Some cities defy geography. Built on mountain plateaus, Andean valleys, and Tibetan ridges, these are the places where humans have chosen to settle at elevations most people will never reach. Here are the world's highest altitude cities — ranked by elevation, with data in both feet and meters.
16,732 ft (5,100 m)
The highest permanently inhabited city on Earth. La Rinconada sits in the Peruvian Andes near a high-altitude gold mine, encased in glacier and perpetually frozen ground. Roughly 50,000 people call it home — making it not just the world's highest city, but one of its most remote and extraordinary human settlements. The city remains difficult to access due to its remote mountain location and extreme elevation, and air pressure is roughly half that of sea level, meaning each breath delivers substantially less oxygen to the body.
13,615 ft (4,150 m)
Perched on the altiplano directly above La Paz, El Alto is one of the fastest-growing cities in South America and home to over a million people. It's where El Alto International Airport sits — one of the highest commercial airports in the world at 13,325 ft (4,061 m). The city overlooks the dramatic canyon where La Paz descends, making for one of the most striking urban vistas anywhere on the continent.
13,420 ft (4,090 m)
Once one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world, Potosí was built on silver. At the height of the Spanish colonial era, its population rivaled London and Paris. The source of that wealth — Cerro Rico, or "Rich Hill" — still looms above the city and has been mined continuously for over 500 years. Potosí is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most historically significant high-altitude cities in existence.
12,795 ft (3,900 m)
Tibet's second-largest city and home to Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Shigatse sits on the Tibetan Plateau at nearly 13,000 feet, surrounded by a landscape so vast and austere it can feel like another planet. The city is a gateway for travelers heading to Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side.
11,995 ft (3,656 m)
The spiritual capital of Tibet and one of the most visited high-altitude cities in the world. Lhasa — whose name means "Place of the Gods" — is home to the Potala Palace, a 13-story fortress-palace that has defined the city's skyline since the 7th century. At nearly 12,000 feet, Lhasa sits on the Tibetan Plateau surrounded by mountains rising well above 20,000 feet.
11,942 ft (3,640 m)
Bolivia's seat of government and the highest administrative capital city in the world. La Paz cascades down a canyon in the altiplano in one of the most dramatic urban settings on Earth — the city descends into a canyon, with many wealthier neighborhoods located in the lower, warmer sections while El Alto occupies the higher plateau above. The city is famous for its cable car network (Mi Teleférico), which connects La Paz to El Alto above and has become one of the most extensive urban gondola systems in the world.
11,152 ft (3,399 m)
The former capital of the Inca Empire and the most visited high-altitude city in the Americas. Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, and its historic center — a blend of Incan stonework and Spanish colonial architecture — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city sits in a valley in the Andes at over 11,000 feet, surrounded by Incan ruins on nearly every surrounding hillside.
9,350 ft (2,850 m)
The world's second-highest official capital city, Quito is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Latin America and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes Quito unusual is its location: it sits almost exactly on the equator, yet its elevation keeps temperatures mild and spring-like year-round. The city is framed by active volcanoes, including Pichincha, which erupted as recently as 1999.
8,661 ft (2,640 m)
One of South America's largest cities and one of the continent's major cultural and economic capitals. Bogotá sits on a high savanna in the Eastern Andes at nearly 9,000 feet — a fact that surprises many of the millions of international travelers who pass through its airport annually. The city has undergone a dramatic urban transformation over the past two decades and is now considered one of the most innovative cities in Latin America.
7,726 ft (2,355 m)
Africa's highest major capital city, Addis Ababa sits in the Ethiopian Highlands and serves as the headquarters of the African Union. Founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II, it's a city of striking contrasts: ancient markets alongside modern infrastructure, Orthodox churches beside glass towers. At nearly 7,800 feet, it's higher than most American mountain resort towns.
7,349 ft (2,240 m)
One of the most populous cities in the world, Mexico City sits in the Valley of Mexico at over 7,000 feet — built atop the ruins of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital. The city was originally constructed on a lake island, and centuries of draining that lake have left parts of the city slowly sinking. Its elevation gives Mexico City a temperate climate despite its tropical latitude.
5,280 ft (1,609 m)
The most famous high-altitude city in North America, Denver earned its "Mile High City" nickname from being almost exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. A marker on the State Capitol steps commemorates Denver's mile-high elevation. Denver serves as the primary gateway to the Colorado Rockies and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
| Rank | City | Country | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Rinconada | Peru | 16,732 | 5,100 |
| 2 | El Alto | Bolivia | 13,615 | 4,150 |
| 3 | Potosí | Bolivia | 13,420 | 4,090 |
| 4 | Shigatse | Tibet/China | 12,795 | 3,900 |
| 5 | Lhasa | Tibet/China | 11,995 | 3,656 |
| 6 | La Paz | Bolivia | 11,942 | 3,640 |
| 7 | Cusco | Peru | 11,152 | 3,399 |
| 8 | Quito | Ecuador | 9,350 | 2,850 |
| 9 | Bogotá | Colombia | 8,661 | 2,640 |
| 10 | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | 7,726 | 2,355 |
| 11 | Mexico City | Mexico | 7,349 | 2,240 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | USA | 5,280 | 1,609 |
Want to compare the elevation of these cities to where you live? Use our free altitude comparison tool to see side-by-side elevation charts for any cities in the world.