Our Readers’ Favourite Towns within the International of 2023

5 of 7 continents are represented in this yr’s record of perfect towns on the earth, in line with T+L readers. And the scores end up that, this previous yr, our resilient readers were given again to Asia and Africa, and traveled to towns smartly well worth the long-haul flight, like Marrakesh (No. 14) and Singapore (No. 18). In accordance with reader feedback, it sort of feels the vacationers who voted on this yr’s International’s Highest Awards survey had been maximum taken with welcoming locals, nice meals, protection, cheap costs, and aesthetics (be it picturesque nature or Renaissance structure). 

How Vote casting Works

Yearly for our International’s Highest Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on go back and forth stories all over the world — to proportion their evaluations at the best motels, accommodations, towns, islands, cruise ships, spas, airways, and extra. Just about 165,000 T+L readers finished the 2023 survey, an build up of just about 25 p.c over pre-pandemic vote casting ranges. A complete of greater than 685,000 votes had been forged throughout over 8,500 distinctive houses (motels, towns, cruise strains, and many others.).

Towns had been in particular rated at the standards underneath:

• Points of interest/landmarks
• Tradition
• Meals
• Friendliness
• Buying groceries
• Price

For every feature, respondents may just make a selection a score of superb, above reasonable, reasonable, underneath reasonable, or deficient. The overall rankings are averages of those responses. 

What Readers Liked

It seems to be, from this record, like Mexico is T+L readers’ favourite nation on the earth. No fewer than 5 Mexican towns ranked as the most efficient on the earth this yr. Japan had 3 winners, and Thailand, Italy, and Portugal every had two. There was once some motion within the best 5, in comparison to final yr’s scores, with two Eu towns slipping to make room for No. 2 Udaipur, India, and No. 3 Kyoto, Japan. It’s standard to peer a minimum of one Eu town within the best 5 — frequently Istanbul (No. 8 this yr, additionally profitable the name of perfect town in Europe) or Florence, Italy (No. 12). The ones spots, this yr, went to Asian towns as a substitute, indicative of the shift again to go back and forth to Japan (Tokyo got here in at No. 7, 4 spots at the back of Kyoto) and India (which additionally had Mumbai at No. 10, trailing Udaipur by way of 8). 

Learn on to be told how Oaxaca, Mexico, claimed the coveted best spot for the second one yr in a row, and why vacationers selected those 25 towns as the most efficient on the earth.

The Complete Record

1. Oaxaca, Mexico

For the second one yr in a row, Oaxaca took the No. 1 spot on our perfect towns around the globe record. The mole and mezcal capital has lengthy been a favourite amongst T+L readers, however must-visit eating places and cocktail bars (Selva, Sabina Sabe, to call a couple of), plus new-and-improved resort skill, like the beautiful, six-room Casa Silencio, in reality gave town the brink it wanted to go back to the highest of the rostrum. As one reader stated, Oaxaca is “arms down probably the most coolest towns in the entire global.” The coolest, you may say.

Reader Ranking: 93.53

2. Udaipur, India

Udaipur is vying for that prime spot. It was once at No. 2 in 2021, sooner than slipping into tenth position final yr. Now? It’s two-tenths of a vote from perfection. As global vacationers go back to India — and in any case see the long-awaited Raffles Udaipur, which opened right through the pandemic — it’s no wonder that Udaipur is as soon as once more mountaineering the ranks. One reader sums up Udaipur’s attraction — in all caps, no much less, pronouncing, “VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL CITY.”

Reader Ranking: 93.33

3. Kyoto, Japan

In Tokyo, sights are sprawled out within the open, for vacationers to search out simply. In Kyoto, the ones sights are hidden in undeniable sight. This is a town of exceptional stores and eating places and tucked into slim, attractive alleyways. You must glance carefully, however you’ll be rewarded with, as one reader stated, “the most efficient meals on the earth.” Every other Kyoto stan famous town’s “fantastic points of interest and cultural landmarks with such a lot historical past this is so other from the cultures of Europe and the U.S.” That very same traveler endured, “One small instance was once sitting round with locals soaking our naked toes in combination in a large, highly regarded foot bathtub one night at a spa located on a educate platform.”

