The Best Cities in the World: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
The 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards survey is now open for voting! Head here to cast your ballot for your all-time favorite hotels, cruises, resorts, islands, and more.
Now in its 35th year, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises and islands. Plus: Odes to the properties that keep you coming back, meditations on beloved cities, and more.
The numbers prove what we already knew: Enthusiasm for travel has never been higher, as demonstrated by the nearly quarter of a million of you who filled out this year’s survey. The top large and small international cities are a testament to the staying power of perennial favorites, through thick and thin—with some newcomers to consider for your next trip. Here are the best cities in the world, as voted by Traveler readers.
View the Readers' Choice Award winners for the best U.S. cities here.
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From historical sites to local art, signature dishes to sun-washed beaches, there’s something for everyone among these small international cities.
Beth Macdonald/Unsplash10. Oxford, United Kingdom
Students have been learning in Oxford since at least 1096, meaning that this area has been a university town since before the Aztec civilization even began. The oldest academic buildings date back to the early 15th century, and there are plenty of pockets for visitors to, well, nerd out over, like the Bodleian Library, Christ Church College, and the Ashmolean Museum, which is home to Egyptian mummies and Anglo-Saxon treasures. But beyond those hallowed halls, Oxford is a vibrant little city—albeit one packed with a very smart group of residents—where you can have lunch in an ancient pub, sleep at a boutique hotel opened in the town’s former jail, or check out art in a 1903 marmalade factory that’s been converted into a bar and gallery.
Guido Cozzi/Getty9. Bath, United Kingdom
Sometimes a city advertises its best attribute right there in its name: This picturesque English town, in the southwestern county of Somerset, has been beloved for its hot mineral springs since ancient times, as evidenced by its remarkably well-preserved Roman-era baths. Today, those healing waters are still pumped into places like the Thermae Bath Spa, which has a stunning rooftop pool, or The Gainsborough Bath Spa, which occupies an 18th-century Georgian mansion. While Bath makes for a pleasant day trip from London—it’s only about an hour and 20 minutes by train—there are plenty of great reasons to stay the night, including The Bath Priory, inside a lovely, ivy-covered 1835 house, and the Queensberry Hotel, located in a mansion built in 1771 for the Marquis of Queensberry.
Den Harrson/Unsplash8. Bruges, Belgium
Close your eyes and picture a quaint European city, and Bruges just might be what comes to mind. One of the most famous and well-preserved cities on the continent, Bruges exudes charm from every cobblestone and canal. The Belfry of Bruges is hard to miss, towering 272 feet over the market square, but be warned that it’s a cramped 366 steps to the top if you choose to enjoy the view. For a more leisurely way to take in the sites, hit the water with a canal tour before sampling the wares at one of the city’s excellent breweries.
Getty7. Galway, Ireland
A popular home base for day trips to the Aran Islands or the Cliffs of Moher, Galway is a worthy destination in its own right. The bustling university town in Western Ireland blends the historic—you’ll see remnants of medieval stone walls weaving through downtown—with the contemporary, and its thriving art and music communities earned the city the title of European Capital of Culture in 2020. Its vibrant food scene spans from pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants, with plenty of fresh seafood thanks to the city’s location between the River Corrib and Galway Bay, and its wide range of lodging options includes cozy B&Bs and the avant-garde g Hotel and Spa.
Alejandro Luengo/Unsplash6. Malaga, Spain
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, this prime slice of Costa del Sol real estate changed hands over the millennia from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Moors, leaving behind a delightful hodgepodge of architectural influences. More recently, the city has been redefined by two of its native sons: Pablo Picasso, many of whose works can be found in a museum built in a 16th-century palace, and Antonio Banderas, who opened his own hometown theater in 2019.
Walter Bibikow/Getty5. Salzburg, Austria
Classic Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, sits divided by the Salzach River: Its pedestrian Old City lines the left bank, and the (slightly) newer side is on the right. To drink like a local, head to Bräustübl zu Mülln, Austria’s largest beer hall, where beer is drawn directly from wooden barrels and can be enjoyed alongside traditional and regional specialties from the Schmankerlgang, an Old World food court of sorts. For a hotel stay involving gingerbread cookies, falling snow, and the fluffiest beds, look no further than Hotel Goldener Hirsch.
Devin Kleu/Unsplash4. Cambridge, United Kingdom
A city that seems locked in time thanks to the architecture of the world-famous university at its heart, Cambridge offers an idyllic setting with its cobblestone streets, green spaces, and magnificent buildings. Pop into one of the city’s pubs (there are more than 100 to choose from) to pull a pint, or tuck into the “world’s stickiest” Chelsea buns at Fitzbillies. King’s College Chapel, the most recognizable building in town, puts on a show as a stunning example of Gothic architecture, as do The Backs, the postcard-perfect gardens found behind Cambridge’s colleges.
Getty3. San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián has everything you could want from a seaside resort town—especially if you arrive hungry. Pintxo (or “small snack”) bar hopping is commonplace in Basque country, and you’ll find no shortage of options in Parte Vieja, the heart of the city. 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.
Marie Michele Bouchard/Unsplash2. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
A popular day trip from Vancouver, British Columbia’s capital city deserves a visit of its own. 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.
Sarah Elliott1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Four hours northwest of Mexico City is the jewel of San Miguel de Allende, which has topped this list for three years in a row now. 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.
Your favorite big international cities include destinations beloved for food, wine, architecture, and art. Some are classic travel spots that many have visited multiple times, while others are slightly less-touristed, but all are equally deserving of your attention.
