Editorials
Top Cities with Amazing Architecture
Your guide to the top 'must see' architecture around the world.
Top Cities with Amazing Architecture
Many things can define how amazing any given city may be. From the scenic views of mountains or lakes to the abundance of things to do in the city at night, you will find something in almost every city worldwide that makes it stand out amongst others. Besides the typical things that draw people to a specific area, many people enjoy traveling to see spectacular architecture all around the globe.
If you are one of those who can find joy or even romance in the beauty and allure of amazing architecture and want to travel the globe to see the top cities with amazing architecture, then you have come to the right place. If you are ready to drift through time by traveling today, here are the top places you will want to add to your list of places to travel to see some of the world’s best architecture.
While on your travels or even while browsing through some of these hot spots for architecture, you may even find a little inspiration to call a licensed general contractor to see if you can work some of this great architecture into your own home or office space to enhance the beauty and really make it that one of a kind building in your neighborhood.
Athens, Greece
Let’s begin with a city that is well-known as one with striking architecture. Known as the birthplace of democracy, this city is renowned for possessing some of the world’s most brilliant structures including the Parthenon on Acropolis Hill, which was built somewhere between 446 and 432 BCE. This structure was dedicated to the goddess Athena and was raised to show the success of Athens as the Greek coalition leader. Other areas of interest in Athens include the Temple of Olympian Zeus which was of course built to honor the Greek God Zeus.
You can also see the Theatre of Dionysus at the base of Acropolis Hill. This is one of the few theatres that have survived throughout history and it can be dated back as far as 600 BC. This open-air structure can hold up to 20,000 people. In Athens, there are many local hotels that cater to those seeking that romance that can only be found in such a beautiful city. Besides the amazing architecture, you will also find beautiful sunsets, majestic scenery and views, sparkling coastal waters and luxury resorts where you can unwind after a day of sightseeing the local area.
Rome, Italy
As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Thanks to the spectacular architecture engulfing this amazing city, you can do exactly as the Romans do and take in every breathtaking structural presence that you come across. Love is in the air in this vibrant Italian city and you can see amazing views of structures including St. Peter’s Square, the Trevi Fountain or the Colosseum, a large outdoor theatre that was designed by Vespasian, the Roman Emperor who ruled from 69 AD to 79 AD.
While it’s amazing to see the Colosseum during the day, it’s even better at night when the structure lights up against the dark of night and stars shine overhead. For a romantic gesture to your significant other, a carriage ride at night around the Colosseum is always a brilliant way to wind down an evening of sightseeing in beautiful Rome.
New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Heading down to the famous French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana inside the USA is going to lead you not only to superb restaurants with exceptional Cajun cooking, elegant hotels, romantic music in the backdrop of practically every area you travel and romantic gas lamps lining the streets, but it is also going to take you to the most amazing Creole architecture featuring a beautiful mixture of Spanish Colonial, French Colonial and Greek Revival structures complete with romantic wrought iron lined balconies all throughout the city. When you venture out to explore the city, you will also find lovely gardens, garden show quality homes and even small, shotgun houses. If you travel to the country, you’ll find plantation style Antebellum homes with lush gardens lining the roadways.
If you take trip during Mardi Gras, you can explore the cemeteries, also known as the “cities of the dead” where the tombstones, some dating back as far as far as 1789 in Cemetery Number 1 in New Orleans, are all above ground to avoid caskets rising to the ground because the low sea level. This is the oldest cemetery in the city and it has long been believed that it is the most haunted cemetery in the U.S. If you believe in spirits and want to chance meeting some, this is definitely a cemetery worth traveling to. Besides the great architecture and chance at meeting a bonified ghost while on tour, be sure to take a carriage ride through the French Quarter and sit back and relax while listening to jazz and blues tunes as they drift through the air from the many shops lining the New Orleans streets.
Tell us how you like to travel. We will shape the trip around it.
Request a quote →Charleston, South Carolina USA
Another beautiful city to check out in the United States is Charleston, South Carolina. The architecture of the amazing homes throughout this city just scream Victorian romance. This vibrant city has been voted as the #1 place to visit in the United States by Travel and Leisure and it is definitely one trip you won’t want to pass up if you have the opportunity to work it into your travel plans. The city has more than 2500 historic buildings for you to explore including a variety of architectural styles ranging from Gothic Revival, Colonial and Georgian to Victorian, Art Deco and Italianate and others.
You can see great structures including the Heyward-Washington House that was built in 1771 and was home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Heyward, Jr. Other popular structures include the Huguenot Church, a beautiful Gothic Revival style structure built in 1844 and located in the French Quarter of Charleston.
While the allure of the amazing architecture in Charleston is enough to bring you to the city, you will also find that you may be able to rent a local antebellum home or stay in a luxury resort where you will have plenty of time to relax between trips outside to explore the scenery. Speaking of scenery, you’ll also find beautiful waterways, extraordinary places to shop and great places to check out local artists and the work they produce. Charleston is a must-see place for those who love a variety of architecture as well as want to have plenty of places to visit for fun.
