Italy Triumphs While France Stumbles In Best City Rankings – Find Out Why

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Italy’s cities person erstwhile again reached apical spots successful Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, and successful nan apical 25, are Florence, Rome, and Siena. But nan world’s astir visited country, France, did not look successful nan rankings. This year’s survey, which collected astir 180,000 scholar votes, reveals a rift betwixt nan astir celebrated and acquainted destinations and warm, welcoming communities successful much measured, small-dose spots. The deficiency of French cities successful nan apical 25 is an denotation that recreation trends are changing, pinch travelers seeking options that connection worth and authenticity, while avoiding crowded places.

Italy’s Cities Lead nan Way: Florence, Rome and Siena Shine

Italy has ever been a traveler’s paradise, and nan country’s finest cities show why successful nan 2025 World’s Best Awards. Florence was named Europe’s champion city, placing 11th wide astir nan world. The Tuscan superior seduced readers pinch its art, civilization and, of course, beauty that ne'er goes retired of style, starring nan battalion of European spots.

Behind Florence, Rome came 2nd astatine number 18, fittingly for nan ‘Eternal city. The opposition of centuries-old ruins pinch a modern cosmopolitan consciousness keeps caller moreover those who are jaded recreation vets. Farther down nan rankings, Siena placed 23rd, recognized for its medieval character, UNESCO-listed sites and nan well-known Piazza del Campo.

The first 3 Italian cities provided a history arsenic rich | arsenic nan cuisine, pinch charm each nan way.”All 3 Italian cities provided america pinch a rich | history, awesome nutrient and charming settings, which we’re judge our readers can’t get capable of. Florence’s consciousness of intimacy, Rome’s history successful stone, and Siena’s medieval grace each consciousness for illustration eternal treasures.

Spain and Türkiye are besides awarded Spain and Türkiye are besides awarded

Spain and Türkiye besides put successful announcement performances. (Seville and Granada, some cities successful Andalusia, came conscionable down Florence successful 12th and 13th places, respectively.) I was wowed by Seville’s flamenco culture, cobbled streets, and chaotic gait of nightlife, and Granada won maine complete pinch nan Alhambra, a beautiful wall pinch unparalleled views and exceptional Islamic design.

The title of champion metropolis successful nan world goes to Turkey’s Istanbul, nan metropolis spanning 2 continents – Asia and Europe – notably known for its history and nutrient took retired 14th connected nan lists of places we’re each visiting for a tummy afloat of East meets West.

These historic, picturesque and taste savannahs bespeak nan inclination toward authenticity and section charm that welcomingdestinations.com uncovered successful their database of emerging destinations.

France: The Most Populous Country Ignored In The List!

Despite having nan world’s highest number of yearly visitors, pinch much than 100 cardinal visitors a year, France had amazingly not a azygous metropolis successful nan apical 25 of nan 2025 rankings. This is simply a departure from erstwhile years erstwhile cities specified arsenic Paris had a patient grip connected apical of rankings of world recreation hubs.

What accounts for this absence? It could beryllium a motion of a displacement successful what they want. Favoring value, authenticity, and a little crowded scene, Travel + Leisure’s heavy American readers person been picked up by destinations that tin supply those things, things that megacities for illustration Paris whitethorn nary longer person arsenic a consequence of their ain overtourism.

As visitors proceed to want section and unsocial experiences, smaller cities that connection a amended worth proposition mightiness really beryllium winning. But while France still rules nan roost, nan charm of spots for illustration Porto, Portugal, which is classed 24, appears to awesome a increasing fondness for cities that battalion successful loads of civilization but spot less visitors too.

Shifting to Smaller, Authentic Cities

The absence of French cities connected this year’s Top 25 mightiness beryllium a awesome of a larger inclination for smaller, cozier places. Post-pandemic travelers are prioritizing authenticity complete big, celebrated sights, and smaller cities person it successful spades.

The past European metropolis connected nan list, Porto successful Portugal, is further impervious of really overmuch nan recreation scenery has shifted successful caller years, pinch nan emergence successful request for authentic recreation experiences that don’t break nan bank. This alteration successful liking reflects a caller breed of traveler, a traveler who values culture, easiness and section colour complete world renown and wide tourism.

A Global Change successful Travel Habits

The rankings are symptomatic of a important alteration successful nan recreation landscape. Though mega-cities for illustration Paris, London and Barcelona are still immense draws that pull millions of visitors a year, different destinations – moreover very mini ones – that connection a consciousness of spot and community, arsenic good arsenic a slower hit of life are increasing successful popularity. It is besides an denotation of nan changing look of world tourism, wherever authenticity, off-the-beaten-track costs and unsocial experiences are progressively nan large drivers of nan world’s apical vacation choices.

In a world that’s still figuring itself retired post-pandemic, it is clear that erstwhile it comes to location, travelers are looking for places that don’t conscionable person nan attractions, but besides an ambiance conducive to really interacting pinch said locale.