97% of People Can't Identify These Cities from a Black and White Photo! Can You?

By: Jaclyn Lavine

Ah, Venice, there is no other city like it in the world! Venice, Italy, is a city built on water. The Grand Canal is studded with the beauty of Venetian architecture, and the streets are adorned with breathtaking art.

From Big Ben to the Tower of London, London is a city of historically significant and stunning buildings, Amongst the grand historical buildings sits new architecture, such as the London Eye and the Tate Modern, that has changed the famous city skyline.​ Although the view has changed slightly over the years, the scene is just as memorable as ever.

The Seattle city skyline is best known for the Space Needle and the view of the water. The Space Needle was created for the 1962 World's Fair. An image of Seattle wouldn't be complete without it!

A rapidly growing country with a modern city on the water, Shanghai is filled with skyscrapers. On first glance, its image portrays a city of the future, but the city offers more than sky-high towers. Art Deco buildings, cathedrals, synagogues, and Buddhist temples, dot the city as a reminder of its past.

Santorini is the ultimate romantic island getaway. Cliffs spotted with white Clycladic houses make this city instantly recognizable.

One of the most well-known city skylines in the world, New York City is a concrete jungle island. However, its skyline was forever changed on Sept. 11, 2001, when two of its most iconic buildings fell to the ground after being hit by airplanes. Post 9/11, the skyline is just as memorable as before but also evokes a sense of sadness and loss.

A futuristic city that is fast expanding, Dubai is a wondrous sight to behold. It's a city of creative and awe-inspiring buildings, such as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building

Delicious farm-to-table food, walkable neighborhoods, fantastic art, and gorgeous nature views, Vancouver is a feast for the eyes. Vancouver is best known for its snow-covered mountains and for being a winter sports lover's prime destination.

The Hong Kong city skyline is one of the most impressive skylines in the world. The place to see the compact skyscrapers and neon lights is across the water in Kowloon.

The concrete jungle of the past is giving way to multipurpose skyscrapers that serve as living ecosystems for plants and animals, while also serving the city's human inhabitants. The city is spending millions into making their 'City in a Garden' dream into a reality.

The most iconic image of San Francisco has got to be a picture of the Golden Gate bridge captured just at sunset or sundown. But its skyline is just as recognizable. This city is full of landmarks, such as Fishermans Wharf and Alcatraz.

A city full of history, the Greeks, Romans, and Venetians all took a stint ruling this city until the Ottomans came in and made it their home. Thanks to its position on the Silk Road, the city has a history of diversity that continues to this day.

No other city in the world looks similar. Paris is the city of love, monuments, and museums. The Eiffel Tower stands out in almost every image taken of this beautiful city as well as the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.

This city is lined with skyscrapers and at street level, traffic jams and taxi cabs. The surrounding area is home to rainforests, monkeys, and beautiful beaches.

The 'City of Brotherly Love,' or as the locals say, 'Philly' is a city rich in American history, art, and culture. Philadelphia was once the country's capital as is home to the Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross House.

Beijing is a foodie's paradise! The sheer number of places to eat is startling. The view is a mix of modern and historical sites.

The mountains, the beaches, and rain forests, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is absolutely stunning. Rio is called Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) for a reason!

Sydney is know for its iconic skyline. The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House are instantly recognizable.

Miami is an art-deco wonderland! This city offers beaches and a phenomenal nightlife scene. Miami is an excellent destination for a well-needed beach vacation.

What makes Tokyo's city-scape so recognizable is its neon-lit buildings and sci-fi vibe. Tokyo is also one of fashion's most important and trendsetting cities!

The city's ancient past nestles right up against modern buildings and beeping cars. The Pyramids of Giza stand proud in almost every image of what the Egyptians call Umm Ad Dunya, the Mother of the World.

St. Louis is home to the iconic Gateway Arch that stretches across the city. The arch is a part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and stands 630 feet high!

Pittsburgh is a mix of art-deco, stone, and steel. It is the the urban center of Western Pennsylvania. Over the years, Pittsburgh has become just as much a worthwhile destination as Philadelphia.

