World most visited cities
Editor's note: The list below reflects the top five cities on
MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index for 2014. The 2015
listremains largely unchanged.
The same attractions that prompt people to love visiting a city –
top-ranked restaurants, vibrant nightlife, diverse neighbourhoods,
iconic sights – can entice them into staying longer term. In fact,
many of the world's most visited cities, as ranked by 2014's
Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Indexreleased in July, are
also popular destinations for expats.
*. Related article: Living in... Istanbul
But being a resident of one of the world's most visited cities is not
without its unique set of challenges. "Coming from a smaller city in
Canada, I was overwhelmed at first by how crowded certain areas of
Paris were," said Erika Belavy, who moved to the City of Light from
Calgary, Alberta, seven years ago. "When I first moved to the city, I
made the mistake of choosing an apartment right beside the Arc de
Triomphe. No matter what time of day, or which month of the year,
there were so many tourists it was a nightmare getting on the nearby
metro."
Still, it does not take residents long to learn how to navigate the
crowds and find secluded spots. We talked to expats and natives to
learn what it's like living in some of the world's most visited cities
– and the secrets to steering clear of the constant crowds.
London
Great Britain's capital came in as this year's number one most visited
city, with 18.7 million international tourists estimated to arrive in
2014. (Mastercard combines tourism board statistics, flight schedules
and expected passenger loads to project the year's arrivals.) London
native Sophie Loveday said she hardly notices the influx. "You just
get used to so many people being around," she said. "It's what gives
the city such a buzz!"
Even so, she said she always tries to avoid the West End's Leicester
Square because the pedestrian plaza is too commercial – with or
without tourists. However, she will brave the crowds of Covent Garden,
a shopping district in the West End, thanks to its quirky shops and
hip vibe. East London's Brick Lane is also a must-visit, despite being
"heaving full of people"; the neighbourhood's Indian curries are
considered among the best in the UK, and the restaurants and food
stalls make finding a good meal easy.
To escape the city, Loveday travels to the southwest suburb of
Richmond. "You can see deer running through the park or take a boat
down the Thames river," she said, then finish the day off with a meal
at a waterfront pub like the Bavarian beerhouse Steinsor the popular
restaurant Gaucho, which serves Argentinian food and wine amid
cowhide-fabric furniture.
*. Related article: Living in... London
There are no shortages of neighbourhoods (called districts) to fit any
vibe. Loveday lives in the southwest district of Tooting, which she
loves for its multicultural vibe and influx of young professionals who
keep the area lively. She also recommended Angel, in northern London,
due to its "cool and friendly" vibe.
Bangkok
Due to political protests and the Thai government shutdown in 2013,
Bangkok slipped to number two in this year's global rankings, yet is
still expected to draw 16.4 million international visitors in 2014.
Thankfully, residents say, the influx is seasonal, with most visitors
coming November to February. Ketsara Chocksmai, a Bangkok native and
tour director for Thailand's smarTours, said she especially finds the
city pleasant from June to September. "It's our rainy season, so not
many tourists come to visit this time of year," she said. But since it
usually does not rain all day, locals can still enjoy being outside.
Despite its reputation for wild nightlife, Bangkok also has its fair
share of quiet spaces for people to get away. Locals often seek
peacefulness in one of the city's many Buddhist temples, such as the
old town's Wat Phra Kaew, considered the most sacred in the country
due to its 6.6m-tall "Emerald Buddha", carved from a single piece of
jade. Lumpini Parkand Benjakitti Park, downtown, can also be peaceful
escapes – aside from early morning and late afternoon, when they tend
to be popular with joggers and yogis.
MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index for 2014. The 2015
listremains largely unchanged.
The same attractions that prompt people to love visiting a city –
top-ranked restaurants, vibrant nightlife, diverse neighbourhoods,
iconic sights – can entice them into staying longer term. In fact,
many of the world's most visited cities, as ranked by 2014's
Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Indexreleased in July, are
also popular destinations for expats.
*. Related article: Living in... Istanbul
But being a resident of one of the world's most visited cities is not
without its unique set of challenges. "Coming from a smaller city in
Canada, I was overwhelmed at first by how crowded certain areas of
Paris were," said Erika Belavy, who moved to the City of Light from
Calgary, Alberta, seven years ago. "When I first moved to the city, I
made the mistake of choosing an apartment right beside the Arc de
Triomphe. No matter what time of day, or which month of the year,
there were so many tourists it was a nightmare getting on the nearby
metro."
Still, it does not take residents long to learn how to navigate the
crowds and find secluded spots. We talked to expats and natives to
learn what it's like living in some of the world's most visited cities
– and the secrets to steering clear of the constant crowds.
London
Great Britain's capital came in as this year's number one most visited
city, with 18.7 million international tourists estimated to arrive in
2014. (Mastercard combines tourism board statistics, flight schedules
and expected passenger loads to project the year's arrivals.) London
native Sophie Loveday said she hardly notices the influx. "You just
get used to so many people being around," she said. "It's what gives
the city such a buzz!"
Even so, she said she always tries to avoid the West End's Leicester
Square because the pedestrian plaza is too commercial – with or
without tourists. However, she will brave the crowds of Covent Garden,
a shopping district in the West End, thanks to its quirky shops and
hip vibe. East London's Brick Lane is also a must-visit, despite being
"heaving full of people"; the neighbourhood's Indian curries are
considered among the best in the UK, and the restaurants and food
stalls make finding a good meal easy.
To escape the city, Loveday travels to the southwest suburb of
Richmond. "You can see deer running through the park or take a boat
down the Thames river," she said, then finish the day off with a meal
at a waterfront pub like the Bavarian beerhouse Steinsor the popular
restaurant Gaucho, which serves Argentinian food and wine amid
cowhide-fabric furniture.
*. Related article: Living in... London
There are no shortages of neighbourhoods (called districts) to fit any
vibe. Loveday lives in the southwest district of Tooting, which she
loves for its multicultural vibe and influx of young professionals who
keep the area lively. She also recommended Angel, in northern London,
due to its "cool and friendly" vibe.
Bangkok
Due to political protests and the Thai government shutdown in 2013,
Bangkok slipped to number two in this year's global rankings, yet is
still expected to draw 16.4 million international visitors in 2014.
Thankfully, residents say, the influx is seasonal, with most visitors
coming November to February. Ketsara Chocksmai, a Bangkok native and
tour director for Thailand's smarTours, said she especially finds the
city pleasant from June to September. "It's our rainy season, so not
many tourists come to visit this time of year," she said. But since it
usually does not rain all day, locals can still enjoy being outside.
Despite its reputation for wild nightlife, Bangkok also has its fair
share of quiet spaces for people to get away. Locals often seek
peacefulness in one of the city's many Buddhist temples, such as the
old town's Wat Phra Kaew, considered the most sacred in the country
due to its 6.6m-tall "Emerald Buddha", carved from a single piece of
jade. Lumpini Parkand Benjakitti Park, downtown, can also be peaceful
escapes – aside from early morning and late afternoon, when they tend
to be popular with joggers and yogis.
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