Seoul has officially dethroned Tokyo to claim the No. 1 spot as the 'Best Big City in the World' in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, fueled by the global Hallyu wave and an irresistible fusion of ancient royal heritage and futuristic innovation.
In a seismic shift across the international travel landscape, Seoul has achieved a historic milestone: conquering the summit of global urban tourism. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on October 8 that the South Korean capital was voted #1 in the "Best Big Cities" category at the prestigious 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, decisively outpacing longtime champion Tokyo.
Organized by Condé Nast—the premier international media conglomerate behind Vogue, The New Yorker, and GQ—the annual survey represents the gold standard of luxury and experiential travel. In this 39th annual edition, nearly 800,000 discerning global jet-setters cast an astounding 798,867 votes across worldwide destinations, hotels, and resorts. Seoul leaped four spots from fifth place last year to claim the throne, knocking Tokyo down to second place after the Japanese capital's consecutive victories in 2024 and 2025.
The Anatomy of a Global Win: Living Heritage Meets Cyberpunk Energy
What propelled Seoul above traditional travel giants like Paris, Singapore, and Sydney? In its official review, Condé Nast Traveler emphasized that Seoul is far more than a backdrop for K-pop music videos and K-drama cliffhangers. The magazine highlighted the metropolis as a rare global wonder where two thousand years of living history seamlessly coexist with hyper-advanced technology.
Travelers praised the city's ability to offer drastically contrasting yet harmonious experiences within single subway stops. In the span of an afternoon, a visitor can meditate inside serene Joseon Dynasty royal palaces, explore bespoke botanical skincare labs in Gangnam, hike granite alpine peaks overlooking high-rises, and dine at three-star Michelin institutions or vibrant late-night night markets.
- 1. Seoul, South Korea 🇰🇷 (Up 4 spots from #5 in 2025)
- 2. Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 (Dethroned from #1 after two-year reign)
- 3. Phnom Penh, Cambodia 🇰🇭
- 4. Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
- 5. Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺
- 6–10 Notable Entries: Paris (#7) and Singapore (#9).
- Scale of Voters: 798,867 registered international travelers participated in the 39th edition of the Condé Nast Traveler awards.
A Sweep of Global Accolades: Friendliest City to Coolest Alleys
Seoul's coronation as the world's greatest metropolis is not an isolated triumph; it caps off an unprecedented clean sweep across international culture and travel rankings this season.
Earlier this month, the UK edition of Condé Nast Traveler ranked Seoul as the 3rd Friendliest City in the World, dispelling the stereotype of cold, rushed mega-cities and celebrating the everyday warmth, safety, and helpfulness displayed by local residents toward foreign travelers.
Meanwhile, global culture authority Time Out recently crowned Jongno 3-ga as the #1 "Coolest Neighborhood in the World." International critics fell in love with its intoxicating blend: the century-old traditional hanok cafes of Ikseon-dong, nostalgic open-air pojangmacha (street food tents), and the artisan silver craft workshops flourishing along the stone-walled alleys of Seosunra-gil right beside the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine.
The Gen Z Magnet: Trazee Travel's #1 for Five Straight Years
The demographic driving this global momentum is unequivocally Generation Z and Millennials. In August, American travel publication Trazee Travel revealed its "2026 The Trazees" survey, where Seoul secured the title of "Favorite Worldwide City for Global Gen Z" for an astounding fifth consecutive year.
For younger travelers, Seoul represents the absolute vanguard of lifestyle trends. From viral bakery pilgrimages (bbang-ji-sun-rye) and high-concept beauty flagships in Seongsu-dong to round-the-clock convenience store dining and high-speed public transport, the city provides an unmatched playground for digital nomads and culture seekers.
Seoul's Next Frontier: Expanding Night Culture and Green Corridors
Refusing to rest on its laurels, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is aggressively investing in high-touch tourism infrastructure. Upcoming initiatives focus on turning natural waterways and nightscapes into experiential assets—including illuminated drone light shows above the Han River, expanded nighttime palace openings at Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung, and multilingual walking trails weaving through hidden market alleys.
By transforming ancient heritage into contemporary cultural capital, Seoul has proven that its global ascendancy is far more than a fleeting viral fad—it is the arrival of a world capital at the peak of its creative and historical power.
In Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, Seoul earned the top spot after nearly 800,000 global travelers celebrated its unique coexistence of K-culture (music, beauty, food), 2,000 years of living historical heritage, cutting-edge technology, and unmatched safety and hospitality.
Seoul surged from 5th place last year to claim 1st place in 2026, officially overtaking Tokyo, which took 2nd place after previously holding the crown in both 2024 and 2025.
According to global travel authorities, top must-visit hotspots include Jongno 3-ga (named Time Out's Coolest Neighborhood in the World for its Seosunra-gil workshops and Ikseon-dong hanoks), the industrial chic pop-up culture of Seongsu-dong, and the historic palace corridors of Gwanghwamun.