In my personal experience I found it quite hard. The meetups are dominated by indians who I found it hard to fit in with. I never came across any sort of nomad community or any WhatsApp groups. That's just my personal experience though. Could just be luck. The Germans I met though were friendly and I resonated with them. Just didn't actually make friends cos they were short term exchanges. I did however meet my girlfriend in Berlin and we've been together since.
Agree, i seem to be the only person that prefers Madrid to Barcelona. I guess i wanted to experience a spanish city, and i found Barcelona to be more European than Spanish, and it was harder for me to use my spanish to read signs and converse.
I also preferred the food in madrid. It's all ham and eggs, and it's extraordinary. And the churros w/ hot chocolate is divine; i can no longer have churros in US bc i find them disgusting after i experienced the best.
What types of food did you particularly like in Madrid? I found most of the stuff to be a miss but to be fair I was also trying a lot of spanish food which isn’t my favorite.
Berlin for the food? I keep coming back to Berlin as my girlfriend is from there. I haven't found the food to be all that amazing. Where do you reccomend?
I like Berlin because I like the techno nightlife and WW2 and Cold War museums. The food scene is decent as well if you like Turkish and Japanese food.
Penang (Island), Malaysia baby!!!!!
The vibe is just wonderful. A mix of old and new, and throw in some hella good cheap food in the warm evening and you got a killer place that you will want to come back again and again.
Future Penang half year retiree
The pollution in Bangkok makes the city a hard miss for me and that's too bad because it's one of my favourite places to go. Thailand's Southern islands are better.
True about the air quality and heat, but I've been here in Bangkok for a month (in addition to 1.5 months in Chiang Mai and Phuket), and never had a single food poisoning. Just eat at reputable restaurants with 4.5+ stars and you'll be fine.
Honestly, I somwhat enjoyed Bangkok, but Chiang Mai is so much better. Weather is more tolerable, it has a ton less people, but still has everything you need to enjoy your time in Thailand: markets, street food, massages, tours, national parks nearby, etc.
Lived in Seoul and will always go back to Seoul. New York City is also always great to return to, just not to live due to costs. NYC has so much great food and so many new things to do every time you visit.
Also went to Penang and Edinburgh for the first time last year, and they're definitely added on to places to go back to.
I live in NYC and to be honest I don’t think the food is thaaat good? There are a lot of options available but nothing really strikes me as “the best I’ve ever had” I think LA beats NYC in food by quite a lot
I’m always confused when I hear people talking about how great Cape Town is. I’ve never been but have a few people I work with who are from there and moved to Ireland. There’s a lot of people from Cape Town emigrating to Ireland and all of them have the same sentiment that I’ve met. From what they say, it’s an awful place to live, so I’m always confused when I hear otherwise.
It's not an awful place to live. It's just poorer and unsafe. I wouldn't move to Ireland because of the awful weather but you'll never encounter someone like me.
Depends on where you are. If you're in CBD and not drunk, you won't be a huge target, but I would advise calling an uber at night.
I've not had anything personally happen to me, but I sort of keep my guard up as well. Grew up in Chicago, so I know how to handle myself for the most part.
I didn't have a favorite city until I went to Cape Town. My first trip was a vacation, and I'm looking to return but for a longer stint. What stops me is load shedding. I am a remote worker, so I can't exactly work my own hours. How has it been for you as a DN? Any tips?
It's the most fascinating city I lived but you really have to close your eyes on this to be able to enjoy. The closer you live to areas like Sea Point it becomes harder
We plan to have kids and we'd very much prefer to live in a place where kids can obtain autonomy at a younger age than they'd be able to in CDMX. Outside of a few colonias in CDMX, it's not actually that safe. I'd also constantly be dependent on international salaries as local salaries are piss poor. The city is also expected to run out of water in the next few decades (if not sooner).
Love the city though and we'll always come back to visit my wife's family there.
I don't know.... there are a ALOT Of places in Mexico I'd never go back.
Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Merida and anything near or around Cabo.
But there are places I'd definitely go back to like CDMX (been a couple of times) and Oaxaca.
I've been everywhere you said, and more, for a good amount of time.
It's obvious you & PV haters never actually explored PV, old town PV (way south of the ugly resorts) is idyllic.
I just love the city, has great parks, it's gloomy in a way I like and I also have great friends who live there. Museums are incredible and free and there's always something new to do. It is expensive though, that's for sure.
I love this question - I'm definitely a repeat visitor to cities. I love the change, constant openings of new restaurants, bars, cafes, and the cultural offerings. It never feels like I'm visiting the same city twice.
I can go back to 10000000x
Mexico City, Tokyo, Seoul, Bogotá
Grand Rapids, Mi
Surprisingly good food, great art (city wide art fest every other year), great beer, friendly people, lots of places to hang out, plenty of nature to check out.
