The Most World's Largest Cities [Ranked by City Population]

This is a list of the most populous cities of the world defined according to the concept of city proper. The list ranks the world's urban municipal units according to population.These are approximate figures so data on other sites can be different according to the different methods of measuring.

1. Tokyo

Country: Japan
Population: 33,800,000
Its history begins in 1457, but it was completely rebuilt after the Second World War.
Tokyo is a gorgeous city, that is very cultural and welcoming. The scenery is amazing, and I know that I’ve always wanted to go and check out this amazing place. Tokyo is a world commanding ‘finance center’ and is miles ahead with technology, so there will be plenty to see. The locals are welcoming, and the whole place is like a paradise, at least that’s what I’ve heard from my friends who’ve been there last summer!

2. Mexico City

Country: Mexico
Population: 22,900,000
Mexico gained independence in 1821, and since then Mexico City has been growing and expanding throughout the centuries.
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, but it has been influenced by many cultures. The buildings have a Paris look to them, and the floating gardens are certainly a landmark that everybody should see. The city has 160 museums, over 100 art galleries and a constant cultural activity that means everyone should visit it!

3. Mumbai

Country: India
Population: 18,042,000
While the city has existed since 250BC, its history is plagued with riots and lobbies. The current Mumbai became established in 1950, but riots in 1992 and the bombing of the underground have meant that a lot of buildings have been rebuilt, and Mumbai has a new look once again.
With a huge cultural influence, a mix of spicy yet rich foods and several big landmarks, Mumbai is a brilliant place to go sight seeing. From the famous Chowpatty beach to the Elephant Caves, there is something for everybody, and I know that I will definitely be visiting in the future. For the ultimate Mumbai experience, try and time your trip to include one of the popular festivals.

4. Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil
Population: 17, 711, 00
Sao Paulo officially became a city in 1711, and has flourished since then. However, since the twentieth century, it has been under pressure to out perform Brazils other major city, Rio De Janeiro. This has lead to an increase in policing, and a tidy up of the city.
Sao Paula is another very cultural place, and it also hosts many big events. These include the Sao Paulo fashion week, which is attended by huge fashion names such as Gucci, and the March for Jesus. There are also more controversial events, such as the gay march. The temperatures are high, and there is a site here for everyone, from the famous Museum of Art to the Interlagos grand prix track. I find the culture here fascinating, and the locals are really welcoming too, offering tasters of local food and showing tourists the way of life there.

5. New York City

Country: USA
Population: 16,626,000
It took New York City a long time to become the version we know and love. Before that, back in 1624 it was called New Amsterdam and it had been inhabited by Native Americans. Later on it was owned by the British who then changed it’s name to New York. But it became America’s largest city in 1790 and held that position ever since!
New York City is the cultural center of America, buzzing with films, art and music. 47 million tourists visit each year, to see Broadway, Central Park, the Bronx zoo and all of the other amazing attractions on offer. The food there is diverse, with bagels, kebabs, cheesecakes and pizza’s being the most common choices. The New York City Hall is worth a viewing, and many of the Universities are housed in very old, gorgeous buildings. I’d definitely recommend visiting this brilliant city!

6. Shanghai

Country: China
Population: 14,173,000
Shanghai didn’t start its reforms until 1991, and these are still going on today. Before this, Shanghai had a mixed history, including a period of heavy communism.
Shanghai is the cultural leader of East Asia, and hosted the first motor car, sewer and train track. These days, Shanghai has a more advanced transport system then most of Europe, and the mix of picturesque villages and 20th Century architecture means that Shanghai is one of the most gorgeous cities in the World. I’d recommend taking as much camera film as you can carry, and make sure you travel round to enjoy the different sites each area has to offer!

7. Lagos

Country: Nigeria
Population: 13,488,000
Lagos has a mixed history, which begins in 1742, and travels through British ownership and several wars to establish itself as a large, functioning city today.
The biggest city in West Africa, Lagos has sights that more modern cities just can’t contend with. Lagos also homes the “Nollywood” of Africa, so called because it is the center of the African film industry, and has two football stadiums. There are several sandy beaches, and a fast paced way of life, but Lagos is still a quiet holiday destination, getting most of its tourism via business.

