Goryachiy Klyuch, Russia

Capital City

This town of 42,634 people is not the tranquil spa retreat its reputation suggests. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city's status as an "administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts" adding layers of red tape. And while the subtropical climate offers warm summers, the chilly winters - with average January temps of just 1.8°C - are a rude awakening. Overall, Goryachiy Klyuch seems better suited to hardy locals than foreign transplants seeking an easy life in the sun.