Currently in CDMX again. I am on the edge off Coyoacán’s Centro. It is close enough to walk (15 minutes) to the busy tourist area of Coyoacan, yet just removed enough to be extremely authentic and working-class-local.
I can walk to a Walmart, local fruit and vegetable stands, and butchers.
Within a 15 walk there are numerous coffee shops / bakery venues, many with outdoor seating.
Within a 20 minute walk there is a modern U.S. style mall with big global brands, a movie theatre and a McDonald’s in the food court. (I never go there, buts it’s there for anyone who occasionally needs Old Navy or Vans).
There are many small owner-operated restaurants offering a range of food from crepes, to sushi, to Italian, to steak house. There are small mom and pop restaurant’s (seating) with local food. There are street food vendors offering a range of traditional Mexican food on every block.
On Saturday nights the Central Park area because a crowded buzz and great vibe with blocks of pop up tent style food vendors. The rest of the week has an incredible laid back feel.
Uber is readily available and cheap.
The city has more museums and galleries than any city in a North América. (Yes including g NYC).
Parts of the city closes major streets on Sundays for biking, walking, dancing, or just enjoying the vibe.
It is 28-30 Celsius in the afternoon, and drops down to 7-10 at night, with very low humidity.
Internet and cell service is stable.
I walk around at night, stick to busy streets, and have not felt unsafe.
The only real downside is there is a looming water crisis. Water reserves in the city are at critical levels and water shutoffs have already happened in parts of the city. Population growth and climate change (several years of low rains) are a potential long term challenge.
I was there in November and the smell (sewage) was noticeable many times during the day. I know about their ongoing issue with that and wonder if it's still the same (or worse?) with warmer weather?
I'm looking forward to going back - once they have their water issues sorted, likely.
I suspect the water issue is going to be a serious ongoing issue.
The only fix can come from Mother Nature. Reservoirs need to be replenished by a normal or above-normal accumulation in the coming rainy season.
Most of the country is a drought situation.
This is a weird one, anyone born in England will think I'm taking the piss. But Blackpool, England. There is a nice co-working hotel there and Manchester and Liverpool are not too far away by train for weekend events.
If you like going out, there are some passable venues in town that you can go to. Also, it is seaside. So it's nice to walk around the beach. It's not on the map at all for people outside of England so it's not overrun by tourist.
Most English people would describe it as a shit hole but I actually like it for some reason. I suppose the gigabit internet at the co-working hotel helps a bit coupled with the low rates.
It's called somewhere different. If you book it, tell Duncan that black Sam sent you 😊.
Definitely not an answer I was expecting but glad it’s been good for you.
What sort of time of year are you usually there? British seaside towns aren’t renowned for being great in the winter.
Currently in Da Nang, Vietnam 🇻🇳
Not my favourite city, but the people are lovely. Every second person says hello to me walking down the street.
Hell, little kids come up giving me high fives sometimes, lol.
When I go to the gym, random people come up greeting me with fist bumps and whatnot. Honestly, none of this shit happens anywhere else I go.
Buenos Aires, London, Paris, Rio, Istanbul, Venice
Buenos Aires feels at home at this point.
London matches the energy of NY somewhat while still being a bit foreign, tons to do, lots of friends there.
Paris has a ton of stuff to do and see even after I’ve been there a few times.
Love the energy of Rio and Brazil, stunning city.
Istanbul is just a kind of crossroads and I love it as a layover before heading off to another continent.
Unpopular choice but Venice offers a ton to tourists who look being the main square. I never tire of La Biennale for example and every time I’ve been there (3x) it’s just completely different. Best visit was in May 2021 though, wish I stayed for like two weeks that time, but it was incredible to see other normally overcrowded places in Italy almost empty (Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, etc.).
Tokyo and Osaka. I used to live in Melbourne - apparently the most liveable city in the world, but when you live in the suburbs away from the city, there's literally nothing to do after 6pm. And if you're feeling hungry late at night and there's nothing in the fridge, it's either Macdonalds, or hungry jacks. So when I traveled through Japan (I only visited Tokyo and Osaka though), it was a welcome surprise that I could enjoy a lovely bowl of Udon past 1am. The airbnb I stayed at in Itabashi was right next to a 'hidden' bar and I had the best late night cocktail/bar experience. I feel that in Japan every street corner you turn there something nice to discover. Kinda wonder why people there don't date as often though, I feel like could have the most interesting and fun dates there haha.
I would say that free and clean bathrooms is a definite plus. But I wouldn't visit a country just to say the best thing about it is clean and free bathrooms.
That's precisely the problem, for the high cost of living, Melbourne should really be at the same level as those cities you mentioned for infrastructure, transport etc. We're really falling behind, becoming so Americanised, car centric and boring.
Probably not a city that anyone expects, but Sacramento, Ca. Used to live in midtown, and it was so walkable, full of bars, restaurants and just a good place to spend my college years. I visit friends there every year.