8. Los Angeles

Country: USA
Population: 13,129,000
Los Angeles reformed into the city we know now in the 1920’s, although it was plagued with crime and gang warfare up until 1994.
Los Angeles has so many landmarks, you’d be crazy not to visit it. These include the Hollywood sign, the Walt Disney concert hall, Graumans Chinese theatre, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, the Kodak Theatre, Capitol Records and the Los Angeles memorial coliseum. Los Angeles has a great nightlife, and some brilliant shopping areas, so it’ll be a brilliant holiday for everyone!

9. Calcutta

Country: India
Population: 12,900,000
In 1960, Calcutta had two main areas. One was British owned, named the White Town, and one Indian, named the Black town. Since then it has survived striking, bombing in WW2 and the name change to KolKata, and is currently experiencing major reforms.
Kolkata has a massive literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage, and is the former capital of India. Its buildings are heavily influenced by Gothic, Baroque, Roman, Oriental and Indo-Islamic revolutions, leaving the town looking beautifully mismatched, and now that it has a working public transport and a reformed tourist base, it is a better time than ever to visit. The locals are welcoming, and there is a perfect mix between Indian and Western culture. I can’t wait to visit this newly reformed city myself.

10. Buenos Aires

Country: Argentina
Population: 12,413,000
The city was reformed after the Falkland Wars, but is constantly evolving.
If you haven’t visited Argentina, definitely go now. The culture is amazing, and the sights simply breathtaking. Famous for the tango, make sure you check out a dance establishment, and look at all of the architecture too. It’s a mix of Madrid, Paris and Barcelona, and is truly unique. This has to be one of my favourite cities.

8 Precariously Placed Cliff Towns

These quaint towns have it all – remote location, rich history, a ton of classic architecture and last but not least, incredibly breathtaking views. Nestled into cliffs, above gorges, and on top of ancient lava flows, it’s pretty amazing these cities have survived for so long.

1. Bonifacio, France

The ancient city of Bonifacio is located on the southern most tip of Corsica, France and is built onto limestone cliffs 230 feet above the harbor below. Because limestone is such a soft stone, over the years ocean water has eroded the base of the cliffs, making the old buildings hang directly over the ocean.

It’s no wonder Bonifacio has seen some wear and tear since the city has been around for a pretty long time. Skeletal remains of a woman dating back to 6570 BC (aptly named “Dame de Bonifacio”) were found in a cave in the northern region of the city. In addition, scholars argue there is a reference to Bonifacio in Homer’s “Odyssey,” when he describes a race of giant cannibals, called Laestrygonians, who live in a harbor very similar to Bonifacio’s.

Today Bonifacio has around 400 residents (none of whom are confirmed cannibal giants) and is a popular resort town for French and Italians.

2. Ronda, Spain

Ronda is located in a mountainous area 2,500 above sea-level in the Andalusian region of Spain. The city was initially settled by Celts and was subsequently ruled by Romans, Moors and finally Catholic Spain in 1485. Ronda is built on the two peaks above the El Tajo canyon that has been shaped by the Guadalevin River that runs 330 feet below. Since the town is split on two hilltops, Ronda is connected by three bridges, one Moorish, one Arab, and the “newest,” Puente Nuevo, which was completed in 1793.

Both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles fell passionately in love with Ronda and spent summers in the old town quarter called La Ciudad, writing about the city’s famous bull fighting and troubled political history. Welles even chose the city as his final resting place – his ashes were scattered underneath his favorite tree just outside Ronda.

3. Santorini, Greece

The geography of Santorini was created by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BCE when a large island that existed there before was blown to bits and a small archipelago of islands surrounding a central lagoon was created. The islands of Santorini are located southeast of the main Greek islands in the Aegean sea. Although each small island is shaped differently, most of the hillsides of Santorini rise up over 950 feet from the lagoon below.

