17 Best Music Cities that You Will Love!

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Are you looking for the best music cities? Well, stop looking, you’ve found them! In this post, you’ll find a list of the best music cities in Europe, the best music cities in the US, and the best music cities in the world. The music cities in this list are perfect to add to a world music cities tour or simply to your itinerary when visiting one of these countries. 

But how did we come up with this list, you ask? From the number of venues per capita and the popularity of buskers (artists singing on the street) to whether a city has a strong music heritage, there are lots of ways to draft a list of the best music cities in the world. To us, a music city is a city that breathes music, has a strong music heritage or played a big role in the music industry. Of course, a music city should also have buskers, live music venues or a musical specificity. We have also included cities who have been marked by internationally recognised artists like Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong! UNESCO, the United Nation’s education, science and culture body also offers a unique “Cities of Music” accreditation to certain cities in the world and we have included some of them in this post. In these cities music is of the essence!

Why are music cities in the world good destinations for couples on a budget?

Music is universal and a great way to bring people together. That’s not different for couples! Music brings you together, whether that be through a love song or through a fun song to dance to. This post gathers some of the top music cities which offer music festivals or music on the street so you and your partner can dance all night long or just enjoy discovering new destinations in a unique atmosphere.

Most of the music cities in this post feature artists and bands who play on the street. Listening to artists on the street is a great way to immerse yourself at a new destination and learning about the culture without spending a dime! 

Best music cities in Europe

In this section, you’ll find the best Europe music cities. From Ireland to Spain, Europe has some of the best cities for live music and some of these do busking like no other! 

1. Dublin, Ireland, one of the famous music cities in Europe

After having lived in Dublin for a few years now, we can definitely confirm that Dublin is one of the best live music cities in Europe! There are lots of things to do for couples on Dublin but if you’re out of idea, taking a walk in the city centre and listening to buskers is always an option. The main spots to see buskers are Grafton Street, Henry Street, and O’Connell Street. One famous busker is Allie Sherlock. She was discovered on the streets of Dublin and gathers, sometimes hundreds of people on Grafton Street! She is signed with Ryan Tedder (One Republic) and has appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show as well. 

But Dublin isn’t just about buskers. One travel advice I’d give you is to check out the pubs of Dublin! Pubs are a huge part of the culture and feature live performers as well. From Zombie (The Cranberries) to Wonderwall (Oasis), you’ll hear all the classics here! Some of the best pubs for live music are The Quays and Temple Bar. People go crazy here and will be singing at the top of their lungs all night long! Dublin is definitely a musician city and you’ll love it if you simply love music!

2. Galway, Ireland: one of the best Europe music cities

If Ed Sheeran is singing about, then it must be worth a visit right? Galway is the second best cities for music in Ireland, right after Dublin. As soon as you step foot in the city, you’ll hear buskers singing before you can even see it. The main musical streets in Galway are Shop Street and Quay Lane. There you’ll find buskers, and pubs and restaurants with live music such as famous Til Choili pub! But just like some of the best musical cities, it’s not just about the buskers or the live music in the pubs. Galway is a great music city for its vibe and atmosphere!

3. London, England (UK): one of the most influential music cities

London is probably one of the main music cities in the world considering it is often called the “birthplace of many music scenes”. When thinking of London, we ,of course, think of the main landmarks like Big Ben but also of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and the Clash, which are bands that marked an entire generation and continue to do so! “You can’t always get what you want” or “Hey Jude” are tunes that will just get any crowd going! From pubs to clubs, London has lots of music venues with different genres. They include Ronnie Scott’s for jazz and the Old Blue Last for punk music. 

Busking is also big in London! You’ll find buskers all over the city but especially in Covent Garden Uxbridge and Camden. Of course, pubs in the UK are quite something so go in and start singing all the famous tunes played by live bands at the top of your lungs! Spending some time at a pub listening to live music is definitely something to add to your London itinerary! Don’t forget to use our captions about Big Ben, the Thames and more London landmarks on your photos!