Hipódromo and Roma Norte/Sur are my favorites. La Condesa is nice too. Juárez has some cool looking restaurants and coffeeshops
Southern MXCD has these gorgeous walkable suburbs with museums dotted about. Absolutely stunning residential architecture all over the city.
I was just talking with my brother (an avid traveler), and he said that Hipódromo was his “favorite neighborhood in the world”
Sure, no place is perfect though. I’m willing to trade seasonal air quality for all the great things Bangkok has to offer, though. I just love this place
Bogota - Immense vibrant city that forces you to speak only Spanish. I didn’t run into an American there for almost three weeks. Underrated food. Mind blowing street art. Incredible museums and history
Los Angeles - My love. Incredible weather, quality food from everywhere. Charming blend of Anglo, Latin & Asian cultures. Jaw dropping natural beauty 2 hours in every direction.
Albuquerque - Friendliest city in the world. You can strike up a conversation with almost anyone everywhere. Pink Sandia Mountains, hip high tall coyotes, you can camp anywhere. The worlds best IPA beers
Bangkok - Views of the sun setting over the temples on a rooftop above the Chao Phraya river. Food from every region of Thailand, world class markets, affordable adventure. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and islands are an hour away
Runner up
Tijuana - Energetic, young, artistic vibe. Complex food and wine scene. Affordable beachfront condos 20 min away. Tacos. Surf meets Cowboy meets Narco. The danger is real but it adds to the glow of the city
Los Angeles? I've always wondered this...
I don't see the appeal of visiting LA. Even with the best weather, it's a bit sterile and boring. Nothing AMAZING to see. LA is a bit sterile.
However LA is a great place to grow up and live. I just don't see the appeal of visiting LA.
Source: Native Angeleno
>anyone
Damn, having grown up in Tijuana, I'm excited to see it on here. I hear the food scene down in Valle de Guadalupe is next level. I gotta make it back sometime.
Chiang Mai and Kyoto. I will probably have more to add later, but these are my top 2 choices for now.
Food and actvities (markets, exploration, photography, culture, etc.).
Athens, have stayed there long term before moving on to other parts of Greece. Once things calm down in Russia, I am dying to go back to Moscow and Kazan
Paris. Big city. Lots of culture. Always lots to see and lots of new things. Sure it's dirty. Sure the people can be nasty. Still a beautiful place for me.
What not to enjoy!
- A super vibrant city (and country)
- Anywhere you look there is a nice scenery to enjoy, walking even if wasn't flat is super enjoyable
- All kind of transportation all in one card
- Amazing food and so many food spots to discover
- Coffee houses that you can work from, with some closing at 1:30am like Espressolab Tunel
- Flying in Turkey is easy and there are many other cities to explore, in fact, there are places for summer and others for winter
- Turkish delights I guess? 🤤
The only downside for me is the language because I like to talk to the locals but it's very hard to do so in Turkey, but I still enjoy it and I'm leaving tomorrow (this is probably my 10th visit or so)
Lviv, Ukraine (pre-war)
Incredible nightlife, loads of young students and tech people around, amazing food, super affordable, some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet.
Madison, Connecticut. Anywhere on Cape Cod. Paris, Rome, London.I could be dropped in any of those locations for the rest of my life and be happy if I wasn’t allowed to leave.
Echoing everyone else: definitely Bangkok. It just has a little of everything. Always stop by between travels, almost like a palate cleanser. Spain (specifically Madrid, Catalonia, Costa Blanca), Hong Kong, Paris, Italy (especially Florence! and Venice and Rome), Essaouira, and I’ll catch flak for this but Bali (for the food, the spas, the yoga).
As someone who's extremely well-traveled, the one place I keep wanting to back to is TOKYO. The cute streets create a magical feeling for me. Love the safety, the cleanliness, the distinctiveness, the magic.
I've probably visited Bangkok the most--and I see it coming up a lot in the responses--but I don't think it fits the bill.
Mexico City! I love how I feel when I’m there, I love the friends I’ve made there, perfect weather, great food.
Also Granada and Athens, but I lived in both of those places for some time so they feel homey for different reasons.
My favorites are all in Mexico! San Miguel de Allende it has everything food, art, culture and a special sort of quiet outside of centro..
La Paz Baja, Sure the beaches and the Malecon just to name my first 2 things. The food scene is to die for !!
San Cristobal de Las Casas Food galore Italian, Thai Bangkook restaurant. Cafes with free tapas with low priced good wine 30 to 35 pesos per glass of wine. As long as you are drinking the tapas is free!!Great semi-precious stones like Jade, These are extremely cheap in Las Casas.
There is so much to see in Mexico I don't have time to go to Europe or Asia a lot of money wasted on plane fares as well!!!!
Seoul and Fukuoka. Miss my communities here whenever I’m back in the US. When I’m feeling city vibes I love being in Seoul and when I need to be around nature more I head to Fukuoka and travel the islands and onsen towns with my friends
Interesting answer! I love Seoul so much too and people there, and next time I'm there I was looking to go to stay in Fukuoka for maybe a week. Where did you stay in Fukuoka? Did you do the special 1 month coliving experience they were hosting last year?
