Favorite Global City/Cities

[JWags85]

I reckon this board needs a bit more levity and positive discussion of far off lands, as opposed to the more heavy discussions of such. 

I'm currently in Hong Kong and had dinner last night with my close friend from Singapore.  He was meeting a former regular tennis partner of his.  Ended up being a very successful finance guy who had the kind of heady global financial destination journey that feels like was so very common in the 80s/90s but has dissipated a lot with globalization.  He's Turkish, so started in Istanbul out of university, moved to Amsterdam shortly thereafter where he met his now wife through mutual friends from back home.  They moved to Chicago for a few years before he was poached and headed to NY for a decade, then London for a few years after a change before being moved to Singapore, and now HK where he's been split between HK and Singapore for the last 5 years.

Among other things, we had a great conversation about lived experiences in different places and commonalities.  Funny enough, of all their global footprint, they actually said Chicago was their favorite city they'd ever lived, save the weather.  If it had mild, more northern Mediterranean style weather, it would be their winner.  Granted, they admitted partly it was that they were married there and had their honeymoon years there, but still they found it a very special sort of city.

Some of this has been covered in bits and pieces in the travel thread, but we have a diverse group of people with travel experience and opinions here, thought it could be fun.  And FWIW, I'm thinking cities, not regions or beachy resort areas or ski destinations, stuff like that.

For me, Ive always split the discussion in my head to "favorite cities I'd happily live" and "favorite cities to visit/that I've visited".  Some are an overlap of both. 

For example, Chicago.  My former home for 10+ years, I'd happily live there again, either city proper or near burbs, but will never do so short of a significant life event that draws me there as 35+ years of Upper Midwest winter was a enough for me.

Similarly, London.  My first trip to London in my mid 20s was a wonder.  An eye-opening experience.  I had never "got" the draw.  Always thought Anglophiles were a bit puzzling.  But after I spent a week there I fully got it.  My subsequent 10 or so trips over the next 15 years only further solidified it but also that I would love to and could happily live there, in any number of different neighborhoods spreading out from the center (not just the tourist who has a great time staying in Mayfair and walking around Hyde Park and Kensington and thinks that's London).  Obviously a blindingly expensive city, especially rent and real estate, and not my favorite weather, but I'd choose it over Wisconsin/Illinois winter/spring any day.

To visit?  Hong Kong is up there.  I had prolonged considerations and discussions about moving here for work reasons a few years before COVID, and wasn't opposed to it, especially after spending some time with expat friends here.  But a variety of reasons, not least of which is the continued shift from the uniqueness of HK to more like just another major Chinese city, that ship sailed.  I still adore it, there is an energy and feeling here that is palpable and very special that I haven't found anywhere else.  And while its very very dense and crowded and populated and competitive, it feels oddly more approachable and liveable than a place like NYC (something that actually came up in the conversation at dinner).  More than anything, even though I could make HK work with a family, its too hard to be on the opposite side of the world.

Similarly Jakarta.  Wrote a love letter to it in the travel thread.  Amazing place Ive really enjoyed getting to know over the last few years. And the cost of living/affordability/friendly culture is appealing as an expat. But even more remote travel wise than HK and not developed enough for me beyond Jakarta proper.

My final 2, favorite places to visit but could never live.  First, domestically, is New Orleans.  Man I absolutely adore everything about that city from food to culture to history.  But I could never dream of living there.  And that's not even thinking about the pea soup thick summer humidity that makes Florida humidity feel like a nice spring day.

And foreign, in Asia, definitely Tokyo.  Can't say enough awesome stuff about Tokyo, but its also so very overwhelming.  Perfect place to have an incredible experience for 3-10 days and then look forward to another trip back down the line.  In Europe, I absolutely have LOVED the 2 times Ive been to Salzburg, think its a truly underrated gem, but its just too small.  I don't even think I could spend more than a few days there.  And nearby, Munich.  Another place that I have always been drawn to and fascinated by (and Ive never even done Oktoberfest).  Have a great time there but am not devastated when its time to depart.

Honorable mentions to Barcelona, Nice/Marseille, Istanbul, and Singapore.

On the other hand, least favorite city is always and foreign, Brussels 

[WarriorFan]

Love the topic Wags.  We have some in common.

Dubai.  Having lived there and grown to understand that it's actually very affordable and easy, it's become one of my favorite places to visit and I'd live there again in a heartbeat.  People comment about how it's all "fake"...yeah, so have you been to central London lately?  Manhattan?  Plus it's so safe there, and the government services are pleasant and efficient.
Cape Town.  I go there annually for a business conference and have been staying for a week before/after.  This year we flew my team of 50 there for our annual meeting as well.  Cheapest place with great food, great scenery, great wine, hiking, easy to get around, and something for everyone at every price point. 
Melbourne.  The city center is nice and the neighborhoods  with the cultural/ethnic twists - German, Greek, Italian, etc. are fun to explore.  Weather can be bad.  Nice getaways down the Mornington peninsula or to the Yarra valley (wine!) as well. 
Jakarta.  repeat above.  Would live there again.
Singapore.  like Dubai, one of the last remaining places on the planet where crime is illegal.  So much to do and explore for a small place.  Awesome food.  Would live there again as well!
Moscow.  Controversial one I'm sure but other than the traffic it's safe, has lots to offer culturally, food, recreation.  Not crazy expensive.  Spent 10ish days/month there for 10 years of my life and found it very appealing. 

