Globetraveller
A traveller overlooking an old coastal city at sunset

The 2026 top 100

The world's best cities to travel, ranked.

100 cities scored on six things that make a trip unforgettable — from street food to sunset walks.

See the full ranking

The podium

This year's top three

Lisbon, Portugal
1

Portugal

Lisbon

8.58

Seven hills, endless golden hours

Kyoto, Japan
2

Japan

Kyoto

8.57

A thousand temples, one quiet lane at a time

Seoul, South Korea
3

South Korea

Seoul

8.47

Palaces, K-food and 24-hour energy

The full index

The top 100, ranked

How we score
Rank by
Region
  1. 01

    Lisbon

    Portugal · Seven hills, endless golden hours

    8.58
  2. 02

    Kyoto

    Japan · A thousand temples, one quiet lane at a time

    8.57
  3. 03

    Seoul

    South Korea · Palaces, K-food and 24-hour energy

    8.47
  4. 04

    Oaxaca

    Mexico · Mole, mezcal and Zapotec ruins

    8.47
  5. 05

    Taipei

    Taiwan · Night markets and mountain hot springs

    8.45
  6. 06

    Hoi An

    Vietnam · A lantern-lit ancient trading port

    8.43
  7. 07

    Cape Town

    South Africa · Where the mountain meets two oceans

    8.42
  8. 08

    Barcelona

    Spain · Gaudí, beaches and dinner at midnight

    8.40
  9. 09

    Granada

    Spain · The Alhambra and free tapas

    8.40
  10. 10

    Budapest

    Hungary · Thermal baths and ruin bars

    8.37
  11. 11

    Tokyo

    Japan · The world's greatest food city, at full speed

    8.35
  12. 12

    Mexico City

    Mexico · Tacos, murals and a world-class museum habit

    8.33
  13. 13

    Kraków

    Poland · Medieval squares and pierogi for pennies

    8.33
  14. 14

    Valencia

    Spain · Paella, beaches and futuristic architecture

    8.33
  15. 15

    Chiang Mai

    Thailand · Temples, mountains and khao soi

    8.33
  16. 16

    Cartagena

    Colombia · Colourful walled city on the Caribbean

    8.33
  17. 17

    Osaka

    Japan · Japan's kitchen, loud and proud

    8.32
  18. 18

    Istanbul

    Türkiye · Two continents, one unforgettable skyline

    8.32
  19. 19

    Berlin

    Germany · History, art and techno until Monday

    8.30
  20. 20

    Tbilisi

    Georgia · Wine, sulphur baths and khachapuri

    8.30
  21. 21

    Buenos Aires

    Argentina · Steak, tango and nights that start at 1am

    8.28
  22. 22

    Antigua Guatemala

    Guatemala · Volcanoes over cobblestone streets

    8.27
  23. 23

    Medellín

    Colombia · The city of eternal spring

    8.27
  24. 24

    Seville

    Spain · Flamenco, orange trees and Moorish palaces

    8.25
  25. 25

    Prague

    Czech Republic · A fairy-tale old town with great beer

    8.23
  26. 26

    Hong Kong

    China · Skyline, dim sum and island hikes

    8.23
  27. 27

    Hanoi

    Vietnam · Street food heaven on tiny plastic stools

    8.22
  28. 28

    Naples

    Italy · Pizza's birthplace, gloriously chaotic

    8.22
  29. 29

    Madrid

    Spain · Masterpieces by day, vermouth by night

    8.20
  30. 30

    Athens

    Greece · Where Western civilisation began

    8.20
  31. 31

    Cusco

    Peru · The gateway to the Inca world

    8.18
  32. 32

    Porto

    Portugal · Port wine cellars and riverside sunsets

    8.17
  33. 33

    San Sebastián

    Spain · The pintxos capital of the world

    8.17
  34. 34

    Luang Prabang

    Laos · Saffron robes and Mekong sunsets

    8.17
  35. 35

    Salvador

    Brazil · Afro-Brazilian soul and baroque churches

    8.17
  36. 36

    Rome

    Italy · An open-air museum with excellent pasta

    8.13
  37. 37

    George Town

    Malaysia · Street art and Malaysia's best street food

    8.13
  38. 38

    New Orleans

    United States · Jazz, gumbo and second lines

    8.13
  39. 39

    Split

    Croatia · Living inside a Roman palace

    8.10
  40. 40

    Bologna

    Italy · Italy's food capital under endless arcades

    8.10
  41. 41

    Siem Reap

    Cambodia · Sunrise at Angkor Wat

    8.10
  42. 42

    Montreal

    Canada · European charm with North American energy

    8.10
  43. 43

    Bangkok

    Thailand · Golden temples and street food till dawn

    8.08
  44. 44

    Rio de Janeiro

    Brazil · Beaches, peaks and samba in the streets

    8.07
  45. 45

    Ljubljana

    Slovenia · A green little capital near the Alps

    8.07
  46. 46

    Ubud

    Indonesia · Rice terraces and jungle temples

    8.07
  47. 47

    Paris

    France · The classic, still worth every cliché

