Trifter

How does it feel to be on top of the world? Did you ever dream of living in a city located on top of a mountain?  See and enjoy the lovely and beautiful panoramic views of these cities in the sky. You’ll probably enjoy the breathtaking views they offer and, of course, their cool climate.

La Paz: Bolivia

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World’s Highest Capital City & 3rd Highest City in the World

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, with an altitude of 12,008 feet or 3,660 meters -is the highest capital city in the world and the 3rd highest city in the world.

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This beautiful ‘city in the sky’ was founded in 1548 by the Spanish conquistadors at the site of the Native American settlement.

Lhasa, Tibet: China

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4th Highest City in the World

One of the world’s most beautiful ‘cities in the sky’ is Lhasa, the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. This lovely city is situated at the foot of Mt. Gephel with an altitude of 11,450 feet or 3,490 meters making it the 4th highest city in the world.

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Lhasa used to be the highest national capital in the world, literally means “place of the gods “. As of 2009, the city has a population of 1,100,123 people. The air in this city only contains 68% of oxygen compared to sea level.

Cuzco: Peru

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5th Highest City in the World

Another ‘city in the sky’ located in Peru with an altitude of 11,000 feet or 3,300 meters is Cuzco.  This lovely city is home to 348,935 people.

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This city, which is a major tourist destination in the world, is the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared in 1983 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It receives almost a million visitors a year.

Quito: Ecuador

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World’s Highest Legal Capital City & 2nd Highest Administrative Capital City

Still, in South America, a ‘city in the sky’ with an elevation of 9,186 feet or 2,800 meters is Quito – the second-highest administrative capital city in the world and the highest legal capital.

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Quito’s complete name is San Francisco de Quito and is the capital of Ecuador. This captivating ‘city in the sky’ is home to more than 1.5 million people. Quito was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American nations in 2008.

Sucre: Bolivia

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2nd Highest Legal Capital City in the World

Another lovely ‘city in the sky’ in Bolivia is the City of Sucre. It is the constitutional capital of the country with a population of more than 250,000. Sucre lies at an altitude of 9,000 feet or 2,750 meters. The city was founded in 1538 and its original name was Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo.

Bogota: Colombia

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3rd Highest Capital City in the World

The official name of Bogotá is Bogotá, D.C. (D.C. for Distrito Capital). It is the capital city of Colombia with a population of 6,776,009 inhabitants (2005). Colombia has an altitude of 2,640 meters making it the third-highest capital city in the world, after La Paz and Quito.

Cochabamba: Bolivia

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One of the Highest Cities in the World

Another ‘city in the sky’ located in Bolivia is Cochabamba. It is a city in central Bolivia known as the “City of Eternal Spring” and “The Garden City” because of to its spring-like temperatures year round.

Wenzhuan: China

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World’s Highest City by Guinness Book of World Records

The highest city which is recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records is Wenzhuan, a city in China which was founded n 1955. This city in the sky is situated on the Qinghai-Tibet road north of the Tangla Mountain Range. Wenzhuan City has the highest elevation of any city in the world. It has an elevation of 16,730 feet or equivalent to 5,019 meters above sea level.

La Rinconada: Peru

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Highest City in the World

Unofficially, some authorities recognized La Rinconada in Peru as the highest city in the world. This city which is located near a gold mine lies at a height of 16,732.28 feet or 5,100 meters above sea level. It is higher by more than 2 meters than the city of Wenzhuan.

Highest cities/towns/villages by continent/country

Cabramurra: Australia

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Highest Town in Australia

Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia, has an elevation of 1,488 meters. The town was founded in 1954 and was moved in 1974 to some 500m and 20m vertically to a more sheltered position from its current site.

La Orotava, Tenerife: Spain

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Highest town in Spain

The beautiful town of La Orotava contains the highest summit of Spain with an elevation of 3,718 meters above sea level making it the highest municipality in the country. The town is located on the north coast of Tenerife, within the Orotava Valley.

Asmara, Ethiopia

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2nd Highest Capital City in Africa

Addis Ababa is the highest capital city in Africa, Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, comes in 2nd at an elevation of 7,874 feet or 2,400 meters above sea level.

St Louise, Alberta: Canada

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Highest Settlement in Canada

The captivating and lovely Lake Louise, a hamlet or rural settlement located in Alberta, is the highest settlement in Canada. Lake Louise is home to 1,041 people living in 273 dwellings.

Banff, Alberta: Canada

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Highest Town in Canada

Banff, at an altitude of 4,800 ft or 1,463 meters (4,800 ft), is the town with the highest elevation in Canada. The town is located east of Lake Louise. Known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs, Banff is one of Canada’s popular tourist destinations.

Baguio City: Philippines

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Highest City in the Philippines

A ‘city in the sky’ located in the Philippines is the City of Baguio, a highly urbanized city which was established by the Americans in 1900. The city is the “summer capital of the Philippines”. With an altitude of 5,100 feet or 1,500 meters, it is the highest city in the country.

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For more details about Baguio City CLICK HERE 

Juf: Switzerland

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Highest Village in Europe

The highest village in Europe is located in Switzerland – a village named Juf. It lies 2,126 meters above sea level making it the highest village with permanent residents in Switzerland and in Europe. The village has a population of about 24 inhabitants divided over 6 families.

Krusevo: Macedonia

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Highest Town in Balkan Peninsula

At an elevation of 1,250 meters or 4,000 feet above sea level, Krusevo or Krushevo, is the highest town in Macedonia and in the Balkan Peninsula.

Winter Park, Colorado: USA

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Highest Incorporated Town in the US

Winter Park with a population of 662 is home to the Winter Park resort, a well-known ski resort. At an altitude of more than 9,000 feet, Winter Park is the highest incorporated town in the US.

Leadville, Colorado: USA

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Highest Incorporated City in the US

At an elevation of 3,094 meters or 10,152 feet, Leadville in Colorado is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States. The place is home to about 3,000 people.

See also

Baguio City: A City in the Sky

World’s Best City Tourist Destinations