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London Tips & articles

May 2, 2012 12:28:42 AM

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: top 10 cities for 2012

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After globe-trotting research and fierce debate, Lonely Planet has come to a decision on its favourite cities for 2012. As always, our shortlist has some known gems and a few to raise a quizzical eyebrow, but each one is poised for greatness in 2012. While sporting events are bringing new adrenaline to a couple of classic destinations, other cities in our list have bounced back from difficult times with a renewed lease of life. The coming year will put all of these cities in a fresh light, whether they’re showing new flair with music and art festivals or dusting off preconceptions by showing their wilder streak. Without further ado, here’s our top 10 cities for 2012.

1. London

London is going for the knock-out blow in 2012. The Olympics are riding into town and a whole swath of the capital is being transformed in the process. London’s east will be thrust into the spotlight but the rest of the capital will be rolling out the red carpet too. Seeing Tower Bridge lift its bascules to let a tall ship pass beneath is all stately grace, as opposed to your first rush-hour trip on the tube, getting up close and personal with strangers of every colour, creed and nationality. Mind the gap! Whoever you cheer for, you won’t be alone in this most international of cities.

2. Muscat

Oman is firing on all fronts to attract international visitors, expanding everything from its museums to its resorts. Muscat is the focus for the revamp, with cultural events, luxury accommodation and aquatic activities taking centre stage. This year it’s all about Qurum’s trendy designer outlets, Old Town souks and wacky water sports enlivening its coastline alongside traditional dhows. Muscatis are still genuinely interested to see visitors, so much so that first-timers might have the odd feeling of returning to the house of an old friend. ‘Tomorrow will be a new dawn on Muscat,’ the Sultan pledged upon attaining power in 1970. Today in Muscat, the sun has well and truly risen.

3. Bengaluru (Bangalore)

The undisputed Elvis of South Asian megacities, Bengaluru is in a class of its own when it comes to redefining flamboyance. Perpetually drunk on the good life, this South Indian metropolis packs in the best brews, the scrummiest cuisines, and the liveliest arts and music scene, not to mention the hippest population you could hang out with. This year, evenings in the ‘capital of cool’ are poised to get even more intoxicating. And if the maddening traffic has always been your concern, take heart: Bengaluru’s new high-speed Metro network now ensures that your favourite watering hole is easier to reach than ever. There’s only one thing you could say to that: ‘Chill maadi!’

4. Cádiz

It might normally look like a peaceful pocket of old-world Spain, complete with old men in flat caps shuffling about in cafe-lined squares. But once a year, sleepy Cádiz undergoes a Superman-like transformation and hosts Spain’s most raucous carnival – a 10-day bender of drinking, singing and dancing. The locals are famed throughout Spain for their wit, and this is put to the test during February’s carnival where groups wearing lipstick and neon wigs perform satirical skits. Cádiz has found itself named Ibero-American Capital of Culture for 2012 – the first time a European city has held the honour. It may not pull the same crowds as Seville or Córdoba, but few places embody the spirit of gutsy Andalucían living like Cádiz.

5. Stockholm

Image by Michael Cavén

The film release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo might have prompted a new wave of Stieg Larsson fans to look for the grimy side of Stockholm. Unfortunately they’ll have to look quite hard, because Stockholm looks as perfect as it’s ever been. This is as seductive a capital city as can be imagined – cosy yet cosmopolitan, wilfully alternative and effortlessly picturesque. With its trendy design shops and bohemian bars, the island of Södermalm is one of the coolest kids on the block, while the stately parks of Djurgården make it the best island for an evening stroll. Admittedly Stockholm has never been a cheap date. But even if Stockholm leaves you with a lighter wallet, you’ll inevitably still leave it with a heavy heart.

6. Guimarães

This northern Portugal city is breathtakingly beautiful, as recognised by its place on the Unesco World Heritage List, yet mysteriously it doesn’t figure on the radars of many foreign visitors. The old city is a beguiling tangle of medieval, red-roofed, colonnaded buildings, punctuated by awe-inspiring mansions and palaces, and centred on a spikily crenellated castle. Now is the moment to visit, as the city has been anointed the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Building on an already impressive cultural scene and fired up by its significantly youthful population, the city will be a hot spot of artistic endeavour throughout the year, with creative artists gathering from across Portugal and Europe to showcase their work.

