When we choose the destination for our next trip, we often think about monuments, history, traditional cuisine, or the landscapes in which a place is immersed. But there is one aspect that makes the experience even more enjoyable and that we often discover only once we arrive, namely how intelligent a city is. Efficient transport, digital services, fast connections, safety and innovative management of spaces, also and especially thanks to the advent of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence, can really make a difference for residents, for those who want to move there, and for those exploring the city with a traveler’s eyes.
That is why the consulting giant Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has published its first Intelligent Cities Index, which evaluates 61 of the world’s largest cities, revealing the ranking of the most intelligent, those investing most in technology, sustainability, infrastructure and quality of life, thereby concretely improving the experience of those who live in them and those who visit them. One detail jumps out immediately: among the top 20, there are no Italian cities.
London Is the Smartest City
To claim the first place in the ranking, according to the Intelligent Cities Index 2026, is London, recognized as the world’s most intelligent city thanks to its ability to transform innovation and AI into tangible services for citizens and visitors. According to the BCG report, the British capital excels in the quality of digital infrastructure, in the use of AI to improve public services, and in collaboration between institutions, universities, and tech companies.
The result does not depend solely on the adoption of new technologies, but above all on their application in everyday life. Public transport that is increasingly efficient, real-time information, digitized services, smart traffic management and a growing emphasis on sustainability make London a city where getting around is easier even for those visiting for only a few days.
The Top 20 Smartest Cities in the World
The new report highlights that the cities at the top of the rankings do not merely experiment with new technologies like AI, but use them to address some of the major urban challenges: mobility, safety, and the management of large events and tourist flows. An approach that allows the quality of life for residents to improve, while at the same time offering a smoother experience to the millions of travelers who each day choose these special destinations.
This is the ranking of the top 20 smartest cities in the world:
- London, United Kingdom;
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
- New York, United States;
- Washington, D.C., United States;
- Amsterdam, Netherlands;
- Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Singapore;
- Seoul, South Korea;
- Munich, Germany;
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;
- Paris, France;
- Beijing, China;
- Zurich, Switzerland;
- Shenzhen, China;
- Sydney, Australia;
- Berlin, Germany;
- Oslo, Norway;
- Tokyo, Japan;
- Stockholm, Sweden;
- Helsinki, Finland.
In the Intelligent Cities Index 2026, the Italian cities of Rome and Milan also appear, the only representatives of our country, but they remain outside the top 20: the capital ranks 40th, followed by the Lombard capital at 41st. A result that highlights how the path toward increasingly intelligent and digital cities has already begun, but there is still a long way to go to reach the most advanced models at the international level.
