Did you know that York was once the capital of Roman Britain, or that Roskilde used to be the capital of Denmark? Capital cities play an important role in signalling a country's political, cultural and economic power. They're chosen for many reasons, from geographical location to political motivations – and today, some of the world's former capitals are well worth a visit. Read on to find out more about their fascinating histories and modern attractions.

Known as Japan’s cultural capital, Kyoto is bursting at the seams with Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, ornate gardens and traditional tea houses, so walking around the city is as educational as it is fascinating. It's located about 300 miles (around 480km) southwest of Tokyo, and it was the capital city of Japan until 1868, when a political revolution led by Emperor Meiji moved the capital to present-day Tokyo.

Get lost in Kyoto's narrow stone streets and discover its cultural treasures: there are some 2,000 temples and shrines in Kyoto, each of them unique. One of the most famous is the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of rice. Kyoto is also the home of kaiseki dining, a multi-course meal that shows the best produce the region has to offer – it’s an incredible experience.

40 unmissable things to see and do in Japan

Rio was founded by the Portuguese in 1565 and remained the capital of Brazil until 1960, when it was moved on orders from the then president, Juscelino Kubitschek. Moving the capital to Brasilia was intended as a way to show the world that Brazil was a modern and prosperous country – one that was on the up.

Rio is a spectacularly beautiful city given its location on an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance to the bay is marked by a conical granite peak called Sugar Loaf, and you can take a cable car to its summit to drink in some astonishing views of Rio’s mountains, ridges and hills, partly covered by tropical forest. Beach culture is big here, too, and the city has two of the most famous strands in the world: Copacabana and Ipanema. 

Find out more about Rio de Janeiro with our guide

Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949–1990 (chosen after the Second World War, when Berlin was divided.) After the reunification of Berlin in 1990, it was reinstated as the capital after a close vote in parliament, though Bonn is still considered an unofficial capital. It's about 15 miles (24km) south of Cologne and 375 miles (600km) southwest of Berlin.

Bonn is the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, and as such has devoted itself to the promotion of the musical arts. The Beethovenhalle is the centre of music culture here and the city is also home to two of Germany’s most important art institutions: the Bonn Museum of Modern Art and the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany. You'll also see an abundance of Baroque architecture on a stroll around the medieval alleys of this cultural city. And, sweetest of all, Haribo was also founded in Bonn...

Thonburi, a suburb of Bangkok, is located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River and was the capital of Thailand from 1767–1782. In 1782, King Rama 1 moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River to its current location in Bangkok. Thonburi was merged with Bangkok in 1972.

You can get to Thonburi from Bangkok proper by ferry or sky train. The area is famous for its network of canals (which used to be used as a public transport network) and in-the-know visitors come by for the riverside hotels and to get an authentic slice of Bangkok life as it used to be. The area is also home to Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn – one of the most spectacular Buddhist temples in Thailand.

Roskilde is located around 19 miles (30km) to the west of Copenhagen and it was the capital city of Denmark from the early 11th century to the 15th century. As a result of the Protestant Revolution, its influence waned and the capital was moved to present-day Copenhagen by King Eric of Pomerania.

The Roskilde Music Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. Welcoming musicians of eclectic genres, it's been going since 1971 and takes place in the summer. The city is also home to the Viking Ship Museum and Ragnarock, a museum dedicated to pop, rock and youth culture. Beyond this, Roskilde Cathedral is considered one of Denmark’s most important architectural buildings and is home to the tombs of 39 Danish monarchs.

Turku is Finland’s oldest city and it was the capital of the country for three years, from 1809–1812, when Tsar Alexander I of Russia moved the capital to Helsinki. It suffered a catastrophic fire in 1827, which largely burnt it to the ground but, happily, it was built back up into one of Finland's largest cities.

The Aura River divides the city and a lot of restaurants and bars are located along its banks. In fact, Turku is the self-styled restaurant capital of Finland, and there are plenty of dining and night spots to choose from. When you’ve had your fill, the Turku archipelago consists of more than 2,000 islands and many of them are connected by the Archipelago Trail. This 150-mile (250km) network of trails, bridges and free ferries is perfect for a road trip or cycle tour.

Now check out the famous cities that aren't actually capitals

Quezon City was founded for the purpose of replacing Manila as the capital city. Located around an hour north of the original capital, which was suffering with overcrowding, it was established in 1939 and named after Manuel L Quezon, the second president of the Philippines. It became the official capital in 1948, until 1976, when the status was returned to Manila once more.

Quezon City offers a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of Manila. It's the home of the entertainment industry in the Philippines, with several popular TV shows shot here every year. It's also famous for its street-food scene, especially the Teacher’s Village on Maginhawa Street. The Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Centre is located right in the heart of the city, too.

Lagos was Nigeria’s capital city from 1914–1991. Abuja, the new capital, was chosen as it was seen as a more neutral place for Nigeria’s many religious and ethnic groups. It was also more central than Lagos, which is situated on the Gulf of Guinea.

