World’s Best Awards Top 10 Cities & Top 10 Islands

 World’s Best Awards Top 10 Cities

 

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1. Florence, Italy: This city is a gallery of world-class art and architecture.

A curator’s dream, the top sights include Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Brunelleschi's Duomo.

The town itself is a masterpiece: Its bridges, buildings, streets, towers and sidewalks

were painstakingly constructed by stonecutters.

With its warm trattorias, upscale shops and small luxury hotels, the city is a Tuscan treasure.

 

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2. Buenos Aires, Argentina: The country’s capital exudes an air of the exotic, smoky and mysterious

that is embodied by its tango salons and sophisticated café life.

 Now recovering from a period of economic crisis, the city has been called

the Paris of South America for its neoclassical buildings on tree-lined boulevards.

The Museo del Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA),

created by young Argentinean architects in 2001, is a symbol of the city’s modernity.

 

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3. Bangkok, Thailand: The yin-yang relationship between the old and the new

is ever present in Thailand's capital city.

Its 10 million residents strive to preserve the past (the Grand Palace)

and expand for the future (with high-end shopping and luxury hotel developments that are among the best in Asia).

The authenticity of the city’s centuries-old culture can be discovered in its narrow alleyways,

 away from the grinding traffic, where visitors can find silk and handicrafts by local artisans.

 

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4. Rome, Italy: once you see the Colosseum, venture to the Via Veneto,

 visit the Vatican and marinate in the history, art and architecture of the capital, indulge in Rome's la dolce vita.

After the sunset casts its colorful glow on the Eternal City,

 romance fills the night air (take an after-dinner stroll with a loved one to Trevi Fountain

or hang out at a surprising hot spot, the Pantheon).

 

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5. Sydney, Australia: The 2000 Summer Olympics introduced Sydney to much of the world,

 but it has long been Australia's capital for sun and sand. In addition,

 the city’s artistic side is defined by landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House,

 Sydney Cove and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

An international beacon of the good life, this Southern Hemisphere city pulses with a thriving arts scene,

 fine restaurants and world-class hotels.

 

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6. New York City: Millions of visitors come to Gotham City for an array of reasons.

 Those who love the arts can watch Broadway stars,

 glimpse masterpieces at the Met or escape with an opera at Lincoln Center.

 Foodies may choose from countless menus and mingle with the culinary artists

—from mom-and-pop deli owners to star restaurant chefs.

 Famous Manhattan buildings are also worth seeing firsthand:

Stand amid the throngs of sightseers below Times Square’s neon billboards

 or peer down at the Monopoly-game like cityscape from atop the Empire State Building.

 

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7. Udaipur, India: Passage to Udaipur admits one to the “City of Sunrise.”

This destination—renowned for its temples and utter serenity—is known as India's most romantic city.

 With 16th-century architecture and timeless beauty,

sample itineraries of tranquility might include a cruise on the calming waters of Pichola Lake

or an afternoon meandering through fortresses and palaces.

 

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8. Istanbul, Turkey: Straddling Europe and Asia,

Istanbul is a city that represents a crossroads of civilizations.

 The city that connects continents also embraces its differences most tangibly at the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar.

Just as complex and monumental are Istanbul’s sights,

 all constructs of 2,500 years of civilization.

A visit to Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman dynasty and the Hippodrome built by the Romans

should top your historical itinerary.

 

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9. San Francisco: The City by the Bay’s Victorian neighborhoods and charming streetcars

are just some of its historic attractions.

Its modern-day delights include attending a tasting at one of the trend-setting restaurants

or browsing contemporary art at the De Young Museum.

The city is a living postcard, with backdrops such as the majestic Golden Gate Bridge and colorful, bustling Chinatown.

 But what brings back many visitors is its laid-back vibe, visible in its lively café and bar scene.

 

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10. Cape Town, South Africa: Long hailed as an up-and-coming tourist destination,

Cape Town continually wins “best of” awards.

A mixture of European influences and African ancestry,

this town celebrates the land’s many bounties with restaurants

that pair entrées with cabernet sauvignon from the surrounding wine country.

