Every year, surveys thousands of urbanites worldwide to curate our annual ranking of the best cities on the planet. Our list relies on the insights of locals, who are asked to spill the beans about everything from food and culture to walkability and happiness.
Travel + Leisure takes the other route – its annual World’s Best Awards ask thousands of well-travelled readers, instead, to rate the cities they’ve explored, on everything from sights and culture to food, friendliness and value.
And the visitors’ verdict for 2026? The best city in the world is San Miguel de Allende, a small colonial-era stunner in Mexico’s central highlands, which topped the list with a score of 93.07 out of 100. Readers raved about its candy-coloured architecture, brilliant food and eclectic shopping, and anyone who’s wandered its cobbled streets at golden hour, with that fairytale pink church looming over the main square, will struggle to argue.
Mexico and Asia dominated this year’s ranking
Mexican cities dominated the ranking, with more representation in the top 15 than any other country. Oaxaca came in at number five, Mexico City ninth and Guadalajara in 15th. Asian cities also had strong representation, with Kyoto in second, Chiang Mai in third, Hoi An in fourth and Bangkok in sixth.
Where are all the European cities?
No European cities made the top 10, but Florence was the continent’s best performer in 13th, with Prague, Salzburg and Krakow flying the flag for Central Europe further down the list.
RECOMMENDED: These are Europe’s best cities in 2026, according to locals
Melbourne, which was crowned the best city in the world for 2026 in our annual ranking, doesn’t appear in T+L’s world top 25 at all.
Wellington cracked the world top 25 and was named the best city in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the first time ever, with readers citing its filming locations and museums. Somewhere, a Lord of the Rings fan is booking flights.
The 10 best cities in the world in 2026, according to Travel + Leisure readers
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- Kyoto, Japan
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Hoi An, Vietnam
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Jerusalem
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Tokyo, Japan
You can see the full top 25 over at Travel + Leisure.
Read our guide to the world’s greatest cities in 2026.
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