10 cities in the world everyone needs to visit at least once in their life

I've been thinking a lot lately about how certain places change you. Not in some cheesy, eat-pray-love kind of way, but in the sense that they rewire how you see the world.

Over the past decade, I've been fortunate enough to visit dozens of cities across different continents. Some I quickly forgot. Others stayed with me, showing up in conversations, influencing decisions, even changing how I approach my work as a writer.

The cities I'm sharing today aren't necessarily the most popular or the most Instagrammed. They're the ones that got under my skin, that made me think differently, that offered something I couldn't find anywhere else.

Let's get into it.

1) Kyoto, Japan

There's a temple in Kyoto called Ryoan-ji, famous for its rock garden. Fifteen stones arranged in white gravel. That's it.

I sat there for forty minutes, watching people come and go, all of us staring at rocks. And somehow, it wasn't boring. It was one of the most peaceful experiences I've had.

Kyoto does this thing where ancient tradition and modern life exist side by side without conflict. You'll see a woman in a kimono waiting at a crosswalk, checking her phone. A thousand-year-old shrine next to a 7-Eleven. Buddhist monks grabbing coffee.

The city taught me that old and new don't have to fight each other. They can coexist beautifully.

The food scene is incredible too. I'm vegan, which can be tricky in Japan, but Kyoto's Buddhist temple cuisine (shojin ryori) is entirely plant-based and has been for centuries. I ate some of the most thoughtful, beautiful meals of my life there.

2) Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon feels like a city that's been through some things and came out the other side with perspective.

The buildings are covered in these beautiful hand-painted tiles called azulejos. Many are cracked or fading, but that's part of their charm. The city doesn't try to hide its age or its scars.

I spent a week there walking the steep hills, getting lost in the Alfama district, listening to fado music in tiny restaurants. Fado is this melancholy Portuguese music about longing and loss. It's deeply emotional, and even though I couldn't understand most of the words, I felt every note.

What struck me most was how Lisbon balances melancholy with joy. The Portuguese have this concept called saudade, a kind of nostalgic longing for something that might never return. The whole city embodies it, but it's not depressing. It's honest.

Plus, the seafood is amazing, and they have great vegan versions of traditional dishes if you know where to look.

3) Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is chaotic, colorful, and completely unapologetic about both.

The energy is unlike anywhere else. Twenty million people living at 7,000 feet elevation, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The air is thin, the streets are packed, and everything moves at once.

I visited the Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's home, and stood in the courtyard where she painted. You can feel her presence there. Her pain, her passion, her refusal to be anything other than herself.

The city has this same energy. It doesn't try to be palatable or easy. It's loud and proud and deeply rooted in indigenous culture that predates colonization by thousands of years.

The food alone is worth the trip. Tacos al pastor, fresh mole, street tamales. And the markets, especially Mercado de la Merced, are sensory overload in the best way.

4) Berlin, Germany

Berlin is a city constantly reinventing itself, which makes sense given its history.

Walking through the city, you can see layers of different eras. Nazi architecture next to Cold War concrete next to sleek modern buildings. The East Side Gallery, a preserved section of the Berlin Wall covered in murals, runs along the river like a mile-long reminder.

What I love about Berlin is its refusal to forget. The city confronts its past head-on with memorials and museums dedicated to the Holocaust, the Wall, the Stasi. It doesn't hide from uncomfortable truths.

But it's also incredibly creative. The art scene, the music, the nightlife. There's a scrappy, DIY energy that reminds me of Los Angeles in the early 2000s when I was covering indie bands.

The city feels like it's still figuring itself out, and that's part of its appeal.

5) Istanbul, Turkey

Stand on the Galata Bridge at sunset and you'll see why Istanbul is special.

To your left, Europe. To your right, Asia. The call to prayer echoing from mosques across the city. Fishermen casting lines into the Bosphorus. The smell of grilled fish and fresh bread mixing with sea air.

Istanbul exists at the crossroads of continents, religions, and cultures. It's been the capital of three empires. You can feel that weight everywhere you go.

The Grand Bazaar is overwhelming in the best way. Thousands of shops selling everything from spices to carpets to jewelry. I got lost for hours just wandering and watching people haggle.