7. Santiago

Calamity came calling to Chile, first through an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and later when 33 miners were trapped in the country’s north. With the world watching, Chile displayed its defiant optimism, and these experiences have seemed to ignite a seismic shift in the capital. Culture and sports have come to the fore and new museums have opened to acclaim. Dining is now top-notch, nightlife exhilarating and this year also marks the inauguration of the tallest building on the continent, the 70-storey Torre Gran Costanera. Day trippers can scale an Andean peak in summer, ski its powder-clad slopes in July, or cycle through the idyllic vineyards of the Casablanca, Maipo and Colchagua valleys. Visit Santiago and you’ll feel the buzz.

8. Hong Kong

The mood in China’s most liberated city is edgier and more vocal than ever. This will be a particularly exciting year for Hong Kong, as it continues its march towards full democracy. Rallies are infused with theatrics and eruptions of song, dance and poetry, reflecting the city’s vibrant indie music and literary scenes. Enjoy views of skyscrapers marching up hills from the Star Ferry, before challenging your senses at a wet market or divining your future at a temple. Go shopping, gallery hopping and check out the bars of Soho. Explore walled villages or go hiking on Asia’s most breathtaking trails. Whatever you do, sprinkle your day generously and boldly with some of the city’s 11,000 restaurants.

9. Orlando

This should be a great year for Orlando as it’s hosting the 61st NBA All-Star Weekend  (25 and 26 February). The hippest sporting event in the USA , it brings much of the basketball and music worlds together for slam-dunk contests, after-hours parties and concerts, as well as the all-star game itself. Most visitors will head for the theme parks but it’s worth poking around the city, too. Keep an eye on the boho ‘Milk District’, a neighbourhood on the rise with its motley crew of eateries, bars serving microbrews, bookshops and tattoo parlours, just a short drive east of downtown. Orlando, hip? Who knew?

10. Darwin

It was once easy to dismiss Darwin as a frontier town full of brawling fishermen, dreamy hippies and redneck truckers. But with a pumping nocturnal scene, magical markets and restaurants, and world-class wilderness areas just down the road, today Darwin is the triumph of Australia’s Top End. Beat the crowds to the redeveloping Waterfront Precinct with its wave pool, bars and wharf eateries; or score some brilliant Indigenous art before East Coast galleries snap it up and charge double. Nose your way through the food stalls at Mindil Beach Sunset Market, then watch the sun melt into the Timor Sea. When southern Australia is chilling through winter, here it’s blue skies, party nights and sleeping late.

This article was updated in May 2012.

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Comments

  1. 1 November 2011 5:24AM redcat1 Report this comment

    While in Orlando, check out The Mennello Museum of American Art, a real gem in that city. mennellomuseum.com

  2. 1 November 2011 7:18AM pavankumarpn Report this comment

    Don't miss the stunning Mysore Palace, 3 hour drive from Bengaluru. http://www.mysorepalace.tv/360_Eng/index.html

  3. 1 November 2011 12:03PM parisiangreen Report this comment

    I have always wondered why Darwin isn't Australia's leading city what with its proximity to Asia it makes perfect sense. So yes it's on my radar (bit hot though)...

  4. 1 November 2011 2:49PM jganguly Report this comment

    There is probably more around Bengaluru (Bangalore) than in the city. The city is most known for restaurants, pubs, occasional pop/rock concerts and arts (stage), silks and handicrafts. Within 250 km you will find Mysuru (Mysore), coffee plantations (Coorg, Chikmagalur) and wildlife sanctuaries (Bandipur, Nagarhole).

  5. 1 November 2011 10:09PM das1951 Report this comment

    Other than a couple of entries like London, it's certainly a novel, if not controversial list...

  6. 1 November 2011 10:30PM hughied Report this comment

    Been to three of these (HK, Cadiz and London). With you on HK and London but to be honest, Cadiz is nothing special (surpassed by Granada, Seville and Cordoba in the area). This would be my Top 10 on the basis of the ones I've visited:

    1. Hong Kong 2. London 3. Barcelona 4. Cairo 5. Beijing 6. Istanbul 7. Rome 8. Havana 9. Antigua 10.Samarkand

    Really want to go to Muscat and Guimarães.

  7. 1 November 2011 11:05PM travelover53 Report this comment

    London was a given for the top spot.

    Some unusual contenders in the rest of the list although proud to say I've visited five.

    Parisiangreen - agree re Darwin. It's only four hours for Singapore and two from Asia so a really good connection. I'm planning to go back next year so any insiders tips welcome...