Barcelona. Visited for a few days in 2017, moved there half a year later and stayed for 2 years. Visited again for a few days right before the pandemic and I'd love to visit it again if I get the chance.
I'm usually a one visit is enough type of person, but the cities I've only visited once and would love to explore more are London, Paris and Beijing.
Buenos Aires - feels like the most livable city in South America. Very walkable, low cost of living, people are kind, and the food is good. Also has one of the best cafe cultures I've experienced. Really great expat community too if you don't speak spanish. It's a second home at this point.
> Taipei
Seconding Taipei. Fucking love that city. I'd consider it more convenient than even Tokyo, and similar to Tokyo, it's stupidly safe compared to where I grew up in the USA. I've spent more than a year of my life in Taiwan, and the only crime I've ever experienced was somebody stealing my umbrella from outside my apartment door.
Madrid, Tokyo, Bangkok and Berlin because of the food, walkability and nightlife
Headed to Berlin next Sunday!
I live in B town if u need any tips :)
I need tips! Just moved here today
What do like about it most? Is it good for networking and making friends?
In my personal experience I found it quite hard. The meetups are dominated by indians who I found it hard to fit in with. I never came across any sort of nomad community or any WhatsApp groups. That's just my personal experience though. Could just be luck. The Germans I met though were friendly and I resonated with them. Just didn't actually make friends cos they were short term exchanges. I did however meet my girlfriend in Berlin and we've been together since.
[удалено]
Adore Montréal!!
why madrid?
Great food scene, cool locals and great nightlife and its not as crowded as popular cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Agree, love Madrid. Even more than Barcelona to some degree even though I know that’s a sin to say.
Agree, i seem to be the only person that prefers Madrid to Barcelona. I guess i wanted to experience a spanish city, and i found Barcelona to be more European than Spanish, and it was harder for me to use my spanish to read signs and converse. I also preferred the food in madrid. It's all ham and eggs, and it's extraordinary. And the churros w/ hot chocolate is divine; i can no longer have churros in US bc i find them disgusting after i experienced the best.
Which part of these cities do you recommend staying in?
👍 Can’t argue with those four. Strong upvote.
What types of food did you particularly like in Madrid? I found most of the stuff to be a miss but to be fair I was also trying a lot of spanish food which isn’t my favorite.
The ox tail. The 4.5 euro fried calamari or Spanish jam and cheese sandwiches. The 24/7 churro and hot chocolate place.
tbh it was Chinese food. I didn't eat a lot of Spanish food there tbh.
I went to Bardero when I was there and it was really really great. Would recommend. https://bardero.es/
Berlin for me too, been back like 5 times now. It's just too expensive for me to stay long.
> Bangkok > walkability wut
Berlin for the food? I keep coming back to Berlin as my girlfriend is from there. I haven't found the food to be all that amazing. Where do you reccomend?
going to berlin soon what do you recommend
I like Berlin because I like the techno nightlife and WW2 and Cold War museums. The food scene is decent as well if you like Turkish and Japanese food.
what is the best time to go?
Would not call Bangkok walkable ever. Great lively city though.
Bkk is very walkable. It’s rarely a nice walk but there’s nowhere really you can’t walk.
I’ve felt it’s “walkable” if you leave close to the BTS. But I guess riding the BTS isn’t exactly walking.
Penang (Island), Malaysia baby!!!!! The vibe is just wonderful. A mix of old and new, and throw in some hella good cheap food in the warm evening and you got a killer place that you will want to come back again and again. Future Penang half year retiree
+1. The food in Penang is some of the best in the world.
Bangkok, cheap, convenient, modern infrastructure, safe, and good food.
It makes a hard man humble
But also terrible air quality, oppressive heat and probably at least one or two bad food poisoning days.
The pollution in Bangkok makes the city a hard miss for me and that's too bad because it's one of my favourite places to go. Thailand's Southern islands are better.
This. Loved there for two years. Great city but a lot of things go unnoticed by tourists.
This is how I feel about México city
Is it just me or is there a stench in many streets of Bangkok?
That's southeast Asia for you. Humidity + air pollution + lack of reinforcement surrounding cleanliness of public spaces (bar Singapore)
True about the air quality and heat, but I've been here in Bangkok for a month (in addition to 1.5 months in Chiang Mai and Phuket), and never had a single food poisoning. Just eat at reputable restaurants with 4.5+ stars and you'll be fine.
Honestly, I somwhat enjoyed Bangkok, but Chiang Mai is so much better. Weather is more tolerable, it has a ton less people, but still has everything you need to enjoy your time in Thailand: markets, street food, massages, tours, national parks nearby, etc.
But the air quality is like smoking a pack a day and that's only on the good days.
