The World’s 10 Best Cities of 2023

 

The World’s 10 Best Cities of 2023

The World's 10 Best Cities in 2023 In contrast to other best-of lists, the annual Resonance ranking takes into account a city's diversity, cultural programming, safety, number of parks, and even the number of sunny days.

We will never begin a story without mentioning the "pandemic pause" again, but today is not that day. For the best cities in the world, things are still changing. In search of the ideal location for work, living, and recreation, the global population has resumed mass migration over the past year. In search of cheaper pastures, hundreds of thousands left major metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Rome; In the meantime, LinkedIn reports that one out of every six job listings is "remote," which is contributing to a sort of global existential crisis. Is this the end of the big city as we know it?

Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, stated, "Far from it." The 2023 World's Best Cities list was released today, and many well-known locations topped it.

A popular "best-of" list has been approached holistically by Resonance, a real estate, tourism, and economic development consulting firm, for the past 15 years. Resonance uses a combination of core statistics (like GDP and homicide rates) and qualitative evaluations by both locals and visitors (from online channels like Instagram and TripAdvisor) to paint a more complete picture of the world's best city rather than relying solely on data about, for instance, a location's livability or how simple it is to bike there. Fair stated, "It's not just the best city to live in, the best city to work in, or the best city to visit." It's taking a look at all those factors from different angles.

The cities on this year's list, all of which have more than 750,000 people, have used the "pandemic pause" to build 464 miles of bikeways (San Francisco), spend billions of dollars on hotels and waterfront development (Washington, D.C.), expand or open major museums, and finally complete the renovation of LaGuardia Airport (NYC). One place even had its name changed—it is now Istanbul, Türkiye. A commitment to diversity and sustainability is also shared by many of these top-tier cities: no longer considered "forward-thinking," but rather the standard for the most brilliant thinkers.

This year, one notable exception: According to Fair, "no city that is part of a country that is taking unprovoked action against another cannot be a "Best City" in our opinion." “We have removed Moscow and St. Petersburg from this year's report, two cities that finished in the Top 20 last year,” Kyiv was named the Honorary World's Best City in 2023 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

How the best cities are ranked According to Fair, "Many of the factors that people told us were important in choosing a city to live in, do business in, or visit was related to the experiential quality of the city—things like culture, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and sports." Core statistics do not exist for those kinds of factors. The fact that we measure these experiential factors by mining user-generated data from platforms like TripAdvisor and Yelp is what sets our rankings apart.

The six main categories they used to rank cities were Place, People, Programming, Product, Prosperity, and Promotion.

Place: This includes the weather (the average number of sunny days), safety (the rate of homicide), sights and landmarks (specifically the number of which were recommended by locals and visitors), and the outdoors.

People: The percentage of citizens who are employed and the percentage of the population with a bachelor's degree or higher are taken into account in the People category.

Programming: This is what most travel guides refer to as "things to do," and it includes experiences in culture (particularly performing arts), nightlife, dining, and shopping that both locals and tourists recommend.

Product: In contrast, the institutions and infrastructure of each city are included in the Product category. This is where things like museums and attractions, as well as airport connectivity (or the number of direct destinations served by the city's airports), university ranking (particularly the ranking of the best local school), and the size of the local convention center, are taken into consideration.

Prosperity: The number of Global 500 corporate headquarters in each city, the GDP per capita, the income equality index, and the unemployment rate are all included in this category. Resonance believes that greater "prosperity" attracts more people to live in these cities, which ultimately drives more economic growth and development, even though the majority of travelers would not necessarily consider these factors when selecting a destination. In the long run, this means better dining options, cultural institutions, and airports.

Promotion: This list looked at how popular each city was online in addition to relying on user-generated data from locals and visitors to validate recommendations for dining and shopping. The number of Facebook check-ins, Google searches, TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags shared online about each city, and the popularity of each city in Google Trends over the past year are the primary factors that go into the Promotion category—or how a city's story is shared online.

In the 2023 report, which was released on November 9, 2022, the rankings of the world's best cities are as follows:

1. Rankings in London, England that stand out: Nightlife (1), Museums (1) "Despite much-warranted hand-wringing about the flight of talent and capital due to the pall of Brexit (and the follow-up specter of an airborne pandemic), London is hanging in just fine," says Resonance, "relying on a dipping currency to attract investment and, of course, previously priced-out tourists." This is even though England's longest-reigning monarch passed away last year. likewise, new residents New wealthy residents who now have the means to accomplish a significant goal on the multimillionaire bucket list: property in the world's best city. London has brought in the most foreign direct investments into technology from international companies since 2018, surpassing New York, Singapore, and Dubai, according to fDi Markets, the foreign investment tracker of the Financial Times.

