How The World's Most Loved Cities Got Their Nicknames

The Big Smoke, the City of Love, the Big Apple. You all know which great cities these iconic nicknames refer to, but more importantly, do you know how they got them? No. Didn’t think so.

London. Paris. New York. An order synonymous with the fashion capitals of the world. The Big Smoke, the City of Love and the Big Apple don’t really command the same attention, but have you ever sat down for a minute and wondered ‘why do I call London the Big Smoke’ from time-to-time? Probably not, because you’ve got far more important things on your mind – like what’s going to happen when Jon Snow meets Daenerys in the next episode of Game of Thrones. We feel your pain.

For those who are curious, however, the team at Globehunters put together this little infographic to answer all your questions. From Rome to Venice and Geneva to Sydney, here’s the story behind the nicknames of 13 cities that really should earn a top spot on your bucket lists. Oh, and it’s great knowledge to have for your next pub quiz, too.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.