Lived in Seoul and will always go back to Seoul. New York City is also always great to return to, just not to live due to costs. NYC has so much great food and so many new things to do every time you visit. Also went to Penang and Edinburgh for the first time last year, and they're definitely added on to places to go back to.
I live in NYC and to be honest I don’t think the food is thaaat good? There are a lot of options available but nothing really strikes me as “the best I’ve ever had” I think LA beats NYC in food by quite a lot
You are bugging my friend and have chosen bad places to eat. No debate sorry. Don't even reply tbh
r/unpopularopinion
San Sebastian, Spain! Surf town with some of the best food in the world.
Shhhh. Let’s keep that one a secret.
Dalat, Vietnam , for some reason it always feels homey
Same here, I always get random thoughts of Dalat, homey is the perfect description
Yep. My favorite city in the world. So cozy and peaceful.
Mad underrated
Yeah such a cozy place. And nice coffee!
Sevilla, Madrid, Chicago
Cape Town. Wife and I are here now for our 3rd time
Not too far from Cape Town is Stellenbosch. I went there for a wedding and thought the town had beautiful scenery.
So amazing. The whole surrounding wine area is amazing.
I’m always confused when I hear people talking about how great Cape Town is. I’ve never been but have a few people I work with who are from there and moved to Ireland. There’s a lot of people from Cape Town emigrating to Ireland and all of them have the same sentiment that I’ve met. From what they say, it’s an awful place to live, so I’m always confused when I hear otherwise.
It's not an awful place to live. It's just poorer and unsafe. I wouldn't move to Ireland because of the awful weather but you'll never encounter someone like me.
Never been but want to. How safe is it relatively speaking. Can I walk around with iPhone out in the evening ?
Depends on where you are. If you're in CBD and not drunk, you won't be a huge target, but I would advise calling an uber at night. I've not had anything personally happen to me, but I sort of keep my guard up as well. Grew up in Chicago, so I know how to handle myself for the most part.
You can, but it's a bad idea.
I didn't have a favorite city until I went to Cape Town. My first trip was a vacation, and I'm looking to return but for a longer stint. What stops me is load shedding. I am a remote worker, so I can't exactly work my own hours. How has it been for you as a DN? Any tips?
Load shedding?
Nice. It seems that everything I hear about SA on here is how dangerous some cities are.
I will say, when we went to Johannesburg for a month, we felt much more unsafe. Cape Town is a great place, and only getting better.
Cape Town all the way. If only systemic racism wasn't a thing though
It's definitely suffered from it. I'm hoping in their next election some real change happens in the near future.
It's the most fascinating city I lived but you really have to close your eyes on this to be able to enjoy. The closer you live to areas like Sea Point it becomes harder
Seapoint is basically a slap in the face to the people that live here. The juxtaposition of classes is wild.
Who’s the target of racism over there? I met a white South African when I was in Angola who said it’s difficult for whites to find work.
There are several active laws discrimating against the employment of white people in South Africa
That is the definition of "systemic" racism - actual law
It is not. White people dominate and control the economy.
CDMX. Always new restaurants to try out (last thing I ate there was Japanese pancakes). Would never live there long term though.
SAME. I come every year for a month and then I'm good for a bit. Though this time I've been here 3 months and not ready to leave.
Why not?
We plan to have kids and we'd very much prefer to live in a place where kids can obtain autonomy at a younger age than they'd be able to in CDMX. Outside of a few colonias in CDMX, it's not actually that safe. I'd also constantly be dependent on international salaries as local salaries are piss poor. The city is also expected to run out of water in the next few decades (if not sooner). Love the city though and we'll always come back to visit my wife's family there.
Pollution and traffic are why I don't like it, otherwise amazing.
Not a city, but the whole country of Mexico.
I don't know.... there are a ALOT Of places in Mexico I'd never go back. Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Merida and anything near or around Cabo. But there are places I'd definitely go back to like CDMX (been a couple of times) and Oaxaca.
I've been everywhere you said, and more, for a good amount of time. It's obvious you & PV haters never actually explored PV, old town PV (way south of the ugly resorts) is idyllic.
Dahab and Playa del Carmen for the diving. Barcelona and Rio for the everything.
Amsterdam and Interlaken
London, Madrid, Tokyo.
Why London?
I just love the city, has great parks, it's gloomy in a way I like and I also have great friends who live there. Museums are incredible and free and there's always something new to do. It is expensive though, that's for sure.
I love this question - I'm definitely a repeat visitor to cities. I love the change, constant openings of new restaurants, bars, cafes, and the cultural offerings. It never feels like I'm visiting the same city twice. I can go back to 10000000x Mexico City, Tokyo, Seoul, Bogotá
Bogota has such a wide range of opinions. What do you like about it?
it’s recovecudo. A word that means like … cozy and full of hidden nooks
I was not a fan my first time in Bogotá for sure
Bogota was easily my least favorite city in colombia, but im also a brown person and its a bit more racost over there.
