15 cities across the world

 that should be at the top 

of your travel bucket-list

A street in San Miguel de Allende.

Kobby Dagan/Shutterstock

• These visitor-friendly cities are rich in history, nature, and adventure.
• Known for its impressive preservation of architecture, the Japanese city of Kyoto ranks at number four.
• The authentic and affordable city of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico is number one, with a number of art galleries and creative restaurants to discover.

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Every year, we ask our readers to rate the best cities in the world, and the results continue to surprise us. Not only do newcomers sometimes float to the top, but longtime favorites also continue to reappear — a testament to a destination's enduring popularity. This year's group of winners span the globe, from market-filled Hoi An in Vietnam to Florence, a European culture capital. Of note, however, is what ties these contenders together: Almost all are pedestrian-friendly, possess ample green space, and have a rich history that's being thoughtfully preserved as the city grows. 

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. 

This year's No. 1 winner — for the first time ever in the World's Best Awards' 22-year history — is Mexico's San Miguel de Allende. "San Miguel is one of the most authentic, creative and cost-effective destinations we've visited," says a T+L reader of the colonial city, a part of which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. "Over the years we've discovered more great restaurants and activities, but the town still maintains its Mexican heritage, culture and charm." 

The World's Best Cities list also speaks to our readers' growing interest in Asia, as seven of the top 15 urban destinations are in the region. Kyoto, home to some of Japan's most well-preserved traditional architecture, Chiang Mai, Thailand, best known for its walled Old City, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, the jumping-off point for Angkor Wat, all made repeat appearances. 

Charleston — our top city in the U.S. for the fifth year running — was the sole American city among the top 10 overall; Florence, another World's Best veteran, was joined by European hubs like Rome and Barcelona; while Oaxaca, another Mexican city with a thriving culinary scene and cultural depth, came into the mix again for the first time since 2010. 

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15. Barcelona, Spain

Score: 89.52

 r.nagy/Shutterstock

14. Udaipur, India

Score: 89.54

 ImagesofIndia/Shutterstock

13. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Score: 89.57

 Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

12. Rome, Italy

Score: 89.73

 ESB Professional/Shutterstock

11. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Score: 89.94

 Zachary C Person/Shutterstock

10. Luang Prabang, Laos

Score: 90.10

 Iryna Hromotska/Shutterstock

9. Ubud, Indonesia

Score: 90.13

 Juriaan Wossink/Shutterstock

8. Cape Town, South Africa

Score: 90.24

 MG Africa/Shutterstock

7. Hoi An, Vietnam

Score: 90.31

 1tomm/Shutterstock

6. Oaxaca, Mexico

Score: 90.41

 Kobby Dagan/Shutterstock

5. Florence, Italy

Score: 90.75

 RastoS/Shutterstock

4. Kyoto, Japan

Score: 91.13

 Pigprox/Shutterstock

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Score: 91.40

 XIE CHENGXIN/Shutterstock

2. Charleston, South Carolina

Score: 91.54

 f11photo/Shutterstock

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Score: 92.12

 Kobby Dagan/Shutterstock

There's a lot to love about San Miguel, a colonial treasure anchored by El Jardín, a leafy plaza marked by open-air cafés and the pink Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel church. Art and textiles are big here: Mexicans and expats alike pop into independent boutiques selling artisan-made goods, and no trip is complete without a visit to the Fábrica La Aurora, a former textile factory that's been converted into a series of contemporary art galleries. Restaurants serving delicious Mexican dishes (rich moles, hot gorditas, stuffed chiles) are tucked along cobblestoned streets lined with historic houses. For one of the best views of the city, make a reservation at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende's Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar (this hotel also ranked as the No. 2 City Hotel in the country); margaritas pair well with the chiming church bells at sunset.