Travel+Leisure Ranks Top Cities in the World

The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are out! What city makes the top list? Here’s the best top ten cities overall:

Top Ten Cities Overall 2015

1. Kyoto, Japan
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Florence
5. Rome
6. Bangkok
7. Kraków, Poland
8. Barcelona
9. Cape Town
10. Jerusalem 

Kyoto holds on to its position as the No. 1 City Overall for the second consecutive year, and Kraków, Poland makes its debut on the list of Top 10 Cities Overall.  Only two of this year’s Top 10 Cities Overall appeared on the inaugural list in 1996, when the survey launched: Florence and Rome.Charleston is ranked the No. 1 City in the U.S. and Canada for the third consecutive year, while No. 10  Asheville, North Carolina makes its first-ever appearance on the Top 10 U.S. and Canada Cities list.

Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India is the No. 1 hotel in the world, followed by Hotel Castello di Casole—A Timbers Resort in Casole d’Elsa, Italy at No. 2. Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland and Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana tied for No. 3. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is the Top Hotel Brand, followed by Aman, and The Peninsula Hotels, respectively.

The results help showcase how travel habits have changed over the last two decades. For example, no hotels in India were on the list of Top 100 Hotels Overall in 1996, while this year, there are two ranked among the Top 10 Overall, and five among the Top 100.

Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump said, “Twenty years since the Awards were created, they showcase a widely changed travel landscape, one in which exotic destinations, intimate hotels, and one-of-a-kind experiences stand out from the crowd—the preferences of individuals who have been all around the world and are seeking out ever more distinctive travel options.”

Two companies have held on to their No. 1 rankings every year since the poll began in 1996: Crystal Cruises (Top Large-Ship Cruise Line) and Singapore Airlines (Top International Airline). The 2015 results, including the Top 100 Hotels, Top 25 Resorts in the Continental U.S., Top 10 Cities Overall, and Top 10 Islands Overall, among other lists, are posted on www.TravelandLeisure.com now. The survey results are featured in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 17.

TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS 2015 WINNERS OVERALL

WORLD’S BEST CITY                                                                         Kyoto

WORLD’S BEST HOTEL                                                                    Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

WORLD’S BEST HOTEL BRAND                                                     Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

WORLD’S BEST ISLAND                                                                  Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

WORLD’S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE                Disney Cruise Line

WORLD’S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE                Crystal Cruises

WORLD’S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE               Seabourn

WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE                                            Viking Cruises

WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE                               Singapore Airlines

WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE                                           Virgin America

WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT                             Singapore Changi Airport

WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT                                         Portland International Airport, Oregon

WORLD’S BEST SAFARI OUTFITTER                                           Ker & Downey

WORLD’S BEST TOUR OPERATOR                                              Butterfield & Robinson

WORLD’S BEST CAR-RENTAL AGENCY                                      National Car Rental

WORLD’S BEST DESTINATION SPA                                            Golden Door, San Marcos, California