Steven Wright/Unsplash10. Montreal
Quebec’s incredibly cosmopolitan—and biggest—city has spoken with a French accent since 1535, when explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in these parts. Old Montreal still evokes those bygone days with its quaint cobblestone streets and Gothic-Revival cathedral, but the city also has a rebellious, forward-thinking streak, which you can find in its contemporary art museums, its eclectic bars, its design-forward hotels, and even Mount Royal Park, which erupts each Sunday afternoon into an unofficial drum circle festival called the Tam-Tams. Unsurprisingly for a city with such close cultural ties to Paris, what really sets Montreal apart are its dynamic restaurants, which run the gamut from classic brasseries to no-frills wine bars to internationally renowned temples of gluttony like Joe Beef and Au Pied de Cochon.
Meric Dagli/Unsplash9. Istanbul
Trite but true: Istanbul is the city where east meets west. It would take several visits to see it all in this sprawling city, but the opulent Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is an excellent choice for your home base with its ornately carved arches and an infinity pool overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. The Seraglio, formally known as Topkapı Palace, is top of the must-do list, as is the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Spend a day making your stomach very happy with a walking food tour, sampling kebabs, menemen, fresh figs, and rainbow-colored Turkish delight.
Ajiravan/Geetty8. Cusco, Peru
If you’ve never visited this UNESCO World Heritage city, hidden away deep in the Andes at a lung-busting 11,152 feet above sea level, you might mistakenly think of Cusco as simply a jumping-off point for exploration of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. But that’s far from the whole picture: The former capital of the Inca Empire is a vibrantly modern metropolis with nearly a half-million residents, where 16th-century mansions, convents, and monasteries are being transformed into characterful boutique hotels and the emerging restaurant scene is almost as dizzyingly creative as the one you’ll find in Lima.
Amit Chivilkar/Unsplash7. Mumbai
Everything seems bigger in the City of Dreams, from the impressive imperial architecture to, yes, the crowds: The metropolitan area has a population of around 21 million, after all, and Mumbai functions as both the country’s financial and entertainment capital. Bollywood suffuses the place with a kind of Hollywood-on-steroids energy, so don’t be surprised if you run into a movie star in one of the city’s internationally renowned restaurants or dynamic hotels—new (Soho House Mumbai) or old (Taj Mahal Palace).
Crystal Clear/Unsplash6. Cape Town
Few cities can match the high drama of Cape Town’s skyline, where rugged Table Mountain meets the great white shark–filled waters of the Atlantic, and where colonial-era grand dames (like the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel) share space with cutting-edge new designs (including Thomas Heatherwick’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa). You can spend your days luxuriating on the Mother City’s beaches or sipping chenin blanc at one of the many area wineries, but be sure to leave some time to contend with the place’s complicated history, by touring a township or visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison.
Sigmund/Unsplash5. Quebec City, Que., Canada
First-time visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site will inevitably find themselves resorting to an old cliché: Wow, you’ll think, this really feels like Europe. But sometimes clichés are true. Indeed, in North America’s only walled city north of Mexico, the tight web of cobblestoned streets hides boulangeries, patisseries, and bistros straight out of a French village. Towering above it all is one of Canada’s most dramatic hotels, the fortress-like Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, which opened in 1893 and adds to the old-world feel by mimicking Loire Valley châteaux built during the French Renaissance.
Alex Azabache/Unsplash4. Mérida, Mexico
The streets of Mérida are bursting with the colorful facades of Spanish colonial architecture, but the capital of Mexico’s Yucatan state is also steeped in Mayan history. Centrally located on the Yucatan Peninsula, the city is an easy day trip to UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the ancient cities of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, and the beaches on the Gulf shore in Progreso. Locals recommend visiting Fundación de Artistas, a nonprofit featuring art exhibits in a 19th-century home; Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, a modern cultural museum; and the traditional Yucatecan food at the super casual Manjar Blanco.
Jezael Melgoza/Unsplash3. Tokyo
A regular on our best cities list, Tokyo continues to thrill with its contradictions: ultra-modern, neon skyscrapers and tranquil temples, unmatchable street style, and centuries-old etiquette. As we've said before, it's like a fever dream you don't want to wake up from. This Japanese capital has more Michelin stars than any other place on earth, and is—no surprise—one of the world’s best food destinations. For just a taste of what the city can offer, pull up a stool and dig deep into a bowl of inventive ramen at Kikanbo, or sample rare Japanese whiskey at Bar Ben Fiddich. Or simply let us plan your first trip for you.
Note Thanun/Unsplash2. Bangkok
Consistently ranked as one of the most-visited cities in the world, Bangkok has a multifaceted identity that blends history, culture, street style, and luxury like nowhere else. Take in its old-charm architecture in Chinatown or enjoy the view from the top of Wat Arun, one of the few temples in Thailand you can climb. Be sure to have a game plan when it comes to dining—the city has some fantastic street food stalls as well as modern and refined restaurants with opulent dining rooms. The capital's wide-ranging art scene, from a complex of perfectly preserved teak houses to the sprawling Bangkok National Museum, offers a chance to learn about Thai culture—and escape the sweltering heat.
Will Truettner/Unsplash1. Singapore
We named Singapore one of the best places to visit in 2019, and Traveler readers have resoundingly agreed since then, with the city climbing to the number one spot (from fourth) for 2022. 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, new hotels popping up (seemingly every eight minutes) and a commitment to start-ups and innovation (just see the Supertree Grove, and such innovations as recent plans to greenify 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 bar, or check into 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 hawker culture—you can do a multi-country food crawl without ever leaving the hawker center.