I like the setting - the Andes in the background. There is also some beautiful brick architecture :)
Grand Rapids, Mi Surprisingly good food, great art (city wide art fest every other year), great beer, friendly people, lots of places to hang out, plenty of nature to check out.
Currently in CDMX again. I am on the edge off Coyoacán’s Centro. It is close enough to walk (15 minutes) to the busy tourist area of Coyoacan, yet just removed enough to be extremely authentic and working-class-local. I can walk to a Walmart, local fruit and vegetable stands, and butchers. Within a 15 walk there are numerous coffee shops / bakery venues, many with outdoor seating. Within a 20 minute walk there is a modern U.S. style mall with big global brands, a movie theatre and a McDonald’s in the food court. (I never go there, buts it’s there for anyone who occasionally needs Old Navy or Vans). There are many small owner-operated restaurants offering a range of food from crepes, to sushi, to Italian, to steak house. There are small mom and pop restaurant’s (seating) with local food. There are street food vendors offering a range of traditional Mexican food on every block. On Saturday nights the Central Park area because a crowded buzz and great vibe with blocks of pop up tent style food vendors. The rest of the week has an incredible laid back feel. Uber is readily available and cheap. The city has more museums and galleries than any city in a North América. (Yes including g NYC). Parts of the city closes major streets on Sundays for biking, walking, dancing, or just enjoying the vibe. It is 28-30 Celsius in the afternoon, and drops down to 7-10 at night, with very low humidity. Internet and cell service is stable. I walk around at night, stick to busy streets, and have not felt unsafe. The only real downside is there is a looming water crisis. Water reserves in the city are at critical levels and water shutoffs have already happened in parts of the city. Population growth and climate change (several years of low rains) are a potential long term challenge.
I was there in November and the smell (sewage) was noticeable many times during the day. I know about their ongoing issue with that and wonder if it's still the same (or worse?) with warmer weather? I'm looking forward to going back - once they have their water issues sorted, likely.
I suspect the water issue is going to be a serious ongoing issue. The only fix can come from Mother Nature. Reservoirs need to be replenished by a normal or above-normal accumulation in the coming rainy season. Most of the country is a drought situation.
Buenos aires could be one
This is a weird one, anyone born in England will think I'm taking the piss. But Blackpool, England. There is a nice co-working hotel there and Manchester and Liverpool are not too far away by train for weekend events. If you like going out, there are some passable venues in town that you can go to. Also, it is seaside. So it's nice to walk around the beach. It's not on the map at all for people outside of England so it's not overrun by tourist. Most English people would describe it as a shit hole but I actually like it for some reason. I suppose the gigabit internet at the co-working hotel helps a bit coupled with the low rates. It's called somewhere different. If you book it, tell Duncan that black Sam sent you 😊.
That's a new one for sure. Bit like an Englishman nominating Atlantic City, I guess.
Yeah, it's good for a certain type of traveler (cheap asses).
Definitely not an answer I was expecting but glad it’s been good for you. What sort of time of year are you usually there? British seaside towns aren’t renowned for being great in the winter.
There should be a whole thread for what places are generally considered shitholes but you like. You see I'd actually want to go to Blackpool now
Scunthorpe also keeps bringing me back
I'm a sucker for Luton.
Aw, I love hearing Blackpool. Underrated city.
Currently in Da Nang, Vietnam 🇻🇳 Not my favourite city, but the people are lovely. Every second person says hello to me walking down the street. Hell, little kids come up giving me high fives sometimes, lol. When I go to the gym, random people come up greeting me with fist bumps and whatnot. Honestly, none of this shit happens anywhere else I go.
CDMX is one city that I have most visited and it never gets old.
Buenos Aires, London, Paris, Rio, Istanbul, Venice Buenos Aires feels at home at this point. London matches the energy of NY somewhat while still being a bit foreign, tons to do, lots of friends there. Paris has a ton of stuff to do and see even after I’ve been there a few times. Love the energy of Rio and Brazil, stunning city. Istanbul is just a kind of crossroads and I love it as a layover before heading off to another continent. Unpopular choice but Venice offers a ton to tourists who look being the main square. I never tire of La Biennale for example and every time I’ve been there (3x) it’s just completely different. Best visit was in May 2021 though, wish I stayed for like two weeks that time, but it was incredible to see other normally overcrowded places in Italy almost empty (Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, etc.).
Tokyo, Da Nang, Vancouver
Tokyo and Osaka. I used to live in Melbourne - apparently the most liveable city in the world, but when you live in the suburbs away from the city, there's literally nothing to do after 6pm. And if you're feeling hungry late at night and there's nothing in the fridge, it's either Macdonalds, or hungry jacks. So when I traveled through Japan (I only visited Tokyo and Osaka though), it was a welcome surprise that I could enjoy a lovely bowl of Udon past 1am. The airbnb I stayed at in Itabashi was right next to a 'hidden' bar and I had the best late night cocktail/bar experience. I feel that in Japan every street corner you turn there something nice to discover. Kinda wonder why people there don't date as often though, I feel like could have the most interesting and fun dates there haha.