  8. 2 November 2011 6:23AM kylemcgee Report this comment

    I live in Muscat and it's indeed a very nice city. However, the mix of cities in this survey is very odd. On what basis are these cities chosen? In London, there are thousands of things to do, yet in Muscat there are few. London is ultramodern, yet Muscat is quite traditional. Don't even get me started on Bangalore. I thought it was quite the pit when I visited some time ago..

    Also, I thought LP was primarily written for travelers and backpackers. ALL of these cities are out of the budget for these folks..

    What gives?

  9. 2 November 2011 7:18AM nowornever Report this comment

    i cannot really follow such top whatever lists......nothing against orlando, but how did orlando make it to thios list and not dresden or kunming???

  10. 2 November 2011 8:31AM arunasworld Report this comment

    I have visited Stockholm and London. These cities are really nice. But I know nothing about others in 10 top. Are those cities somewhere on the Earth? :)

  11. 2 November 2011 11:27AM pretzel65 Report this comment

    I am so glad you have put Darwin in the top 10 - we are Aussies and recently visited Darwin, Kakadu and surrounds for the first time and the place blew us away! While Darwin is probably the most expensive Aussie city I've been to, it is also one of the most fascinating, with VERY friendly locals, great art and crafts, and indigenous culture PLUS the amazing Top End national parks and heritage on its doorstep - go and visit Darwin everyone!!! Can't wait to go back there myself...it is also hoping to revamp itself as a stopover on the way to Asia..

  12. 2 November 2011 11:53AM whereu Report this comment

    Nice to see a list that caters for a variety of tastes. I'm also pleased to see Muscat on the list. Based on my experience of living there for three years, Oman is the best kept secret of the Arabian Peninsular. IMO, Omanis are friendly, tolerant people who still mange to retain the best of Arabic customs as opposed (IMO again) to their neighbours. A lovely, welcoming country rich in culture and natural beauty.

  13. 2 November 2011 1:03PM ricardohiro Report this comment

    Well, I live in London and I know the city will host 2012 Olympics. However, I do not understand why Lonely Planet chose London as the top spot, not Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney... Is it because many editors of Lonely Planet are British? London has a (large) number of interesting and nice places to visit, I am sure, but in terms of Underground services, (some) peoples' behavior and travel (as well as living) costs, it is among the worst in the world. Here you find something unusual (in a bad sense) and annoying such as signal failures, faulty trains and a lot of garbage in London Underground on a 'daily' basis. Also, remember the riots that happened in August.

  14. 2 November 2011 1:51PM chhwow Report this comment

    Yes, Hong Kong. The most well-connected city, both getting around it and onto the next destination And getting to the outlying islands from the piers lining up within a brisk walk from the mall of the International Finance Centre. You could walk in the beautiful country park in Tai Tam, lunch in Stanley by the beach, have tea in the Teaware Museum, and dine on Cheung Chau Island, all in a day's work. Get an Octopus card and use it to travel on all public transport, except taxi. No need to fumble for the right change. It's a traveller's paradise. Just try to avoid peak hours on the Underground system.

  15. 2 November 2011 1:51PM elcontador Report this comment

    Guimaraes? I'd think Ponte de Lima during Festas Novas (it's a town in the Minho, not a city per se), or Évora would be more interesting.

    I haven't been there in awhile, but I found Berlin to be the most interesting European city I have visited. Lots of things to see and do, and I also found the locals to be friendly.

  16. 2 November 2011 4:36PM aussie_traveller2 Report this comment

    Darwin in the top 10, you must be joking. You could hold a raffle with the first prize a week in Darwin and second prize 2 weeks in Darwin.

    It's a great place to start and finish and holiday but as for a great place to stay at, forget it. The city's full of drunks each night, and you can see all there is in 2 days max.

  17. 2 November 2011 6:22PM casuarinatree Report this comment

    It beggars belief that Bangalore was picked for the No. 3 spot. Did Lonely Planet actually send someone here? The city is a filthy, polluted urban dystopia. Live music and dancing have been banned here since 2005. The city completely shuts down at 11 p.m., and Karnataka State, of which Bangalore is the capital, is run by a Taliban-style nationalist governing party, the BJP. The new metro system only covers a tiny part of the city so far. Most people travel by autorickshaws, whose drivers are a bunch of thieves. I laughed out loud reading your description of "Bangabore"--it's so untrue. There's nothing to do here. It used to be a nice place--say 10 years ago. Now it's just a mess.

