20 of the Most Beautiful Cities in the World

Jennifer Algoo

How do you define a place's beauty? The shocking blue of a crystalline sea? Elaborate architectural marvels reaching toward the sky? Somewhere rich in history? Whatever form of beauty speaks to you, we've put together a list of the most beautiful cities in the world to add to your travel bucket list.

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2. St. Petersburg, Russia

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Sometimes referred to as the city of czars, Russia’s on-again-off-again former capital is home of some of the planet’s most stunning examples of old world opulence. The Hermitage Museum, housed partially inside of the Winter Palace that Catherine the Great once called home, is practically wallpapered with paintings from the likes of da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Matisse. If you’re not much for structured galleries, just wandering around the palace-dotted city is an art experience in and of itself thanks to the gorgeously painted onion domes and gilded cathedrals that punctuate the skyline.

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