Cities I despise:  London (loved it 20 years ago), Beijing, LA, Johannesburg, Paris, Kuala Lumpur

Honorable Mention:  Brisbane, Perth, Chicago.

I used to rate Hong Kong but it's just changed too much and lost its personality and some of its vibe. 

[MU_B]

I loved living in and going to school in Antwerp, would probably be willing to do that again.

Also really enjoyed Edinburgh, and would like to go back there on a more extended trip.

[Skatastrophy]

1 Chicago, NYC, London, Tokyo, Paris, Mexico City

All are megacities with enough neighborhoods that we could find our desired path, even as the city changes over the next decades of our life. Good friends live there so our social life doesn't start from scratch, and tremendous food cities.Arts up the wazoo. Good public transportation.

2 Osaka, SF, Copenhagen, Belfast, Toronto, Singapore, Bangkok

These places are missing something for us. Just not quite tier 1 "spend the rest of my life there, never moving." But I wouldn't hesitate to spend 5 years in these cities awesome food and people, but no close friends living there. Bangkok and Singapore are both troubled in their own ways. Belfast and Copenhagen and SF are too small. Toronto is just Chicago in Canada. Osaka is grand but it's not Tokyo.

Everything else isn't on the list, tbh. Our list may shift if we need to cut costs, but I don't think that's in the cards.

It will be unlikely that we ever sell the house in Chicago, but we may rent it out for a few years to go exploring?

Edit: This list is just places we've spent significant time. There's a wide world out there that I'm largely unaware of, I'm sure.

[Galway Eagle]

Love and would live in any day:

Large: London, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Ho Chi Minh, Barcelona

Medium: Edinburgh, Genoa, Montpellier, Rouen, Cork, Belfast, Milwaukee, Boston

Small: Galway, Westport

Liked but probably won't return: Singapore, San Fran, Nice

Like but would never live: Paris, Rome, Dublin, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Twin Cities, DC, Florence, Denver

Too young/broke to have truly experienced: NYC, Seattle, Vancouver

Actively dislike: Phoenix, Houston, DFW, LA.

If I overlap this with my wife's list it's basically cork, Montreal, Genoa. She'd probably add Cape Town.

She hasn't been to Edinburgh Belfast London or Toronto though.

[MU1in77]

Since I'm almost 70 and never lived outside Milwaukee County - I'm thinking Dayton?

[Jay Bee]

Not tryna brag, but in like 2001 for my buddy's bachelor party we went to Wisconsin Dells and it was incredible.

[forgetful]

There are quite a few European cities I'd happily live in.

Big fan of both Barcelona and Florence. But there are so many of the smaller cities/villages that would be absolutely delightful.

[Shaka Shart]

Berlin is awesome, would live there in a heartbeat.

Have a soft spot for the quietness of Ljubljana.

I liked Brussels way more than I thought I would.

Montreal is great for food but man was it a social challenge to live there as an anglophone in the dead of winter

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Since I'm almost 70 and never lived outside Milwaukee County - I'm thinking Dayton?

You're setting yourself up for disappointment--Dayton just can't compete with Cudahy.

[Scoop Snoop]

Since I'm almost 70 and never lived outside Milwaukee County - I'm thinking Dayton?

Nah. Gary Indiana.

[Galway Eagle]

Nah. Gary Indiana.

I mean they are in the running for the Bears!

[Billy Hoyle]

damn, I'm envious of you guys, almost all of my extensive European travel was in 1997 during my study abroad spring break (like Galway Eagle, I was in Galway and would move there in a second). I've made it back to Europe a few times since (Madrid, Belgium, Edinburgh for one night, Dublin multiple times), but that's it (lots of Canada, Mexico and Central America travel in that time though). Time for me to step it up!

I  have gotten to live in some great US cities - NYC, Seattle, Portland...and Milwaukee!

[muwarrior69]

Nah. Gary Indiana.

Newark and Camden NJ. Admittedly I am not a big city guy. Like my small town.

[MU82]

Been fortunate to live in two of my favorite cities: Chicago and Seattle. After I moved to Chicago, I joked that the worst part of living there was that I no longer got to travel there on expense account.

Internationally, I was impressed by the charm and beauty of Lillehammer, and how nice every single native I met was.

Back in the U.S., I love New York and San Francisco. And though it isn't a "global city," the island of Kauai has special allure to us, and we keep going back. We like to stay in Poipu, though we've also enjoyed the north coast.

[pbiflyer]

Domestically, New Orleans easy. Chicago in summer.
Worldwide? Almost anywhere in Spain. Sevilla and Barcelona top ones. Plan on exploring the northern area soon though.
Retirement plan is Spain, so would obviously live there.

Almost anywhere in Switzerland. Beyond fairy tale.


