These are the best cities in the world, from Amalfi to Tokyo—as voted by Condé Nast Traveler readers.
Trends come and go, but at Condé Nast Traveler, one thing never changes: the insatiable appetite for seeing the world. This year readers cast an almighty 798,867 votes in the 39th Readers’ Choice Awards to tell about the planet’s best travel experiences: Many fell hard for palace hotels in Morocco, cruised down the Amazon, and got swept up in New York City’s exhilarating energy. Now, read on to find out where the favorites fall among the winners—and get inspired for where to go next, whether it’s to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the best cities in the world as voted by readers.
From historical sites to local art, signature dishes to sun-washed beaches, there’s something for everyone to love among these small international cities.
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10. San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián has everything you could want from a seaside resort town—especially if you arrive hungry. Pintxo bar hopping is commonplace in the Basque Country, and you’ll find no shortage of options in central Parte Vieja. During the day, head to Playa de la Concha to lounge on the beach or take in surfer culture in Gros. A favorite vacation spot of Queen Maria Cristina in the late 1800s, San Sebastián has retained much of its splendor, which you’ll find in the breathtaking views from the top of Monte Igueldo.
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9. Venice
When Claude Monet first arrived in Venice in 1908, he was 68-years-old and deeply reluctant to visit. The Impressionist master had specifically avoided the Floating City, dismissing it as overhyped and too touristy—a statement that’s still quite accurate in today’s travel conversations. Yet after seeing the city, Monet ended up creating 37 luminous canvases that captured Venice perfectly. This tension between Venice’s magnetic beauty and its tourism challenges reflects the thousand-year story of a city built on contradictions: Venice was the capital of a maritime republic for nearly a millennium, serving as Europe’s first true international financial center. Contemporary visitors who look beyond the crowds discover a Venice that remains what it has always been—118 islands connected by 400-plus bridges where canals replace streets and gondolas, cars. The city somehow works despite being built entirely on water, and what makes it irresistible to art lovers is that you’re essentially wandering through a living museum.
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8. Amalfi
There’s a reason the Amalfi Coast is renowned around the world: This stretch of Italian coastline is a slice of paradise on earth. The Amalfi Coast is a place that sticks around in your heart after you leave—once you arrive, you’ll understand why so many famous creatives alighted here throughout history, from Virginia Woolf to Elizabeth Taylor to Beyoncé. Whether you’re hoping to enjoy the views—expect dreamy backdrops featuring cliffs, sandy beaches, and colorful towns—or spend your days parked on a lounger in a beach club near bright blue waters, this is one of the most romantic places in the world to escape to.
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7. Porto
As interest in visiting Porto only grows stronger, visitors are finding even more things to do in the city. What was once seen for many as a short trip is becoming a longer break, with exploration outside of the city center and into neighboring areas. Porto may be Portugal’s second largest city after Lisbon, but it did give the country its name from the Roman Portus Cale. Centuries later, the city became famous for port, its “divine nectar of the Gods,” tastings of which are highly recommended in any of the port lodges lining the riverside in Vila Nova de Gaia. From there, look across the Douro at Porto’s colorful jumble of medieval houses, soaring church towers, and glossy blue-and-white tiled façades.
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6. Dubrovnik
The Croatian city of Dubrovnik may have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, but the seaside city has always been a special, resilient place. Pandemics, fires, earthquakes, war—Dubrovnik has weathered them all. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, wider forces are at play to keep the city safe and peaceful, preserving its many treasures for future generations. And what treasures it has. Wandering through the Old Town feels like stepping back into time. Add to this some exceptional local restaurants, superb boutique hotels, and a smattering of intimate wine bar—and you’re looking at a winning destination. Culture vultures will love the museums, street festivals, and rich history; beach lovers will have plenty of bays to explore; film buffs will recognize the many set locations for iconic properties ranging from Game of Thrones to Star Wars; whilst the more adventurous can hike the numerous mountain trails and pine-scented paths that wind through the surrounding landscape.
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5. Lucerne, Switzerland
With its covered bridges, turreted buildings, and colorful Old Town, Lucerne is straight from the pages of a Swiss fairytale. Thanks in large part to its location on the shores of Lake Lucerne, the city is also a popular departure point for the Swiss Alps, which are visible from the town. Walk the city’s famed Kapellbrücke—the oldest covered bridge in Europe—and grab a home-brewed beer nearby at Rathaus Brauerei when finished. Then rest up at Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern, a Condé Nast Traveler Hot List winner that stuns with Art Nouveau architecture and lake views from every single room.
