Revealed! 5 Most Visited Cities in the World 2023
Whether you’re a casual vacationer, travel blogger, or a company involved in the travel industry, it benefits you to study the most visited cities in the world. You can check off your “hottest destinations” and “famous cities” lists, and gain valuable insight into what kind of experiences people seek, and where they find them.
A study by Mastercard has yielded the Global Destinations Cities Index (pdf). It ranks cities based on total international overnight visitor arrivals and cross-border spending. By understanding international travel patterns and studying how it affects urban economies, the index can also predict visitor growth for the following year.
The differing charm points of these cities prove that people are no longer just following trends, but set them by seeking the fit.
Top tourist destinations are those that offer diversity in attractions and environment
The differing charm points of these cities prove that people are no longer just following trends, but set them by seeking the fit.
Top tourist destinations are those that offer diversity in attractions and environment
1. Bangkok (22.78 Million Visitors)
Country: Thailand | Total International Visitors: 22.78 million | Last Year’s Rank: 1
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is the most visited city in the world thanks to a whopping 22 million international visitors!
Wreathed in the noise of tuk-tuks and constant activity is the city of Bangkok, where map-less exploration always leads to fun discovery.
Enjoy the usual city comforts of megamalls and modern spaces before turning towards its collection of golden temples and shrines. Follow your nose to Bangkok’s countless street markets stuffed with spicy, sour, sweet, and salty flavors, then hop on a boat to reach their floating markets.
In the night, Chinatown and Sukhumvit reveals a vibrant nightlife that is both cosmopolitan and cultural. And to forget to enjoy the exciting day-trips away from this busy city!
2. Paris (19.10 Million Visitors)
Country: France | Total International Visitors: 19.10 million | Last Year’s Rank: 3 (⬆)
Paris is the second most visited city in the world and the most visited city in Europe!
Paris will arrest your attention with its classic buildings, arching Parisian bridges and elegant boulevards.
Take a cruise along River Seine for a quick look at the city’s historical monuments, or swing by individual neighborhoods for Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and more.
And as an established art and fashion capital, visitors can’t go without seeing the collections of Musee d’Orsay and Centre Pompidou. Atmospheric bookstores, vintage shops and flea markets make their mark beside art nouveau department stores such as Galeries Lafayette.
To immerse yourself in this beautiful city from the comfort of your couch, pick any of the following photo book. They all include breathtaking photos that will surprise and delight you for sure!
3. London (19.09 Million Visitors)
Country: United Kingdom | Total International Visitors: 19.09 million | Last Year’s Rank: 2 (⬇)
London is clearly one of the most popular cities in the world! The gothic architecture in London is matched by splashes of innovation (such as the Shard, Tate Modern, and the Sky Garden), offering up grand and historical quarters.
You’ll be charmed by the taverns and all of West End and impressed by London’s contemporary art, theater and literature.
Greeting you with both the beauty of green parks and urban sprawl, the city will take you through a stunning historical journey.
4. Dubai (15.93 Million Visitors)
Country: United Arab Emirates | Total International Visitors: 15.93 million | Last Year’s Rank: 4
Dubai rises out from the desert in all its futuristic glory.
High-rises dominate the skyline, housing mega-malls, and sleek office blocks.
City life is defined by lazy shopping, performance venues, serene places of worship, and fancy rooftop terraces.
On the fringes are beaches, pieces of nature in contrast to the man-made aquariums and botanical gardens.
And of course, you can sign up for a desert trip and experience riding a camel, or flying down the dunes on a four-wheeler.
5. Singapore (14.67 Million Visitors)
Country: The Republic of Singapore | Total International Visitors: 14.67 million | Last Year’s Rank: 5
Green and innovative, Singapore is a city designed with the future in mind.
Hop from attraction to another with its efficient transportation system and hit up the diverse neighborhoods of Little India to Chinatown.
From hawker centers to street markets to fine dining, you’ll be eating your fill of multi-national cuisine – Singapore is a foodie must-visit.
When you’re not busy eating, you will be basking in the luxe Orchard Road shopping mall, or exploring the famous Botanic Gardens.
