40 “second” cities in the world that are worth visiting while you’re alive

Every country has city number 1, the largest and most developed. Crowds of tourists flock there; every self-respecting traveler considers it his duty to see it. Every country has a city number 2 (by size and population). It is often the capital or an important port. “Second” cities have no less (and sometimes more) glorious history and culture, no less (and sometimes more) interesting sights. But they don’t always end up on Bucket lists. We will prove that these cities are worth visiting while you live.

Yokohama has a population of 3.7 million. It is the second city in Japan in terms of population and area after Tokyo. In the 19th century, Yokohama was the main port of the Land of the Rising Sun. The city still has a strong economic base. So, this is where the headquarters of Nissan is located. There is a lot to see in Yokohama: the “Port of the Future”, the “Landmark Tower” (Yokohama Landmark Tower - 296.3 meters), a grand Ferris wheel, the largest Chinatown in Japan and the world, a ramen museum and many other attractions.

Cork (translated from Irish as “swamp”) has a population of 119 thousand people. Not the largest city in the world, but the second largest in Ireland. Founded in the 6th century, it has many ancient churches and buildings. Walking along Cork's main boulevard (St. Patrick's Street), admiring the cathedrals of St. Mary and St. Finbarra and sitting in one of the local pubs, you understand the charm of this place. After seeing all the city's attractions, you can go outside the city: there are wonderful castles there.

Stockholm takes the lead, and Gothenburg, with its half a million population, takes second place. Meanwhile, this is one of the industrial centers of Sweden, where Volvo's headquarters are based. This is one of the most picturesque cities in the country. Gothenburg is located on the shores of the Kattegat Strait and has many parks. This is one of the most culturally developed cities in Sweden. It is where melodic death metal was born and where Scandinavia's largest film festival is held annually.

Many people are sincerely mistaken that the capital of Turkey is Istanbul. In fact, this is the first city in terms of population and tourist flows, but the administrative center of the country is Ankara. It is home to almost 5 million people and is rightfully considered the cultural capital of Turkey. As proof: the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations (Hittite Museum), the Rahmi Koç Industrial Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture, the War Museum, the Museum of Science and Technology, as well as dozens of mosques, the ruins of Roman baths and other objects of art.

Until the end of the 13th century, Bergen was the capital of Norway, and until the 30s of the 19th century it was the largest populated area in the country. Now 278 thousand people live in Bergen. It is a major industrial center in Norway. The pride of Bergen is the medieval promenade of Bryggen, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is famous for street art and the Fløibanen cable car. In addition, excursions to the fjords start from Bergen.

6.4 million people and one giant statue of Jesus—that's Rio, folks. The second city in Brazil after Sao Paulo (there are almost 12 million people), the third in South America and the 26th in the world. Rio is a holiday city. After all, this is where the most colorful carnival on the planet takes place. This is where the famous Copacabana beach is located. This is where the Maracanã stadium stands, which saw the tears of Argentine fans last summer. And it is there that the Summer Olympic Games will be held next summer.

Rotterdam - Amsterdam. Looks like it, doesn't it? But Amsterdam is No. 1 (813 thousand people), and Rotterdam is No. 2 (618 thousand). But its importance cannot be underestimated. After all, this is the largest port in Europe, an important transport hub. Rotterdam is famous for its cube houses, Euromast, Erasmus Bridge, Bleidorp Zoo, museums, as well as numerous nightclubs.

Kosice is a small European town where 241 thousand people live. But it has a glorious history. Kosice was founded in the 12th century, and in the 14th century it was the first city in Europe to receive its own coat of arms. Now it is a major scientific and educational center in Slovakia: the Pavel Josef Safarik University (an outstanding scientist) is located there. Another famous landmark of Kosice is the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth with the tomb of Ferenc Rakoczi. Inside this temple there is a unique altar with Gothic paintings from the 15th century, and next to it is a mesmerizing singing fountain.

“Sea capital”, “summer capital” - Busan has many honorary titles, but in terms of population it is second after Seoul (3.6 million people). Busan is a typical modern metropolis with dizzying skyscrapers (Busan's Lotte Super Tower promises to be the tallest in the world) and crazy malls (Busan's Shinsegae Sentum City is already the largest in the world). The city also has six luxurious beaches, the most famous of which is Haeundae. However, lovers of not only “sealing” but also active recreation will find something to their liking in Busan: the city has many bars, restaurants, and discos.

