The World's Best Cities

Travel+Leisure has compiled its annual list of the world's best cities, as voted by users worldwide as we continue to navigate the pandemic and its impact on travel. Mexico had a great showing, appearing in the "Hall of Fame" with several individual entries.

What Makes a Top City

Obviously, the list here is going to be a bit biased towards the best tourist cities, as it's polled from a travel magazine. It won't feature things like the job market, school system, and other telltale economic markers that people look for. Travel + Leisure asked readers to review their experiences in different cities based off of set criteria. These included sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and "overall value." A top city on this list is one with an abundance of stuff to do, things to see, and a distinct character.

Some Common Elements

The cities that made the list this year all have a few things in common. Cities that rank highest tend to be accessible to pedestrians, tend to have abundant greenery, and have well-preserved historical sites. These features have drawn more and more visitors to Asia, South America, and Mexico, in particular.