Every year thousands of travelers compare experiences, destinations and cities they’ve visited over the months. From these preferences emerges the Readers’ Choice Awards of Condé Nast Traveller, reaching in 2026 its 39th edition. Here is the top 10 of the world’s best cities for 2026 to discover.
Bangkok is the world’s best city in 2026
With a score of 97.68, Bangkok surpasses Paris by just over half a point to claim first place in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. The result is even more meaningful when compared with the previous year. In 2025 the Thai capital hadn’t even cracked the top twenty, while Valletta had won. Twelve months later the landscape has changed completely. What pushed Bangkok to the top is a combination that is hard to find elsewhere.
The city binds temples, royal palaces, large shopping centers, markets, panoramic venues and one of Asia’s most recognizable gastronomic scenes. In the historic center lie some of Thailand’s best-known attractions. The Grand Palace remains one of the symbolic places of the capital, together with Wat Phra Kaew and the nearby Wat Pho, famed for the great reclining Buddha. But Bangkok isn’t defined only by monuments. A substantial part of its appeal comes from street food, markets and a urban life that goes on well past sunset. Beside the stalls sit award‑winning restaurants and rooftop venues, while very different neighborhoods allow for a change of atmosphere within a few stops.
The top 10 best cities in the world for 2026
Chasing Bangkok, Paris takes second place with 97.14 points. The French capital continues to stay at the top of international preferences thanks to its museums, monuments, dining options and neighborhoods that remain among the most visited in the world.
Third is Istanbul, with 96.67 points. Right after comes Rome, in fourth with 95.96. The gap to the podium is tight, and the Italian capital manages to surpass some destinations that in recent years had dominated international rankings. For Rome, it’s a significant result. The Italian city finishes ahead of the 2025 winner and misses the podium by less than a point. The advice for those who want to visit during peak times remains to plan ahead the entrances to the most sought-after sites, from the Colosseum to the Vatican Museums.
Fifth is Valletta, which therefore loses the first place it had conquered in the previous edition. They follow Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, three Asian cities very different from each other but now firmly present among travelers’ most appreciated destinations. The last two positions of the top ten go to Sydney and Amsterdam.
The full ranking is:
- Bangkok, Thailand;
- Paris, France;
- Istanbul, Turkey;
- Rome, Italy;
- Valletta, Malta;
- Shanghai, China;
- Tokyo, Japan;
- Seoul, South Korea;
- Sydney, Australia;
- Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The other cities honored by the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
The list of the best cities is only one of the categories of the Readers’ Choice Awards. Among the world’s most welcoming cities, Melbourne takes the top spot, in Australia. In Europe the first place goes to Porto, in Portugal, while Edinburgh is identified as the friendliest city in the United Kingdom.
The names change in the category dedicated to smaller international cities. Here the first position is held by Victoria, capital of British Columbia, in Canada. They follow Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico, and Florence, in third. Italy is particularly present in this ranking. In addition to Florence on the podium, Amalfi takes eighth place and Venice ninth. The top ten also includes San Miguel de Allende, Lucerne, Dubrovnik, Porto and San Sebastián.
The awards also cover entire countries. Greece is chosen as the best country in the world in 2026. Ireland is the friendliest country in Europe, while Costa Rica wins the global title. There is finally a recognition that brings Italy back to the top: the one dedicated to cuisine. According to the readers of Condé Nast Traveller, in 2026 Italy is the best country in the world for food.