4. Cities in France on the 21st of June

France isn’t really a place known for featuring buskers or live music. Actually, it’s quite difficult for bars in France to host live performers as that requires a special licence! But that all changes one day a year. On the 21st of June, each year, France celebrates the “Fête de la musique” which is a national Music Festival. This is a festival that France is known for. This is the one day of the year that singers, musicians and bans can sing on the streets of cities and villages in France. Artists set up in different parts of the cities, sometimes near some of the best landmarks and start playing music in the city throughout the night. This is one of the best music cities events in the country! Some of the best cities for musicians include Metz, one of UNESCO’s music cities, Paris and Lyon. A French city on the 21st of June is a best city for musicians!

5. Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza might not be the best place for music if you are looking for a strong authentic music heritage and history but it is definitely one of the best cities for live music one the beach to party all night long! Ibiza is internationally known for the large beach parties, beach bars and open-air clubs it offers. Some of the most famous DJs in the world, like David Guetta, come to the island during the summer to make people dance on dance and electro music! 

Ibiza is also described as an experimentation platform and a greta place to network with other professionals in the industry to either launch a career or set up the most electrifying nights on the island! 

Although Ibiza is now for electro music, it has recently opened up to more Latin and Reggaeton music.

Best music cities in the US

If you are looking for “music city USA” or want to go on an America’s music cities tour, this part is for you! In this section, you’ll find out about the best music cities in the USA. Some of the best music in America was created in one of the following cities who launched some of the biggest artists in the world. 

6. New York City: one of the best music cities in USA

New York is a top destination in the world with lots of attractions including Central Park, the Empire State Building and Times Square among others. However, we often forget that the Big Apple is also one of the top music cities in the US where genres of music started. “The concrete jungle where dreams are made off”, as Alicia Keys would call it in her song “Empire State of Mind”, is where disco, punk and hip-hop music originated. Although it might be difficult to pin point exactly where a genre of music originated, Hip-Hop is said to have been created in the Bronx and Harlem in the early 1980s by DJ Kool Herc. 

Although New York is not the best places for buskers, it is still one of the best music cities in the US for all the live music venues it offers. From Broadway and the Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden and the Radio City Music Hall, you can probably find music at any time of the day! We should also not forget to mention the Apollo Theatre where famous artists like Aretha Franklin or the Jackson 5 performed! All together, there are lots of things to do in New York that make it one of the best music cities in the world.

7. Memphis, the birthplace of Rock and Roll music in USA

As the home to Elvis Presley, Memphis should be on any list of the best music cities in US. It is also where Johnny Cash started his career after his military service. As the temple of Rock and Roll and one of the rock cities, Memphis is a must-stop when visiting Tennessee. From the live performances in bars and clubs on Beale Street to visiting the Sun Studio, you can’t really go wrong here. One of the most memorable visits I have from Memphis is, of course, Graceland, Elvis Presley’s estate. From the mansion to the planes to the history of the place, it’s a greta visit for any music enthusiast!

8. Nashville: one of the best country music cities

Let me tell you, as one of the music cities in the South, Nashville has got to be the music capital of America. If you can’t agree to this, then we’ll have to agree that it is at least one of the best music cities in America. As the scene that launched internationally acclaimed artists such as Taylor Swift and Elvis Presley, Nashville is actually known as “Music City”. As one of the top country music cities in USA, Nashville offers music everywhere. There are buskers and performers on the streets and live music in each and every bar, day and night, turning the city into mini-concerts. Broadway Street is where you’ll want to be at night. But music in Nashville isn’t just about being a live music capital. 

Nashville is the temple of country music and the city has a strong music heritage that undeniably gives it all of its charm and passion. From the Country Music Hall of Fame museum where you’ll learn about past and present country music to visiting the Ryman Auditorium, country music’s sacred temple, any fan of country music would love Nashville. The Bluebird Café, which features some of the best singer songwriters is, of course, another unmissable stop but be aware that you’ll probably need to wait a couple hours in the sun (speaking from experience here!). Finally, you’ll probably want to experience a night at the Grand Ole Opry, country’s most famous stage or even take a backstage tour to learn about all its secrets! 