  18. 2 November 2011 8:23PM joehoover76 Report this comment

    Bit confused by the poster living in London but slates it. I don;t think I could live somewhere I didn;t enjoy. You did answer your own question when you mention the Olympics but then don't understand why London was chosen on this list, the article mentions it to so this is exactly why. And you can't criticse living costs but then mention Paris, New York, LA and Sydney, all of which are equally if not more expensive. Paris where a beer is at least double that of London, and Sydney due to terrible exchange rates can be extortionate. New York and LA are not famed for budget destinations either. You can't use the riots against the city, I went to Bangkok after troubles, would I hold it against the city? Of course not.

    And regarding the tube, I don't use it, appreciate the city above ground, you'll love it all the more.

  19. 2 November 2011 8:25PM annats Report this comment

    I'm with Casurinatree. I am a resident of Bangalore, and its always hard to know what to do with visitors when they come. There is nothing much to see, traffic is really bad, it's lost its charm. There are some good restuarants, and as a resident they suit me fine, but they hardly make the place a traveller's destination. Nearly every other Indian city is better for shopping, except maybe Chennai and Cal. Delhi now has a much better cultural and intellectual scene (Bangalore used to have a bohemian feel, I think the techies eliminated it). For locals, the new metro rail system has some novelty but this will not appeal to people who have taken good public transport before. The weather is nice...but again, this does not make it a travel destination unless maybe you're travelling from siberia. Bangalore used to be great as a town, but I would say as a city it fails. Has anyone from Lonely Planet actually been here? Were they on drugs during their stay? I am sad about your dodgey advice.

  20. 2 November 2011 10:35PM carlcox Report this comment

    Having spend a good amount of time in London, Muscat, Darwin & Bangalore (just for a couple of months), I ain't surprised that these cities have made it to the list. All of these cities have something unique to offer. Be it the INSANE traffic of Bangalore to the natural beauty of Muscat/Darwin. For me coming from Austin,TX, I was pleasantly surprised at the chaos in India (Mumbai, Delhi & Chennai). The first thing that strikes a traveler when in India is the absolute beauty of this vast land. Bangalore has got to be the most cosmopolitan city in the country. A place where a foreigner would feel right at home. Ofcourse the nightlife is a damp squib. But in my books the nightlife DOESN'T define a city! I've had the best Japanese food in this city for crying out loud!

  21. 2 November 2011 11:20PM bondrj Report this comment

    Whats wrong with Belmopan.

    http://bondrj.tripod.com/blog/

  22. 3 November 2011 12:07AM amjofe Report this comment

    Oh how memories of London make me smile... but Muscat is full of sincerity, kindness, friendliness, and beautiful people with welcoming smiles. And a city that is cleaner, and more manicured, I challenge you to find!

    Muscat is a city that has quietly modernised, yet has not forgotten the past. A foot in the desert, and an eye on the ocean. Go. Now.

  23. 3 November 2011 12:40AM savvvy Report this comment

    Bengaluru is no longer the idyllic, bohemian town it used to be, but that said, the city deserves to be featured in its own right and not get cast away behind Mumbai or Delhi.

  24. 3 November 2011 10:21AM nylonwings Report this comment

    The US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have issued Travel Warnings on destination India just recently. Lonely Planet is so ignorant and grossly misleading its readers to have ranked highly such a undesirable place! (Read the travel warnings posted by the various embassies b4 your rebuttal please!}

  25. 3 November 2011 11:35PM staybank Report this comment

    Bangalore is great for its restaurants, clubs, pop/rock concerts and the arts.Good pick.

    Hong Kong is a connected city, a traveller's dream, but avoid peak hours on HK's subway. Yikes!

    Santiago is vibrant. It's rife with culture, top sporting events, and has new museums capturing musch attention. Dining is over the top and the nightlife vibrant!

  26. 4 November 2011 2:29AM renodnol Report this comment

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)@ no 3: you must be trying to turn Lonely Planet into a site for bad taste! It is no where near the top 50 even in Asia, let alone the world. Bangalore is dead after 9 pm and what rock music is the city offering? and the food is curry on top of curry and on top of curry! Do I need to mention their massive defiance for hygiene, poor infrastructure. poor transportation, danger for foreign women in the dark ....

  27. 4 November 2011 5:14AM jorginhop Report this comment

    I'm Portuguese and totally agree with the choice of Guimarães to be a top city in 2012, besides other cities of Portugal. Even that I'm not living there, I've visited it quite frequently and definitely advise a tour there mainly if you're on the North of Portugal, visiting Porto together if possible.

