The World's Best Cities To Live In
Here is a list I compiled of the world's best cities to live in. I've taken
various factors into account such as economy, quality of life, recreation
opportunities, ease of travelling in the region, etc... I'll also be listing
each city's ranking by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and
Network (GaWC). The rankings correspond to levels of each city's importance to
the international economy and the categories are as follows: Alpha World City
++, Apha World City +, Alpha World City, Alpha World City -, Beta World City +,
Beta World City, Beta World City -, Gamma World City +, Gamma World City, and
Gamma World City -.
(In alphabetical order)
Barcelona,
Spain
Spain is a wonderful country with beautiful cities in abundance including such
charms as Valencia, Mallorca, Sevilla, San
Sebastian, and of course Madrid; but standing a cut above the rest is the
majestic Barcelona. Home to a beautiful waterfront, exciting nightlife,
and a unique architectural style courtesy of Gaudi. The city is a haven for
the arts and has a vibrant city life. It also has a close proximity to
the French Riviera, and ferries departing daily to the Balearics. The
city has been named a 'beta world city' by the GaWC for its importance
to the global economy.
Buenos
Aires,
Argentina
Buenos Aires, home to grand boulevards, beautiful parks, and fashionable
people, is the undisputed culture capital of South America. The economy is on
the upswing and the country has long moved past the 2002 financial crisis.
Although, Buenos Aires does suffer from a little isolation as it's not really close
to many international destinations. The city has been named an 'alpha world
city' by the GaWC in recognition of its importance to world and regional
economies.
Chicago,
Illinois
Often relegated to second-tier by its famous coastal cousins,
Chicago is a city for the working man. The people here are down to
earth, there's a strong sports culture, and a good sense for the
outdoors. Lake Michigan dominates the recreation scene offering great
opportunities for boating while the parks and trails along the lake are
great places to take the family or to cycle. Chicago also has its fair share
of big city attractions with excellent shopping and a unique nightlife.
Air connections from Chicago are as good as any in the United
States, with O'Hare being one of the world's busiest airports. Job
opportunities are abundant and the city plays host to a diverse economy.
The city has been named an 'alpha world city -' by the GaWC for its
importance to the global economy.
Dublin,
Ireland
While the economic downturn of 2008 has hurt
Ireland's economy a great deal, there's optimism that Dublin will regain its
status as a Eurozone powerhouse. In the meantime Dublin has world class
nightlife and entertainment and for travelling purposes it's not too far away from continental
Europe for and it's one of the only countries in
the world where travellers can go through US Customs predestination,
cutting total travel time on Trans-Atlantic flights. The city has been
named an 'alpha world city -' by the GaWC.
Frankfurt,
Germany
Frankfurt is the economic capital of Germany, one of the richest
and most modern
countries in the world, as such it goes without saying that the employment
opportunities here are endless. Although the culture does lack when
compared to its European
counterparts, Frankfurt still offers a high quality of life and all of the
associated
creature comforts. Frankfurt is also a great base from which to travel around Europe
and the city's airport boasts excellent connections to destinations across the
globe. The city has been named an 'alpha world city -' by the GaWC.
Hong
Kong, China
The banking capital of the Far East, Hong Kong has for the past
half-century been one of the world's best places to make your fortune.
But there's so much more than that to the city, Hong Kong has everything from
world-class restaurants to remote tropical beaches. Hiking is a favorite
pastime of locals, as is exploring one of Hong Kong's many outlying islands.
Just as popular is the internationally renowned nightlife of Lan Kwai Fong. The
city is home to a sizeable and significant expatriate community, centered on
Hong Kong Island.
Another thing Hong Kong has going for it is being the preeminent base from which to explore Asia. The
Hong Kong International Airport is the world's best and its flight connections
are unmatched in Asia. The city has been named an 'alpha world city +' by the
GaWC in recognition of its extreme importance to the global economy.
Melbourne,
Australia
Not as internationally known as its more famous cousin to the north,
Melbourne is one of the world's nicest cities and undoubtedly a great place to
make one's home. The city has some beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and an
exciting downtown area. Its residents enjoy a laid back lifestyle and the city
operates at a slower pace than Sydney. Unlike most of Australia, Melbourne's
climate has four distinct seasons which gives the city a different vibe
depending on the time of year. It shares its only fault with Sydney, that being
it's
just too damn far away from everything! The city has been named a 'beta world
city +' by the GaWC.