WBA Corridor of Status honoree. Reader Ranking: 92.06

4. Ubud, Indonesia

A fixture within the best 5 at this level, Ubud is an inland Balinese town surrounded by way of jungle. One reader described their holiday highlights: “swinging over rice terraces, using elephants, chasing waterfalls, taking footage with monkeys, buying groceries at each marketplace stalls and high-end shops, gorgeous eating places (Cafe Lotus at evening is particular), affordable massages, and motels with surprising surroundings.” Feels like an ideal itinerary.

Reader Ranking: 91.73

5. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Final yr’s runner-up and 2021’s winner, San Miguel de Allende is an established favourite amongst T+L readers. This “visually surprising” town, in step with one reader, is brimming with “artwork galleries and boutique stores,” some other fan stated. And as one T+L reader noticed, “[It’s a] magical town that feels extra like Spain than Mexico.”

Reader Ranking: 91.19

6. Mexico Town, Mexico

The capital of Mexico, and its greatest town, was once based by way of Aztec Indigenous communities and is a typical on this class’s best 10. Yearly brings extra thrilling resort openings (this yr it’s the fantastically designed Soho Space Mexico Town, opening within the fall), eating place debuts, and most likely most significantly, meals excursions of town’s perfect tacos.

Reader Ranking: 90.55

7. Tokyo, Japan 

It’s now not in Tokyo’s nature to take a seat blithely by way of as Kyoto puts within the best 5. Japan’s lively capital, with Michelin-starred ramen joints, extra special new motels (see: Bulgari Tokyo and the approaching Version in Ginza), and a unending record of neighborhoods to discover, attracts vacationers in similar to Cyndi Lauper, time after time.

Reader Ranking: 90.30

8. Istanbul, Turkey

Additionally named the most efficient town in Europe this yr, Turkey’s tradition and elegance capital celebrates “the intermingling of cultures and faith and other folks,” one reader stated. “The remainder of the arena will have to take this town for instance.” They endured, “the meals is outstanding, and persons are ridiculously welcoming to vacationers.” 

Reader Ranking: 90.23

9. Bangkok, Thailand

It’s uncommon that Thailand’s bustling capital would rank upper than Chiang Mai. Living proof: final yr, Bangkok got here in at No. 24, whilst Chiang Mai landed at No. 7. Hiking 14 spots as vacationers flock again to Asia, Bangkok has new motels (see The Usual, Bangkok Mahanakhon) and a completely delectable show of Michelin-starred eating places to thank for its emerging inventory.

Reader Ranking: 89.99

10. Mumbai, India

Our readers love to appear underneath the outside of Mumbai — venturing previous vintage vacationer haunts, like Leopold Cafe, and websites just like the Gateway of India arch to the “artwork galleries and the fish marketplace within the Colaba house,” as one T+L reader detailed.

Reader Ranking: 89.79

11. Chiang Mai, Thailand

In spite of slipping quite in rank this yr — after making the highest 10 in 2021 and 2022 — Chiang Mai stays many T+L readers’ “favourite town in Thailand,” as one stated.

Reader Ranking: 89.49

12. Florence, Italy

Come for the enthralling Botticellis putting within the Uffizi Gallery and the detailed take a look at the Medici circle of relatives tree, keep for the alfresco sculptures in lesser-known piazzas. “Each and every time we come right here, we fall somewhat extra in love with this position and its superb antiquities,” one fan gushed.

WBA Corridor of Status honoree. Reader Ranking: 89.48

13. Luang Prabang, Laos

After now not making the record final yr, the Laotian town returns at No. 13 for 2023. Within the mountains of north Laos, Luang Prabang is scenically sandwiched between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.

Reader Ranking: 89.44

14. Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh was once the one African town to rank this yr, thrilling T+L readers with its eating places and motels tucked into the bustling Medina and iconic websites just like the Majorelle Gardens and Bahia Palace.