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4. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Four hours northwest of Mexico City is the jewel of San Miguel de Allende, which has made this list seven years in a row. A hub for expat artists, this highland city is known for its Spanish Colonial architecture and colorful facades. You could spend hours browsing the galleries and pop-up shops at Fábrica La Aurora, a former textile factory that is now home to local artisans. The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is a hidden oasis in the heart of the city, with grand rooms featuring hand-carved furnishings and 360-degree views of the skyline from the rooftop tapas bar. For dinner, book the chef’s table at Aperi for one of the best dining experiences in the city, full of fresh flavors from the region.
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3. Florence, Italy
Though Rome is Italy’s much-beloved capital and Milan has serious cosmopolitan clout, Florence remains unrivaled in history, art, and architecture (its cuisine doesn’t hurt, either). In addition to being the birthplace of the Renaissance, the Firenze of recent years has had a modern makeover. Book a workshop with a master perfumer—and get a crash course in the history of perfume-making—at Aquaflor Firenze, chart the evolution of one of Italy’s biggest fashion juggernauts at Gucci Garden, or take in modern art at La Strozzina, Florence’s center for contemporary culture. Wherever the day takes you, save room for a panino al lampredotto—this stewed tripe sandwich is a Florence must.
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2. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is often associated with cruise ships, crowded beaches, and bars hosting rowdy groups of spring breakers—but there’s so much more to this Pacific coast getaway. Though Old Town certainly has its charms (think winding cobblestone streets lined with bougainvillea), it’s once you venture a little off the more touristed path that you’ll really discover the treasures of this city. Take a quick boat ride to Ocean Grill, an open-air, reservations-only lunch spot built into a rocky cove and serving up grilled lobster. Or head to Yelapa Beach—another only-accessible-by-boat gem—to fill up on fish tacos and spend the afternoon lounging in a hammock on the beach.
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1. Victoria, Canada
A popular day trip from Vancouver, British Columbia’s capital city deserves a standalone visit. Arrive via one of the world’s most scenic ferry rides across Swartz Bay and check in to the bucket list-worthy Fairmont Empress, where the Fairmont Gold rooms include access to a private waterfront lounge. With a reputation as the most British town in Canada, most restaurants and hotels offer a proper high tea. If you’re seeking a more rural escape, disconnect in the ancient forests with a road trip on Vancouver Island.
Favorite large international cities include destinations beloved for their food and wine, their architecture and art. Some are classic travel spots that many have visited multiple times, while others are slightly less-touristed—but all equally deserve attention.
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10. Kyoto
If Tokyo is Japan’s heart, Kyoto is its soul. Once the imperial capital, the city is home to 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 shrines, and more than 200 gardens; it’s a living repository of classical arts and crafts where traditions continue to thrive. But the best things to do in Kyoto represent not only a city of preservation, but also of a city of innovation: Bamboo harvested here helped Thomas Edison fashion the filament for the first light bulb; Japan’s first streetcar rattled to life on Kyoto’s avenues; and Nintendo grew from a small playing-card company in its backstreets into a global gaming powerhouse. Visitors have long come chasing cherry blossoms and the golden shimmer of Kinkakuji Temple, but in recent years, some of the most iconic sites here—including Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Pontocho Alley, and Kiyomizudera—have especially grown in popularity.
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9. Singapore
Singapore, a perennial favorite of the Readers’ Choice Awards, cracks our list of the top cities in the world year after year. Thanks to direct flights from New York to Singapore on its namesake airline, this bustling destination is way more than a stopover. It has a growing contemporary art scene, a bounty of hotels (with new ones seemingly popping up every eight minutes), and a commitment to start-ups and innovation (just see the Supertree Grove and such innovations as greenifying the city-state). All of this is to say, if you visited once before, you may not even recognize it now. Want to relax after a day of exploring? Choose from 1,000 types of gin at Atlas, or check into reader-favorite Marina Bay Sands so you have access to that top-of-the-world infinity pool you’ve heard so much about. Come evening, dig into the city’s food culture—you can do a multi-country food crawl without ever leaving the hawker center.
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8. Cape Town
Few cities can match the high drama of Cape Town’s skyline, where rugged Table Mountain meets the great white shark–filled waters of the Atlantic—and where colonial-era grand dames (like the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel) share space with cutting-edge new designs (including Thomas Heatherwick’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa). You can spend your days luxuriating on the Mother City’s beaches or sipping chenin blanc at one of the many local wineries, but be sure to leave some time to contend with the place’s complicated history by visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison.
