The 10 largest cities in the world

Have you always wanted to know which metropolises in the world most people live in and what there is to see there? Then read on and find out!

What do you think of when you hear the word big city? Berlin? London? Los Angeles? What if we told you that none of these cities even made the top 30 largest cities in the world? In the following top 10, we will tell you which places are at the top of the list instead!

10th place: Mexico City, Mexico

The first city in our list and thus the 10th most populous city in the world is Mexico City. Despite its size, the Mexican capital is best explored on foot. You will find numerous charming districts, such as La Condesa and La Roma, which will give you a good overview. You will find magnificent Spanish-style houses on the lively streets of the Centro Histórico, but the Palacio de Bellas Artes, probably the largest and most important cultural center in Mexico, and the Chapultepec Park, a green area of ​​about 4 km² in the southwest of the city, are also popular destinations . In addition, the famous Pyramids of Teotihuacán – UNESCO World Heritage Site – located about 40 kilometers to the northeast, should definitely be on your bucket list.

9th place: Sao Paulo, Brazil

The second city in our list, making it the 9th largest city in the world, is São Paulo in sunny Brazil. The impressive metropolis not only fascinates with its high population, São Paolo is known above all as the most important financial and cultural center of the country and also offers all visitors extremely interesting historical and architectural sights. Some of the must-see attractions here include the city’s beautiful cathedral, Ibirapuera Park, which functions as a cultural hub as well as a popular recreational area, the Altina Aranta skyscraper, modeled after the New Yorker Empire State Building was erected, or the city’s botanical gardens. The numerous museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Museu Paulista or the Football Museum of São Paolo are definitely worth a visit.

8th place: New York, USA

Next up is the United States, specifically the Big Apple of New York. The metropolis is considered a dream city for many people, which is why the number of residents is constantly increasing every year. Needless to say, there are so many exciting things to do and see here, including countless theatre, art and cultural events on Broadway and in the city’s thousands of large and small museums, galleries and theaters from inner-city local recreation in Central Park to world-famous sights such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center or the Brooklyn Bridge, there is more to see and experience here than you can fit into just one vacation, even with the best will in the world .

7th place: Shanghai, China

The Chinese port city of Shanghai snaps up the 7th spot on our list of largest cities, with a whopping 24 million residents populating the city’s nearly 6,340.5 km². In Shanghai, as a visitor, you can hover between Asian tradition and the highest level of modernity. You can be transported back to historical China, with its magnificent temples and idyllic gardens, as well as get to know the ultra-modern sides of the city, for example on a trip to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum or by looking at the skyline, which is characterized by sky-high skyscrapers along the Coast. On the other hand, the Xintiandi shopping and entertainment district is recommended for an extended shopping trip, while you can relax a bit in the Yu Garden or in Changfeng Park. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to try some authentic Chinese delicacies – these have hardly anything to do with western “Chinese” cuisine.

6th place: Mumbai, India

At only 603.4 km², Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in India seems at first glance to be absolutely out of place in the list of the largest cities in the world. However, since this list is ranked by population, the Indian metropolis even deserves 6th place. Absolutely unbelievable that 39,200 people per square kilometer live here – for comparison: In Munich, the German city with the highest population density, there are just under 4,400 people per square kilometer. Anyone who visits Mumbai should therefore not be afraid of contact or feel uncomfortable in large crowds. However, if you can see past the hustle and bustle, there are also some extremely interesting attractions, such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum (CSMVS; formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum), which is absolutely worth seeing for its architecture and exhibitions, the golden one Vipassana Pagoda, the Haji Ali Dargah Mosque or the last century Gateway to India.

5th place: Seoul, South Korea

And that brings us to number 5 of the largest cities, occupied by the South Korean capital Seoul. If you look at pictures of the truly impressive metropolis, you might think at first glance that you are looking at a place straight out of a science fiction film: brightly lit skyscrapers, a high-tech subway system and other technical frills flash at you here towards every corner. Hidden among all the hyper-modern, however, is Seoul’s second face in the form of traditional Buddhist temples or historic palaces from the country’s diverse dynasties. Seoul is indeed a place where you can’t help but be amazed. A few sights that you should definitely visit here are the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Gyeongbokgung Palace together with the Korean Folk Museum, the N Seoul or Namsan Tower, the Banpo Bridge with its magnificent light and water features and the Myeong-dong district, which is perfect for strolling and immersing yourself in Korean (pop) culture.

4th place: Manila, Philippines

In fourth place in our top 10 largest cities is the Philippine port city of Manila with over 25 million inhabitants. The metropolis combines ultra-modern buildings with the architectural witnesses of the Spanish colonial era and thus creates a fascinating atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If you come here, we definitely recommend a visit to the numerous architecturally interesting sights of Manila, above all Fort Santiago, the San Augustin Church, the Malacañang Palace and the Rizal Shrine, which is dedicated to the Filipino nationalist José Rizal.

3rd place: Delhi, India

And once again it’s back to India, this time to Delhi, which ranks as the 3rd largest city in the world. In contrast to Mumbai, the population density here is really low: “Just” 19,000 people live here on average on each of the city’s 1,483 km². Of course it’s still very lively by German standards, which is why you shouldn’t shy away from closer contact with other people when you visit here. Those who don’t mind a little hustle and bustle will be rewarded with some of the country’s must-see attractions, such as the Red Fort, the beautiful Jama Masjid Mosque, the stunning Akshardham Temple or the more modern Lotus Temple. You should also try the food in Delhi – authentic Indian food is simply unique!

2nd place: Jakarta, Indonesia

There were only two left! Runner-up on this list is Jakarta, making it the second largest city in the world. The Indonesian metropolis is a diverse mix of all sorts of cultural and architectural influences: Javanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, colonial Dutch and more aspects can be found in the impressive city. But the modern side of Jakarta cannot be overlooked either, particularly when looking at museums such as the local planetarium and observatory, strolling through Jakarta’s hyper-modern business district near the historic Selamat Datang Monument or visiting the water and amusement parks of the Region. Some of the more traditional attractions of Jakarta that you shouldn’t miss are the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Miniature Park, the Sacred Pancasila Monument, as well as the city’s finest museums, such as the National Museum of Jakarta, the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, and the Indonesian Museum, all three of which are also architecturally interesting.

1st place: Tokyo, Japan

And here it is now the number 1 largest city in the world: Tokyo. With a total of 38.5 million inhabitants, the Japanese capital is by far the undefeated number one in terms of the largest population. About 2,700 people live here per square kilometer and yet the country’s culture allows things to be orderly and considerate in the city – hats off to the Japanese and their mentality of respectful coexistence. But Tokyo doesn’t just impress with its population, the city has something fascinating to offer around every corner – from traditional shrines and temples that take you back in time to hyper-modern districts that are full of technology and electronic gadgets teeming. All fans of Japanese pop culture should also make a detour to the districts of Akihabara and Shinjuku in Tokyo and mingle with enthusiastic representatives of otaku culture. Also there: fantastic themed cafés for games, films and more, flashy arcades, more shopping opportunities than you could ever dream of, as well as plenty of culinary experiences that you absolutely have to try.