Spectacular travel destinations: These are the most extreme cities in the world
According to United Nations estimates, almost half of the world's population lives in cities. There are currently 37 megacities with more than ten million inhabitants worldwide, plus several hundred cities with more than one million inhabitants.
Nevertheless, there are places that stand out from the crowd. Due to their location, size, or climatic conditions, they are more extreme than any other city in the world. Whether tiny or enormous, pitch black or bitterly cold: these are the most extreme cities around the globe.
In Yakutsk in northeastern Siberia, temperatures as low as minus 65 degrees Celsius have been recorded, and during the winter months the average temperature is an incredible minus 42 degrees. This makes Yakutsk the coldest city in the world.
But that doesn't stop the approximately 350,000 locals from going outside. Wrapped up warm, everyday life in Yakutsk continues even in freezing temperatures. The weekly market, for example, is held outdoors even in the winter months, where frozen fish, among other things, is available for purchase.
To defy the freezing temperatures, Yakutsk has a few special measures in place. For example, cars are covered with special tarpaulins to prevent the engine oil from freezing, and the engine is left running during short stops. And the steps in front of the buildings are carpeted to prevent slipping when the steps freeze.
Another unique feature: The city is built on permafrost, a ground that remains frozen year-round. Therefore, the sewage pipes are laid above ground. The city's most famous attraction is the museum "The Kingdom of Permafrost." This is located underground, in two tunnels dug into the ground. It features ice sculptures of pagan deities and even an ice slide!
The temperature differences between the seasons are also extreme. While the thermometer can drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius or more in winter, summer temperatures are summery, sometimes even around 30 degrees Celsius.
In Yakutsk, even the cars are wrapped up thickly – otherwise they won’t start until spring.
Source: IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
For approximately 65 days, the sun doesn't rise in the Alaskan town of Utqiaġvik—which is why it's also known as the darkest town in the world. This phenomenon is called polar night and occurs between the beginning of November and the end of January. This dark period is due to Utqiaġvik's geographical location: It's the northernmost town in the United States , located nearly 320 kilometers above the Arctic Circle.
When the sun sets for the last time, the approximately 5,000 residents gather with their families and loved ones for dinner. Traditionally, they watch the film "30 Days of Night," in which vampires attack the city during the polar night. But the approaching darkness also has its upside: Under optimal conditions, the northern lights can be observed in the sky during the long nights.
When the sun first appears again at the end of January, its brightness is initially brief. After only about 45 minutes, it sets again. The good news: From then on, the days quickly get longer – until, from May to the beginning of August, the sun no longer sets at all, and there is daylight 24 hours a day.
In terms of population,Tokyo , Japan, is the largest city in the world: around 37 million people lived in the metropolitan area in 2024. At the same time, Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world.
The selection of restaurants, museums, theaters, clubs, and bars seems almost endless, and the size of the city can initially seem overwhelming. To give you a brief overview: The most important sights are concentrated in the six districts of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minato, Taito, Sumida, and Chuo.
Fun fact: As part of the "The Tokyo Toilet" project , 17 public restrooms were opened in the Shibuya district, each one a true architectural masterpiece. There's a transparent toilet that becomes opaque when closed, and toilets arranged like wooden huts in a village.
If the megacity's skyscrapers become too much for you, take a trip to nearby Mount Fuji. Located about 100 kilometers from Tokyo, it is both Japan's highest and most famous peak.
Houses and concrete as far as the eye can see: the megacity of Tokyo in Japan.
Source: IMAGO/CHROMORANGE
La Paz, Bolivia, lies at an average elevation of approximately 3,600 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. The city's highest point is at approximately 4,000 meters, and the lower parts of the city are at approximately 3,200 meters above sea level.
Its location makes La Paz a city that takes some getting used to, literally. Those unfamiliar with these altitudes should expect physical discomfort due to the extreme conditions. Symptoms of altitude sickness include nausea, dizziness, and headaches. What helps: drink plenty of fluids and, ideally, book accommodation in the lower-lying southern part of the city for the first few days.
To help overcome the elevation differences within the city, La Paz boasts the world's largest cable car network. The "Mi Teleférico" network, or "My Cable Car," is 30 kilometers long and divided into five lines.
The cable car helps people in La Paz overcome the differences in altitude.
Source: imago images/VWPics
Just 30 people live in Hum on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia . Hum is only about 100 meters long and barely the size of half a football field. Nevertheless, Hum can call itself a town—and is thus considered the smallest town in the world. Hum achieved town status in the Middle Ages due to its city walls, city gate, and urban structures, and has retained this status to this day.
The city walls still surround Hum, and within the walls, picturesque alleys lead past the few houses, cafés, and restaurants. You should definitely try the regional mistletoe schnapps. Locals attribute healing properties to the drink, claiming it helps with high blood pressure, heart disease, and circulatory problems, among other things.
According to legend, Hum was built by giants. They are said to have used large stones to build towns like Motovun, Roč, and Bale. When they finally had some stones left over, they created the town of Hum from the remains.
Hum is just about half the size of a football field.
Source: IMAGO / Pond5 Images
There are several remote cities in the world, and the city of Iquitos in Peru is definitely one of the most extreme. It is located in the Amazon region , surrounded by rivers and dense rainforest. The crazy thing is: Iquitos is only accessible by plane or boat. With its approximately 400,000 inhabitants, it is considered the largest city in the world that is not connected to the road network.
Iquitos is a noisy and lively city in the middle of the Amazon.
Source: imago images/imagebroker
Those looking for adventure can travel by cargo ship. These run regularly between Yurimaguas and Iquitos. The journey takes three days, and you sleep in hammocks you've brought along on the boat deck.
The main attraction of Iquitos is the surrounding rainforest – the city is an excellent starting point for excursions into the Amazon. But there's also plenty to discover in the city itself. Among them is the Belém district, known as the "Venice of Peru" because of the houses built on stilts.
However, Iquitos also faces environmental problems. Due to the lack of regulated waste disposal, the city and its rivers are partially heavily polluted.
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