Activities may include escaping to a safari at a game refuge,

strolling through the lush Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens,

 taking a ride on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway or playing in the surf off Cape Point.

 

World's Best Awards: Top 10 Islands

 

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1. Bali, Indonesia: This stunning island of active volcanoes, dense jungle and scenic beaches

 is an escapists’ mecca, long valued for its rich and ancient culture.

 Although this tranquil place was tragically disrupted in 2002 by a terrorist bombing in Kuta and incidents in nearby Jakarta,

 tourism in recent years has seen record numbers of visitors attracted by the beautiful resorts and dreamlike beaches.

 

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2. Maui, Hawaii: Called the Valley Isle, this paradise is a mere dot in the blue Pacific,

 but the island has an impressive array of attractions and amenities.

For active types, the options include snorkeling among tropical fish or standing atop a 10,000-foot volcano.

Or for more peaceful pursuits, recline on Kapalua’s beaches,

keep an eye out for vivid rainbows or take a drive on a quiet stretch of the famous road to Hana.

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3. Kauai, Hawaii: Known for its lush tropical landscape, the Garden Isle is a perfect escape for nature lovers.

The adventure-seeker's checklist could include hiking to the top of a majestic peak overlooking emerald valleys,

 flying by zip line past waterfalls in the jungle,

discovering a new water sport or kicking back at the Tahiti-like Anini Beach County Park to watch a pink-hued sunset.

 

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4. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Travelers en route to the Galápagos should make sure to pack binoculars,

 a camera and a book by Charles Darwin—and should be ready to be humbled by the experience.

 Outfitters offer tours around this archipelago that attracted the most famous naturalist,

 turning every visitor into a nature lover once they meet its rare residents—

including turtles, birds, lizards and sea lions that have evolved without human intervention for eternity.

 

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5. Santorini, Greece: Your dramatic arrival at this island at the south of the Cyclades chain is

 one of the most magical experiences on a cruise through the Greek Islands.

 Santorini’s bowl-shaped harbor is but one of the topographical wonders that resulted from a volcanic eruption.

Seen from the ship’s decks, the town’s whitewashed houses are painted against the backdrop of pure blue ocean and sky.

By foot, explore ancient culture at Akrotiri, a town destroyed by the volcano, and indulge in sumptuous Greek cuisine.

 

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6. Vancouver Island: This island, off the southernmost end of British Columbia’s coastline,

 promises visitors a diverse experience.

Victoria, the province’s capital, hums with the flavor of the former British Empire

(spend a few minutes inside the city’s iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, and you’ll see why).

 But farther north, near Tofino, things get a little wilder. The big draw here: storm watching.

 

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7. Dalmatian Islands, Croatia: These southern Croatian islands offer a range of sights, experiences and flavors.

 Outdoor types will enjoy the beaches and cypress and pine forests, oenophiles

will savor the locally produced wines and history buffs will enjoy the ancient architecture.

And foodies will savor the cuisine, which takes its cues from a mix of Italian, Hungarian, Turkish and Slavic influences.

 

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8. Phuket, Thailand: Rising from the Andaman Sea, this island boasts some of Thailand’s best beaches,

 and the surrounding waters provide ample opportunity for snorkeling, scuba diving and windsurfing—

not to mention great seafood.

In the interior, you’ll find the landscape dominated by hilly terrain:

 The name Phuket is in fact derived from bukit, the Malay word for hills.

 

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9. Big Island, Hawaii: Hawaii offers up a wealth of attractions

—from snowy mountain peaks to stunning beaches, alpine meadows and lava-oozing volcanoes.

 One of the Big Island’s premier attractions, Kilauea, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes:

Its current eruption has been going on since 1983.

 

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10. Great Barrier Reef Islands: Stretching from Queensland, Australia, to south of Papua New Guinea,

 the Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 species of coral—

and the islands along it are paradise for vacationers keen on diving, snorkeling, beachcombing, bird-watching and boating.