The world's cities: then and now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Cities are constantly evolving. But as time goes by many manage to preserve their most iconic and historic monuments. Taking a look at the past is a great way to understand the present. So, here are some world's most famous cities the way they appeared in the past... and what they look like today. Click through the gallery and be amazed by how these famous cities have changed.

Tokyo - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

The station is still standing, but Tokyo is now one of the most developed cities in the world. A mix of high-tech and modern architecture makes this city one of the major metropolitan centers in the Far East.

Rio de Janeiro - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Rio de Janeiro is now a very popular choice for tourists and visitors to Brazil. It's the second-biggest metropolis in the country and home to the iconic Sugarloaf mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Sydney - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Today, the iconic Sydney Harbor is often featured in postcards and travel brochures. Sydney is also the most populated city in Australia, with over 5.2 million people.

Los Angeles - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Los Angeles, a global hub for the film and television industries, experienced one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history in January 2025. The blaze destroyed thousands of homes, forced mass evacuations, and left a lasting impact on the region’s communities and landscape.

Bangkok - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Between 1980 and 1990 the city grew economically and became the commercial, financial, and cultural hub of Thailand.

London - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Of course, the carts and carriages have been replaced by modern vehicles, including the iconic red double-decker buses. Westminster Palace is still one of the most popular locations among visitors to London.

Rome - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

The area still maintains the traditional aesthetic of Italian architecture.

Dubai - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Today, Dubai is famously wealthy and home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, including the record-breaking Burj Khalifa. Once a modest fishing village, it has transformed into a global hub for finance, tourism, and futuristic innovation.

Singapore - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

The difference is astonishing. Singapore has expanded and is now one of the most important urban hubs in Asia. The financial district is especially beautiful when illuminated at night.

San Francisco - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

Despite the devastating 1906 earthquake, the city has retained some its most iconic buildings. Today it's the fourth most populous city in the state of California.

Hong Kong - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

The difference is shocking. Hong Kong is one of China's special administrative regions and is known for its skyline brimming with skyscrapers. It's one of the main financial centers in the world.

Madrid - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

You can still admire the traditional architecture of the city, but Madrid is now the fourth-biggest city in the European Union and a hub of culture, fashion, and entertainment.

Barcelona - Now

Tokyo - Now, Rio de Janeiro - Now, Sydney - Now, Los Angeles - Now, Bangkok - Now, London - Now, Rome - Now, Dubai - Now, Singapore - Now, San Francisco - Now, Hong Kong - Now, Madrid - Now, Barcelona - Now

The capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia is one of Spain's most important tourist destinations. It's also incredibly important both culturally and commercially.

Post Related