Just been reading over on the US board the lengthy discussion about which 5 US cities can be considered world class. Begs the question which European cities are also world class?<BR>I suppose the London, Paris, Rome triumvirate is pretty well established but then it gets a bit woozy. For the sake of argument lets try and limit the number to one per country and go for a top 10 if we can. <BR>IMHO (and in no order)<BR>London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Vienna, Stockholm, Prague, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Berlin.<BR><BR>Suggestions?<BR>

Can't even agree with your "holy trinity!"<BR>for what its worth:<BR>London<BR>Paris<BR>Milan<BR>Athens<BR>Li sbon<BR>Madrid<BR>Vienna<BR>Munich<BR>Prague<BR>Is tanbul<BR><BR>A.

This seems a little contrived but I guess its fun. Can't believe no one's said Moscow yet. Milan? maybe I missed it when I visited.<BR><BR>Here's my 2 cents:<BR><BR>London,<BR>Paris,<BR>Rome,<BR>Moscow ,<BR>Berlin,<BR>Istanbul,<BR>Madrid,<BR>Athens,<BR >Vienna,<BR>Budapest.<BR><BR>Not sure about Budapest but I think it just edges out Prague. Not been to Scandi so can't comment. Amsterdam? maybe on another day. Brussels? No way!<BR>Dublin? hmmm don't think so.<BR>Edinburgh is in the same country as London... I think you're cheating a bit to split out England and Scotland like that. <BR>OK? that's me done.

This thread could be worthwhile if it were to involve some meaningful discussion of what "world class" means. I think that it means "the site of a continuous stream of news - - in government, industry, fashion, the arts, sports, science, etc - - that affects people far away, and out of proportion to the number of people who live there".<BR><BR>By this measure, I would say that my list would include London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan, Rome and maybe Athens. Warsaw, Vienna, Moscow, Madrid, Dublin, Geneva, Zurich and Stockholm would be in second tier, in my mind. And there are probably a half dozen other cities in Germany, France, Italy and the British Isles that SHOULD be in that second tier.<BR><BR>There ARE other possible definitions: "world HERITAGE cities" - - and very "cosmopolitan" cities. By these criteria, Venice, Florence, Prague, Barcelona, Sevilla, Lisbon, Edinburgh, Salzburg, Istanbul and Budapest would probably move up the ladder for world heritage. And under cosmopolitan, then some of the same, plus Nice/Monte Carlo, Marbella and probably countless others.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks for the responses!<BR>Rex... I think you're right. A definition of World Class is required.<BR><BR>I'm not sure "heritage" is really where I was coming from. <BR>I think cities that punch above their weight as it were in terms of world influence (politics/art/<BR>fashion/food/science/industry/diplomacy/ sport etc.) mixed with that rather more nebulous idea of cosmopolitain-ness.<BR>So I think I agree with your first list, Rex, rather than the second. However note you sneaked in Milan & Rome. Rules of the game are one or the other!<BR><BR>Jc

It wasn't an oversight - - I actually rejected your "one-per-country" rule. By my notion of "world class", G7 counties would have several before non-G7 countries would have any.<BR>

One further thought, by your "rule", the USA would only have one - - when it has at least a half dozen (maybe 25), in my mind).<BR>

My top ten list:<BR><BR>Barcelona<BR>Lisbon<BR>Rome<BR>Dublin <BR>Budapest<BR>Berlin<BR>Madrid<BR>St. Petersburg<BR>Istanbul<BR>London

Going on Rex's and "Just Curious's" definitions, rather than Jenny's "places I like to visit" theory, I would choose (not necessarily in this order)...<BR><BR>1. London (for all the the reasons mentioned)<BR>2. Paris (ditto)<BR>3. Milan (so much more than the tourist destination of Rome in terms of business, design etc)<BR>3. Brussels (for being the hub of the EU)<BR>4. Berlin<BR>5. Can't decide between Madrid or Barcelona, but I think Madrid pips it for politics<BR>6. Geneva<BR>7. Amsterdam<BR>8. Moscow<BR>9. I'm running out now if we're still talking world class.<BR>

My top ten list:<BR><BR>Barcelona<BR>Lisbon<BR>Rome<BR>Dublin <BR>Budapest<BR>Berlin<BR>Madrid<BR>St. Petersburg<BR>Istanbul<BR>London

up<BR>

Playing by the "rules":<BR><BR>London<BR>Berlin<BR>Milan<BR>Paris <BR>Brussels<BR>Moscow<BR>Vienna<BR>Geneva<BR>Luxe mbourg<BR>Dublin<BR><BR><BR>For contrast, favourites:<BR><BR>Barcelona<BR>Rome<BR>London<BR> Berlin<BR>Budapest<BR>Prague<BR>Glasgow<BR>St Petersburg<BR>Riga<BR>Tallinn<BR>

London<BR>Paris <BR>Rome<BR>Barcelona<BR>Athens<BR>Prague<BR>St. Petersburg<BR>Berlin<BR>Zurich<BR>Stockholm<BR>

1ondon <BR>2 Peris<BR>3 Miunich<BR>5 Moscow <BR>6 Rome <BR>7 Amsterdam<BR>8 Athens<BR>9 Milan <BR>10 Franfurt, Germany<BR><BR>yes I did cheat but frankfurt, houses one of the major stock exchanges of the world. and is a major world airlines hub.. I have no love for Germany though.<BR><BR>with the one per contry restriction your just stuck nameing capitals.

ttt<BR>

I actually think theres only 4 in the whole world - London, NYC, Paris & Tokyo. Thats just my initial 'gut feel' anyway...

Hmmmm, I can't agree more. There are no other cities in the world can touch these 'big four'.

Only 4? What about:<BR>Moscow, Sydney, Shanghai, HongKong, Rio, Cairo, Cape Town, Mumbai (Bombay), Calcutta, Singapore.<BR><BR>I've been to several of those destinations and believe they easily stand alongside L,P,NYC,T (not been to Rio, Shanghai or Moscow)

1 - Paris<BR>2 - Rome<BR>3 - Lisbon<BR>4 - Barcelona<BR>5 - London<BR>6 - Athens<BR>7 - Budapest<BR>8 - Prague<BR>9 - Moscow<BR>10 - Berlin

Suggesting that the only necessary additions to the "big 4" are those named from the Asia/Pacific part(s) of the world, is just plum silly, in my opinion. Surely Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles make the list if Sydney does.<BR>