Seoul Tops Condé Nast Readers’ Poll for Best Big City

As of October 9, 2026, Seoul is the No. 1 big city in the world, according to readers of Condé Nast Traveler, the first time it has topped the magazine's large-city category. Seoul jumped four spots from fifth place last year, bumping Tokyo, the two-time defending champ, down to second.

39thEdition of the Readers' Choice Awards

~800,000Reader votes cast across all award categories

11.56 millionForeign visitors to Seoul, January-August

+21.6%Increase in foreign visitors vs. the same period last year

Key points

Seoul took the top spot in the large-city category of this year's Readers' Choice Awards, released October 6 U.S. time.
Tokyo finished second, Paris seventh and Singapore ninth.
Seoul also placed third in the U.K. edition of Condé Nast Traveler's ranking of the friendliest cities.
Foreign visitors to Seoul hit a record of roughly 11.56 million from January through August this year.

The Seoul city government shared the news on Oct. 8. In Condé Nast Traveler's reader poll, announced October 6 U.S. time, Seoul landed at the top of the large-city category. It's the first time Seoul has won this category. Last year, it came in fifth.

Tokyo sits just one notch behind in second place. The Japanese capital had won two years running, in 2024 and 2025. Third through fifth place went to Cambodia's capital, Shanghai and Sydney, in that order. Paris came in seventh and Singapore ninth.

Now in its 39th year, the awards are decided entirely by reader votes. Counting cities along with hotels, resorts, airlines and other categories, nearly 800,000 votes came in. Condé Nast Traveler launched in 1987 and belongs to the media group behind Vogue and The New Yorker.

In a September 2025 piece on Seoul, the magazine said global fascination with K-pop, K-beauty and K-dramas has turned the city into a hot travel destination. It also pointed to more than 2,000 years of history and culture underneath. Old traditions and cutting-edge tech, budget-friendly travel and luxury splurges all live side by side, the magazine said, with plenty of options in beauty, wellness, art and food.

Other outlets have been showering Seoul with praise too. In the U.K. edition of Condé Nast Traveler's friendliest cities ranking, Seoul came in third. The small everyday kindnesses stick with travelers, the magazine noted, like restaurant owners walking guests through a dish or locals pointing the way on the subway. Last month, Britain's Time Out named Jongno 3-ga, a historic downtown neighborhood, the coolest neighborhood of the year. And on Trazy Travel's global ranking of favorite cities among MZ travelers (millennials and Gen Z), Seoul has ranked No. 1 for five straight years.

In Korea right nowCity officials read the result as proof that Seoul's signature assets, like hanok (traditional Korean houses), narrow alleys and historic sites, are translating into real experiences for visitors. Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city will keep its traditional charm intact while adding fresh energy, aiming to be a destination people stay in longer and come back to. Plans include more traditional culture experiences, nighttime programs and activities built around the Han River and downtown green spaces, all meant to extend stays and boost return visits. The tourism numbers back it up. Foreign visitors from January through August are well above last year's roughly 9.5 million for the same period, and their card spending jumped about 60%, from around 4.9 trillion won to around 7.8 trillion won.

FAQ

How was Seoul's No. 1 ranking decided?

It's based on votes from Condé Nast Traveler readers, not a panel of experts. This is the 39th edition of the Readers' Choice Awards, and nearly 800,000 votes were counted across all categories.

Is this the first time Seoul has topped the large-city category?

Yes. According to the Seoul city government, this is Seoul's first win in the category. It placed fifth last year, and Tokyo took first place in the two years before that.

What can travelers expect in Seoul?

The magazine highlighted historic spots like palaces and hanok, cutting-edge technology, beauty and wellness, food and art. Everyday kindness from locals also earned high marks.