  28. 4 November 2011 3:11PM aa_ell Report this comment

    I am very disappointed in LP now - Bangalore is #3 - ???!!!. I always use LP for my India travels. Well, I have doubts now. I am European living in Bangalore 1 year 5 month now. This city is "silicon valley" of India, nothing else! Metro? :) 1st line - 5 stations only. Music? OK, here was Prodigy (poor show) and Metallica. Sometime but rear play good local Indian bands. Beer in "cool" places (clubs) cost more then in EU and USA. Food? Yes, you can find if will try hard. "night life" - until 11:30 PM. Lakes, ponds, rivers, channels - smell, stink. BUT city is green. Best i saw in India. A lot of parks and greenery, but it is not save from traffic pollution anyway. Bangalore is good transit spot in India, but not worth to go here specially. Well, if you are in yoga, meditations and other "brain washing" here is good places - Art of Living and Pyramid Valley.

  29. 5 November 2011 1:20AM jpchovar Report this comment

    Being from Southern Chile, i always avoided Santiago thinking about the noise of a big city. Until I moved to it. Fact is, Santiago has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in Chile.

    Anybody into outdoor activities will be thrilled, world class skiing, mountain biking, climbing can be done by driving less than 1 hour. I don't have more room to fit any more helmets. I love this city.

  30. 5 November 2011 7:53AM marquezand Report this comment

    Cadiz is a wonderful place... less famous than Sevilla or Granada but with its 3000 years of history (one of the oldest of Europe) and its beautiful and colorful architecture Cadiz is very special!! I think that is sad that "hughied" didn't appreciated it...

  31. 5 November 2011 7:57AM marquezand Report this comment

    Finally I think that Cadiz merit the 4th place!!!

  32. 6 November 2011 9:38AM worldobjekt Report this comment

    I am shocked to see BANGALORE on this list. I stayed there for 3 months and I couldn't wait to leave. I wouldn't even suggest that most people visiting India even go to Bangalore at all. The people are okay. Everyone tries to rip you off since you are a foreigner and white girls especially get harassed. I had a mob of about 30 auto rickshaw drivers attack my group of 5 as we were leaving UB City one night.

    There are so many better cities in India than Bangalore and I think that anyone who reads this list and decides to spend thousands of dollars to go to this "top destination" will be undeniably disappointed.

  33. 6 November 2011 10:23AM bengalurulover Report this comment

    I live in Bangalore and agree that Lonely Planet's suggestion of Bangalore as a top tourist destination is a bit off. Bangalore is not a place of superficial appeal. You definitely don't get only curry here. South Indian food doesn't even consist of curry. Most places do close at 11:30 pm, including the clubs but people continue partying at their homes afterwards. It is a really nice city to live in and has excellent weather. But not an ideal travel destination.

  34. 8 November 2011 1:13AM renodnol Report this comment

    Mercer's 2010 survey of qualties of living for 221 global cities, Bangalore was ranked 140th - pretty much reaching the low bottom half of the list isn't it?

  35. 8 November 2011 2:27AM eurotrash Report this comment

    The chance of Orlando hosting the NBA all-star game is slim-to-none as there is an NBA strike that will probably wipe out the season any day now. An incredibly dull city of strip-malls and parking lots otherwise.

    I love Chile, but there isn't a whole lot to do in Santiago as a tourist. It's a rare day that the smog clears enough to see the Andes. I find Valparaiso a much more interesting place to visit.

    To ricardohiro: I've ridden subways in NYC, Paris and London all in the last month and London is definitely the cleanest. It's not perfect, but manages to get millions of people around the city every day. And LA? You can't get anywhere without a car!

  36. 9 November 2011 3:08AM hughied Report this comment

    @marquezand

    I did appreciate Cadiz and I'm not saying it wasn't nice. Just saying I appreciated Seville, Granada and Cordoba more. Cadiz is a lovely city but it hasn't got the Alcazar of Seville, the Alhambra of Granada nor the Mezquita of Cordoba. Unless, of course, I missed something.

  37. 9 November 2011 4:35AM ak1990 Report this comment

    To ricardohiro:

    I think it's funny that you put London down, when the bad things about the city you mention are also found in most of the cities you think LP should have chosen instead. Los Angeles and New York both had riots in the 90s, and Paris in the 2000s, the Paris and NY underground systems aren't great either, and I'm fairly sure all the cities you mentioned have high travel and living costs. With your bad attitude, I'd happily see you off at Heathrow Airport.