Reasons we adore it: Although some of London's most famous landmarks date back millennia, the city's hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars continue to evolve almost daily. There is a distinct London neighborhood to explore, and it will probably look different from your previous visit, whether you are outdoorsy, hungry, or traveling with a family. The much-hyped NoMad London, hip One Hundred Shoreditch, and revitalized historic classics like the Dilly is all new hotel options.

Use AFAR's Guide to London to plan your next trip.

2. Rankings in Paris, France that stand out: According to Resonance, "What returning visitors find is a city that has codified pedestrianism and alfresco living." Mayor Hidalgo ordered that the 60,000 parking spaces loaned to restaurants for outdoor seating simply remain to prevent cars from regaining control of Parisian streets as pandemic urban pilot projects diminished, as was the case in many other cities. The transformation is most pronounced along the Seine River, in the tourist district of Paris, near the Notre Dame Cathedral and city hall. In a city with dozens of historic locations deserving of the honor, this is now Paris's town square because of the reduced automobile traffic. Even after the Right Bank summer event in Paris ended, thousands of people gathered on the riverside promenade night after night. In a city that has long been criticized for being pricey and exclusive, the Paris-Plages urban beach initiative welcomes picnicking and other low-cost access.

Reasons we adore it: It is only getting better as Paris gets ready for the Olympics in 2024. A few new hotels, a commitment to pedestrianism, and improved infrastructure just in the past year add to a city we love for its world-class art, shopping, and international cuisine.

Use AFAR's Guide to Paris to plan your next trip.

3. United States of America's New York City Highlighted rankings: According to Resonance, NYC is welcoming back visitors in style with significant improvements to its international gateways. New terminals have been built at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, "with the new Terminal B at LaGuardia alone boasting 35 gates" and looking good. Moynihan Train Hall is a brand-new, 17-track expansion of Penn Station that can be mistaken for a futuristic transit hub in northern Europe if you squint. Also, if you haven't heard of the biggest hotel that opened in the city this summer, read AFAR's review of the new Aman, which costs $3,200 per night.

Reasons we adore it: For its culture, "The City" consistently ranks; The Bronx Children's Museum, an expanded Louis Armstrong House Museum, and a jazz club at Aman with Lincoln Center acoustics are all new this year. The following are brand-new sights and landmarks: a lot of really good food halls, like the Singaporean/Malaysian Urban Hawker Center and the Tin Building by Jean-Georges at the South Street Seaport that has been renovated. We anticipate that visitors will follow Broadway once it returns with a full roster.

AFAR's Guide to New York City can help you plan your next trip.

4. Rankings in Tokyo, Japan that stand out: Restaurants (1), Shopping (1) "The Japanese government remains steadfast, keeping its target of 60 million visitors and $136 billion in tourism revenue by 2030, despite the pandemic and subsequent derailment of Japan's plans—or perhaps because of them." It's not as crazy as it seems: According to Resonance, the country experienced record levels of tourism for seven consecutive years and is now able to accommodate even more visitors to Tokyo as a result of the expansion of the international terminal at Haneda, the main airport for the city. Japan's recent reopening to international travelers has sparked a lot of excitement, and given that it is ranked as the best shopping city in the world, wallets are likely to open upon their return.

Reasons we adore it: No ranked. Tokyo is a destination worth planning an entire trip around food because of its restaurants, which serve some of the best ramen in the world. And don't worry if the majority of your travel budget is spent on food. Tokyo has a lot of cheap hotels that you can book.

Using AFAR's Guide to Tokyo, you can plan your next trip.

5. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ranked highly: Safety and Facebook Check-Ins: (1) Dubai is riding high ahead of Expo 2020, a six-month, multibillion-dollar world's fair that showcases nearly 200 nations with futuristic pavilions and seemingly never-ending cultural celebrations. Now, the UAE hub wants to keep its visitors coming back for more: By 2025, Dubai wants to be the most popular tourist destination in the world, with 25 million visitors. The addition of a United Airlines direct flight between Newark and Dubai in March 2023 ought to be beneficial.

Reasons we adore it: its brand-new Future Museum; increased accessibility and more cost-effective lodging options; a brand-new Michelin guide with 69 restaurants, one of which has a Green star for sustainability; and the enticement of Santiago Calatrava's Tower at Dubai Creek, which is anticipated to surpass the Burj Khalifa as the world's tallest building.

Use AFAR's Guide to Dubai to plan your next trip.

6. Spain's Barcelona Highlighted rankings: TripAdvisor Reviews, Nightlife, and (5) Reasons We Love It: Resonance describes Barcelona as "colorful neighborhoods that march to their beat—artistic, sophisticated, bohemian." It also has miles and miles of beaches, iconic parks, and Gaud's iconic architectural landmarks, making it an almost ideal European city. It can now include "bike-friendly" on the list. Visitors will find that there is more non-motorized access to the city. Mayor Colau has achieved her goal of 125 miles of bike lanes, with another 20 miles scheduled for completion by 2023. Playgrounds and public seating have been installed in place of roads and parking as part of the mayor's "superblock" initiative.

