The best cities in the world: 2025 Readers' Choice Awards
As Samuel Pepys, who traversed London on foot for miles every day, knew, a city easily navigated à pied is so much more appealing than one that stops you in your tracks. Walkability was just one criterion on which you judged your urban hits as we asked you, the readers of Condé Nast Traveller, to vote for the best cities in the world right now. From the cultural gems of Kyoto to Shanghai's transport links via the heady nightlife of Madrid and Cape Town's rising arts scene, these are the places you're giving a moment in the spotlight over the past year.
These are the best cities in the world, according to the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards.
20. Hong Kong. Score: 91.90
Ask any committed traveller if they've been to Hong Kong, and if they have, there's a fine chance they saw little more than the airport walls, which is pretty spectacular as airports go. However, the curious city breakers among our readers helped propel this Asian city into the top 20 best cities in the world – just. For inspiration ahead of future visits, see where we recommend laying your head in our guide to the best hotels in Hong Kong.
19. San Sebastián, Spain. Score: 91.94
Few cities capture the hearts of gourmands quite like San Sebastián, northern Spain’s dazzling resort town. Leave your ‘tapas’ further south – it’s all about pintxo bars here. Swirl fruity wines and watch the world go by while embracing ‘picky bits’ in true Spanish fashion – bacon-wrapped dates, anchovies, and olive skewers, along with creamy croquettes, among others. This mountainous Basque Country landscape is also excellent hiking territory; take to the hills and work up an appetite for yet another round of lip-smacking bar hopping.
18. Stockholm, Sweden. Score: 92.06
Stockholm is the European go-to for super-chic travellers. People watch over steaming coffees by the waterside and expect a sleek fashion show as the Swedes go about their day. There's a lot to be said for the food scene here, especially where fine dining is concerned, while the city's bright young things swarm the colourful streets on long summer nights for spritz-sipping and comforting light bites.
17. Kyoto, Japan. Score: 92.12
Tucked into the heart of Japan’s Kansai region, Kyoto tops many a traveller’s bucket list as they attempt to fit as much of the country into a visit as possible. Ancient shrines and minimalist cafés sit side by side, and days pass with cycles past traditional wooden machiya townhouses and onsen bathing among the trees at the city’s outskirts. Watch and listen as artisans spill their secrets in cosy dens over piping hot matcha – it’s enough to convert anyone with usually itchy feet towards the slow travel movement.
16. Lisbon, Portugal. Score: 92.22
Perched across seven cinematic hills with the Atlantic light bouncing off azulejo-tiled facades, the Portuguese capital blends old-world romance with a kind of scrappy cool that feels entirely its own. One moment may be soundtracked by mournful vocals echoing from a fado bar, another by thumping dance music from a hideout frequented by the city’s night owls. The city’s food scene warrants arriving hungry, with piri piri chickens the centrepiece of convivial al-fresco feasts before gooey pastéis de nata from the city’s most iconic bakeries.
15. Melbourne, Australia. Score: 92.44
Melbourne is a city stitched together by laneways and latte rituals where creativity hums beneath the surface. One moment you’re sipping a flat white in a tucked-away café with vinyl spinning in the corner; the next, you’re in Fitzroy, thumbing through indie zines or stumbling upon a gallery that doubles as a bar. By all means, see the sights, but save time to wander aimlessly, stumbling across street art and discovering your favourite new brunch spot as the sun beats down on Australia’s most creative folk.
14. New York, USA. Score: 92.78
Will our adoration for the Big Apple ever die? With so many things to do in New York City, we find ourselves returning to it time and time again. Every month, fabulous new hotels, tasty restaurants and quirky attractions open their doors. In fact, we seem to be even more obsessed with NYC than ever, with the city climbing to 14th place from 20th in last year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
13. Munich, Germany. Score: 92.89
Regal yet rebellious, orderly yet effortlessly cool – we’re all too accustomed to hearing colleagues, friends, and family members confess their love for this often underrated German city. Centuries-old beer halls sit alongside avant-garde galleries housing iconic artwork, with uber-chic boutiques and exceptional restaurants aplenty en route. There’s something for everyone, from resplendent Baroque palaces to underground techno clubs and every type of cultural scene in between.
12. Sydney, Australia. Score: 92.99
Sydney is still firmly in your top 20 cities in the world, so our love of Australia’s glitzy seaside metropolis remains strong. If you've experienced a snippet of life Down Under, you've probably fallen hard for the unique, indoor-outdoor way of life the Aussies embrace so well. Planning that bucket list trip? Be sure to read Contemporary artist Gabrielle Penfold's guide to Sydney, where she shares tasty in-the-know spots and more.
11. Madrid, Spain. Score: 93.32
Following cries of over-tourism in cities such as Barcelona, many Brits are turning their attention to the Spanish capital for their city break fix. It's a destination long adored by admirers of spectacular architecture and history and a favourite among foodies, who seek out neighbourhood spots in the city's outskirts.
