The World's Most Remote Major Cities
Honolulu is one of the most isolated major cities on Earth, about 3,854 km from the nearest large city.
What Makes a City So Remote?
A few sizeable cities sit strikingly far from any neighbour of similar scale, separated by ocean, desert or mountains. Isolation shaped their character: self-reliant economies, distinctive cultures, and a strong sense of identity. It also makes travel and trade expensive, and gives these places an outsized role in their region.
This ranking measures the straight-line distance from each major city to the nearest other large city. The most isolated on the list is Honolulu, about 3,854 km from its nearest large neighbour.
Frequently Asked Questions: The World's Most Remote Major Cities
What is the most remote major city?
On this list Honolulu is the most isolated, roughly 3,854 km from the nearest other large city.
How is remoteness measured here?
As the great-circle distance from each large city to the nearest other large city, so it reflects true geographic isolation rather than travel time.
Why does remoteness matter?
It affects the cost of travel and goods, shapes a distinctive local culture, and often makes a remote city the dominant hub for a huge surrounding area.