Each year, Lonely Planet compiles a list of the top 10 cities for it's Best in Travel highlights. This year's Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2013: Top 10 Cities lists Amsterdam as number two!
The results are based on feedback from Lonely Planet staff, contributing writers, and community members, and all are agreed that Amsterdam is the second best city in the world for culture, events, and food.
It looks like there's no better time to come to Amsterdam than in 2013. The extensive list of celebrations and anniversaries means that this "Golden Age charmer" of a city is going to be host to one party after another.
In 2013 the canal ring celebrates 400 years, Vincent van Gogh will turn 160 and his museum will have been around for four decades, the Rijksmuseum will be unveiled after a 10 year make-over, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be cramming 125 candles on its birthday cake, the Artis Royal Zoo will hit the 175 year marker, and the Felix Meritis Cultural Center will ring in its 225th year.
And that's not to mention the scads of concerts, exhibits, street festivals, outdoor markets, and celebration that occur in Amsterdam year in and year out.
The number one spot went to San Francisco, the "darling of America's west coast," which will be hosting the 34th annual America's Cup next year.
Other cities on the list were Hyderabad (India), Derry/Londonderry (Northern Ireland), Beijing (China), Christchurch (New Zealand), Hobart (Australia), Montreal (Canada), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Puerto Iguazu (Argentina).
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel also includes the top 10 countries and the top ten regions in the world.
The lists are not based on current popular destinations, but are more of a recommendation of where tourists should consider going. Special events and celebrations, and newsworthiness or 'buzz' are all taken into account when compiling the lists, and many of the locations are up-and-coming.
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