    I'm a Londoner, and a very proud one at that.

  38. 10 November 2011 5:37PM natesh23 Report this comment

    Bangalore is the only one metro city of India which has best weather.We can relish some best cuisine.Latest addition is the pubs here started brewing their own beer. Must visit nearby places are Mysore, Coorg, Hampi etc. You can enjoy authentic South Indian and Coastal cuisine. Bangalore has very cosmopolitan crowd which makes it very diverse metro.Bangalore is must visit city for sure.

  39. 10 November 2011 7:16PM mnm79 Report this comment

    I live in Bangalore, and really want to know who included it into this list. India has far better places to visit. In fact one can choose between cosmopolitan cities which have everything you could want, or nature in all its beauty. In fact I would think Mumbai makes a much better option than Banaglore. It has everything and more that Bangalore has, not to mention easy access to places like Goa,and the scenic Konkan coastline... and is definately an ok with a budget traveller, unlike Bangalore. The good part aboout Bangalore, is the easy access to the rest of South India, but how does it make the city a "Must-visit" place? http://weekendholidays.wordpress.com

  40. 10 November 2011 8:40PM traveliniceland Report this comment

    What about Reykjavik? rated as the best city by readers of lonely planet? IcelandOnline

  41. 11 November 2011 12:56AM renodnol Report this comment

    I've read "5 tips for India first-timers" by D. McCrohan on LP. There is a huge underlying degree of discomfort between the lines. Why should I be as uncivilised as McCrohan uggested:"Consider using the left-hand-and-water-jug method preferred by many locals" while I can easily find a whole lot more travelling options free of worries! There is a great description of India by Sean P. Kelly "Reflections on India" http://open.salon.com/blog/sean_paul_kelley/2009/03/26/reflections_on_india It's very strange! It seems LP has featured so many "India" and has also recklessly ranked it much higher than it deserves!

  42. 13 November 2011 10:46PM siggestardust Report this comment

    When I saw LP list over cities 2012 I was quite surprised to see Bangalore on the #3 spot. Living in Bangalore since a year back and having visited half of the cities on the list, I can ensure that anyone visiting the city with any expectations will lead to severe dissapointments. The city has enormous problems with traffic, pollution and other annoyances. Metro will not be ready in another five years and lakes and parks are normally filthy places. The author must either be on drugs or heavily bribed by some official of the tourist organization to write this review.

    So what is good in Bangalore? Climate is great. English makes it easy to communicate. People are generally friendly and comes from the whole India and other parts of the world. The city is still green but trees are -unfortunately- cut down everyday for new roads and buildings. Good restaurants.

  43. 14 November 2011 6:31AM taerdnay Report this comment

    Bangalore on the list and 3rd place at that... load of bull. there is a 11:30pm curfew for night spots and restaurants. REcent rule is no restaurant with bar can have loud western music, no dancing aloud, no flashing lights...etc... Roads are full of potholes, no sidewalks, metro after many years of building only have 5 stations operating. Bangalore is not cheap. In fact alcohol and eating out in Bangalore is more expensive than Mumbai or Delhi. The dusty grey trees are mostly massacred so it is no longer "a garden city" since 10 years past. Pollution here is bad. Main touristy things are actually outside of Bangalore and there are more attractions in Mumbai or Delhi. Did LP even visit Bangalore? Sounds more political than truthful.

  44. 14 November 2011 10:26AM leahmaria Report this comment

    Darwin?? Seriously? The Northern Territory is fantastic, and if you're visiting the NT then it is worth a few days, but on a scale of world cities, Darwin doesn't rate.

  45. 22 November 2011 4:44AM MetalUrge Report this comment

    BANGALORE BANGALORE BANGALORE seems to be dominating this comment history. Nothing very surprising about it. Yes, this place isn't friendly, isn't cool, there's nothing much a tourist can do here. It makes sense if everyone puts Bangalore in their blacklisted places after going through these comments. For frankly speaking, we need Bangalore for ourselves. Give it time for it to regenerate from what it was once the most beautiful town any visitor would ever step into that he would never feel like returning. Well, that was easily 30 years ago. No Indian city can be comfortable for a tourist now. I advice every foreigner out there to NOT visit Bangalore. You will be disappointed. Stay away from this place to offer your direct support that even a place like Bangalore needs some time with its own people to talk to it. No one speaks to it anymore. If they did we wouldn't have comments like these ruining LP's stature for recommendations. But Bangalore will return, in its own way.