Take a look at Passeig de Sant Joan, which Time Out recently ranked as one of the world's best streets. According to Resonance, Sant Joan is one of the first green corridors in Spain. With its bicycle lanes, expansive sidewalks, greenery, and sprawling outdoor seating, it was designed for self-propelled mobility and exploration. Extra benefit: Mercat de l'Abaceria, the adored food market in the city, is also located there (at least until it moves into more permanent quarters later this decade).

Use AFAR's Guide to Barcelona to plan your next trip.

7. Rankings in Rome, Italy that stand out: Reviews on TripAdvisor, Sights, and Landmarks (3): "Few cities offer the opportunity to walk Western history like Roma." Resonance asserts, "If you have an hour, Palatine Hill alone invites you into two millennia's worth." According to Resonance, "a dozen other museums and cultural landmarks have also just reopened or been unveiled for the first time." The reopened Mausoleum of Augustus and the Casa Romana, a residence built in the fourth century and located beneath the Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco, should not be missed. The Museo Ninfeo, which tells the story of the ruins of a... let's call it a "vacation property" for Roman emperors, is one of the newcomers.

Reasons we adore it: Every cobblestone street in Rome has its ancient charms, but the city never rests on its laurel wreaths. The city's first Hoxton hotel and the Colosseum's upcoming renovations are two new attractions; just avoid sitting on the Spanish Steps when you return.

Use the Guide to Rome from AFAR to plan your next trip.

8. Spain's Madrid: Top rankings: According to Resonance, Madrid has "bounced back on its feet deftly, continuing a much-needed investment in its abundant (but long-dormant) infrastructure and public assets that is fueling the Spanish capital’s city-building legacy like few eras before." Nightlife is ranked sixth, and Trip Advisor reviews are ranked seventh. Madrid's beautiful measures to combat pollution and climate change include a 47-mile urban forest network with nearly half a million new trees that will connect the city's existing forest masses and reuse abandoned sites between roads and buildings. This may be the most significant development. It is anticipated that this "green wall" will, upon completion, aid in the absorption of 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and reduce urban heat gain."

Reasons we adore it: The best way to see Spain's capital is to walk along its wide boulevards or through the Reina Sofia and Prado museums. However, Madrid's nightlife scene is not to be missed, so make sure you take a siesta in the afternoon. Novelist Mira T. Lee rediscovered her love of late-night flamenco shows and dancing in clubs in the city's Cheuca neighborhood when AFAR sent her on a last-minute trip to Spain in 2019. Although investments in outdoor dining and walking infrastructure should help the city recover once the COVID virus has subsided, it has limited some of the fun that occurs at night.

With AFAR's Guide to Madrid, you can plan your next trip

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9. Rankings highlighted for Singapore: Safety (4), Google Trends (4), and the reasons we love it: Singapore's reinvestment in research, talent, and corporate headquarters recruitment guarantees that the country will continue to have a sustainable wealthy population for decades to come. According to Resonance, this is the reason why the city-state continues to rise among the world's most prosperous cities. The city-state known as The Little Red Dot received high scores for both Safety and Foreign-Born Population; It is best known for its famous street food from hawker stalls, its airport terminal that looks like a garden, and the recently reopened Raffles Singapore hotel, which has been welcoming travelers since 1887. According to Resonance, you should keep an eye out for the outcomes of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which include "more than 800 miles of bike lanes and the recently reopened nine-mile Rail Corridor."

Use AFAR's Guide to Singapore

10 as a guide for your next trip. Rankings in Amsterdam, Netherlands that stand out: The smallest city in the Top 50 is a tiny but powerful dynamo to keep an eye on, led by visionary mayor Femke Halsema (literally: ). Income Equality (3), and Labor Force Participation (5) Resonance claims that she was the first non-interim female mayor in the city's history. Her administration is co-authoring a future of accountability for everyone who calls the enticing Dutch capital home through its practical stewardship of a place and its citizens that are frequently abandoned to the tourist euro.

Reasons we adore it: Amsterdam is a popular stop on any trip to Europe because of its easy accessibility, beautiful canals, and world-class museums. Nonstop flights are available from most cities in the United States. Amsterdam is at the forefront of sustainable tourism as well as having excellent cultural offerings. One hospitality company started converting Amsterdam's abandoned bridge houses into charming standalone hotel rooms in 2018. By 2030, the city will ban all gas and diesel cars.

Use AFAR's Guide to Amsterdam to plan your next trip.