Many architectural elements of Santorini come from its history as an erupted volcano. The white washed, low-lying homes of the main island are often colored with volcanic ash and are usually constructed sideways or down into the earth in order to utilize the cool, volcanic pumice stone the city is built on.

4. Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain

With an area of less then one square kilometer, Castellfollit de la Roca is located in the Catalonian region of Spain and is home to fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. The unique geography of Castellfollit was created by lava flows thousands of years ago that ran over each other and hardened, forming a basalt crag. This crag was slowly eroded by two rivers until a small stretch of land was created that rises 165 feet from the rivers that still run below.

Castelfollit’s Old Town has origins in the medieval period and its dark and narrow streets haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. So it’s pretty surprising that the city was one of the first in Spain to have telephones installed in 1907. Since the town is so isolated, the mayor pushed to have telephones connecting Castellfollit and two other nearby towns. Phone lines weren’t available to the rest of Spain for another decade or so.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

The Incan people began construction on Machu Picchu in 1430, 50 miles northwest of their capital in Cusco, Peru during the height of their empire’s power. A hundred years later it was mysteriously deserted, and to this day archaeologists and historians can’t agree on why it was created or what lead to its abandonment.

Machu Picchu’s location on a mountain top 1,500 feet above a river doesn’t make it the most likely spot for agriculture, but the Incan people’s impressive use of terraced landscaping made the otherwise un-farmable land perfect for growing crops.

The city of Machu Picchu has 140 structures, including houses and temples. And since the Incas were such exceptional stone masons, many of these structures are still in good condition, surviving hundreds of years and many earthquakes.

6. Rocamadour, France

Local legend says that Rocamadour, France was named after St. Amadour who fled to the 400 foot caves above the river Alzou to live a life of hermitage. Since his arrival, the city has become synonymous with spirituality and a place worthy of religious pilgrimage. In medieval times a monastic complex was built into the rocky cliffs of Rocamadour and French peasants and royalty alike flocked to the site. Today visitors can still visit the crypt of St. Amadour and pray in the Chapelle Notre Dame that contains a very famous 12th century Black Madonna.

Other then its famous religious history, Rocamadour also produces a famed local cheese, called “Cabecou of Rocamadour”, made from a secret medieval recipe using goat’s milk aged 6 days before serving.

Wondering when to visit Rocamadour? Try to get there in September when the city also hosts a festival called Montgolfiades where dozens of hot air balloons fly over the town. This stunning spectacle is held annually.

7. Meteora, Greece

Meteora, meaning “suspended in air”, is one of the most sacred Eastern Orthodox cities in Greece. It is made up of six monasteries built over thousands of years on sandstone rock pillars that rise over 1,000 feet from the ground.

Originally, the ancient rock formations were inhabited by hermit monks in the 9th century who built their homes in caves and fissures. Over the next thousand years, the location became increasingly popular, and six monasteries were built where the most devout Eastern Orthodox priests and nuns lived.

It wasn’t until the 1920s that stairs and a bridge were built to get to the monasteries; previously people were hauled up in mesh baskets.

8. Cuenca, Spain

Cuenca, Spain is a medieval town that has been a coveted military stronghold in the Iberian Peninsula for the Roman Empire, Arabs, and Christians (all before the 12th century) because of its placement on the top of a gorge above a rushing river. Given the varied cultures that called Cuenca their home, it’s no surprise the city has an incredible mix of architecture leftover from its former residents, including Our Lady of Grace, the first Gothic Style cathedral in Spain, and the ruins of an ancient Arab fortress.

But the city’s most famous buildings are called the “Casas Colgadas” or “Hanging Houses” that were built in the 15th century and literally hang over the cliff. One of these buildings now houses the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, one of the best museums of its kind in Spain.

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Best 10 Of The World’s Most Impressive Subway Stations

When you're traveling around the world, it's good to know that there are public transit systems available to help you get where you want to go. Underground subway systems offer the convenience of getting where you want when you want without the hassle of having to flag down a taxi or rent a car. In just about all cases, it's the most cost effective option.

