Photo: Zaonar Saizainalin / Pexels
Bangkok has been voted the number one city in the world for 2026 in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards, scoring 97.68 out of 100. It wasn't in the top 20 last year, and close to 300,000 readers took part in the vote. The same awards also ranked Koh Lanta third among Asia's islands, which is good news for us. Here's what the results say and what they might mean for your trip.
The award
Condé Nast Traveller readers put Bangkok first in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, with a score of 97.68 out of 100. Last year it didn't make the top 20. The vote drew close to 300,000 reader responses.
The magazine credits Bangkok's mix of architecture, history, Michelin-starred dining and street food. It also says Thailand's popularity with travellers is at a record high.
The top 20 cities for 2026
| Rank | City | Rank | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok | 11 | Stockholm |
| 2 | Paris | 12 | Vienna |
| 3 | Istanbul | 13 | Lisbon |
| 4 | Rome | 14 | Hong Kong |
| 5 | Valletta | 15 | Cape Town |
| 6 | Shanghai | 16 | Porto |
| 7 | Tokyo | 17 | Madrid |
| 8 | Seoul | 18 | New York |
| 9 | Sydney | 19 | Jaipur |
| 10 | Amsterdam | 20 | Singapore |
What the magazine highlighted
In the old town, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew were described as some of Thailand's finest architecture. Wat Pho, home to a renowned reclining Buddha, also got a mention. The magazine also pointed to markets, Michelin-starred restaurants, rooftop bars and entertainment.
Other Bangkok rankings
Bangkok has done well elsewhere too:
- Condé Nast Traveller 2026 friendliest cities: 9th, with a score of 96.16.
- Time Out 2026: named the city for nightlife.
- The New York Times "52 Places to Go" 2026: No. 3.
- Resonance Consultancy "World's Best Cities" (last year): 22nd.
- Travelbag, a UK travel specialist, 2026 study of 36 cities: 5th for food.
- Euromonitor International: the world's most-visited city in 2024, with 32.4 million international visitors.
Koh Lanta and other Thai places in the same awards
The awards also ranked Asia's islands and beaches, and several Thai places made the lists.
Islands
- Koh Lanta: No. 3
- Phuket: No. 4
- Koh Samui: No. 9
Beaches
- Railay: No. 2
- Ao Nang Beach: No. 10
- Pattaya Beach: No. 16
- Maya Bay: No. 18
What it means for travellers
- Expect more attention on Bangkok. More demand could mean busier attractions and higher prices.
- Good for a first trip or a stopover. With awards for food, nightlife and friendliness, Bangkok works as a base for a first Thailand trip or a stopover.
- A boost for Lanta. Being rated the third-best island in Asia by these readers raises Lanta's profile. Railay and Ao Nang, both in Krabi, also placed well, which helps the wider Krabi region.
- Check the weather. The source page notes flooding in 27 provinces plus Bangkok. It also lists heavy rain in 8 provinces on 8 October and a few showers in Bangkok. Check the weather and flood situation before you travel.
- Votes show popularity, not quality. Reader votes measure popularity and sentiment, not objective quality.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.