  46. 28 November 2011 4:22PM lrntennet Report this comment

    Some of the places on this list are very odd and unique places to go! I will definitely be putting them on my list to travel to later in life when I have the time and money :]

  47. 4 December 2011 9:32PM rjarcher Report this comment

    I have to agree with aussie_traveller2. Darwin is the worst city in Australia. Loads of drunk Aboriginals lying on the paths by 5pm in the evening. Most of the motels / hotels and some house have bars on the windows ( not the 'norm' in Australia. The only place worth visiting is the Goernment House with spectacular ocean views - as usual the pollies look after thenselves... Climate only tolerable in winter. Don't stay there.

  48. 9 December 2011 4:03AM rakemom2 Report this comment

    After seeing all these comments about bangalore i want to ask you people one thing does mumbai and delhi really a good city to us . bullshit man this city both cities are the place which we can expect a lots of terrorist attacks and one thing u tell me in delhi does it is safer for womens and older people.it have lot of rapes and murders of womens here in delhi. may i ask u people how much time it has been terrorist attack in mumbai .Did u see those events in Bangalore . guys come on . We should be atlest proud of that one city been selected for the same . At last ya Every cities has some negative or some types of problems . So We Blore better from that. So we r Selected .And u People are Jealous .That it

  49. 15 December 2011 2:49AM xokpali Report this comment

    Dear Lonely Planet team,

    I think you really should make a clearer distinction between your experts' ("non-democratic") recommendations for 2012 and the results of the Readers' Choice Award (see http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/76855). It is quite confusing to call both "Best in Travel".

    Therefore, I would like to support traveliniceland (see above): "What about Reykjavik? rated as the best city by readers of lonely planet?" (And what about Puebla, also among the top-ten cities of the Readers' Choice?)

    But maybe that blurring is exactly what you have been looking for (to give your experts' choice some kind of "democratic" semblance)?

  50. 23 December 2011 12:35AM stiofan75 Report this comment

    Who comes up with this nonsense? I'll stick to the forums as the LP recommendations and reviews are terrible!

    Bangalore, Orlando and Darwin? Your having a laugh? Boring , boring and boring!!!

  51. 23 December 2011 4:10AM shekinah_75 Report this comment

    I wouldn't recommend Orlando to anyone other than people who already live in Florida and have kids. What an absurd choice. I live in the U.S. and have traveled across country something like ten times now. Orlando is nothing but urban sprawl with some amusement parks; it has no culture at all. It's a bit like the less interesting parts of Los Angeles. Really, really a questionable pick. Particularly given how many cities there are that are just better all around. Even Daytona Beach has a little more charm. Certainly the Florida Keys are better than Orlando in every regard. For U.S. cities, I would recommend so many other, better picks: Taos, Portland, OR, New Orleans (one of my favorite cities in the world), New York, St. Louis, Savannah, etc...

    And Bangalore is pure tech these days. There are probably 1,000 better places to go in India. Literally. This list is untrustworthy and beneath the Lonely Planet's advice.

  52. 28 December 2011 7:50PM mattyboy876 Report this comment

    Bangalore isn't a great city to visit, there isn't a whole lot to do there. There are some great trips you can do from Bangalore, but the city itself is not a place I would recommend going to unless you have some business there.

  53. 28 December 2011 7:58PM mattyboy876 Report this comment

    As always in these lists, I would imagine the author has been to very few of these places.

  54. 2 January 2012 9:12PM planetmahesh Report this comment

    OMG>. bangalore is the city where i live.. indeed blore deserves this...

  55. 3 January 2012 2:03PM buddhaboi Report this comment

    So Bangalore and Darwin made the list for 2012. Both cities were on the worst cities for 2009, based on LP readers' votes. I'm not sure either have had a remrkable transformation in 3 years....I know Darwin hasn't (though it wasn't that bad to start with...great sunset views and food, and close to Kakadu, though otherwise a little dull). Has Bangalore? I'm off to find out....though how long should I sty?

  56. 4 January 2012 8:15AM laisant Report this comment

    Guimarães is a nice place but its worth it to visit if you live near. Dont waste time going there if you live in a far country because you'll be disappointed!It's a 'ok' place to go.