Reader Ranking: 89.24

15. Rome, Italy

The two,500-year-old town, which is older than Italy itself, is getting a large number of consideration this yr. An inflow of latest luxurious motels — an Version, a Bulgari, and a Six Senses — would possibly even push Italy’s capital town into the highest 10 subsequent yr. Time will inform.

WBA Corridor of Status honoree. Reader Ranking: 88.91

16. Mérida, Mexico

“Mérida is an undiscovered gem in Mexico,” one T+L reader stated. “The meals was once superb and reasonably priced.” Along with praising the meals (Mérida is understood, particularly amongst Mexicans, as a foodie the town), vacationers remarked on how protected town is, with a couple of readers calling it a “very protected town.”

Reader Ranking: 88.81

17. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia reopened to American vacationers in November 2021, and because then, global vacationers had been wading again into the wonders of Siem Reap. One reader, who visited proper as the rustic reopened, stated, “Our resort in Siem Reap didn’t have the eating place again but, however we discovered ‘Brown,’ a espresso store. The second one day we went, we had been identified, and by way of the 3rd day, he knew our orders. At our resort, the individual on the table would stroll us out to our cars to mention good-bye and greet us on the finish of the day upon our go back. I felt like royalty right here.”

Reader Ranking: 88.80

18. Singapore

The land of hawker facilities, the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool, the merlion, and the mythical Singapore sling got here in at No. 18 this yr, after now not striking at the global’s perfect towns record for the previous two years. The Lion Town reopened in 2021 and continues to turn into much less of a stopover and extra of a last vacation spot. (Although, with Changi Airport taking the No. 1 spot for global’s perfect airport, it’s now not onerous to peer why a Singapore stopover is so interesting.) 

Reader Ranking: 88.78

19. Charleston, United States

Charleston, South Carolina, was once named the most efficient town within the U.S., by way of T+L readers, for the eleventh yr in a row. Vacationers can’t get sufficient of this coastal Southern town’s pastel-colored row properties, lowcountry cooking, and extra special hospitality.

WBA Corridor of Status honoree. Reader Ranking: 88.63

20. Lisbon, Portugal

A treasure trove of mosaic tile, coastal surroundings, and in reality, in reality just right tinned fish, Lisboa is again at the global’s perfect towns record for the primary time since 2020.

Reader Ranking: 88.62

21. Santa Fe, United States

Santa Fe is certainly one of simply two American hubs to make the 2023 record. Although it hasn’t ranked probably the greatest towns on the earth since 2019, its colourful artwork scene, Pueblo-style structure, spa-forward motels, and one-of-a-kind delicacies, mixing Hispanic and Local American affect, drew T+L readers again this yr.

Reader Ranking: 88.47

22. Hobart, Australia

The capital of Tasmania is a newcomer to this record — it hasn’t positioned in a minimum of the final 5 years. However it’s indubitably a great addition to our readers’ choice of their favourite towns on the earth, as an incredible town vacation spot on an island off Australia, a counterpart to Auckland, if you’re going to.

Reader Ranking: 88.44

23. Guadalajara, Mexico

The most important town within the Mexican state of Jalisco, Guadalajara pulls T+L readers in with fantastic boulevard meals, together with torta ahogada (a sauce-drenched sandwich) and tacos brimming with birria.

Reader Ranking: 88.13

24. Porto, Portugal

The gateway to Portuguese wine nation, Porto is praised by way of T+L readers for “now not [being] overrun with American vacationers” and, in fact, for its grilled sardines. “So colourful, so pleasant, and maximum the entirety you wish to have to peer is inside of strolling distance if you’re staying on the town,” one reader summarized.

Reader Ranking: 88.09

25. Osaka, Japan

Final however under no circumstances least, Osaka is the 3rd Jap town at the record this yr. Situated south of No. 3 Kyoto, readers had been attracted to Osaka for the superb public transportation and the splendidly welcoming (and basically non-English-speaking) other folks. Of the folk they encountered in Osaka, one reader stated, “We’ve so much to be told from them.”

Reader Ranking: 88.05