World's Ugliest Capitals
By chili, February 8th 2010 in Travel Destinations Comments (102)
Some of the world's capitals are just ugly ducklings with small chances to turn into beautiful swans. They are crowded, dirty, or just boring, and in terms of architecture they are simply unsightly. Of course, some may find entirely planned cities or post Soviet concrete blocks fascinating or inspirational, but calling these capitals beautiful would be a bit of an exaggeration.
Here they are: the most unattractive capitals on our globe:
Sofia - the Capital of Bulgaria, Europe.
The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, is just not in the same league with other Eastern European capitals such as stunning Budapest or fabulous Prague. Though the city's origins date back to ancient times, the capital's architecture is not impressive at all. The city center is rather quite messy, dirty and chaotic. Of course, it has several historical churches and museums that can boast the title of UNESCO sites, but combining the Soviet-style concrete buildings and current modern development, the city makes an overall poor impression.
Ulaanbaatar - the Capital of Mongolia, Asia.
While every other Asian capital has its unique oriental touch that attracts and fascinates foreigners, Ulaanbaatar is far from being exotic. The capital of Mongolia owes its tremendous architecture to Soviet architects. The entire downtown was planned and designed under the USSR's supervision. As a result, monotony, grey and ugly 4-, 5-, and 9-storey apartment blocks cover the entire city. At the same time many of the traditional Mongolian yurts vanished from the surface of Mongolia's capital, replaced by concrete Soviet buildings. Today, the city is an odd and chaotic mix of the Mongolian ancient building, Soviet urban planning, a few modern constructions and a few remained yurt suburbs.
Washington DC - the Capital of the USA. North America.
Let's face it: in terms of architecture, Washington DC, the capital of the USA, is the most boring capital in North America. Like every planned city, the American capital's architecture has no vibe and no spirit. Modeled in the Baroque style, the city is covered with marble, monumental constructions and federal buildings, but it lacks the elegance of Vienna, passion of Paris or craziness of Berlin. Still, it has loads of green areas and parks, but then again, if you are a nature lover, better head for some of the country's beautiful national parks, rather than spend your dollars in the city.
Guatemala City - the Capital of Guatemala, Central America.
Guate, as locals call the capital of Guatemala, is the largest city in Central America and the Caribbean. It is considered to be a cultural hub of the entire region; in terms of beauty, however, it has nothing to offer. It's dirty and dangerous, though some find Guate fascinating. In truth, the city is nasty both in terms of architecture, urban planning and safety - in 2008, approximately 40 murders a week were reported in Guatemala City alone. Over the recent years, the capital's population has been extensively growing, so Guate experiences all possible growing pains: it's crowded and the infrastructure is poor.
To make matters worse, the city is often plagued by various natural disasters from earthquakes to mudslides.
Unfortunately, the city is difficult to avoid while travelling in Central America, as it is the region's transportation hub with Central America's largest international airport, La Aurora International Airport.
Caracas - the Capital of Venezuela, South America.
The capital of Venezuela is far from being a pleasant city. It is actually the city of two faces - in its safer districts - those recommenced by the travel guides - you will find big shopping malls, museums and restaurants visited by rich residents and tourists. Still, the city's architecture is not very appealing and by no means unique - just obvious development that can be found in any big capital the world over. At the same time, the dark side of the city, the Caracas shantytowns, is home to places you would rather avoid.
Canberra - the Capital of Australia, the Pacific Region.
In comparison to vibrant Sydney and laid-back Melbourne, Canberra, the capital of Australia, is nothing but some symbolic and boring sights. It is home to the National Museum, War Memorial and Parliament House...and that's pretty much it. With a population of around 345,000, the city somehow seems to be a ghost-town and its entirely planned development (at the beginning of the 20th century) does not add much charm to it. Moreover, Canberra is an inland city, so even the beaches are far...
Certainly not the ugliest by design, but Valletta (the capital of Malta) has been made to look ugly by some inconsiderate locals, as I discovered late last year
and what makes u think u are the best judge for that
?
