Despite almost two decades of research, authors have disagreed about the concept of smart cities. In this article, we provide a systematic review and a meta-synthesis analysis of smart cities. We find a convergence in the literature on the following primary characteristics of smart cities: (a) advanced ICT Technology, (b) sustainability, (c) innovative and high-skilled society, (d) high-tech governance and citizen participation, and (e) knowledge-based economy. Based on these findings, we suggest a new notion: A smart city engenders an innovative and qualified society, oriented towards the development of the knowledge economy, which makes advanced ICT technologies aimed at promoting sustainability and participatory urban governance. Our study robustly offers an understanding of smart cities and presents a creative perception encompassing these five principal characteristics worthy of further investigation.