{"id":5515,"date":"2026-02-06T15:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=5515"},"modified":"2026-02-06T15:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:45:16","slug":"ive-been-to-120-cities-these-are-the-5-that-impressed-me-most","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=5515","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ve been to 120 cities \u2014 these are the 5 that impressed me most"},"content":{"rendered":"

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An impressive number of cities (some say over 48,000) are scattered across the globe, and no two are identical.<\/p>\n

Layout, history, and population all contribute to a city\u2019s unique vibe.<\/p>\n

And while many captivate with beauty and grandeur, like\u00a0Italy<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0Florence<\/a>, or
\nor\u00a0Colombia<\/a>\u2019s Cartagena, others impress in subtler ways.<\/p>\n

Having visited over 120 cities, from rural outposts to dazzling capitals, these are the five I can\u2019t get enough of \u2014 each a unique melting pot of delicious food, fascinating culture and spectacular architecture.<\/p>\n

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Tbilisi, Georgia<\/h2>\n

Beautifully unruly and deeply soulful,\u00a0Georgia<\/a>\u2019s capital is an intriguing place where history and creativity collide in the most intoxicating way.<\/p>\n

Having spent over a month exploring\u00a0Tbilisi<\/a>\u2019s crumbling mansion-filled cobblestone streets, graffiti-splashed walls, and unmarked doors concealing some of the most incredible restaurants I\u2019ve ever seen, I have to concede it\u2019s one of my favourite cities of all time.<\/p>\n

Well-dressed locals drift between hip\u00a0coffee<\/a>\u00a0shops (Pulp), trendy wine bars and well-curated galleries (don\u2019t miss MoMA Tbilisi), while a hearty dining scene fuelled by exceptional Georgian wine never fails to surprise.<\/p>\n

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WIN an overnight stay for two at \u2018stylish\u2019 Edinburgh hotel The Rutland<\/h2>\n
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\"Getaway<\/div>
The perfect base for exploring Scotland’s UNESCO-listed capital (Picture: The Rutland Hotel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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To celebrate the launch of The Getaway Expert, Metro\u2019s exclusive travel newsletter, we\u2019ve teamed up with The\u00a0Rutland Hotel, Edinburgh\u00a0to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a glamorous overnight stay for two, dinner and breakfast included.<\/p>\n

To find out more and for your chance to win, simply submit your details\u00a0in the form here\u00a0<\/a>before midnight on\u00a0February 15, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You must be aged 18 or over to enter. T&Cs apply.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Magnificent Tbilisi by night (Picture: Lydia Swinscoe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best explored on foot, I recommend heading first to Mtatsminda Park (reached by hiking trail or funicular), where panoramic views give a sweeping overview of the city limits and surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n

From there, wander through the Old Town, taking in the colourful murals, winding streets, and the architecture that makes Tbilisi so fascinating.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t take my word for it.<\/p>\n

Our Travel Editor\u00a0Alice Murphy\u00a0<\/a>recently\u00a0spent a week in Georgia and fell head over heels for Tbilisi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stay at:\u00a0<\/strong>The most creative hotel in town,\u00a0Stamba<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss:\u00a0<\/strong>A plate of steaming khinkali (filled dough dumplings) at\u00a0Klike\u2019s Khinkali<\/a><\/p>\n

Colombo, Sri Lanka<\/h2>\n

Beyond the daily traffic crescendos when thousands of children in brilliant white uniforms head home just after lunchtime, the\u00a0Sri Lankan<\/a>\u00a0capital settles into a rhythm that\u2019s addictive to say the least.<\/p>\n

Made up of 15 divisions, there\u2019s not one I don\u2019t absolutely adore, from leafy Colombo 7, with its wide boulevards, grand old villas, cricket grounds and hidden art spaces like the Sapumal Foundation, to Kompagngna Veediya, which hums with history, street art murals and one of the best cocktail bars in town,\u00a0Kampong<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Awesome Colombo (Picture: Lydia Swinscoe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stroll in the shadow of the ancient banyan and ficus trees that loom like benevolent guardians, their colossal roots cracking pavements as if reminding the city who was here first.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss Pettah Market, a fever dream featuring mounds of
\nfresh fruits and vegetables, photogenic temples and bright pink faloodas.<\/p>\n

I often head there just to get lost and snap photos.<\/p>\n

Add rice and curry eaten with your hands, syrupy milk tea on street corners, and chocolate doughnuts from the bakery tuk-tuk, and Colombo really is heaven.<\/p>\n

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  An impressive number of cities (some say over 48,000) are scattered across the globe, and no two are identical. Layout, history, and population all contribute to a city\u2019s unique vibe. And while many captivate with beauty and grandeur, like\u00a0Italy\u2019s\u00a0Florence, or or\u00a0Colombia\u2019s Cartagena, others impress in subtler ways. Having visited over 120 cities, from rural […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t