Barcelona, Spain
Last but definitely far from the least we have Barcelona, Spain. This city just exudes a magical feel for those who travel to see the wide array of buildings found throughout the vibrant city. You will find a selection of Gothic buildings including mansions and business fronts as well as Modernista buildings that have long been popular for tourists to explore.
One of the most spectacular structures to visit or even see from a distance in Barcelona is The Sagrada Familia, a large temple in the center of the city. The temple was overseen by architect Antoni Gaudi and he worked on it for 43 years before his death in 1926. He based the temple on Gothic and Byzantine cathedrals and wanted to show a great show of Christianity as well as beauty within the overall design. The temple is unfinished but it is still a spectacular sight to see and to explore.
Throughout Barcelona, you will find many other architectural gems including La Pedrera, another masterpiece of Gaudi and also a residential home. Other sights include the amazing Torre Glories, a landmark skyscraper which was long called Torre Agbar and also Palau de la Musica Catalana which is a concert hall and is designed with beautiful Modernista architecture. You will also find a plethora of quaint cafe’s and restaurants where you can enjoy fine wine and delectable foods. Be sure to stay at one of the luxury hotels where you can feel pampered after a walking tour of the city to see the amazing architecture throughout.
Other cities to explore include Shanghai, Dubai, Berlin and many others. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this includes personal taste in architecture and building design. To begin your search for the best, however, you may want to make travel plans to visit one of these beautiful cities and take in the amazing wonder of each you visit. While these are some of the top cities known for their amazing architecture you will also find brilliant designs and structures in many areas of the world.
New to Out Of Office?
We are a luxury travel company for LGBTQ+ travelers. Everything we sell is tailor-made, planned by one named member of our team throughout, and nothing on this site is a fixed package unless it says so.
Where exclusivity meets inclusivity
Ten years, hundreds of five-star reviews, and a team who will tell you when a destination is not right for the trip you have in mind.
Suggested Tours
Madrid & Chueca: A Sapphic City Break
Tailor-made VacationBeyond Chueca's rainbow crossings and crowded terraces lies a quieter world of courtyard bars, bookshops, and more, explored by LGBTQ+ travelers for decades. Chueca's main streets are well known: the rainbow-painted crossing at Pedro Zerolo, the terraces that spill onto the square outside the metro station, and the crowds that gather there most evenings, a scene that has become almost synonymous with the neighborhood's reputation.
7 days View trip
Ibiza: Beyond the Clubs
Tailor-made VacationIbiza's reputation was built on its clubs, but its most exclusive addresses have always been in the hills, well away from the partying. Ibiza became a prominent LGBTQ+ destination decades before the superclubs arrived, drawing artists, writers, and a bohemian community to the island's interior through the 1960s and 1970s. That history has been steadily overshadowed by the island's later reputation as Europe's party capital, and this itinerary is built to recover it.
7 days View trip
Gay Group Trip: Athens, Santorini, Naxos & Mykonos
Greece Group TripExperience the full range of Greece on this tailor-made eleven-day LGBTQ+ itinerary across Athens and three of the Cyclades. Designed for couples and honeymooners ready to take their time, the trip moves from the ancient capital to the quietest Cycladic island before ending on Greece's most established gay island, with stylish hotels, private guides and carefully curated experiences throughout.
11 days group departure from $9,900 per person View trip
Luxury Lesbos & Athens: In the Footsteps of Sappho
Tailor-made VacationThis itinerary pairs Athens with Lesbos, ending in Skala Eressos, the small beach town that has become one of the most important destinations for lesbian travelers anywhere in the world. It’s not just about where you go, but why you go. Athens brings the history. Lesbos brings something far more personal. Lesbos is not a typical Greek island add-on. You come here for a reason.
7 days tailor-made from $5,720 per person View trip
Athens & the Athens Riviera: A Luxury Week in Greece
Tailor-made VacationFor years, the Athens Riviera played second fiddle to the islands. That's changing fast. The 70-kilometer stretch of coastline south of the Greek capital has quietly become one of Europe's most compelling luxury destinations, anchored by the sleek enclave of Vouliagmeni and the glamorous suburb of Glyfada. You start in Athens, where the key sites are concentrated and easily covered with the right planning.
7 days tailor-made from $7,580 per person View trip
Luxury Gay Honeymoon in Italy: Rome & Amalfi Coast
Tailor-made VacationItaly is one of the best destinations on the planet for a honeymoon. Rome comes first: four nights in a city where ancient history and exceptional restaurants occupy the same street. Then the Amalfi Coast for five nights, where the agenda shifts to boat trips, cliff-top dinners, and endless views over the Mediterranean. The itinerary runs nine nights across two bases, with private transfers connecting every stage.
8 days tailor-made from $9,170 per person View tripThe hard part is not finding a beautiful place. It is finding the right one for you.
Every property we suggest is handpicked by our team. Twenty minutes with a specialist will tell you which ones are worth your time.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.