Paris, Bangkok, and Tokyo top 2025 global city rankings

Paris, Bangkok, and Tokyo lead the world’s most attractive cities to visit in 2025, as global travel rebounds and urban destinations adopt smarter, sustainable tourism strategies, according to a Euromonitor report.

Nathaniel Alexander Abaño December 31, 2025

Paris has been named the world’s most attractive city for the fifth consecutive year, buoyed by the reopening of Notre Dame. Image by: Paris Olympics / Website

Paris, Bangkok and Tokyo are leading the world’s most attractive cities to visit in 2025 as global travel rebounds and destinations pivot toward smarter, more sustainable tourism strategies, according to the Euromonitor International Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025.

The index projects 702 million international trips to the world’s top cities this year, an 8% increase from 2024. Together, these destinations account for 46% of global inbound tourism, far outpacing overall global travel growth of 4%, underscoring the growing concentration of tourism in major urban hubs.

Tourism surge

Paris has been named the world’s most attractive city for the fifth consecutive year, buoyed by the reopening of Notre Dame, a surge of football fans following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory, and long-term investments in tourism infrastructure and policy.

Europe dominates the rankings, placing six cities in the global top 10, with Madrid second, followed by Rome, Milan, Amsterdam and Barcelona. London continued its slide to 18th place, weighed down by weaker scores in sustainability, health and safety, and tourism policy despite strong infrastructure.

In Asia-Pacific, Bangkok once again topped the world for international arrivals, with an estimated 30.3 million trips in 2025, retaining its lead despite currency pressures and regional competition.

Hong Kong ranked second for arrivals with 23.2 million trips, supported by the opening of Kai Tak Stadium and expanded airport capacity, while Macau emerged as the fastest-growing destination, posting 14% growth driven largely by visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong.

Tokyo, ranked third overall, continues to strengthen its appeal through major airport expansions aimed at doubling Narita International Airport’s passenger capacity by 2039. Singapore and Seoul rounded out the top 10, reflecting Asia’s strong post-pandemic tourism momentum.

AI advantage

In tourism performance, Orlando overtook New York, powered by robust domestic travel, the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, major upgrades at Disney World and SeaWorld, and hosting six FIFA Club World Cup matches. Dubai continued to dominate international tourism demand, aligning with the UAE’s goal of attracting 40 million visitors annually by 2031.

Beyond visitor numbers, the report highlights a strategic shift among cities toward value over volume, targeting longer stays, higher spending and more responsible travel to curb overtourism.

A key competitive edge is AI readiness, with cities such as Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing and Abu Dhabi deploying AI to manage transport, personalize visitor experiences and improve urban resilience. As global travel accelerates, Euromonitor notes that the future of tourism will depend not just on attracting visitors, but on managing growth intelligently and sustainably.