1.3 million people live in Porto. But the city forms an even larger agglomerate (Greater Porto), whose population reaches 1.7 million people. The city is often called the northern capital of Portugal. After all, in terms of cultural and economic significance it is not inferior to Lisbon. The main attraction of Porto is the Clérigos Tower, 76 meters high. The city stands on the Douro River and is famous for its bridges. Finally, Porto is the birthplace of port wine.

Krakow is one of the oldest cities not only in Poland, but also in Europe. Currently, about 760 thousand people live in it. The number of architectural monuments of the city cannot be counted on the fingers of both hands. Many of them are protected by UNESCO. The most notable, perhaps, are the royal castle, Kazimierz, and the market square. The old town is surrounded by a ring of parks - the famous Krakow Plants. Therefore, Krakow is one of those places where you want to walk.

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. The political, economic and cultural center of the country. But in terms of population it is inferior to Guayaquil: 2.6 million people live there. At the same time, Quito is considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Its architecture is a harmonious interweaving of Spanish, Dutch and Indian architectural traditions. Huge hills divide the city into three parts: the old town (museums, monuments, etc.), the southern area (industry) and the northern area (banks, institutions, luxury shops and housing).

Milan is a city that you can talk about for a long time and excitedly. But it is second in population (can you guess who is in first place?) - 1.3 million people. Milan is one of the cultural capitals of the world. There are two great medieval basilicas - Ambrosian and Laurentian, as well as the legendary La Scala theater. Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The Last Supper" is kept in Milan. Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. The main offices of Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Armani and other “lords of beauty” are located there. Milan is one of the sports capitals of the world. Milan and Internazionale are the giants of European football. The Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix is also held near Milan.

Northern Palmyra, Northern Venice, the city of white nights, the cultural capital, the most beautiful city in Russia (you can argue in the comments) - this is all about it, about St. Petersburg. The city on the Neva has 221 museums, 80 theaters, 2,000 libraries, 45 galleries and hundreds of historical buildings. But these are dry statistics, and Peter is poetry. This is the heart of the country’s classical and avant-garde culture, this is a place with a special atmosphere, where many artists, poets, writers came from... Palace Square, Vasilievsky Island, drawbridges - this is worth admiring at least once in your life.

Melbourne is only slightly behind Sydney in terms of population (4.3 and 4.7 million, respectively). It is considered one of the most comfortable cities to live in the world. No wonder, since the commercial, industrial and cultural forces of Australia are concentrated in Melbourne. Despite its modest history by European standards (since the beginning of the 19th century), Melbourne has many attractions: the Eureka Tower, the Southern Star Ferris wheel, the Royal Exhibition Center, the State Library of Victoria and others. Melbourne is also the birthplace of the great shuffle dance. Everyday I'm shuffling!

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The city is home to less than a million people (921 thousand), but its contribution to the country’s GDP is more than 56%. The city stands on the shores of the Persian Gulf, and a beautiful legend is associated with its foundation. The hunters chased the gazelle, the animal meandered through the desert for a long time, and at the end led the hunters to a source of fresh water. The hunters founded a city in that place and called it Abu Dhabi - “father of the gazelle.” Modern Abu Dhabi is home to the grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Al Bahar skyscrapers, the leaning Capital Gate Tower and other striking landmarks.

The city of Cordoba was founded on July 6, 1573 by the conquistador Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. It received its name in honor of the Spanish settlement of the same name. Now Cordoba is the second largest city in Argentina (1.3 million people), as well as the military-industrial center of the country. In the historical part of Cordoba, Jesuit buildings have been preserved, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Durban was founded in 1835. Now it is home to about 600 thousand people. It is the largest port in South Africa, as well as an attractive center for beach holidays (comfortable beaches, warm sea). Among the attractions of Durban are the City Hall building, the Juma Mosque, the National Museum of Natural History, the Fitzsimmons Reptile Park and others.

Brno is a city with more than a thousand years of history, no less beautiful than Prague, but smaller in size. It is home to only 378 thousand people. “Total”, because the Czech capital is a city with a population of one million. Brno has preserved many historical and architectural monuments. For example, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, Spielberg Castle, Town Hall, Capuchin Monastery and others.

The second largest city in Germany and the eighth in the European Union. Hamburg has a population of over 1.8 million people. In addition, it is one of the largest port cities in Europe (and the richest). The city has preserved part of its medieval buildings: the city hall, the opera house, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and other attractions. Hamburg is home to more than 60 museums. The most interesting of them is the Museum of Erotica. And in Hamburg there are more than a hundred parks and the luxurious Hagenbeck Zoo.

