City Zen

  Choosing the right neighborhood in a new city can be overwhelming, especially if you’re moving to Vancouver for the first time or planning a temporary stay as a tourist. To make things easier, let’s take a closer look at the most popular neighborhoods in Vancouver – the good, the bad, and everything in between. Downtown Vancouver Downtown is the heart of the city, full of skyscrapers, shopping, nightlife, and restaurants. It’s ideal if you want to be close to the action, but it also comes with high rents and noise. For tourists, it’s convenient, but long-term residents often find it expensive and crowded. Yaletown Once an industrial district, Yaletown has transformed into a trendy area with upscale condos, stylish boutiques, and waterfront parks. It’s safe, modern, and walkable, but also one of the priciest places to live in Vancouver. Great for professionals and short-term stays. West End The West End offers a mix of urban and relaxed lifestyles, located right next to Stan...

Prague. The city that looks like a fairy tale—until you actually try to live here. Cobblestones, castles, cheap beer… sounds perfect, right? But pick the wrong neighborhood, and suddenly, that romantic vibe feels like a concrete hangover. In this post, we rank Prague’s neighborhoods from the absolute worst to the very best for living, giving you a brutally honest guide to safety, lifestyle, and infrastructure. Tier 1: The Bottom of the Barrel Žižkov Cheap rent, endless bars, and a nightlife that starts fun and ends with you wondering how your wallet vanished. It’s gritty, loud, and packed with crumbling apartment blocks that haven’t seen fresh paint since the Cold War. Artists love it, sure—but so do pickpockets and questionable nightclubs. Smíchov Smíchov is chaos wrapped in tram tracks. The traffic will drive you insane, and Anděl station is basically the Hunger Games for your personal belongings. Yes, there are shopping malls and some new offices, but the overall vibe is “I ju...

Thinking about moving to Philadelphia? Or maybe just curious about where to rent, buy, or even crash for a weekend? Here’s the thing: Philly is a city of extremes. It’s the birthplace of American independence, a cultural hub, and one of the most historic cities in the U.S. But let’s be real—some neighborhoods will make you fall in love with the city, while others will make you Google “U-Haul rental” within an hour. So today, we’re ranking Philadelphia neighborhoods from the absolute worst to the most elite and desirable , divided into five tiers . Buckle up—this list is going to get brutally honest. Tier 5 – The “Don’t Even Think About It” Zones Let’s start at rock bottom. These neighborhoods are the ones that make even seasoned locals nervous. High crime rates, struggling infrastructure, and open-air drug markets. If you love excitement, sure… but for everyone else: hard pass. Kensington This is Philly’s most infamous neighborhood. We’re talking open drug scenes, homelessness,...

Liverpool is a city with a personality you won’t forget. It’s loud, vibrant, and packed with history—from The Beatles to football legends, from street art to stunning Georgian architecture. But living here isn’t just about the city’s charm; it’s about picking the right neighborhood. Some areas are rough around the edges, while others offer leafy streets, great schools, and high-end homes. We’ve broken down Liverpool into five tiers, from the least favorable areas to the most desirable, so you can see where you might want to live. Tier 1 – Less Favorable Neighborhoods Kirkdale Kirkdale is often at the top of Liverpool’s crime statistics. The area is dominated by social housing, with low average incomes and limited infrastructure. It’s a gritty, working-class district—full of character, but not the kind of place most would choose for comfort. Toxteth Historically a working-class area, Toxteth has been improving over the years but still faces challenges with safety and social issues...

 Lisbon — the city of seven hills, sunlit rooftops, and that irresistible Atlantic breeze. It’s easy to fall in love here: cobblestone streets, colorful tiles, fresh seafood, and sunsets over the river. No wonder thousands of expats, students, and digital nomads pack their bags and head straight to Portugal’s capital. But here’s the catch — not every Lisbon neighborhood is a pastel-painted paradise . Some streets are buzzing with culture and safety, while others… let’s just say you might not want to walk there at night. In this guide, I rank Lisbon’s neighborhoods from Tier 5 (the worst) to Tier 1 (the absolute best) . No sugarcoating, no tourist brochure talk — just the real deal. Tier 5 – The “Absolutely Not” Zones These are the areas you’ll want to avoid, especially if safety and comfort matter to you. Martim Moniz High crime rates, visible drug use, prostitution, and overcrowded housing. It’s central, but that’s the only advantage. Intendente Undergoing gentrification...

  Munich. The land of Weißbier, wealth, and wildly expensive rent. It’s one of Europe’s most livable cities — but also one of the hardest to navigate when it comes to finding the right neighborhood . While travel guides love to show you sunny beer gardens and fairytale castles, they rarely tell you which areas are noisy, overpriced, dead boring, or just plain weird. In this post, we’ll rank Munich’s neighborhoods in 5 tiers — from the least desirable to the most elite. No sugarcoating, no clichés — just a brutally honest take, based on real infrastructure, safety, lifestyle, cost, and local reputation. 🟥 Tier 5 – The Struggle is Real These are the areas where you move when your budget leaves you no other choice , or when you didn’t do enough research. Livable? Sure. But desirable? Not really. Hasenbergl Located in the far north, Hasenbergl is known for a high percentage of social housing and lower-income residents. Crime rates aren’t shocking by global standards, but by Munich st...

  Thinking of moving to Dresden? Or just curious what it’s really like to live in Germany’s baroque rebel city? You’re in the right place. In this guide, we break down Dresden’s neighborhoods tier-by-tier — brutally honest, visually rich, and packed with local insights. Whether you're a student, a family, an expat, or just exploring your options, we’ll help you figure out where you should (or shouldn’t) live in 2025. TIER 5: The "Nope" Zone Let’s start from the bottom. These are the areas you might want to avoid unless you have a very specific reason to live there. 🔹 Prohlis Once a major East German prefab zone, Prohlis has a rough reputation, outdated architecture, and limited charm. It’s cheap, yes, but feels isolated. That said, there are renovation efforts underway, so it might look different in a decade. 🔹 Gorbitz Similar vibe to Prohlis. A mix of massive apartment blocks and not much else. It does have tram connections, but nightlife, cafes, or cultural life? Not ...