I am kind of done with some cities - Rome, Paris, maybe even Madrid (though I have been almost a dozen times). Rome is overrun with tourists almost everywhere in the city. Smaller towns and cities in France are more appealing than Paris to me. 

[21Jumpstreet]

Domestically, New Orleans easy. Chicago in summer.
Worldwide? Almost anywhere in Spain. Sevilla and Barcelona top ones. Plan on exploring the northern area soon though.
Retirement plan is Spain, so would obviously live there.

Almost anywhere in Switzerland. Beyond fairy tale.


I am kind of done with some cities - Rome, Paris, maybe even Madrid (though I have been almost a dozen times). Rome is overrun with tourists almost everywhere in the city. Smaller towns and cities in France are more appealing than Paris to me. 

Nearly identical to what I would post. Big fan of Saint Remy, France.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Nearly identical to what I would post. Big fan of Saint Remy, France.

One of the most beautiful places I have been to. If San Diego wasn't the most perfect place to live I would consider Provence or the Algarve

[21Jumpstreet]

One of the most beautiful places I have been to. If San Diego wasn't the most perfect place to live I would consider Provence or the Algarve

Hitting the Algarve this September, can't wait. Checking out the coast with some friends, hopefully hit up Madeira for some hiking, and hope it's not too early for surfing at Nazare (not me, I am a terrible surfer...at the moment). I am seriously considering the Camino Coastal Route, so giving the area a quick looksee.

I'm usually the one in my family who says let's just look at real estate. My wife beat me to it in Provence.

[Shaka Shart]

Domestically, New Orleans easy. Chicago in summer.
Worldwide? Almost anywhere in Spain. Sevilla and Barcelona top ones. Plan on exploring the northern area soon though.
Retirement plan is Spain, so would obviously live there.

Almost anywhere in Switzerland. Beyond fairy tale.


I am kind of done with some cities - Rome, Paris, maybe even Madrid (though I have been almost a dozen times). Rome is overrun with tourists almost everywhere in the city. Smaller towns and cities in France are more appealing than Paris to me. 

Seville was such a good vibe

[JWags85]

I am kind of done with some cities - Rome, Paris, maybe even Madrid (though I have been almost a dozen times). Rome is overrun with tourists almost everywhere in the city. Smaller towns and cities in France are more appealing than Paris to me. 

Very much with you on the former pair.  Ive only been to Madrid once, so there is still more I'd like to see/explore.

Rome is such a conflicting place for me.  For me, its the most incredible intersection of ancient and modern in all of Europe, if not maybe the world, when it comes to major cities.  All of Europe is old and historical, especially compared to the US, but places like London you're in a building that was built in the 1300s or a pub that was built during Shakespeare's era.  But Rome, you're standing next something built literally 2000 years ago as beeping traffic zips by.  The Pantheon is a tourist attraction, but its not a excursion spot displaced from the city, its set amongst shops and housing and cafes despite being built a two millennia ago.  Its astounding.  Ive been to Rome a half dozen times and never not been awed in some way...

That being said, the tourist presence has seemingly exploded more than I recall.  its everywhere in an even more persistent way.  I mean, they just put the Trevi fountain behind ropes for admission and queues.  Its suffering from the same fate as Venice in the peak months.  That and its an absolutely FILTHY city, even 25 years ago when I went for the first time.  Ive never been in another developed city that has as much assorted garbage, paper, and other litter debris in the streets and sidewalks, even in seemingly upscale areas.  That combined with baking summer heat and dust, it takes a lot of the luster off for repeat visits.

And Paris...I actually liked Paris more than I thought I would.  My first visit was alright, but it grew on me.  But again, after 5-6 visits, stuff starts to grate on you more as the mystique and charm of the history and architecture wear off a bit.  There are a variety of places I'd enjoy living in Europe, even major cities, but I can't picture it in Paris, short of a major influx of cash allowing me to live in one of the truly posh and lush arrondissements. Especially with the very realistic and not actually exaggerated rudeness of Parisians.  Even if I expanded my French to a relative level of fluency, it wouldn't be native and thus still worthy of scorn.  Everyone I know who speaks some sort of advance competency French has a story about speaking French to people in Paris and constantly being responded to in English, usually with some sort of annoyance   On the other hand, as people have mentioned, the French in smaller towns and cities are actually rather lovely people.  I was briefly in Strasbourg and then a few days in Reims the last time I was in France and the locals were great.  Amusingly, counter to the fluency judgement in Paris, when I spoke French in Reims, people acted more like the funny stereotype of when you speak Chinese or another local language in SE Asia and they are like "oh wow, very good (thumbs up)".

Speaking of Provence, we have a British family friend who retired/spends half the year near Saint Maxime, a bit up from the water.  Not as sceney or glitzy as Saint Tropez, but very nice and laid back.  He HATES Paris, like despises the city and its people with a passion for many reasons, and also has some amusing grudges about Lyon as well.  But he absolutely adores Provence and its people and has made it his second home as such.

[#UnleashThePortal]

Global cities? Nah timezones dont exist according to @withoutbias