F you, you stupid moron
DC is not ugly
Washington DC was added to get some controversy and page views generated. There are more beautiful capital cities in the world, but Washington is far from being the ugliest.
ulaan baatar is prob the ugliest cap city i have been to, lima pretty ugly too
Have you ever been to Cairo? What a hole.
very nice blog.you used very nice pic.
The capital of USA is not ugly.Its a jokeor some other interesting matter.
Helsinki (finland) is realy ugly! Nothing interesting and very expensive. I guess the same as all Scandinavia. And guys DC is not ugly but not beautiful either.
DC is a beautiful city with some of the best residential architecture in North America. What are you smoking?
you provide very different type of information,
World's Ugliest Capitals.very interesting.
very informative information.
How dare you say Caracas, Venezuela is one of the ugliest capitols in the world, nestled in a lush green valley with the Avila Mountain provide a gorgeous background for awesome mordernist architecture that was the first of it's kind in south america, not to mention the most beautiful women of the world!
Canberra is terrible...Not gunna lie!
It is oh so boring and the only slightly decent thing there is Questacon...
I would suggest Montevideo, capital of Uruguay! What a shithole! The city itself looks like if a sovjet architect had fun trying to design a colonial town and it's UGLY! And all the cool people cross to the other side to Buenos Aires!
Montevideo is the most diverse an a nice city. Of course it has got many old streets near the city but is nicer than Buenos Aires is a city full of pretences and broken roads and old unkempt suburbes but some people preffer the roar of the traffic rather than a peaceful place and if these people look around they will see that buenos aires has got lots of old apartments that they also look like Russian communist blocks.
Caracas is not so bad.. !! and that picture... hehehe i never seen Caracas so ugly !!! it is dangerous... but is so colorful and beautiful..
Sofia is not Paris, Rome or Vienna, but it's not an ugly place. Yes there are concrete blocks in many quarters, but you can't say the city centre is ugly. The centre is rather beautiful with nice architecuture and old buildings. I guess you prefer shiny stuff and glass everywhere - no thanks!!!
Caracas is a green city with beautiful flowers everywhere... The Avila definitely makes a sweet view from the valley. I would not say is ugly it is an interesting city. Very good restaurants by the way, unlike other Latin American capitals
It's a Western view. I'm Asian and I found Ulaanbaatar beautiful and exotic exactly because it had a none-Asian touch in Asia. It was really exotic to me. For Westerners the Asian cities maybe interesting, but the Westerners are not the only "humans" on Earth who has the right to feel. Asians have the right to feel and I felt none-Asian cities are exotic and amazing to me, including Ulaanbatar, which Westerners seem to blame for "being not Asian". It doesn't have to - just because some Westerners want it to be.
@ chaz what about Cairo? what exactly to expect from a city more than a thousand years old? what is ugly for you could just be perfect for others!
You don't have a viable reasoning for deciding a city is ugly. Sophia is "ugly" because it isn't as stunning as 2-3 other Eastern European capitals? Ulan Bator is "ugly" because it isn't as Asian as other Asian capitals? DC is "ugly" because it doesn't live up to the charms of Vienna? Don't be so childish, man. Ugliness is a different concept than you're using. Learn English properly. Even it maybe your native language, you obviously are illiterate in using the language.
Canberra is one of my least favorite cities in the world. DC isn't a fair dig. What about Bucharest?
I was just in Sofia two months ago and it's a beautiful city. The downtown area has been completely renovated and it's so colorful and fresh. I loved it!
This list is crap! I wonder if the looser who wrote this even *all* capitals in the world to create this list.
What about Johannesburg, in South Africa a slum city..
I agree Johannesburg is FUGLY !!!
Johannesburg is not a Capital!
Yep, Johannebsurg is not a capital city but FUGLY it certainly is!!!
This person has not been to Cairo...
Antananarivo - Madagascar .... and
Most of the African Capitals!!
Lagos
Seoul.