Miami,
Florida
Sizzling beaches and pulsating Latin culture combine in this stateside
tropical paradise. Miami is one of the best places for the single professional
and is great for the outdoor enthusiast as well as those seeking a happening city
life. The local economy is strong, taxes are low, and rents are surprisingly
affordable. Miami is also unsurpassed for travel connections to Latin America.
The city has been named a 'beta world city' by the GaWC.
Montreal,
Canada
Montreal is one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the
world. A little slice of Europe under North American skies, Montreal has diverse
restaurants and an amazing nightlife. While it can be freezing cold in the
winter, Montreal has a sturdy and rapidly growing economy. When all of this is
combined with Canada being routinely voted as the best nation in the world in
which to live by the United Nations, Montreal is a great place to make your
home. The city has been named a 'beta world city -' by the GaWC.
Paris,
France
The city is beautiful, the
culture rich, and the public transportation is great. For those job
hunting Paris is home to some of Europe's largest corporations, centered around
the La Defense area. Renowned for its romanticism, Paris has been captivating
generations for centuries now and while the privilege to live
in Paris doesn't come around too often, if and when it does you should count yourself lucky and
jump on the opportunity. The city has been named an 'alpha world city +' by the
GaWC in recognition of its extreme importance to the international economy.
San
Francisco,
California
While San Francisco may not suit everyone's politics, there's no denying
the city has a special and unique charm. The scenery is stunning, the local
culture is strongly defined and its citizens are nothing if not interesting. Different cultures and viewpoints mesh effortlessly everywhere from the
streets of the Financial District to Chinatown. Shoppers are in paradise around
Union Square, while families enjoy the cities many famous parks. San Francisco
is home to a large high-tech industry and many universities. The city has been
named a 'beta world city +' by the GaWC.
Seoul,
South Korea
Seoul is a sprawling city along the Han River in the peninsular nation
of South Korea. It's a buzzing and vibrant place and while it is more locally
centered than its Asian counterparts on this list, Hong Kong and Singapore,
Seoul still offers a great deal to the prospective international resident. Its
citizens are friendly, and the entertainment and dining are excellent. The
society is multi-religious with Western and Eastern religions coexisting in
large numbers. The public transit in the city is superb, and as far as
international connections go Incheon International is one of the world's best
airports. The city has been named an 'alpha world city' by the GaWC.
Singapore,
Southeast Asia
Singapore is a small city-state located in Southeast Asia at the
southern trip of the Malaysian Peninsula. Formerly a British colony, Singapore
still retains English as its official language. The country serves as a regional
melting pot of cultures and religions boasting strong influences from ethnic
Chinese, Malays, and Indians. The nightlife is wondrous around the Clarke Quay
district, and the shopping is best along the world famous Orchard Road. Banking
is the driving industry in Singapore along with transnational shipping. The city
is home to a large expatriate community whom take advantage of the city's fine
parks, splendid weather, and wonderful location. The city has been named an
'alpha world city +' by the GaWC in recognition of its extreme importance to the
global economy.
Sydney,
Australia
Hasn't everyone dreamed of being a Sydneysider? Spending days on Manly
Beach, Bondi with the volleyball, free concerts at Hyde Par, dining at Darling
Harbour. Sydney has something for everyone, and the economy is expected to boom as the commodities market recovers. It's just too bad Australia is so
far away from everything. The city has been named an 'alpha world city +' by the
GaWC in recognition of its large importance to the world economy.
Vancouver,
Canada
Vancouver is blessed with a temperate climate and a beautiful natural
setting. Located on the Burrard Peninsula, Vancouver is surrounded with water and encapsulated by mountains
making the city an
outdoor enthusiasts dream come true. The city could be considered the 'melting
pot' of Canada as it hosts a large number of various ethnicities. There's also an exciting theater scene and
a downtown entertainment
district. The city has been named a 'gamma world city -' by the GaWC.
Before selling everything and moving, try visiting first. Live like a local to get an idea of expenses. Whether you want to live in Sydney or Hong Kong, chances are you'll find
a timeshare there. These resorts allow you to get to know the area, shopping for and cooking meals in your kitchen, staying a week or more, becoming friendly with locals. For example, in Canada try a Whistler timeshare to keep you close to the slopes while you survey the lay of the land. The best way to decide on which city to live in is to experience it first.
- Article written in whole by Dakota Smith - Travelers Digest
