Ranked: The 100 Best Cities In The World To Visit, According To A New Report

What are the best cities in the world? Euromonitor International has unveiled the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023. This comprehensive analysis serves as a guide to the most dynamic and influential cities across the globe and gives a glimpse into the best places to travel to right now.

To come up with the list, Euromonitor used 55 different metrics across six key categories. These include economic and business performance, tourism performance and infrastructure, policy and attractiveness, health and safety and sustainability.

The World’s Top Ranked City

At the top list—Paris, which was named the world’s best city for the second year in a row. The City of Light continues to enchant visitors with its unique blend of historical grandeur and contemporary dynamism, further enhanced by preparations for the upcoming 2024 Olympics. According to Nadejda Popova, a senior manager at Euromonitor International, Paris ranked high “due to exceptional performance in Tourism Policy and Attractiveness, Tourism Infrastructure, and Tourism Performance,” she said in a statement.

Europe emerged as the dominant force in the index, with seven cities in the top 10 and a total of 63 in the top 100. This European dominance showcases its blend of historical richness, cultural diversity and technological advancement. The other European cities in the top 10 were Madrid (at number 3), followed by Amsterdam (5), Berlin (6), Rome (7), Barcelona (9) and London (10).

Other Winning Cities

The non-European cities in the top 10 were Dubai (at number 2), Tokyo (4) and New York City (8). Tokyo’s entry into the top 10—a first for the city—is attributed to its improved tourism infrastructure, easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the weakened yen, offering great value to international visitors.

Asia also had a strong presence in the list, with a number of cities making it to the top 20, including Singapore (number 11), Seoul (14), Osaka (16) and Hong Kong (17), demonstrating the region’s growing influence in the global tourism landscape.

Newcomers to this year’s list were Washington D.C. (at number 48), Montreal, Canada (68), Santiago, Chile (88) and Vilnius, Lithuania (92).

How the United States Ranked

The eight U.S. cities that made the list included New York (number 8), which was a two point increase from 2022. Los Angeles was next up at number 19, followed by Orlando (25), Las Vegas (34), Miami, (35), San Francisco (42), Washington D.C. (48) and Honolulu (67).

These eight cities in the United States are recognized for their diverse cultural, entertainment and tourism offerings, each contributing to the country’s strong presence in the global tourism landscape.

Trends in Travel

The report highlighted some of the big trends in travel, including sustainable tourism. With the world becoming increasingly conscious of environmental impacts, cities are adopting measures like improved public transport networks and strategies to combat over-tourism. This approach is not only about preserving the environment but also about enhancing the quality of life for local communities.

“Cities are now creatively tackling the challenge of over-tourism. From imposing tourist caps to promoting off-the-beaten-path destinations, the focus is on preserving cultural heritage while ensuring tourism benefits both visitors and local communities,” said Popova.

Looking ahead, Popova sees challenges looming on the horizon. “The rising cost of living, fluctuating inflation and geopolitical volatility are set to test the resilience of the tourism industry,” said Popova. “The demand for value-centric, local and sustainable travel options will shape the industry’s path forward.”

The 100 Best Cities In The World, Ranked

Here is the complete ranking of the top 100 cities to visit now:

1. Paris, France
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
3. Madrid, Spain
4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. Berlin, Germany
7. Rome, Italy
8. New York City
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. London, United Kingdom
11. Singapore
12. Munich, Germany
13. Milan, Italy
14. Seoul, South Korea
15. Dublin, Ireland
16. Osaka, Japan
17. Hong Kong
18. Vienna, Austria
19. Los Angeles
20. Lisbon, Portugal
21. Prague, Czech Republic
22. Sydney, Australia
23. Istanbul, Turkey
24. Melbourne, Australia
25. Orlando, Florida
26. Frankfurt, Germany
27. Kyoto, Japan
28. Taipei, Taiwan
29. Florence, Italy
30. Toronto, Canada
31. Athens, Greece
32. Zurich, Switzerland
33. Bangkok, Thailand
34. Las Vegas
35. Miami
36. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
37. Venice, Italy
38. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
39. Stockholm, Sweden
40. Brussels, Belgium
41. Tel Aviv, Israel
42. San Francisco
43. Shanghai, China
44. Warsaw, Poland
45. Guangzhou, China
46. Copenhagen, Denmark
47. Nice, France
48. Washington, United States
49. Budapest, Hungary
50. Shenzhen, China
51. Vancouver, Canada
52. Palma de Mallorca, Spain
53. Seville, Spain
54. São Paulo, Brazil
55. Valencia, Spain
56. Mexico City, Mexico
57. Antalya, Turkey
58. Sapporo, Japan
59. Beijing, China
60. Busan, South Korea
61. Fukuoka, Japan
62. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
63. Porto, Portugal
64. Jerusalem, Israel
65. Kraków, Poland
66. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
67. Honolulu, Hawaii
68. Montreal, Canada
69. Macau
70. Cancún, Mexico
71. Marne-La-Vallée, France
72. Doha, Qatar
73. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
74. Rhodes, Greece
75. Verona, Italy
76. Bologna, Italy
77. Thessaloniki, Greece
78. Buenos Aires, Argentina
79. Lima, Peru
80. Phuket, Thailand
81. Delhi, India
82. Heraklion, Greece
83. Tallinn, Estonia
84. Pattaya-Chonburi, Thailand
85. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
86. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
87. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
88. Santiago, Chile
89. Tbilisi, Georgia
90. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
91. Marrakech, Morocco
92. Vilnius, Lithuania
93. Mugla, Turkey
94. Zhuhai, China
95. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
96. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
97. Guilin, China
98. Hanoi, Vietnam
99. Cairo, Egypt
100. Muscat, Oman

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