Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   The Most Beautiful City by Night (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/the-most-beautiful-city-by-night-372967/)

SpecialK Oct 31st, 2003 11:09 AM

The Most Beautiful City by Night
 
Hello guys,

I am new here. I just got back from my first trip to Italy, and I'm so in love with the country. Roma, which is now my favorite city, is simply stunning at night! Seeing the moon slowly moving behind the illuminated colosseum, the Trevi Fountain's sparkling teal water flowing over, the illumination of the town squares and the Spanish Steps, all left me in complete shock and awe! Roma has to be the most beautiful city by night (not to mention romantic).

What other city, in your opinion, is equal to the beauty of Roma at night?

SAnParis Oct 31st, 2003 11:17 AM

Paris, day, night or anytime.

mamc Oct 31st, 2003 11:35 AM

Paris is the most exquisite city in the world by night. I love Rome and it certainly has beautiful spots but, for me, Paris at night is the best. Day, too.

JonJon Oct 31st, 2003 11:43 AM

Several come to mind but since you decided that Rome is IT, I won;t tell you about the others and spoil your illusion!

Statia Oct 31st, 2003 11:53 AM

I will agree with Paris, but I'm also partial to Venice at night now, not to mention during the day.

MelJ Oct 31st, 2003 11:55 AM

I agree that Paris at night is hard to beat--especially the Invalides, but I remember having my heart skip a beat when I was up on one of the seven hills of Rome and looking down on the city at night. It's been several years, but I'll never forget the pink glow.

PalenqueBob Oct 31st, 2003 12:09 PM

No no way does Paris or Rome hold a Roman candle to Venice's citywide beauty day or especially at night. It's not that Paris or Rome are not great cities but they just don't exude a citywide beauty like Venice or Amsterdam, my runner-up. No way!

martytravels Oct 31st, 2003 12:11 PM

Paris by night, Amsterdam at dusk.

SpecialK Oct 31st, 2003 12:51 PM

Mmm I guess I have to hurry up and jet over to Paris. It's just that my impression of Roma is so high that I find it hard to imagine another city topping it. However, I'm new at traveling and I have many more ventures to take. But Roma at night is an experience I'll never forget--never!.

uhoh_busted Oct 31st, 2003 01:00 PM

Both Paris and Rome are stunning at night, as is London. I like Venice better in the daytime because the light is so different every hour, which makes it more intriguing in the daylight than at night (I consider daylight to be whenever it isn't DARK!) . But I think my very favorite and most exciting city at night will always be New York City.

RufusTFirefly Oct 31st, 2003 01:27 PM

Venice. I love a late night vaporetto ride around the city. Especially if there is just a bit of mist or fog.

ThinGorjus Oct 31st, 2003 01:33 PM

Paris, most definitely. Venice is hauntingly beautiful at night. Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong is astoundly beautiful at night with all the buildings lit up. Manhattan is also magical at night.

artisland Oct 31st, 2003 01:49 PM

London at night, with a blanket of fog

Moscow at night, with a blanket of snow

but first and foremost..............

Stockholm with midnite sun.

asbachnate Oct 31st, 2003 02:26 PM

Salburg & Prague. A cool winter evening with the church bells ringing in the distance, walking the narrow cobble stoned streets with the castle lit above.
Heaven!!!

asbachnate Oct 31st, 2003 02:35 PM

Oops! I mean Salzburg.

dovima Oct 31st, 2003 02:43 PM

Amsterdam at twilight, as a previous poster noted.

San Francisco, seen from across the bay in Sausalito on a clear and moonlit night.

artlover Oct 31st, 2003 03:31 PM

In Europe I'd agree with Paris and Venice and would add Toledo to the list.

In the US--S.F. and Seattle with Mt. Rainter, the Olympics and Cascades "out" at sunset and then with the hills and buildings and Space Needle all lit up at night.

blake Oct 31st, 2003 03:42 PM

There really is a quality to the light, both day and night, in Amsterdam that I feel the old masters conveyed. By day, the sunlight manueuvers its way down narrow streets lined by tall canal houses - ever shifting to give different shadow effects throughout the day. The acute blueness of the sky when seen with elongated pure-white clouds with gray edging drifting along, not uncommon, adds to the effect and makes for some spectacular sunsets. By night, you have the same canal-straats transformed by the rather dim lamposts (sometimes augmented by dimmish strung overheads). There is enough light to see your way along, while still watching closely for missing cobbles or sudden curbs which would be seen easily by day. The lights of the canal bridges seem the brightest things around and are beautiful as they reflect in the water. The glow from the houses adds to the tranquil effect as most are apartments and lighting varies from floor to floor. In the distance may be a church steeple or other landmark lit by spotlight. Amsterdam is a wonderful sensation at night.

jsmith Oct 31st, 2003 03:51 PM

I once flew out of National Airport in DC when there was snow on the ground. The lighted Capital, White House, Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials were beautiful and inspiring.

zeppo2 Oct 31st, 2003 05:12 PM

Although Paris is my first love at night, there's something timeless about seeing the Acropolis in Athens lit at night.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:27 AM.