Top 10 cities of 2010

Best in Travel contains everything travel related trends, discoveries and lists of the best of the best in tourism. One of the lists included are the top cities to visit.

Here’s a peek at that list, in alphabetical order, and the possible reasons behind the choices:

1. Abu Dhabi : Constantly overshadowed by Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ capital holds its own and with its own reinvention architecturally and culturally, becomes one of the coming year’s best cities to visit. Art shows and music festivals are among the city’s top annual activities.

2. Charleston: This South Carolina city is the United States’ home of aristocracy. Etiquette is something this historic town is proud of, together with its numerous churches and palm tree-lined thoroughfares. The well-groomed locale has a thriving tourism business with notable luxury accommodations, historical sites and, recently, a food festival and a Fashion Week.

3. Cork: The second largest city in Ireland has always been the dark horse. It features architecturally-distinct buildings of medieval origins and, in contrast, modern structures for office and home use. The city is rapidly developing its own identity in terms of cuisine, culture and the arts.

4. Cuenca: The third largest city in Ecuador by population, this highland city marks its 10th anniversary as a World Heritage Site next year. In conjunction with that, it’s preparing its historic center for celebrations and tourism potential. The local government is determined to preserve its colonial architecture by major restorations to landmarks.

5. Istanbul: Recently hailed as the European Capital of Culture, this Turkish megacity has lots to offer. It’s becoming increasingly colorful with a yearlong calendar of social, cultural and commercial activities, all with a backdrop of rich architecture—Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Genoese and Ottoman.

6. Kyoto: Some call it one of the world’s most romantic cities if you know where to look and the rest of the world is catching up to unravel the mystifying beauty of this city, the former imperial capital of Japan. Without the grand gesture that’s always expected of romantic cities, the metropolitan district’s gestures are secluded, much like the discretion of Japanese culture itself.

7. Lecce: Called the Florence of the South, this southern Italian city has many historic buildings, mostly churches, to boast of. What makes this a good place to visit is the fact that its rural location makes its cost of living relatively lower than the more popular points of attraction in the country.

8. Sarajevo: The capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina is filled with cultural flourishes with influences from Austria, Turkey and other European and Eastern Asian countries. The country is fortifying its tourism promotion and its largest city is at the center of attraction.

9. Singapore: With one of the most aggressive tourism campaigns in the world (financed heftily), the city-state, formerly devoid of any cultural distinction, is now the Asian capital of cultural diversity and advancement. Cuisine has always been its main selling point, but high-profile events are making the small island one of the most globally hip destinations.

10. Vancouver: The Olympic Winter Games are a promise that this Canadian city will be receiving an enormous number of visitors next year. But other than that, it also takes pride in its artistic side, courtesy of museums, film and music festivals and theater companies.