  57. 13 January 2012 9:50AM brett_empire Report this comment

    Darwin ?? "How many pots have you smoken" ?

    Darwin is a great place for a single man to retire in his 50's if he just wants to go to the pub and get drunk every day in sweltering heat.

    I appreciate the attempt to be diverse and not just name the standard places like Sydney, New York, Dubai but Darwin,,, C'Mon.

    If you come to Aus, don't judge us on Darwin. Go to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, skip Brisbane/Adelaide. Go to the Kimberley Region in WA & South Coast NSW, beautiful !

    London obviously 1st for the Olympics, but I definitely will never go to Bangalore and I don't think I will go to any of the other places mentioned in this article purely because the author has lost credibility for putting Darwin in there.

    If you want travel tips hit me up !! Def go to Koh Samui, Thailand. Def go to San Francisco, USA. Def go to Sydney, Aus !! Def DO NOT go to Johannasburg, Def DO NOT go to Turkey, Def DO NOT go to Darwin !

  58. 21 February 2012 12:47AM baruaht Report this comment

    Haved lived for long terms in three of the above cities: London, Hong Kong and Bangalore. So happy to see all of them in the top list..i feel like i have had made the best decisions when it came to relocating to places. :) For me the best places( the ones that i have already visited) would be: 1)London 2)Hong Kong 3) Bangkok 4)Paris 5)Singapore 6)Mumbai 7)Kuala Lumpur 8)Edinburgh 9)Bangalore 10)New Delhi

  59. 21 February 2012 12:54AM baruaht Report this comment

    and yeah for the places to relax, it would be as follows: 1)Koh Samui,Thailand 2)South of Spain..Malaga 3)Hua Hin,Thailand 4)Kerela,Souhern India 5)Varanasi,India 6)Mauritius

  60. 27 February 2012 3:09PM samd27 Report this comment

    Surprised to see so many comments on Bangalore. Dont take the list to heart, folks. It is only an opinion --- Bangalore has its positives as well as its minuses, like any other city on the planet.

  61. 5 April 2012 5:29PM sibala Report this comment

    As a Hong Konger, I'm very glad about the above comments about HK!!! Hong Kong really is the most well-connected city---you can go to anywhere with the most convenient and fastest transports, compared with London. Though London is really a beautiful city, its underground facilitates and the hygiene really take me aback. Yet, I still want to have visit to the above destinations as everywhere in the earth has its uniqueness and attractiveness. Thanks again for giving such glowing comments to HK. :)

  62. 5 April 2012 9:58PM kiranjettimane Report this comment

    I AM PROUDLY SAY ONE INDIAN CITY HAS BEEN LISTED IN LP.THIS CITY IS SO OPENED TO EVERYONE.ANYONE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD CAN SURVIVE HERE.LOCALITIES ARE SO FRIENDLY AND MILDY PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER CITIES IN INDIA.THIS IS THE ONLY INDIAN CITY HAVING ALL KIND OF INDIANS AND FOREIGNER LIKE(FRANCAISE,ESPANIAN,BRITISH,KENYAN,UNGADESE,CHINESE,PHILLIPHINES,LATIN AMERICANS AND HOMELAND_KANNADIGAS,TAMILIANS,GURUMUKHIS,TELUGUS,BIHARIS,MANIPURIS,LADAKH,MARWARIS,MALYALIS,ETC,ETC) LIVING HERE.PLEASE ANYBODY SHOW ME ANOTHER CITY IN INDIA LIKE THIS?..BANGALORE IS NO 1 FRIENDLY CITY IN INDIA AMONG(KOCHIN,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,CHENNAI,HYDERABAD,MUMBAI,DELHI,KOLKATTA).

  63. 13 April 2012 1:38AM oliviagreenway Report this comment

    I'm glad to see Bangalore is here. I've visited more than anywhere else - at least 20 times since 2006. It's a good place to dip your toe in the water for a first trip to India. Good hotels, great food, pleasant climate and plenty to do for a short trip. The Metro is a bit of a joke and is still not complete, but Lal Bagh Gardens, MTR and shops around Commercial Street and Brigade Road worth a gander.

  64. 13 April 2012 10:04AM hussainzaid39 Report this comment

    I like the list but I will be glad to see places from Pakistn too.

  65. 21 May 2012 4:53PM dabar Report this comment

    Darwin-Brave choice LP. Worth paying a visit to find out what all the complaining is about!?

    I like the list though-handy information.

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