a very cool vibe. People there were incredibly nice, the food was amazing, sightseeing tours outside of the Reykjavík area had sights I had never seen before. It was also the place I saw the northern lights for the first time in my life. Definitely would like to go again.

#7

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As far as coolest goes I would have to say Carcassonne. A small city near border of Spain and France that exists within an original Medieval fortress. If you like history the idea of staying at a hotel built within a stone fortress is the definition of cool.

#8

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My own, Amsterdam.

#9

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Sevilla. I love Spain.

Even Pucon, Chile – Adored it.

Medellin, Colombia. I fell in love with the culture!!!

#10

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As an American I’d say Edinburgh, Vienna, or Lucerne were the cities that surprised me the most coolness.

For North American cities I’d say Mexico City San Diego & Chicago.

#11

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Krakow, Poland. Beautiful, charming, has history. Very underrated city.

#12

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Buenos Aires!! It’s a mix of european lifestyle with latino vibes, and don’t get me started about the night life!

Also the food, the people, art and culture… I felt like I belonged there. First time I’d fallen in love (like for real) with a place. I’m really considering moving there.

#13

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London.

Camden Town is pretty much paradise on earth to me.

#14

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Istanbul. It was way larger than I was expecting and has an impressive amount of tall buildings and good public infrastructure. Also very lax as far as Muslim countries go. It basically felt like I was in the EU.

#15

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Traditionally cool: Montreal by a long shot

cool because of what I’m into: Leh.

#16

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Zurich, London, SF (home), nyc, Lisbon, are among my favorites.

Worth a mention, Lucerne, cinque terra, and anywhere in Hawaii.

#17

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Difficult to pick just one….

Vancouver is stunning, Barcelona is the most awesome place to just walk around, Prague’s old town is beautiful, Mexico City has the most amazing food culture.

#18

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Sydney. Especially around Newtown. Loved the vibe, the music, the beers, the fashion.

Honourable mentions to Berlin and Copenhagen.

#19

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Bangkok. And not for the reasons everyone assumes. So much to see and do. The food is amazing everywhere, the nightlife is fantastic and I’ve never felt safer in a big city.