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7. Paris
What dreams about Paris have not already been sold by its simple yet timeless monikers like the City of Light and the City of Love? With pilgrimage-worthy restaurants that have led the charge in fine dining around the world, cozy cafés you could spend all day pursuing, and the twinkling lights of luxe department stores and such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, Paris has long been the quintessential European city. Whether you’re a gastronome looking to explore the city by fork and knife, a culture vulture looking to stand rapt before a Rodin, a set-jetter inspired by Emily in Paris, or a first-timer excited to scratch the iconic French capital off your bucket list, this is an undeniably special place.
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6. Montreal
Quebec’s biggest—and most cosmopolitan—city is perhaps best known for its picturesque Old Montreal neighborhood, with its quaint cobblestone streets and Gothic Revival cathedral. But it also has a rebellious, forward-thinking streak, which you can find across the city’s contemporary art museums, eclectic bars, and design-forward hotels. Unsurprisingly for a place with such close cultural ties to France, what really sets Montreal apart are its dynamic restaurants, which run the gamut from classic brasseries to no-frills wine bars to internationally renowned temples like Joe Beef and Au Pied de Cochon.
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5. Sydney
Sydney is quite the metropole of contradictions: it’s Australia’s most famous city, though not the capital; it’s associated with permanent sunshine, but very prone to seasonal outbursts; it’s tourist-friendly, but traffic-heavy; and it has a high quality of life, but is very expensive. Such contradictions make for a buzzing and frenetic atmosphere, with culture from high to popular, an excellent pan-Asian food scene, top-quality produce, brilliant shopping, and water, water everywhere. No matter how you spend your days, it’s hard not to be happy in Sydney, where the people are forever relaxed and the sun is forever shining. Flaunting gold-sand ocean beaches, glittering harbor pools, and an epic coastline backed by lush green parks, Sydney has natural wonders aplenty. Of course, there are also the man-made bucket list sights—the Opera House, The Harbour Bridge, Bondi, Cockatoo Island, the Botanical Gardens, the Art Gallery of NSW, and even the beach from soap opera Home and Away, if you’re so inclined.
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4. Shanghai
Beijing’s got history, Chengdu’s got pandas, Shenzhen’s got all the latest tech—but Shanghai has style and plenty of charisma. The stylish Chinese city’s cosmopolitan roots stretch back for centuries; Shanghai was carved into foreign-run concessions following the 1840-42 Sino-British Opium War, and you can still find evidence of those historic influences in the architecture and attitude of its downtown neighborhoods. From the iconic postcard vista of the riverfront Bund, a one-mile row of stately Neoclassical, Baroque, and Art Deco stone buildings that were once international banks and British trading houses, to the leafy avenues, boutiques, and boulangeries of the former French Concession, the city is an often-eclectic mix of past and future, tradition and innovation.
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3. Phnom Penh
Whether it’s the slurp-able noodles, regality of taking an afternoon tea at Raffles, or an evening cruise down the Mekong River, Phnom Penh is just the place to experience Cambodia’s beauty and culture. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda glimmer with embedded details crafted from emeralds and diamonds while the bustling Russian Market symbolizes bounty in the form of vendors selling everything from ornate wood carvings to local spices to traditional Khmer instruments. For sites of remembrance, learn about the Cambodian genocide at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which confront the nation’s difficult history under the Khmer Rouge regime and serve as sobering yet worthwhile reminders of how far Cambodia has come today.
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2. Tokyo
A regular on our best cities list, Tokyo continues to thrill with its contradictions: neon skyscrapers and tranquil temples, unmatchable street style and centuries-old etiquette. Like a fever dream you don’t want to wake up from, this Japanese capital also has more Michelin stars than any other place on earth. It is—no surprise—one of the world’s best food destinations. For just a taste of what the city can offer, pull up a stool and dig deep into a bowl of inventive ramen at Kikanbo or sample rare Japanese whiskey at Bar Ben Fiddich. Or simply let us plan your first visit for you.
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1. Seoul
If there’s a single destination that embraces dichotomy, it’s Seoul, which ascended to the number spot on this year’s list. Though the global obsession with South Korea’s cultural and tangible exports (K-pop, K-beauty, K-dramas) has helped transform Seoul into one of the world’s most popular leisure destinations, you should know that beneath these of-the-moment pleasures is a layered, complex history stretching more than 2,000 years. As South Korea’s capital and largest city, with 26-plus million people in the metropolitan area, it offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, natural and tech-savvy, and affordable and extravagant. (Even the Korean flag is emblazoned with a yin-and-yang symbol.) As a global hub of beauty, wellness, arts, and cuisine, Seoul is a capital with something for every traveler.
October 6, 2026