The 30 best cities to live in or visit in 2021

25. Sydney, Australia - Sydney is the kind of city most people picture when they picture the good life. It's friendly, warm, laid-back, and beautiful. It managed to weather the pandemic with a relatively low number of cases, despite its many open green spaces seeing double the usual number of visitors!

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24. Seoul, South Korea - In many ways, Seoul is a city that has it all. It's a center of culture, entertainment, education, and business. Their coronavirus response was the envy of the world, which helped to keep their many restaurants in business. By the way, Seoul has the second-highest volume of restaurants of any city in the world.

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23. Doha, Qatar - Qatar is unrecognizable as the same country it was less than a century ago. It is aiming to become one of the major destinations of the Middle East and, thanks to clever investment of oil wealth, it has the means to reach that goal.

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22. Las Vegas, USA -

The buzzing city of Las Vegas is a clear winner when it comes to entertainment and nightlife. The pandemic of 2020 was devastating for the local economy as all the casinos were forced to shut down, but one pleasant side effect is that Las Vegas is being reclaimed by its local residents, becoming a "normal city."

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21. Istanbul, Turkey - Istanbul is a massive sprawling city with over 15 million residents. It spans two continents, East meeting West at the stunning Bosphorus river. This unique blend of cultures is one of the reasons Istanbul is a favorite destination for travelers of all kinds. But despite all the city has to offer, the rise of conservatism threatens its position on this list.

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20. Washington, USA - The US capital boasts an impressive economy and ample job opportunities, particularly now that the new Amazon headquarters are to be located nearby, creating 25,000 jobs.

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19. Prague, Czech Republic - Prague is a stunning fairy-tale city, but on the practical side of things it also has an impressively low unemployment rate and the fourth best income equality in the world. In terms of art, fashion, and cuisine, there's an adventurous landscape to be explored.

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18. Berlin, Germany - Contrary to its history, Berlin has become a beacon for diversity and tolerance in Germany and the rest of Europe. Known for its art and its nightlife, the city faired well during the pandemic thanks to the science-forward approach of its leadership and citizens.

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17. Amsterdam, Netherlands - Much more than its red-light districts and liberal drug policies, Amsterdam is a smooth-running city with a high quality of life. It's home to an impressive amount of museums and cultural institutions given its small size, and is currently welcoming many new businesses that are relocating due to Brexit.

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16. St. Petersburg, Russia - St. Petersburg is a city of 40 islands and 342 bridges, giving it the title of "Venice of the North." Apart from its stunning geography, its wide range of educational institutions, museums, and cultural heritage sites are truly extraordinary.

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15. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -

As the little brother to Dubai, Abu Dhabi focuses more on promoting its rich cultural heritage instead of having the biggest of everything. It ranks number one in the world for its number of foreign-born residents, partly due to the country's investment in attracting outside talent.

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14. San Francisco, USA - San Francisco is known for being incredibly open-minded, overrun with start-ups, and notoriously expensive to live in! It has this reputation as it's been flooded by people of all kinds with innovative ideas and ambition for decades. As the city named after Saint Francis, it takes care of its residents.

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13. Toronto, Canada - Toronto is Canada's biggest city and it's growth is fueled by immigration and global investment. Its openness and strong economy have made it the fastest growing metropolitan area in North America.

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12. Chicago, USA -

Chicago's many strengths include culture, nightlife, job opportunities, and an affordability unlike any other metropolis in the US.

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11. Rome, Italy -

Rome is a safe, accessible, and modern city that manages to take you back in time. On every corner there's a piece of history that will take your breath away.

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10. Madrid, Spain -

Spain's capital city took a serious hit during the pandemic, but is slowly starting to recover. Madrid has one of the best ranges of museums and artistic attractions in the world. It's filled with stunning green spaces like the Buen Retiro park. Recent efforts to modernize the city while preserving its heritage have only improved the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

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9. Los Angeles, USA - Los Angeles has always been a melting pot of international talent, from cinema to food. The city is home to an incredible number of Michelin star restaurants and was named the most exciting food city in the US. Its 13 million residents are constantly innovating and experimenting.

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8. Barcelona, Spain -

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities on this list thanks to its stunning artistic neighborhoods, endless sandy beaches, and near-perfect weather. Sadly, the city suffered greatly during the pandemic and it's hard to predict if its world-renowned nightlife will be the same afterwards.

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7. Singapore -

Singapore is one of the most unique cities in the world. As a highly populated city state, the financial powerhouse has had to be extremely innovative to continue growing while preserving the beauty of its natural environment. Luckily, innovation is Singapore's greatest strength.

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6. Dubai, United Arab Emirates -

Dubai is a city of extremes. You will find the biggest and most expensive version of everything, mixed with its rich Arab heritage. In a matter of decades, it has grown itself into an international tourism and business destination. Between the opulent feats of modern architecture, there are also oases of calm, such as their many idyllic beaches.

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5. Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo is a futuristic metropolis that is known for its innovation and efficiency. It ranked number one for safety, which is convenient considering the wide range of activities to explore at every hour of the day and night. The city is home to more than 100,000 restaurants, ranking number two in the world for its foodie scene.

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4. Moscow, Russia - Moscow is a beguiling city that seems to be benefiting from the world's growing fascination with Russia. It benefits from an incredible transport system, multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, and other breath-taking tourist attractions.

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3. Paris, France -

Paris has repeatedly been the number one tourist destination in the world, so it goes without saying that there's plenty of art, culture, and nightlife to be explored. Investment in infrastructure has increased with great speed in advance of the 2024 Olympics, which they'll be hosting.

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2. New York, USA -

New York is considered North America's most exciting and artistic metropolis and is the world's top-ranked city for culture. Sadly, many of its key artistic centers such as Broadway are suffering from the pandemic, but the city is sure to recover. It is home to more Fortune 500 companies than almost any other city in the world.

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1. London, United Kingdom -

Finally, we reach number one. Despite the uncertainty of Britain's post-Brexit future, London has retained its title as the best city in the world for the fifth year in a row! London is known for its prosperity, innovation, tourism, growth, and opportunities. From incredible nightlife and dining experiences to stunning green spaces scattered throughout the metropolis, it really has it all.

Sources: (Best Cities) (Lonely Planet)

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The 30 best cities to live in or visit in 2021

The people have spoken!

31/12/20 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Destinations

The New Year naturally conjures new possibilities. It's a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next. Many people spent most of 2020 stuck at home and are desperate to get back out into the world and travel! But where to?

Resonance Consultancy have published their prestigious yearly list of the best cities to help us out. Their ranking system is based on 26 criteria across six categories including diversity, weather, number of parks, and tourist attractions. For the first time, the 2021 list takes into account unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates. Click through this gallery to count down through the 30 best cities in the world to live in or visit.