    8.05
  48. 48

    Florence

    Italy · The Renaissance, preserved in stone

    8.03
  49. 49

    Edinburgh

    United Kingdom · Castles, closes and a volcano in the middle

    8.03
  50. 50

    Melbourne

    Australia · Laneway coffee and a love of sport

    8.03
  51. 51

    Singapore

    Singapore · Hawker centres and gardens of the future

    8.00
  52. 52

    New York

    United States · The city that never sleeps — or runs out of things to do

    8.00
  53. 53

    Stone Town

    Tanzania · Spice island alleys on Zanzibar

    8.00
  54. 54

    London

    United Kingdom · Free museums, endless neighbourhoods

    7.98
  55. 55

    Ho Chi Minh City

    Vietnam · Scooters, bánh mì and rooftop views

    7.97
  56. 56

    Vienna

    Austria · Coffee houses, palaces and opera

    7.97
  57. 57

    Munich

    Germany · Beer gardens with the Alps on the horizon

    7.97
  58. 58

    Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysia · Twin towers and three great cuisines

    7.97
  59. 59

    Essaouira

    Morocco · Windswept ramparts and fresh fish

    7.97
  60. 60

    Lima

    Peru · South America's gastronomic capital

    7.97
  61. 61

    Lyon

    France · France's gastronomic heart

    7.95
  62. 62

    Santiago

    Chile · Andes views and Chilean wine

    7.93
  63. 63

    Tallinn

    Estonia · Europe's best-preserved medieval old town

    7.93
  64. 64

    Amsterdam

    Netherlands · Canals, bikes and golden-age art

    7.90
  65. 65

    Chicago

    United States · Architecture, blues and deep-dish

    7.90
  66. 66

    Beijing

    China · Imperial palaces and the Great Wall

    7.87
  67. 67

    Quebec City

    Canada · A walled French city in North America

    7.87
  68. 68

    Copenhagen

    Denmark · Bikes, harbour swims and New Nordic dining

    7.87
  69. 69

    Marrakech

    Morocco · Souks, spices and riad courtyards

    7.87
  70. 70

    Valparaíso

    Chile · Hillside murals and funiculars

    7.87
  71. 71

    Tel Aviv

    Israel · Bauhaus streets and beach nights

    7.83
  72. 72

    Havana

    Cuba · Vintage cars and salsa in the streets

    7.83
  73. 73

    Shanghai

    China · Art deco Bund and futuristic skyline

    7.80
  74. 74

    Kathmandu

    Nepal · Himalayan gateway and ancient squares

    7.80
  75. 75

    Dubrovnik

    Croatia · Walled city on the Adriatic

    7.77
  76. 76

    Mumbai

    India · Bollywood, street food and sea breezes

    7.77
  77. 77

    Stockholm

    Sweden · A capital built on fourteen islands

    7.77
  78. 78

    Sydney

    Australia · Harbour city with a beach habit

    7.75
  79. 79

    Dublin

    Ireland · Pubs, poets and live music every night

    7.73
  80. 80

    Nice

    France · Riviera light on a pebble beach

    7.73
  81. 81

    Jaipur

    India · The Pink City of forts and palaces

    7.70
  82. 82

    Vancouver

    Canada · Mountains and ocean, twenty minutes apart

    7.67
  83. 83

    Accra

    Ghana · Highlife music and Jollof rice

    7.63
  84. 84

    San Francisco

    United States · Fog, hills and the Golden Gate

    7.63
  85. 85

    Cairo

    Egypt · Pyramids at the edge of the city

    7.60
  86. 86

    Colombo

    Sri Lanka · Colonial charm and spicy curries

    7.60
  87. 87

    Fez

    Morocco · The world's largest medieval medina

    7.57
  88. 88

    Austin

    United States · Live music capital with killer barbecue

    7.53
  89. 89

    Bruges

    Belgium · A medieval postcard with chocolate

    7.53
  90. 90

    Helsinki

    Finland · Saunas, design and Baltic islands

    7.53
  91. 91

    Nairobi

    Kenya · The only capital with a national park

    7.53
  92. 92

    Venice

    Italy · A city that floats on its own legend

    7.50
  93. 93

    Queenstown

    New Zealand · The adventure capital of the world

    7.47
  94. 94

    Montevideo

    Uruguay · A laid-back capital on the River Plate

    7.47
  95. 95

    Oslo

    Norway · Fjords at the end of the tram line

    7.40
  96. 96

    Auckland

    New Zealand · City of sails and volcanoes

    7.40
  97. 97

    Reykjavík

    Iceland · Northern lights and volcanic landscapes

    7.33
  98. 98

    Los Angeles

    United States · Tacos, beaches and canyon hikes

    7.33
  99. 99

    Honolulu

    United States · Surf, poke and volcanic peaks

    7.27
  100. 100

    Dubai

    United Arab Emirates · Desert dunes and record-breaking towers

    7.10