Paris named top European city in 2026 travel rankings

Paris has been named the top city in Europe according to the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards for 2026. The ranking, based on reader satisfaction regarding gastronomy, hotels, shopping, and landmarks, saw a significant shift in the top tier. Paris jumped from outside the top 20 in the previous year to the number one position, potentially aided by the reopening of the Grand Palais and improved conditions for swimming in the Seine.

Other cities making significant entries into the top group include Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Monte-Carlo. Conversely, Munich, which held the sixth position last year, has dropped out of the top 20 entirely. The rankings were determined from a selection of more than 200 cities based on average participant satisfaction scores.