Marseille has a population of 853 thousand people (for comparison: Paris has more than 2 million). These are happy people! After all, Marseille is a beautiful port city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Walking along La Canbière Boulevard, you can admire elegant yachts and breathe the sea breeze. Connoisseurs of history and architecture will appreciate the Abbey of Saint-Victor, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Longchamp Palace, the Château d'If, the cathedral and other attractions.

Guadalajara, also known more poetically as the City of Roses, is a city of 1.5 million people. It was founded in 1542 and is the cultural capital of Mexico. It is believed that this is where Mexican folk music, mariachi, originated. The city is home to several monuments of Spanish colonial architecture (the Church of San Francisco, the Church of Santa Monica and others), and also hosts a Mexican rodeo, the Charriada.

Beijing is the administrative, political, cultural and educational center of China. While Shanghai is an economic center. Perhaps this explains why 3 million more people live in Shanghai. The population of Beijing is 21,148,000 people. It is no wonder that in such a large and ancient city (the history of Beijing goes back more than 3 thousand years) there are many attractions. Some of the most popular are the Forbidden City, or Gugong, Tiananmen Square, the Beijing Yuanmingyuan Imperial Palace, and the Temple of Heaven.

This city in the Nile Delta, stretching 32 kilometers along the Mediterranean coast, is Egypt's main seaport. Alexandria was founded in 331 BC. It was once a rich and powerful city, second only to Rome in grandeur. Now 4.5 million people live in Alexandria. It is an important economic center of Egypt. And there is a lot to see (Qait Bay fortress, Pompey's Column, Kom el-Shukafa catacombs, etc.) and things to do (numerous sandy beaches).

More than 11 million people live in Delhi. It is noisy, like an anthill, multinational and very original city. In it, antiquity coexists with the trends of modern life. Thus, in the Old Town there are many architectural monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort - something that is definitely worth seeing. In addition, old Delhi is famous for its bazaars, the most popular of which is Chandi Chowk. New Delhi is more modern, the business life of the metropolis is concentrated there: business centers, supermarkets. But there are historical sights there too. In total, there are about 1,375 cultural and art objects in Delhi.

It is the second city in Belgium after Brussels. It is home to more than half a million people (a lot by the standards of miniature Europe). Antwerp is one of the twenty largest ports in the world and is the second port in Europe (only Rotterdam is ahead). Antwerp is a city of art. There are many museums, galleries, art salons and more. There is no need to be surprised: Antwerp is the birthplace of Rubens, Brouere, Matsés, Bruegel and other painters. Antwerp is a jewel city. And it’s not just the architecture and rich range of entertainment, but also the fact that this is the world’s largest diamond cutting center.

Los Angeles is the largest city in California (about 4 million people) and the second largest in the United States. This is a fairly young city, there are no venerable architectural monuments. The center has several buildings from the early 20th century built in the Art Deco style. But despite this, LA is a fairy tale city, a dream city. After all, this is the birthplace of Hollywood. There you can meet world-class stars and become a superstar yourself.

City number 2 in Denmark is Aarhus, in the east of the Jutland Peninsula, on the shores of the bay of the same name. It is the main port of the country. The city of Aarhus itself is home to about 300 thousand people, but together with the agglomerations there will be more than a million. The most important attractions of Aarhus are the cathedral (the largest in Denmark) from the 13th–15th centuries, the town hall, and the university. In total, there are more than fifty historical sites in the old part of Aarhus.

Architects from the German Bauhaus school worked on the development of Tel Aviv: the houses were two- or three-story, concrete, and the streets ran strictly perpendicular to the coast. For these houses, UNESCO included Tel Aviv in its list of cultural assets under the name “White City”. Tel Aviv is the cultural center of Israel. It has several dozen concert and theater halls, many museums and galleries. In terms of population, it ranks second in the country - 414,600 people.

194 thousand people live in Geneva, 44% of them are foreigners. No wonder. After all, Geneva has been repeatedly recognized as the best city to live (including in 2014). Geneva is an important political and economic center of Europe (and the world). The headquarters of dozens of international organizations are located there: the UN, the Red Cross, the WTO, the WHO and others. At the same time, Geneva is also an incredibly beautiful city with many attractions. Just look at the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Cathedral of St. Petra, Geneva fountain and others.