Lagos is a megacity – the total metropolitan area has an estimated population of 23 million people. Visiting the Lekki Conservation Centre is one of the most relaxing things to do in the region. An oasis of peace, this nature preserve has the longest canopy walkway in Africa. Taking a keke (Nigeria’s version of a tuk-tuk) is also a great way to see the city. Because of its location on the Gulf of Guinea, Lagos is home to a slew of buzzy beaches: one of the most popular, with plenty of nightlife, is Elegushi Beach.

Yangon was Myanmar’s capital until 2006, when the military government moved the capital to Naypyidaw, citing congested traffic and over-population as their reasons. It's located in the south of Myanmar and is still the commercial hub of the country.

Yangon’s centre is called the Cantonment, and at its heart lies the glittering Sule Pagoda. The Shwedagon Pagoda, a mile north of Cantonment, is the more famous of the temples, and is distinctive as it's completely covered in gold. Explore via the Yangon Circular Train – the train trip takes about three hours, and you can hop on and off at the various stops and explore the different neighbourhoods and markets. Hledan Market is a stop that’s well worth making for its hundreds of food stalls. It's also near Yangon University, so it’s a popular student hangout.

There were a number of reasons why the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty (1929–1997) to Nur-Sultan, some 750 miles (around 1,200 km) to the north. There was little room for Almaty to expand and it was built in a tectonically active area, so is prone to earthquakes. However, it's still the most populous and cosmopolitan city in Kazakhstan.

Almaty is a verdant city, with trees and parks dotted all over. Located at the base of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range, it's famous for its ski slopes and spas, and the foothills also lay claim to being the ancestral home of the apple. The nearby Ile-Alatau National Park covers 494,210 acres of spectacular woodlands, alpine meadows, lakes and glaciers and is an awesome place to go hiking. Meanwhile, back in the city proper, the wooden Cathedral of the Holy Ascension in leafy Panfilov Park is definitely worth seeing, too. 

Located on the northern part of the North Island, Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city and served as its second capital (after Okiato), until 1865. The capital was eventually moved to Wellington, which was considered more suitable because of its central location.

50 reasons you must visit New Zealand in 2022

Auckland has a diverse landscape: to the west there are native forests, to the east there are golden-sand beaches, to the north is wine country and, if you go south, there are yet more unspoilt woodlands and bays. Auckland also has the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere – the Sky Tower soars to 1,076 feet (328m) and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and harbour. Auckland Domain is one of the largest parks in the city, again offering views of the harbour and Rangitoto Island.

Gyeongju is located in the southeast of South Korea. It was the capital city from 57 BC to AD 935 and in this roughly thousand-year period, three major kingdoms ruled what is now present-day South Korea. After the breakup of these dynasties, the capital was moved to where modern-day Seoul now lies.

Gyeongju is known as "the museum without walls" as it has more palaces, tombs and temples than anywhere else in South Korea. The city also has some of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. Seokguram Grotto is designated a National Treasure and is close to the Bulguksa Temple complex. In it are some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculptures in the world. Samneung Forest also contains the three Royal Tombs of Silla – large grassy mounds where kings of the past are buried. There are 35 of these mounds to see in central Gyeongju.

Uppsala – a beautiful university town around 40 miles (70km) north of the current capital, Stockholm – is known as the "Cambridge of Sweden". During the Svea kingdom, the city served as a proto capital because of its location and importance for river trade. It is still the ecclesiastical capital of Sweden, as the Archbishop of Sweden’s seat is here.

Uppsala is a compact city, dominated by Uppsala Cathedral, one of Scandinavia’s largest churches. The building was completed in 1435 and was restored in the 1880s in a Neo-Gothic style. The city is also home to the father of modern botany, Carl Linnaeus, whose house and garden are now a museum. The botanical gardens area also named after him. Just outside Uppsala lies Gamla (Old) Uppsala, where you can see 300 large burial mounds of kings past.

Coimbra is located halfway between Lisbon and Porto and was the capital of Portugal from 1131–1255. In 1255, King Alfonso III moved the capital from Coimbra to Lisbon to take advantage of the city’s strategic position on the coast.

Coimbra is a city that rises from the banks of the Mondego River and is home to the oldest university in Portugal. The university is housed in a former palace, with a stunning courtyard and a lavish Baroque library, and its students give the city a youthful feeling that juxtaposes with the medieval cobbled lanes and ancient city walls. Coimbra is packed with restaurants and bars, which really bring the city to life at night, too. 

Love this? Now check out our pick of the world's most beautiful cities

York is a cathedral city with Roman origins and plenty of Viking history. It was the capital of Britain under the Romans, who founded it and called it Eboracum in AD 71, and again under the Vikings who captured the city in AD 866 and named it Jorvik. London became the capital in the 11th century but, in 1298, Edward I moved the Chancery and the Exchequer to York to be used as a base to invade Scotland, effectively making York the capital again. These departments returned to London in 1304.

York has one of the most complete sets of medieval walls in the world. The walls provide an elevated walk around the entire city and they retain all their main gateways into and out of the city. It is a stunning way to see the city. The Minster is also one of the largest cathedrals in northern Europe. The National Railway Museum is also based in York.