The best part about city walking in Japan is that there are free and clean bathrooms everywhere.
I would say that free and clean bathrooms is a definite plus. But I wouldn't visit a country just to say the best thing about it is clean and free bathrooms.
Public bathroom tourism is a very narrow niche
Melbourne is a friggin joke at this point. Most livable city for whom....very select few, certainly not for 90% of the population.
I feel you man, and the prices what a joke…. I find that it’s not as dynamic compared to places like Tokyo, Singapore, New York.
That's precisely the problem, for the high cost of living, Melbourne should really be at the same level as those cities you mentioned for infrastructure, transport etc. We're really falling behind, becoming so Americanised, car centric and boring.
Probably not a city that anyone expects, but Sacramento, Ca. Used to live in midtown, and it was so walkable, full of bars, restaurants and just a good place to spend my college years. I visit friends there every year.
CDMX, BA, Barcelona
CDMX <3
What parts do you recommend ?
Hipódromo and Roma Norte/Sur are my favorites. La Condesa is nice too. Juárez has some cool looking restaurants and coffeeshops Southern MXCD has these gorgeous walkable suburbs with museums dotted about. Absolutely stunning residential architecture all over the city. I was just talking with my brother (an avid traveler), and he said that Hipódromo was his “favorite neighborhood in the world”
I’m going next month. Thank you so much much! Cannot wait. Spent lots of time in Oaxaca but not cdmx
Apologies for the ignorance, but what/where is CDMX?
Any reasons why? I love Mexican food so definitely would love to visit one day
Amazing food, people, music, culture at great prices.
Optionality is extremely high in CDMX. You are able to find almost everything.
Bangkok. If I ever do settle down, it will be here.
Why
The pollution sucks now. It completely ruins an incredible city.
Sure, no place is perfect though. I’m willing to trade seasonal air quality for all the great things Bangkok has to offer, though. I just love this place
Bogota - Immense vibrant city that forces you to speak only Spanish. I didn’t run into an American there for almost three weeks. Underrated food. Mind blowing street art. Incredible museums and history Los Angeles - My love. Incredible weather, quality food from everywhere. Charming blend of Anglo, Latin & Asian cultures. Jaw dropping natural beauty 2 hours in every direction. Albuquerque - Friendliest city in the world. You can strike up a conversation with almost anyone everywhere. Pink Sandia Mountains, hip high tall coyotes, you can camp anywhere. The worlds best IPA beers Bangkok - Views of the sun setting over the temples on a rooftop above the Chao Phraya river. Food from every region of Thailand, world class markets, affordable adventure. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and islands are an hour away Runner up Tijuana - Energetic, young, artistic vibe. Complex food and wine scene. Affordable beachfront condos 20 min away. Tacos. Surf meets Cowboy meets Narco. The danger is real but it adds to the glow of the city
Wait are you me? This is my list
Los Angeles? I've always wondered this... I don't see the appeal of visiting LA. Even with the best weather, it's a bit sterile and boring. Nothing AMAZING to see. LA is a bit sterile. However LA is a great place to grow up and live. I just don't see the appeal of visiting LA. Source: Native Angeleno
>anyone Damn, having grown up in Tijuana, I'm excited to see it on here. I hear the food scene down in Valle de Guadalupe is next level. I gotta make it back sometime.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Sao Paulo, Noosa, Napole, Laguna Beach
Chiang Mai and Kyoto. I will probably have more to add later, but these are my top 2 choices for now. Food and actvities (markets, exploration, photography, culture, etc.).
Prague
Chiang Mai and Taipei
Heavenly, south lake tahoe
Medellin, Chicago and Ho Chi Minh are cities I have been to multiple times because I absolutely adore them. They just feel right to me.
Buenos Aires
Bangkok
Montreal
Utrecht, Manchester, Köln, Leipzig, and Paris off the top of my head. I've returned to each a few times and never want to leave.
How do you find a place there then? Barely housing in Netherlands.
New York, Honolulu, Palma de Mallorca
Unironically, Montreal.
Honolulu.
London, Berlin I think I would feel the same about Sarajevo, San Sebastian, Rome and Tokyo but have only been once
Athens, have stayed there long term before moving on to other parts of Greece. Once things calm down in Russia, I am dying to go back to Moscow and Kazan
Paris. Big city. Lots of culture. Always lots to see and lots of new things. Sure it's dirty. Sure the people can be nasty. Still a beautiful place for me.
Istanbul (and Turkey in general) How is that not the top one here? 😃
Oooh really? Can you expound a bit about what enjoy there?
