₦airaland Forum

The Best City In The World: A Repeat Winner
For the fourth year in a row, Paris takes the top spot as the best city in the world to visit, thanks to its unmatched combination—historic grandeur, cultural influence and cutting-edge sustainability initiatives. Another reason the City of Light remains a powerhouse of global tourism: “Paris has unmatched global dominance in 2024, registering over 17 million inbound arrivals,” write the authors of the report.

Madrid best cities to visit
Madrid is the second best city in the world to visit. Pictured here: Overlooking the Monument of Alfonso XII in the Retiro park en Madrid.

As in last year’s list—which I also covered—Europe continues to dominate. Nine European cities rank in the top 20, reinforcing the region’s reputation for cultural richness, history and visitor appeal. Other European destinations in the top 10 include Madrid (ranked number two), Rome (number four), Milan (number five), Amsterdam (number seven) and Barcelona (number 10).

Asia Makes A Strong Showing
While Europe maintains a strong presence, this year’s rankings reflect a shift, with non-European destinations making significant gains. Asia is the next most powerful region after Europe, with six cities making it into the top 20.

Tokyo climbed to number three, reflecting Japan’s growing appeal as a travel hotspot. The city is benefiting from a combination of improved tourism infrastructure, post-pandemic recovery and increased international visitors, plus a renewed emphasis on sustainability and cultural preservation.

Asia solidified its presence in the rankings with Singapore ranking number nine. According to Euromonitor, “Singapore has dominated the Economic and Business Performance pillar since the introduction of the Top 100 City Destinations Index and is renowned as the world’s freest economy.”

How the United States Ranked
The United States had a strong presence on the list, with eight cities making the top 100. New York City lands at number six and ranking as the highest U.S. city on the list. Driving its ranking: a thriving tourism sector, expanding luxury hotel offerings and world-famous entertainment and dining scenes, which continue to draw visitors in record numbers.

Following New York, Los Angeles ranks 18. Las Vegas comes in 23rd, while Orlando (number 33) remains a top global destination thanks to its theme parks and family-friendly appeal. Miami (number 35), San Francisco (36), Washington, D.C. (41), and Honolulu (55) round out the list of U.S. cities.

The Most Visited Cities in the World
Besides the rankings, Euromonitor’s report also highlights the most visited cities based on international arrivals. Bangkok takes the top spot—the Thai city welcomed 32 million international visitors in 2024, up 30% since 2023.

Following Bangkok as the most visited cities in the world are Istanbul, London, Hong Kong, Mecca, Antalya, Dubai, Macau, Paris and Kuala Lumpur—all cities that continue to attract millions of visitors due to their rich cultural offerings, business-friendly environments and strong tourism infrastructure.

According to Euromonitor, the U.S., Turkey and China are expected to be the destinations with the highest volume growth of international arrivals by 2030.

Top Travel Trends
The report also highlights emerging trends in the travel industry. A major theme? Sustainability and the growing demand for responsible tourism.

Looking ahead, Euromonitor sees third-tier cities and lesser-traveled destinations taking the global stage. “Less-travelled destinations and third-tier cities are expected to rise in popularity as travelers seek hidden gems, off-season experiences and responsible tourism,”

Euromonitor’s 100 Best Cities In The World To Visit

Full list

Paris, France
Madrid, Spain
Tokyo, Japan
Rome, Italy
Milan, Italy
New York City
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sydney, Australia
Singapore, Singapore
Barcelona, Spain
Taipei, Taiwan
Seoul, South Korea
London, United Kingdom
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Berlin, Germany
Osaka, Japan
Bangkok, Thailand
Los Angeles
Istanbul, Turkey
Melbourne, Australia
Hong Kong, China
Munich, Germany
Las Vegas
Florence, Italy
Prague, Czech Republic
Dublin, Ireland
Kyoto, Japan
Vienna, Austria
Lisbon, Portugal
Venice, Italy
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Athens, Greece
Orlando, Florida
Toronto, Canada
Miami
San Francisco
Shanghai, China
Frankfurt, Germany
Copenhagen, Denmark
Zurich, Switzerland
Washington, D.C.
Pattaya-Chonburi, Thailand
Vancouver, Canada
Stockholm, Sweden
Mexico City, Mexico
Oslo, Norway
São Paulo, Brazil
Phuket, Thailand
Helsinki, Finland
Brussels, Belgium
Budapest, Hungary
Guangzhou, China
Nice, France
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Honolulu, Hawaii
Beijing, China
Warsaw, Poland
Seville, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Shenzhen, China
Doha, Qatar
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Antalya, Turkey
Fukuoka, Japan
Sapporo, Japan
Busan, South Korea
Macau, China
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Montreal, Canada
Cancún, Mexico
Bologna, Italy
Rhodes, Greece
Verona, Italy
Delhi, India
Porto, Portugal
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Marne-La-Vallée, France
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Kraków, Poland
Heraklion, Greece
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel Aviv, Israel
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Thessaloniki, Greece
Lima, Peru
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Tbilisi, Georgia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tallinn, Estonia
Marrakech, Morocco
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Denpasar, Indonesia
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Santiago, Chile
Vilnius, Lithuania
Jerusalem, Israel
Zhuhai, China
Cairo, Egypt

cjudy:
So no Lagos Nigeria? According to Zone B, their Lord built Lagos as the most beautiful city in the world

dibunotion:
May wen Wike is done with Abuja we can find one. But sincerely it Akwa Ibom or Cross Rivers should be the states representing Nigeria

jmoore:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/02/27/the-100-best-cities-in-the-world-to-visit-in-2025-according-to-a-new-report/

poweredcom:
Wow New York always leading in USA cities that place ehn ...if u never new york u never enter place for the world

kernniejay:
. And the self acclaimed billionaires from the East came and developed it.

Yorubaskullmine:
The so called cities we have in Nigeria are sh.it holes.
Abuja that would have made the list is in a dilapidated state.

Yorubaskullmine:
The so called cities we have in Nigeria are sh.it holes.
Abuja that would have made the list is in a dilapidated state.

Mattswaggz:
Few African cities made the list...and nothing from the the most populous country in Africa. .

njokuuche77:
Why is Calabar not there?
Calabar is that fine, quiet babe of Nigerian cities, clean, peaceful, and peppery in the kitchen.
You’ll climb stairs that make you question your fitness, meet monkeys with attitude, and eat soups so rich they need BVN.
In December, the carnival turns the city into a Netflix dance series. Just don’t forget your mosquito repellent because while Calabar is peaceful, the mosquitoes are doing “skit creator.”

summary: Calabar is soft life. Just go there and behave yourself. The city doesn’t shout, it'll just humble you with class, culture, and native delicacies.

eneyoduke:
Why is Saskatchewan is not on the list 😒 😕 😑

ufotunang:
The Lagos they said Tinubu built and developed is not even there..it's a pity