10. Copenhagen, Denmark. Score: 93.33
Few cities are as effortlessly elegant as the Danish capital. Design and culture are a part of daily life, and we find ourselves directing a Humpf at the contents of our wardrobes after spending leisurely afternoons sipping coffee and watching the city’s uber-fashionable residents go about their day. Spend mornings cycling along the harbour, afternoons in tucked-away wine bars in Vesterbro or wandering through the sculpture garden at Louisiana before plates of foraged and fermented ingredients among sleek lines and flickering candles at supper.
9. Vienna, Austria. Score: 93.75
Vienna's musical legacy is one of the biggest draws for travellers – but it's well worth setting aside time for a Wiener Schnitzel and an indulgent slice of Sachertorte. Our favourite things to do in the city include picturesque tram rides, world-class concerts, and tours of regal palaces. Best of all, there’s no shortage of chic places to stay. All eyes were on The Hoxton Vienna last year, while we’re itching to check out Miiro Palais Rudolf when the doors open in November 2025.
8. Mumbai, India. Score: 93.77
Once you accept Mumbai's rhythm, it’s all fantastically fun. Elegant facades face Bollywood billboards and street food stalls hum beneath Art Deco balconies. Adjust to the morning light along Marine Drive, chai in hand, before afternoons in galleries or watching artisans at work in boutique stores – Mumbai moves fast, but it makes for a city break full of stories like no other.
7. Oslo, Norway. Score: 94.36
Tucked among cavernous fjords and verdant hills, the Norwegian capital effortlessly blends Nordic cool with a warm, homely atmosphere. Design is instinctual, and nature always feels like an extension of your living room – so it’s no wonder that the locals are among the happiest residents in the world. Winters are spent in sweltering cabins to offset the bone-shaking, snow-capped chill, while life spills out onto the streets in summer as locals make the most of post-10pm sunsets.
6. Shanghai, China. Score: 94.67
Shanghai is a city with vibrant, cinematic energy, with neon ripples entering your periphery at every turn. One moment you're sipping artisan coffee in a French Concession lane house wrapped in ivy; the next, you're admiring the space-age spire of the Oriental Pearl Tower. The food alone could keep you here forever; undoubtedly one of the reasons the city has shot into the top 10 of this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
5. Santa Fe, USA. Score: 94.81
Santa Fe’s light glows gold across high desert mesas and low-slung casitas that look carved from the earth. It’s as if time moves more slowly here, with residents and visitors alike flitting between indoor galleries and outdoor installations before settling in for fiery dishes at beloved local hideouts. Embark on the Santa Fe Margarita Trail, attend the opera, explore the Downtown stores, and unwind at the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe for an unforgettable escape.
4. Quito, Ecuador. Score: 94.88
Each visit to the Ecuadorian capital reveals something new. European, Moorish and Indigenous styles sit side by side atop ancient Incan foundations, layers of history revealing their tales to curious travellers. Morning light slices through mountain mist as church bells ricochet across plazas, kaleidoscopic street art brings hidden corners to life, and rooftop cocktails come with volcano views. Stand on the equator at Mitad del Mundo before taking the cable car up the Pichincha Volcano to admire the city in all its glory from above.
3. Cape Town, South Africa. Score: 95.28
South Africa’s capital truly offers the best of both worlds. There are few cities in the world as culturally rich as Cape Town, where you can lounge on spectacular beaches frequented by penguins before heading to gorgeous vineyards and chic rooftop bars. It’s a winter sun favourite among Brits for plenty of reasons, but the minimal time difference from the UK is undoubtedly a draw for remote workers and sunseekers eager to avoid the perils of jet lag.
2. Tokyo, Japan. Score: 96.30
Is it possible to decipher this neon city in all its glory? We're unsure, but those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to explore Tokyo have given it a good go – often returning back to Blighty with a longer ‘must see’ list than we jetted off with. Cultures and ages collide on these streets, where sleek hotels blend with ancient traditions. It's a unique experience, but one you'll never forget. Our obsession with Japan continues to go from strength to strength, as its jump from sixth to second place in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards demonstrates.
1. Valletta, Malta. Score: 97.33
Claiming the top spot of the best city in the world in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards in Malta’s sun-baked capital. The Mediterranean city feels at once ancient and fresh, with one of Europe’s buzziest creative scenes bubbling above foundations built by knights. Wake from a slumber in hotels carved into 500-year-old palazzos and wander honey-colored alleys after morning espresso, easing into the day as church bells ring out to the sea. We’ve long noted how Malta is reinventing what Mediterranean cool looks like, bolstered by autumns that mirror summers in the continent’s north. It’s fascinating rather than flashy – and we’re excited to see what the city has in store following its stratospheric rise in popularity.