- Chicago Line Cruises ranked the top cities based on quality of life, tourist traffic and local recreation and amenities.
- Auckland, New Zealand, was ranked no. 1 on the list of the greatest cities near water.
- Chicago, San Francisco and New York City made the top 10.
- Los Angeles and Miami landed in the top 20.
Do you ever feel like you just have a natural attraction to the shoreline? Maybe it’s the beauty and relaxation — or just basic survival instincts. Either way, Chicago Line Cruises recognizes our need for the beach, which is why it researched and created its list, 25 Greatest Cities on the Water.
What makes a waterfront city a great one?
Chicago Line Cruises ranked the top cities based on quality of life, tourist traffic, recreation and amenities. Arts and education, music, nature and dining all counted toward the ranking of the world’s greatest cities near the water.
According to the list, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles and Miami rank within the top 25 coastal cities in the world. Chicago and San Francisco landed in the top 10, at sixth and eighth, respectively. Despite being situated on a lake in the middle of the continent, Chicago gained high marks for its vibrant music scene and jazz clubs, as well as its high concentration of professional sporting events.
San Francisco faired well thanks to a wide variety of delicious food and culture, unique scenery and the many bay and ocean activities available. New York City scored high in areas most would expect, such as live entertainment, fine dining and selection of arts and museums.
Although they get more sunshine, Los Angeles and Miami were in the bottom-half of the list, ranking at 14 and 20. Both cities were recognized for their new-age music and festivals nearby.
The ranking is based on the Mercer quality of life ranking and the Euromointor ranking, which is based on tourism. Here’s the full list:
