Cape Town, South Africa

Multicultural and picturesque, Cape Town, South Africa, had to be on the list of the most beautiful cities in the world. This frequently overlooked but utterly stunning city sits at the base of South Africa’s iconic Table Mountain on a peninsula surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the South Atlantic Ocean. Visitors flock there from around the world to enjoy the beautiful weather, see the fascinating sights and explore the pristine beaches. Of all the major cities in South Africa, Cape Town is what comes to mind for amazing scenic attractions. Lion’s Head is the peak of one of the surrounding mountains and is popular with hikers. It’s fairly steep and is about 3.5 miles. Visitors will need to plan about 90 minutes to get to the top.

Mountains, coastlines, beaches filled with penguins: Cape Town pretty much has it all. Each day in the Mother City will make you fall in love with some new sight, be it the king protea-filled Kirstenbosch National Botanic Gardens or the rainbow-bright row houses of Bo-Kaap. In fact, visitors can start sightseeing before their plane even lands: That first glimpse of Table Mountain from the sky makes quite the impression. Cape Town tells a different story: shadowed by the magnificent beauty of Table Mountain and its penguin-thronged beaches, the great outdoors is a vital part of daily life in this buzzing, energetic city. From the green lungs of the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens to the electrifying nightlife along the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town is one of the most dramatic and exciting urban locations in the world. And in 2014, it was tapped as a World Design Capital, demonstrating its conscientious blend of natural beauty and human creativity.