I haven't seen a city uglier than Korean Seoul. Dirty, never washed windows, block of flats everywhere, noisy workshops and small factories along many main streets, very few historical buildings, huge SUV cars blocking tiny streets. And boring, boring, boring.
U just forgot Cairo it's like a shits cOnference room.
i love how offended americans are just because their capital is peice of shit
I do agree that Helsinki is ugly and asocial. Sad and boring spot for outsiders, but locals do not necessarily share this feeling
How Warsaw isn't on this list is beyond me... a mixture of drab Soviet apartment blocks, even drabber starchitect designed skyscrapers and an asteroid belt of the most monotonous, shopping mall filled suburban sprawl this side of the Atlantic... it's boring as hell too.
Any capital in Africa is ugliest than any of those you mentioned. Washington CD is gorgeous capital, it was planned but the same guy that planned Paris. but you probably wanted to include it because of anti-Americanism.
DC is not ugly at all. Take almost ANY US city of your choice and you'll find a enciclopedic example of uglyness. Sofia is rather charming, although extreamly boring. Ulan Bataar is Soviet... and this is the charm of it!!! Caracas lacks colonial architecture, but it has fine examples of architecture from the 50's and the setting is impressive. Any African capital except for two or three North African cities are far more ugly than any of the cities listed. Lagos is a truly hole on Earth.
This is so much Bullshit...Says who
? Caracas, ugly?, Canberra Ugly? I think you need to define yout concept of beauty first to give some credibility to this farticle!
Are you stupid....
Washington DC is definetly not ugly!!!!!! And same with Canberra!
Your absolutely right. I am agreeing with you on this one. Washington DC & Canberra are not UGLY!!!!!!
I don't care about this crap.
I wanted to reply on the one who says any african city except North africa..That's not true, Just because NorthAfrican countries are rich doesn't mean their cities r good.I would pledge that even Harare is way better than Algiers,Cairo, Tunis or Tripoli.Believe me I've been to all of these cities n currently in Algiers.
Hey just because North African countries r rich doesn't mean their cities r great.Do ur Homework coz I've been to all of them.Frankly Harare is way better than Algiers, Tripoli, Cairo , Tunis n the pathetic Rabat.Don't just assume that ur assumptions r true.
interesting insight, helped me understand people's perception of ugly! Thanks, good work!
I'm gonna say this in spanish so you and your little brain have to go search every little word:
Guatemala no es de las ciudades más feas. No sé quién te hizo juez en la toma de decisión de qué ciudades son las más feas. Guatemala es una ciudad muy bella, con muchos museos y muchas culturas Construida por los españoles, y el Palacio Nacional no se compara con NINGÚN otro tipo de arquitectura, en cada puerta, ventana, mesa, escritorio, loza, escalera, pared... se respira historia. Guatemala tiene una historia triste y es denigrante que hagas un comentario de este calibre sobre una ciudad que lo único que ha hecho, desde que todos se han aprovechado de ella, es luchar por sobrevivir y resurgir de las cenizas en las que se encuentra.
Solo estás haciendo mala propagando a un país HERMOSO, pluricultural, multilingüe y con una gran diversidad en la fauna y flora. No encontrarás ningún país como Guatemala. Y si ya diste una vuelta por acá y no te gustó... te exhorto a que des otra vuelta COMO SE DEBE... para que quieras quedarte y nunca largarte.
borama is the best town in somaliland except hargaysa becouse it is capital of osmaliland
borama first town acourding the education in somali borama living good intelgent people
borama is the best town in somaliland except hargaysa becouse it is capital of osmaliland
borama first town acourding the education in somalia, borama living good intelgent people
Just walked up the main shopping street of Buenos Aries... Florida... lovely expensive shops with the bast fashion labels on display, and rubbish everywhere...have not seen as much filth as low tide at Sandakan in Sabah, Borneo. This is the pits. Yet, by morning it will be all cleared when these fashion shops open. There is a message in this...can you spot it!
What about Tehran? Overcrowded, dirty .......
