Prague, Kraków and Budapest ranked among most beautiful cities in the world

Budapest, Hungary – Like every year, Conde Nast Traveler compiled a list of the “really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking” cities around the world. The perfect opportunity for you to lengthen your bucket list and find ideas for your next holiday break.

Three cities in Central Europe were ranked among the top 50 most beautiful in the world: Prague, Budapest and Krakow. Other breathtaking cities from the wider CEE region include Tallinn (Estonia), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Vienna (Austria) and St. Petersburg (Russia).

Out of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world, nearly half of them (23 to be exact) are located in Europe.

Budapest, Hungary

As Conde Nast Traveler writes, “with some of the best Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, Budapest has no bad angles” (in other words, the dream place for and explanation why so many popular music clips and international movie productions choose Budapest as their background). Voted Best European Destination of the Year 2019, the Hungarian capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is recognized as one of the most breathtaking and unforgettable urban landscapes in Europe (no wonder Huawei decided to build a replica of it for its new campus in China).

Attracting millions of tourists every year, Budapest rose to fame in recent years. Today, it has become an unavoidable halt in any decent trip throughout Central and Eastern Europe, due to its bustling nightlife and famous architectural landmarks, like the Hungarian Parliament’s building and Fishermen’s Bastion. If you’re worried about getting there, don’t be: Budapest’s airport has been voted best in the region for several years in a row.

Krakow, Poland

“It seems like every European city boasts a beautiful central square, but we’d argue that Krakow’s Rynek Glowny ranks among the best”, writes Conde Nast. And that’s absolutely true. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since the 1970’s, the historic centre of Krakow is absolutely one of a kind and has enchanted millions of tourists in recent years. The second most populous but first most visited city in Poland, Krakow has often been crowned as the Polish city with the best reputation and is usually considered the most attractive destination, ahead of the capital, Warsaw.

One of the cheapest cities in Europe, Krakow also boasts 40-plus parks, a dynamic cultural scene and strong gastronomic traditions (Poland’s former capital is European Capital of Gastronomy this year) that also contributed to the city’s growing appeal. On the other hand, Poland is so much more than just Warsaw and Krakow, and you shouldn’t hesitate to visit other, more remote off-the-beaten track places: why not head to the untapped wilderness of Poland’s north-eastern region of Podlasie? Or visit the beautiful and underrated city of Poznan?

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague may be home to arguably one of the ugliest buildings in the world, the Czech capital consistently makes the list of the world’s most beautiful cities, with “enough striking architecture, hilltop views and charming markets to fill a dozen travel itineraries”, according to Conde Nast. Recently crowned best city to live in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly attractive to young millennials, Prague has cemented its place as one of the most attractive and sought-after destinations in Europe in recent years.

An absolute must on any travel list worthy of the name, the Czech capital has so much more to offer than just cheap and abundant bear, countless parks and green areas and a breathtaking UNESCO historic centre. It’s only up to you to discover its hidden secrets. And if you’re a curious traveler, you might even consider continuing your trip beyond the Czech capital: why not head to Kutna Hora, a Medieval town only one hour away and home to one of the world’s greatest oddities?

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