Hanoi (“the city between the rivers”) was founded in 1010. Now it is the capital of Vietnam. Home to 2.6 million people, it is the second largest city in the country. This is a huge metropolis. Among the historical attractions are the Presidential Palace, the Hanoi Citadel, the Temple of Literature and others. Hanoi is an inexpensive city with a special atmosphere that combines the traditions of East and West. From the labyrinth of narrow streets of the Old Quarter you can reach hundred-meter skyscrapers. There are more than a hundred of them in Hanoi.

It is the largest city in the province of Quebec and the second most populous in Canada. More than 1.6 million residents enjoy their city, which is one of the most convenient in the world. UNESCO considers Montreal a city of design, and Monocle magazine the cultural capital of Canada. The city hosts many cultural forums: the World Cinema Festival, the Jazz Festival, the Francophone Music Festival and others. Montreal is a city for walking and contemplation. Locals and visitors love to stroll along Avenue Bernard and, on weekends, have a picnic in Parc Lafontaine.

Medellin has received many epithets. “The City of Eternal Spring” - Medellin is located in the equatorial zone, but the humid stuffiness typical of the equator is practically absent - the city has a very comfortable climate. “Capital of the Mountains” - Medellin is located in the northern Andes in the Aburra Valley. “City of Flowers” and “Capital of Orchids” - Medellin hosts a popular annual flower fair. Medellin is also called the “beautiful village”, but 2.5 million people live in the “village”.

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. One of the 16 cities that make up the national capital region is Metro Manila. It is the second most populous city after Quezon. It is home to 1.7 million people. But Manila's area is only 38.55 square kilometers, making it the most densely populated city in the world (hence the big environmental problems). Manila is a relatively young city, but it also has its own historical district - Intramuros. It is believed that he laid the foundation for modern Manila and that it is there that the most beautiful palaces, temples and museums of the city are located.

Arequipa is home to 861 thousand people - it is the second most populous city in Peru, but not in terms of cultural significance. In 1868, Arequipa was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake, but in the city center several buildings in the Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles miraculously survived. The historical part of the city, built in colonial times from white volcanic stone, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Arequipa is also famous for its gastronomic establishments and is considered the capital of Peruvian cuisine.

Rabat is a beautiful ancient city. Now it is the capital of Morocco, its cultural and industrial center. It is home to about 1.7 million people. Among the attractions are the Royal Palace, the Mausoleum of Muhammad V, the Hassan Minaret, and the Kasbah of Udaya fortress. There are also many ethnic museums in Rabat: the Museum of Crafts, the Museum of Antiquities, the Museum of Folk Art and others.

Another capital on the list of “second” cities in the world (population about 400 thousand) is Wellington. It is located in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand, on the shores of the volcanic bay of the same name. This is a very cozy city with many parks, bridges, tunnels, squares, and viaducts. Historical buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are combined with modern ones. One of the most interesting buildings in Wellington is the Beehive. This is what the townspeople call the local parliament because of its unique shape. Cathedral of St. Paul's Botanical Gardens, Zoo - Wellington certainly has a lot to see and do.

Barcelona is a fabulous city. The capital of Catalonia is the second most populated city in Spain and the tenth in the European Union: more than 1.6 million people consider themselves Barcelona residents. The city stands on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea (it is an important port) and has a mild climate. It is in Barcelona that the most famous street in Spain is located - the Rambla, stretching to the Old Port. Between La Rambla and Laietana lies another iconic landmark, the Gothic Quarter. And there, on the square of St. Jaume is the world famous Barcelona Cathedral. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Barcelona is a city you can't help but fall in love with. This is one of the most beautiful cities not only in Spain, but also in the world.

Mombasa is located on a coral island in the Indian Ocean and is connected to the mainland by several causeways. This city once again proves the importance of ports for the country. Mombasa is the main sea harbor of Kenya, its economic and cultural center. The city is home to over 1.2 million people. Mombasa is famous for its coastal scenery and manicured beaches. Various water activities are developed here: water skiing and jet skiing, windsurfing, diving.

It is the second city in Venezuela after Caracas: more than 1.4 million inhabitants. It stands on the shore of the strait connecting the Gulf of Venezuela and Lake Maracaibo (the largest lake in South America). The city was founded in 1529 by German colonists. In the 17th century it was repeatedly attacked by pirates. In the 20th century, oil was discovered in Maracaibo and the city began to actively develop. Historical attractions include cathedrals, palaces and monuments from colonial times. There are also many shops in the city with traditional Venezuelan souvenirs: rum, chocolate, clay dolls.