American and canadian cities in my opinion are brutally ugly, a central area filled with skyscrapers and then massive highways, dotted by shopping outlets and sprawling suburbias where houses look completely alike.
personally think is very ugly.
Guatemala city is messy, poor but I wouldn't call it ugly as it's full of character, color, culture, is a very interesting place.
Beauty is not cleanliness and modern.... culture, color, uniqueness, character is also beauty and that lacks in places like washington DC, ottawa, camberra, brasilia.
Brasilia is horrible in my opinion.
SOFIA? An ugly city?
I guess you've never been there. Sofia city has so much to offer when it comes to history, churches, culture and nature. Such a beautiful city!
Caracas? Ugly? Man, you can at least put city centre pics next time! You can always find something not very good looking even in Heaven, so sorry I'm out of this sh...t!
Hey - have you ever been in Sofia to say so
? Stupid!
man... Sofia is a great city...full of beautiful women!
and Washington is not so bad too
)
Well, here you can find a little bit more for one of the "most unattractive capitals": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oUwgGLiz0c
And if you .........try to learn a little bit more about the HISTORY, you might find out why there is such a difference between Sofia and Budapest/Prague.
Yes, it's not the most beautiful one, but I like it and moreover there are too many people who can ENJOY IT FULLY!
Brussels ? The Grand Place is beautiful, but for the rest...The whole city has a smell of old coffee. There is no central city board, so infrastructure and architecture are chaotic, ugly and disunctional. Even the Belgians really do hate their capital. The old city has been destructed by building-barons, and the final death trap has been the coming of the EU-administration. But, on the other enjoy the chocolats and the splendid beer, or a shopping tour in the Anspach Gallery. Who`s not speaking French, will be treated like thedirtiest pig i the stable. Just avoid this craptown.
VERY GOOD to have opinions and to express them and I agree with most of yours; of course, you don't have to worry about upsetting the feeble minded who are always offended by this or that; for them "all people are beuatifool, and all piple are smart, and all cities are great becuase they are great and if you say no, you is a rasist"...bwahahahah
Johannesburg is not sooooo fugly!!!! Have you guys even been there? I was there last month and certainly whole-heartedly disagree...... Although it's not a Capital city.......
Yea u just picked an ugly pic for Sofia but it's a beautiful city trust me I live there
Sabaneta ugly dont forget that
Who gave you the authority to define what's beautiful or ugly?
Could it be alright that will put thing about this in my small personal weblog if I post a reference to this webpage?
Brasilia is ugly.
So is Oslo.
You want to see an ugly city? Visit Charleroi, Belgium.
as i think its very useful and fantastic artical,welldon writer,and may b some one had flt pain 4 the word ugly ,bt they hav 2 accept that importent cities could nt b beautiful..and i lov 2 all euorpean cites while i m an asian.
Washington DC definitely true...most ugliest capitol!!!
I've lived in Sofia for 5 years and I completely agree that Sofia must be in this ladder! Dark, dirty and clumsy city! Plenty of beautiful women and discos but still an ugly city.
Lagos is far from ugly it is a beauiful city of higrises, the major of paris praised the governor when he visted
So stupid ranglist - Sofia has beaytifull ancient architectures, parks, mountain nearby... This issue is simply bullshit
I love my Ulaanbaatar. Is that your hometowm city is prettiest
? Stupid
Brasilia is not ugly at all. It was designed to look futuristic with all those circular buildings and 'empty' green areas. The central planned area looks like the fusellage of an airplane when seen from above. It goes without saying that it was inscripted in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Oslo, on the other hand, is really disappointing. I wouldn't say UGLY, but it lacks everything that really makes up a lively capital. There is no satisfactory cultural or gastronomic offer. There is no night life either. The whole city lacks a urban plan, thereby making some areas seem very seggregated, dirty and packed only with drug-dealers. The architecture is utterly unimpressive. No to mention that you pay a fortune for crappy things.
