Chiang Mai has made its mark on the global tourism stage after being named the third-best city in the world in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2026. The northern Thai city also ranked second in Asia, behind Kyoto, Japan, while placing ahead of Bangkok, Siem Reap and Tokyo.
The recognition marks another major international achievement for Thailand’s tourism industry.
The rankings are compiled by Travel + Leisure, a leading U.S.-based travel magazine, based on a global reader survey. This year’s awards drew responses from more than 207,000 readers, who cast over 661,000 votes across more than 10,088 travel-related businesses and destinations worldwide, including hotels, resorts, cities, islands, national parks, tour operators, safaris, airlines, airports, trains and other travel entities.
In the World’s Best Cities category, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, claimed the top spot with a score of 93.07, followed by Kyoto, Japan, with 92.02. Chiang Mai ranked third with 91.88, ahead of Hoi An in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Tokyo in Japan.
Top 10 World’s Best Cities 2026
1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico — 93.07
2. Kyoto, Japan — 92.02
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand — 91.88
4. Hoi An, Vietnam — 91.81
5. Oaxaca, Mexico — 91.59
6. Bangkok, Thailand — 91.29
7. Jerusalem, Israel — 91.11
8. Siem Reap, Cambodia — 90.59
9. Mexico City, Mexico — 90.49
10. Tokyo, Japan — 90.44
The rankings reflect Chiang Mai’s enduring appeal as one of the world’s leading destinations among international travellers. Readers praised the city’s rich Lanna cultural heritage, historic temples, renowned local cuisine, natural scenery and internationally recognised hospitality, making it a favourite for visitors seeking both cultural experiences and nature-based tourism.