Bangkok is known for its affordable and delicious Thai food. You can spend hours exploring this city, and you may even want to get purposefully lost. You may find a hidden temple or have a life-changing conversation with a monk when winding your way through city streets.

Home to Hollywood and many famous faces, Los Angeles, USA, is the city of sun and angels! L.A. has it all, from mountains and hiking trails to 5-star meals and serious shopping.

Mountains, temples, and skyscrapers all abound in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul has worked hard over the years to transform its urban cityskape to something that is more green. Perhaps the coolest thing about this city is that it runs 24 hours a day!

Buenos Aires is a meat lovers paradise. Steaks and ice cream are two of the most prized food groups. The nightlife here is off the charts. Take a nap or drink some coffee because you're going to be up past 2 a.m.!

The Windy City is filled with wonders! Chicago has some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, including the Willis Tower and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Besides its recognizable skyline, the city is chock full of fantastic art museums and excellent restaurants.

Whether in black-and-white or full color, no other city looks anything like Moscow. The Kremlin, Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral, all of these historically significant buildings make this city shine.

What makes most of the cities on this quiz instantly recognizable is, of course, the architecture. With its mix of skyscrapers, cathedrals, and Buddhist temples, Shanghai is no different. The food is also worth noting as well as the shopping!

Jakarta is the world's largest megalopolises, where two cities have sprawled out so much, they end up meeting and becoming an even larger metropolis. Jakarta may not be the No. 1 tourist destination in Indonesia, but everyone who visits says that it should be.

Frankfurt Is the financial capital of Continental Europe. Set on the River Main, the skyline is full of towering financial buildings. Below the skyscrapers, however, there are still many historical buildings, such as the Römerberg and the Old Town Hall.

Shenzhen is one of China's wealthiest cities. The city has numerous skyscrapers, including the Kingkey 100 which is 100 stories high!

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's capital. Amongst the skyscrapers sit the Petronas Twin towers, each 88 floors high, stand out as the tallest twin buildings in the world.

Busan is South Korea's second-largest city. Known for its seafood and mountain ranges, Busan is also home to the Lotte Town Tower which has 108 floors.

The skyline of Taipei, Taiwan, is most recognizable for the Taipei 101 which was once the world's tallest building. Tapei is a unique blend of both Chinese and Japenese cultures as well as influences from Southeast Asia and America.

What stand's out in any image of Cape Town, South Africa, is the Table Mountain National Park. These flat-topped mountains guard a city boasting many natural landscapes that are home to its multicultural inhabitants.

Toronto means "meeting place" in the Huron language, and the city has been just that to people from all over the world. Around 140 different languages are spoken in this city!

Amsterdam is known for its historic canals, art museums, and delicious cheese! Amsterdam is all about "gezellig," which means feeling cozy. Any image of this city is almost always "gezellig!"

Studded with magnificently painted domes and palaces, Russia's imperial capital, St. Petersburg, is breathtaking. The city is home to many works of art, such as the gallery at the Winter Palace which is home to paintings from artists such as da Vinci and Rembrandt.

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Image: Alexander Spatari/ Moment/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

What make's a city beautiful depends on your definition of the word. For some, it may be ultra-modern skyscrapers, soaring to new heights. For others, it may be a city's natural beauty, the mountains, and oceans.  Or perhaps what make's a city beautiful is its historical buildings, such as churches and town halls. 

Some cities have got it all -- the futuristic skyline surrounded by mountain ranges or rivers, speckled with cathedrals and historical landmarks. But regardless of how one might define the term, the images of the 40 cities in this quiz are remarkable. These cities are recognizable for a multitude of reasons, for their natural beauty, sustainability, feats of engineering, architectural wonders, you name it! 

Whatever it is that makes these cities so awe-inspiring, a true adventurist or traveler would be able to identify them based on one image, even if that image was in black and white!  Each image in this quiz is in black and white, eliminating the color that makes some of these cities so recognizable. 

Do you think you can identify these cities from a black and white photo? Take out your world traveling photo album and prove it!  Challenge yourself and your friends with this quiz! 

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