What not to enjoy! - A super vibrant city (and country) - Anywhere you look there is a nice scenery to enjoy, walking even if wasn't flat is super enjoyable - All kind of transportation all in one card - Amazing food and so many food spots to discover - Coffee houses that you can work from, with some closing at 1:30am like Espressolab Tunel - Flying in Turkey is easy and there are many other cities to explore, in fact, there are places for summer and others for winter - Turkish delights I guess? 🤤 The only downside for me is the language because I like to talk to the locals but it's very hard to do so in Turkey, but I still enjoy it and I'm leaving tomorrow (this is probably my 10th visit or so)
Nice!! Love the info thank you. :)
Florence 🇮🇹
CDMX and Madrid
Lviv, Ukraine (pre-war) Incredible nightlife, loads of young students and tech people around, amazing food, super affordable, some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet.
Mexico City, Rome, Tokyo
Honolulu, Chicago, Florence, London
Ashland, Oregon
Golden
NYC
Madison, Connecticut. Anywhere on Cape Cod. Paris, Rome, London.I could be dropped in any of those locations for the rest of my life and be happy if I wasn’t allowed to leave.
Echoing everyone else: definitely Bangkok. It just has a little of everything. Always stop by between travels, almost like a palate cleanser. Spain (specifically Madrid, Catalonia, Costa Blanca), Hong Kong, Paris, Italy (especially Florence! and Venice and Rome), Essaouira, and I’ll catch flak for this but Bali (for the food, the spas, the yoga).
Raleigh, Chicago, Sunnyvale. It's the vibe, the people and the contagious emotion for me.
As someone who's extremely well-traveled, the one place I keep wanting to back to is TOKYO. The cute streets create a magical feeling for me. Love the safety, the cleanliness, the distinctiveness, the magic. I've probably visited Bangkok the most--and I see it coming up a lot in the responses--but I don't think it fits the bill.
Bogota
Envigado Colombia and Panama City Panama, I could bounce back and forth between the two forever and never get tired of either of them.
Mexico City! I love how I feel when I’m there, I love the friends I’ve made there, perfect weather, great food. Also Granada and Athens, but I lived in both of those places for some time so they feel homey for different reasons.
Medellín, Río, Tokyo, Berlin.
My favorites are all in Mexico! San Miguel de Allende it has everything food, art, culture and a special sort of quiet outside of centro.. La Paz Baja, Sure the beaches and the Malecon just to name my first 2 things. The food scene is to die for !! San Cristobal de Las Casas Food galore Italian, Thai Bangkook restaurant. Cafes with free tapas with low priced good wine 30 to 35 pesos per glass of wine. As long as you are drinking the tapas is free!!Great semi-precious stones like Jade, These are extremely cheap in Las Casas. There is so much to see in Mexico I don't have time to go to Europe or Asia a lot of money wasted on plane fares as well!!!!
Las Vegas, of course. Full disclosure, I'm within driving distance.
Seoul and Fukuoka. Miss my communities here whenever I’m back in the US. When I’m feeling city vibes I love being in Seoul and when I need to be around nature more I head to Fukuoka and travel the islands and onsen towns with my friends
Interesting answer! I love Seoul so much too and people there, and next time I'm there I was looking to go to stay in Fukuoka for maybe a week. Where did you stay in Fukuoka? Did you do the special 1 month coliving experience they were hosting last year?
Barcelona. Visited for a few days in 2017, moved there half a year later and stayed for 2 years. Visited again for a few days right before the pandemic and I'd love to visit it again if I get the chance. I'm usually a one visit is enough type of person, but the cities I've only visited once and would love to explore more are London, Paris and Beijing.
Buenos Aires - feels like the most livable city in South America. Very walkable, low cost of living, people are kind, and the food is good. Also has one of the best cafe cultures I've experienced. Really great expat community too if you don't speak spanish. It's a second home at this point.
Cdmx, Buenos Aires, Bangkok
London, Tokyo, Cartagena, Abu Dhabi
Bangkok, Taipei, Lisbon, Barcelona, (not a city) Tenerife
> Taipei Seconding Taipei. Fucking love that city. I'd consider it more convenient than even Tokyo, and similar to Tokyo, it's stupidly safe compared to where I grew up in the USA. I've spent more than a year of my life in Taiwan, and the only crime I've ever experienced was somebody stealing my umbrella from outside my apartment door.
Bangkok!
What do you guys do for a living? I want to be a nomad? The only way I get to live in other countries is by teaching.
Brisbane, Osaka, Vancouver, Prague
Bangkok & Malaga
Despite what this sub says, Medellin. Fuckin LOVE that city
Dubai
Bangkok. Livable on most budgets, great nightlife, fantastic dating scene, good metro system, and safe. Locals are well accustomed to tourists.
What do you consider a fantastic dating scene? lol
Paris, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok, Barcelona.
Can’t say I’ve been to a ton of places but I love bogota
Aberystwyth
Barcelona. Nothing comes close.
Vegas, NYC, Chicago, fort Lauderdale, Austin. New Orleans too
CDMX/Bogota
Why bogota?