There are some beautiful, modern, and vast rapid transit systems throughout the world. The most popular and diverse international underground transit systems are listed below, but are merely a sample of the quite eye-catching transit systems that exist throughout the world.

Stockholm Tunnelbana (Sweeden)

`Subway stations are usually designed in a clean and modernistic style in order to make people forget they are traveling deep underground. It is different in the Stockholm subway though, in which several of the deep underground stations are cut into solid rock which were left with cave-like ceilings. Oldnature meets nextnature. The fine ‘cave paintings' make the finishing touch.

Munich U-Bahn (Germany)

Munich Public Transport System (MVV) is a splendidly constructed system consisting of dozens of S-Bahn (suburbian trains), U-Bahn (subway), Tram-Bahn / Straßenbahn (streetcar) and bus lines, connecting all parts of the city perfectly. This metro system has been opened in 1972 and has spacious and clean stations. The earlier ones are rather minimalistic in design while the later ones got more interesting architectural features and some works of art.

Shanghai Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (China)

This has to be one of the most surreal, psychedlic and fun forms of public transport. The Tunnel connects East Nanjin Rd on the Bund, and Pudong near the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, running under the Huangpu river. It's a psychedelic trip in a glass capsule along the 647 metre flashing, strobing tunnel.

Moscow's Komsomolskaya Station (Russia)

The Komsomolskaya station of the Moscow Metro is the most famous of all those on the Koltsevaya Line and of the whole system, and an icon of Moscow itself, partly due to it being located on Moscow's busiest transport hub, Komsomolskaya Square, which serves three railway terminals: Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky and Kazansky. The station's connotation is of a gateway to Moscow and to the rest of Russia, and its theme is of the patriotic history and inspiring future of the nation. It was opened on 30 January, 1952, as part of the second stage of the Ring line.

Frankfurt's Bockenheimer Warte station

A weird subway entrance, looking like a train bursting through the sidewalk from below, is located in Frankfurt. Architect Zbiginiew Peter Pininski reported he felt inspired by surrealist artist René Magritte when creating it.

Metro Bilbao (Basque Country)

Bilbao, a small city in the Basque region, is proud of their subway system, not only because of its speed and efficiency, but also because of its design. Norman Foster, the architect who did the Reichtag in Berlin, the Gherkin in London, and the world's largest airport in Hong Kong, designed Bilbao's metro stations. The stations are well-lit and spacious. Foster uses a simple, yet aesthetically pleasing design, especially with the support beams, staircases, and lights. The entrances are especially unique. Nicknamed “el Fosterito,” the entrances are glass round tubes that emerge to the street level.

New York's City Hall station (US)

While the stations of the subway are now often dirty, ugly, and are marginally welcoming places, this is not always the case. New York City once had the imagination to build stations which were beautiful as well as practical. The City Hall station remains the most impressive subway station in New York, and yet it hasn't been used since 1945.

Chicago's O'Hare Station (US)

The O'Hare terminal station was built in 1984, looking toward the airport terminal from the platforms. The curved sidewalls of glass block, backlit in different colors, illuminate the platforms and absorb sound in the station. The stairs and escalators at the end of the platforms ascend through a gray metal wall that mimics an airplane fuselage to deliver passengers to the fare controls and out into the airport terminal.

Dubai Metro Stations (UAE)

The elevated and at-grade Dubai Metro stations combine both heritage and modern designs. They have been modelled on the shape of seashell, inspired from the diving and pearl-fishing heritage of the UAE, while the interior design depicts the four elements of nature – water, air, earth and fire. Conceptual design of some stations includes traditional architectural ingredients used in antique Arab buildings such as wind towers, oriels, alleyways or internal arches.

Pyongyang Metro (North Korea)

Built to link secret underground military facilities, the Pyongyang Metro is nevertheless an important part of the transport infrastructure in the capital of North Korea (officially, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK). There is evidence that it includes secret government-only lines, although the extent of these, if they exist, is unknown. Its station architecture is among the most attractive in the world. However, relatively little is known about the Metro outside the country, as few visitors are able to investigate the system.