The world's most beautiful cities

As far as visitor numbers are concerned, London leaves all other cities behind it. Over 17 million tourists come to the city on the river Thames every year. They are attracted by fabulous museums and theaters, royal glamour, modern architecture and fashionable shopping areas.

The former imperial capital is regarded as Japan's historical heart and offers a myriad of palaces, abbeys, shrines, temples and Zen gardens. Added to that, Kyoto's lively art scene, excellent food and impressive landscapes make it a top travel destination.

A medieval jewel: cobble stoned roads, small brick houses nestled close together, gothic churches and numerous canals that thread through the city make Bruges one of Europe's most romantic destinations.

Prague Castle is over a thousand years old and one of the world's biggest castles. It visibly towers over the city on the river Vltava. Below it there is a labyrinth of little alleyways in the old town center where visitors can travel back in time to the Middle Ages.

The "eternal city" is some 3,000 years old and it proudly presents the remnants of its long history: the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and St. Peter's Basilica. But far from being a dusty museum, the city is very lively indeed.

Paris is the city of love, culture, museums and the French 'joie de vivre' way of live. The Louvre, Centre Pompidou, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Coeur, Versailles Palalce – in Paris there is so much to see.

With its fantastic location on world's largest natural harbor and with miles of white sanded beaches at its doorstep, Australia's second biggest city is rich in nature. Add to this the attraction of exciting architecture like Sydney's landmark opera house.

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, Prater Park and the Viennese café culture – these are all part of the charm of Austria's capital city. Here you can still experience the splendor and glamour of the old imperial days.

Nearly all attractions are located along the banks of the Danube: the famous Gellért spa hotel with its thermal baths, the main building of the university, castle hill with Buda Castle or the Hungarian Parliament building. Its beauty has earned Budapest the name "Queen of the Danube".

The world most beautiful city is Italian: Florence, capital city of Tuscany. Undeniably packed with a wealth of museums, palaces and sights, Florence was also the birthplace of the Renaissance art movement, and artists like Leonardo da Vinci and many others have left their mark on the city.