And the food. Turkish cuisine is incredibly diverse and has tons of vegan options. Mezze spreads, stuffed grape leaves, lentil soup, fresh bread. I ate incredibly well.

6) New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans doesn't feel like the rest of America. It feels like its own thing entirely.

The music is everywhere. Not just in clubs or concert halls, but on street corners, in parks, at funerals. Music is woven into the fabric of daily life in a way I've never experienced anywhere else.

I've mentioned this before, but the culture of celebration in New Orleans is something special. Even in the face of tragedy, Hurricane Katrina, economic struggles, the city refuses to stop dancing.

The architecture is gorgeous. French Quarter balconies dripping with plants. Creole cottages in bright colors. Cemeteries with above-ground tombs that look like tiny cities.

And yes, the food. Po' boys, gumbo, beignets. Being vegan takes some creativity here, but it's doable. And watching how food brings people together in New Orleans taught me a lot about community.

7) Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech assaults your senses in the most wonderful way.

The medina, the old city, is a labyrinth. You will get lost. Accept it. Some of my best discoveries came from wrong turns down narrow alleys.

The souks are incredible. Spices piled in colorful pyramids, leather goods, handwoven textiles, metalwork, pottery. The colors alone are worth the trip.

I stayed in a riad, a traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard. Mornings started with mint tea on the rooftop, watching the city wake up.

What struck me most was the pace of life. Things happen when they happen. Shops open when the owner feels like it. Meals last for hours. There's no rushing.

Moroccan food is largely plant-based friendly. Tagines with vegetables and chickpeas, couscous, fresh salads, olives, and bread. I ate amazing meals for ridiculously cheap prices.

8) Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is often called the Paris of South America, but that sells it short. It's its own thing.

The city has this European elegance mixed with Latin American passion. Wide boulevards, grand architecture, sidewalk cafes where people spend hours talking.

I caught a tango show in San Telmo and it was mesmerizing. Not the touristy kind, but authentic porteno tango, full of longing and intensity. The dance tells stories of love, loss, and desire without words.

The city stays up late. Dinner doesn't start until 10 PM. Clubs don't open until 2 AM. I'm not much of a night owl anymore, but even I got swept up in the energy.

Buenos Aires also has a tragic history. The military dictatorship, the disappeared, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo still protesting every week. The city carries that weight but refuses to be defined by it.

9) Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town sits at the southern tip of Africa, surrounded by ocean and mountains. The natural beauty is staggering.

Table Mountain dominates the skyline. You can hike up or take the cable car. Either way, the view from the top is worth it. Ocean in every direction, the city spread out below.

But what makes Cape Town essential is its history and its ongoing reckoning with that history. Apartheid ended only in 1994. The scars are still visible. Townships exist next to wealthy neighborhoods. Inequality is stark.

Visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Our guide was a former political prisoner. Hearing him talk about forgiveness and reconciliation changed how I think about conflict.

The food scene is diverse and creative. The city has embraced plant-based dining in a big way, with some of the best vegan restaurants I've encountered.

10) Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is small, especially compared to other cities on this list. But it punches above its weight.

The landscape around the city looks alien. Black lava fields, steaming geothermal pools, waterfalls, glaciers. In winter, you can see the northern lights. In summer, the sun barely sets.

Icelanders have this practical, no-nonsense approach to life that I appreciate. They're friendly but not overly chatty. They believe in elves but also have the highest literacy rate in the world. They're full of contradictions.

The city itself is colorful and quirky. Street art everywhere, tiny cafes, bookstores, music venues. Iceland has produced an absurd amount of musical talent for a country of 350,000 people.

Fair warning, it's expensive. Like, really expensive. But it's worth it for the experience of being somewhere so remote and beautiful.

Conclusion

These ten cities changed how I see the world and, in some ways, how I see myself.

They taught me that beauty exists in imperfection, that history matters, that different cultures approach life in completely valid but wildly different ways.

Travel isn't just about seeing new places. It's about becoming someone who's seen those places. Someone with broader perspective, deeper empathy, more stories to tell.

So if you get the chance, go. Save up, plan, make it happen. These cities are waiting, and they have things to teach you that you can't learn anywhere else.