9. Asheville, North Carolina

Its name is quite close to Nashville, but this is just Asheville we are talking about. This is a city music has developed in, in a less commercial way than Nashville. While in Asheville, you’ll want to get a taste of the music scene by checking out some of its numerous live venues such as the Auditorium and the Grey Eagle. Asheville music scene can be described as having bluegrass and old folk music roots. It also offers free summer festivals and welcomes hundreds of participants at its Friday night’s drum circle jams! Luke Combs, a famous country singer actually grew up in the city. And finally, Asheville is also filled with buskers who keep the music in the air, day and night!

Less known than other cities in this list, Asheville is starting to be recognised as one of the best American music cities! 

10. Chicago, Illinois: one of the best musical cities for jazz

You might only known Chicago for its famous deep dish pizza but guess what’s better than deep dish pizza? Eating deep dish pizza with music of course! Although you shouldn’t expect to see a lot of buskers in Chicago, the Windy City is still one of the best US music cities for its history and the festivals it offers.  

From the Chicago Blues Festival and listening to jazz and blues music at the Green Mill, there is no doubt that Chicago still has its place in the blues and jazz scene. However, Chicago is also home to other genres such as rock and hip-hop and launched famous bands such as Fall Out Boy and The Smashing Pumpkins. Of course, Chicago wouldn’t be in the top music cities in America without the internationally known Lollapalooza festival which attracts people from all over the world! 

Are you planning a trip to the windy city? Check out this Chicago guide to make sure you have the best time on your trip!

11. Seattle, between grunge and folk

It would be unsurprising to count Seattle in the top 10 music cities in the US. 

When I think of Seattle, I often think of pop folk music artists like Brandi Carlile which suits the West Coast aesthetic for sure. And it’s true, Seattle has been growing in that way. However, we often forget that Seattle was first the home of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, iconic bands of the 1990s grunge scene! The Jimi Hendrix Park has been opened since 2017 and honours the artist through memorials and sculptures. Newer artists such as Macklemore and Death Cab for Cuties (featured on One Tree Hill) also call Seattle home. 

While in Seattle, take a music city tour and check out Viretta Park, the unofficial memorial for Kurt Cobain. Another reason why Seattle is called one of the best music cities in USA is because of  London Bridge Studio, where a number of famous albums were recorded and launched artists like Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog! 

If you are looking for more music venues, Seattle often showcases bands in bars and clubs in Beltown and Capitol Hill. 

12. New Orleans, one of the top music cities in US

New Orleans is probably one of the most influential music cities and is considered the birthplace of jazz in the early 20th century. As the home to famous musician Louis Armstrong, New Orleans is a haven for live and upbeat music with musician everywhere especially in the French Quarter and around the St Louis Cathedral. 

Of course, the nights in New Orleans are also quite the show. Bourbon Street is where you’ll find all the night performances in all the bars and restaurants.

But New Orleans, just like Nashville, is more than street live music and fun concerts in pubs. New Orleans is a vibe and inspires musicians all over the world. New Orleans gathers passionate people who are ready to jam together and want to connect on a musical level. Beyond the people, it is the city, the architecture, the history and the environment like the Bayou, that inspires songwriters and musicians. French singer and musician Christophe Maé is one of those artists who got inspired by the parades, the marching bands and the Bayou to write some of his most beautiful songs!

13. Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World

Austin, Texas definitely makes the top 10 music cities in the US list! With over 250 music venues in the city, it is one of the cities in the USA with the most music venues. They are open everyday of the week which gives you the option to listen to pretty much any style of music at any time or day of the week. The genres of music you can expect range from blues and country to rock and more!

Street music is also huge in Austin with live music playing in bars and restaurants all around the city. There you’ll be able to practice your country line dancing skills! But what Austin is most known for is the huge outdoor festivals it organises. From South by South West in March , and Fun Fun Fun Fest to famous Austin City Limits in October, Austin definitely earned its nickname of “Live Music Capital of the World”!