Whoever wrote dc is an ugly city is a douche. And has apparently never been there
Bucharest and Chisinau is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!
lima, peru, what a shithole
caracas is damgerous but is not ugly... dc is quite decent.... the person that wrote this post is not a real traveller of the world!!!!! there are ugly spots in any city, but except guatemala city, that is not nice but the country is gorgeous the list is completely wrong!!!! go to africa nd some smll horrible cities round the world nd you will see wht it is ugly!!!! common who re you to judge the world
I've been to Lima, Peru recently and it's beautiful! the skyline of the financial district of san isidro is real modern. the city center is very intriguing and unique and miraflores has a lot of high-rise buildings. Many districts also have high-rise buildings with modern design. only the outskirts of the city are bad.
Clearly no-one here has been to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. It is by far the ugliest capital I have ever been to (and I know quite a few). Sprawling, post-earthquake neo-Stalinist architecture, no well-defined centre, soulless streets, awful apartment blocks, it's got the lot!
I think Bratislava, Chisinau and Bucharest are also very ugly cities!
Belgrade, hands down, the ugliest capital I've seen
guatemala is not that ugly. i would say that tegucigalpa and managua are the worst cities in the world. they have a lot of crime and poverty
I find Taipei a pretty ugly city but all Asian city's are ugly too.people are nice.
Lima, Peru sucks too!
All these cities are beautiful!! Zou didnćt even include Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, nor Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo
Santiago in chile is fugly
borama is the best
WASHDC has no spirit or character? What are you smoking?
In Europe the ugliest is berlin, lots of commieblocks and this ugly german language...
Leaving aside whether Washington DC is one of the ugliest cities, it is most definitely NOT modeled in the *baroque* style. It's in classical style - which is a pretty simple, huge mistake to make. You'd think someone presuming to comment on architecture would at least display a basic comprehension of the subject.
how could ottawa-hull not be on this list
You forgot Madrid! Ugly in its artificial reason to exists (like Canberra, Riyadh or Brasilia). There you can find museums of "things collected from somewhere else" and speak with people "from somewhere else". Exists Madrid if it is not capital? Well, go 100 miles to any direction from the center of the city and you are in the middle of a huge nothingness.
ankara should have been on that list
It's actually hard to define beautiful and ugly
Maybe not "ugly" in the proper sense, but the most boring and soulless capital I have been to is Berne, Switzerland.
Paris and Amsterdam might be what a lot of people find beautiful, but they are both spoiled by their tourist appeal - the former is extremely overpriced and teeming with touts and beggars, while the latter is overrun by drugs-and-sex-tourists.
Totally have to disagree with Sofia - it might be small and unspectacular in comparison to other capitals, but on the other hand it is quite relaxing and colourful.
Skopje is admittedly the most stereotypical post-communist capital I have seen so far, but the old town has some nice Ottoman architecture. It might recommended for fans of the bizarre side of Eastern Europe; the same goes for Bucharest and Belgrade, which are both by far better than their reputation (and also have a great night life).
I find the writer of this article so inconsiderate and poorly educated. You can't write things like that. who made him a judge of all this? I've been to DC and I find it beautiful. It might not be everybody's opinion, but it's MY opinion. People are the own judges of that. Everyone finds different things to fascinated them. I personally hate Paris for example. But so what. This is only the way I see it. I don't go around though, telling people I hate it. Publishing something like this is like saying: "Don't go to these places, they suck!". And this is so very unfair. Take Sofia, for example. It is a very old city, one of the oldest in Europe, but on another note it is also one of the youngest, because until the beginning of the century it was very small and more rural looking. It only got built up in the middle of teh 20th century. whose fault it is that communism happened? Plus these days Sofia is like huge construction site. There is a building process going all over the city, which means that something is happening and that people are trying to advance and make a change. You have to be a complete moron to not consider that and just go out there insulting their cities.
Astana and almaty Kazachstan i rest my case.
You have to be kiddin me !
How come Riyadh Capital of the Saudis is not on the top of the list !
Im a norwegian an im ashamed of our capital, Oslo is defenetly uglier than DC
Helsinki is definitely NOT ugly.
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