The Best Cities in the World: 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards

These are the best cities in the world, from Amalfi to Tokyo—as voted by Condé Nast Traveler readers.UnsplashTrends come and go, but here at Condé Nast Traveler, one thing never changes: your insatiable appetite for seeing the world. This year our readers cast an almighty 798,867 votes in our 39th Readers’ Choice Awards to tell us about the planet’s best travel experiences: You 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 your 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 you, our readers.View the Readers’ Choice Award winners for the best cities in the United States here.From historical sites to local art, signature dishes to sun-washed beaches, there’s something for everyone to love among these small international cities.Getty10. San Sebastián, SpainSan 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.Unsplash9. VeniceWhen 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.Unsplash8. AmalfiThere'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.Unsplash7. PortoAs 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.Unsplash6. DubrovnikThe 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.Markus Thoenen/Getty5. Lucerne, SwitzerlandWith 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.Mint Images/Getty4. San Miguel de Allende, MexicoFour 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.Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty3. Florence, ItalyThough 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.Ascent/PKS Media Inc./Getty2. Puerto Vallarta, MexicoPuerto 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.Getty1. Victoria, CanadaA 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. Check out the Venus Sophia, which offers baked goods. If you’re seeking a more rural escape, disconnect in the ancient forests with a road trip on Vancouver Island.Your favorite large international cities include destinations beloved for their food and wine, their architecture and art. Some are classic travel spots that many of you have visited multiple times, while others are slightly less-touristed—but all equally deserve your attention.Sean Pavone/Getty10. KyotoIf 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.Will Truettner/Unsplash9. SingaporeSingapore, 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.This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.