10 Bucket-List Cities to Visit Before You Die

There are cities so extraordinary that experiencing them feels like a rite of passage for any traveller. If you are building a lifetime travel list, make sure these ten unmissable cities are on it.

The eternal icons

Rome, Paris and Kyoto deliver history, art and culture on a scale that rewards a lifetime of return visits. Each is a civilisation distilled into a single, walkable city.

Cities that defy belief

Istanbul straddles two continents beneath its domes and minarets, Marrakech assaults every sense in the best way, and Cape Town boasts perhaps the most beautiful setting on Earth.

Once-in-a-lifetime energy

New York's electric ambition, Rio de Janeiro's joyful chaos, Tokyo's neon future and Venice's sinking beauty complete a top ten of cities that everyone should experience at least once. Start planning — a lifetime of travel is not as far off as it seems.