Year-ender: Bangkok tops global travel charts as 2025's most-visited city
World
Each year, Euromonitor publishes its list of the top 100 cities worldwide, judged on factors such as tourist facilities, sustainability initiatives, and economic performance.
(Web Desk) – As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on how global travel evolved throughout 2025. While Spotify recaps our listening habits, Euromonitor International has been busy analyzing travel data to identify the destinations that captured the world’s attention over the past 12 months.
Each year, Euromonitor publishes its list of the top 100 cities worldwide, judged on factors such as tourist facilities, sustainability initiatives, and economic performance. Alongside this ranking, the research firm also releases data on the cities that welcomed the highest number of international visitors—revealing the world’s busiest travel hotspots.
In 2025, Asian destinations dominated the charts. Three of the five most-visited cities were in Asia, with Bangkok securing the number-one spot. The Thai capital received an impressive 30.3 million international arrivals and also ranked first for tourism strategy and overall appeal. Despite these achievements, Bangkok did not break into the top ten of Euromonitor’s overall global city index.
A long-time favorite among backpackers, Bangkok continues to attract a rising wave of travelers, thanks to its vibrant nightlife, acclaimed dining scene, and rapidly expanding hotel industry. The city also earned a place on this year’s list of the world’s coolest streets, with Charoen Nakhon Road receiving special praise. The popular “White Lotus effect” has further contributed to Thailand’s tourism boom.
Hong Kong claimed second place, drawing around 23.3 million international visitors—nearly triple its population. It ranked 17th overall in Euromonitor’s global city list, just one spot above London.
The British capital followed closely in third place with about 22.7 million arrivals, making it Europe’s most visited city in 2025. Paris, although crowned the world’s best city overall, ranked ninth in terms of visitor numbers.
Top 10 most visited cities in 2025
According to Euromonitor International, these cities welcomed the highest number of international arrivals this year:
Bangkok, Thailand – 30.3 million
Hong Kong – 23.2 million
London, United Kingdom – 22.7 million
Macao, China – 20.4 million
Istanbul, Turkey – 19.7 million
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 19.5 million
Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 18.7 million
Antalya, Turkey – 18.6 million
Paris, France – 18.3 million
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 17.3 million