Great music cities of the world

Although you’ll find some of the best music cities in Europe and in the USA, we can’t forget about the rest of the world including Cuba, Australia and Asia! In this section, you’ll find some of the greatest music cities in the world.

14. Havana, Cuba

Are you looking for a laid back, hot and upbeat music city in the world? Havana might be just what you are looking for. With influences from Africa and Spain, Havana’s musical vibe is all over the cobbled streets and city squares. Whether you are wanting to listen to some rumba or just want to listen to jazz, hip-hop or even Latin rap, Havana has lots to offer there. Some of the recommended venues for a taste of the Latin American spirit are El Gato Tuerto and La Case de la Música. 

15. Melbourne, Australia: one of the best cities for musicians

Although the city of Adelaide is recognised as a music city by UNESCO, it is Melbourne that is considered as the “live music capital of Australia”. First, Melbourne is the home of internationally recognised artists such as Kylie Minogue, Gotye and Crowded House. Second, it offers a great live music scene throughout the city. For instance, the Old Bar is an intimate and small venue that  has music acts every night of the week. 

But Melbourne is also big on busking with artists, singers and musicians entertaining the streets, filled with locals and tourists! Some of the main spots where you can listen to them include Bourke Street Mall and by the Vodaphone store, St Kilda Road, and kind of everywhere else! Melbourne streets are known for being filled with artists and musicians so you’ll just have to wander and find what suits your boat! Melbourne is probably one of the biggest music cities in the world!

16. Seoul, South Korea

When thinking about South Korea and its music scene, K-pop probably comes to mind as this is where it all started. K-pop has become a 5 billion dollar industry and is huge all over the world. More than just the music, K-pop has become its own world with clothes, trends and idols.

But South Korea is more than K-pop! The country actually as at least two music cities recognised by UNESCO. Tongyeong, located in the south of the country, is known for its international music festival. Daegu is another one also located in the south of the country. From opera to international music events featuring traditional Korean music and contemporary music, Deagu has lots to offer when it comes to music. The city also hosts, among other festivals, the Daegu International Opera Festival which is one of the largest in Asia. 

Recently, busking in the streets of Seoul has also become more popular, so much so that it is attracting more and more professional bands and artists, leaving authentic buskers with a bit of a bitter taste in their mouth. The streets of Hongdae are one of the hot spots for busking during the day and at night!

17. Tokyo, Japan: one of the best music cities in Asia

When thinking about the best music cities in the World, we often think about cities like Nashville, but rarely about Japan. At least I didn’t use to. However, Tokyo’s music scene is quite lively and makes it one of the top music cities in the world! Tokyo has a wide range of venues throughout the city. Some of the hottest neighbourhoods include Koenji, Yoyogi and Shimokitazawa where you can listen to an array of genres from rock and punk music to jazz and hip hop. Some of the main parks and arenas where you can catch live concerts include Budokan Hall and Tokyo Dome. 

Tokyo also features street performers called buskers. Uneo station and Uneo Park are two spots where you can listen to them for free! They do appreciate every bit of support though!

In Chiba, you will also find the Summer Sonic festival which usually features international artists and attracts fans from the whole world. In Tokyo Bay, you will find another festival called “Ultra Japan” which features electro and dance music. DJ Tiesto, Afrojack and French DJ David Guetta are among those who have performed at the festival which attracted about 400 000 fans every year! 

We also can’t forget to mention that Tokyo is a big scene for Karaoke. So if you would like to take part into the music rather than just listening to it, Tokyo is a great place to showcase your vocal chords! Usually, you’ll need to rent a Karaoke room for you and your family or friends. One of the most popular Karaoke place in Tokyo is Karaoke Kan Shibuya, where the movie “Lost in Translation” was filmed. 

Any questions on the best music cities in the world? Then drop them in the comments or on insta and I will get back to you asap.