Seoul named world’s best big city by Condé Nast Traveler

Seoul has been named the world’s best big city in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards by Condé Nast Traveler. The South Korean capital climbed four spots from its fifth-place ranking last year to take the top position, overtaking Tokyo, which finished second.

More than 798,000 readers participated in the 39th annual survey. The magazine attributed Seoul’s rise to the global popularity of K-pop, K-beauty, and K-drama, as well as the city’s ability to blend 2,000 years of history with hyper-modern technology and nature.

In addition to the top ranking, Seoul was recognized as one of the world’s friendliest cities, placing third in a separate tally by Condé Nast Traveler. Furthermore, the Jongno 3-ga neighborhood was named the coolest neighborhood in the world by the media outlet Time Out, highlighting its traditional architecture and vibrant local culture.