Most Visited Cities in the World: Statistics With Total Arrivals Data

Major cities attract millions of international visitors every year for culture, history, food, shopping, entertainment, business, religious travel, and unique local experiences.

According to Euromonitor International, the world’s top 100 city destinations were projected to receive approximately 702 million international trips in 2025. This represents an 8% increase from the previous year and accounts for approximately 46% of global inbound tourism.

Bangkok remained the world’s leading city by international arrivals. Hong Kong moved into second place, while London, Macau, Istanbul, Dubai, Mecca, Antalya, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur completed the top 10.

This guide explores the most visited cities in the world using Euromonitor International’s latest 2025 arrival data. It also explains what the figures mean for tour operators and how travel businesses can use city tourism trends to create relevant packages and direct-booking opportunities.

Methodology: This ranking is based on international visitor arrivals, not domestic tourism or city population. Since full-year 2026 data is not available yet, the 2026 ranking uses the latest available 2025 data from Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index. Figures are rounded for easier reading.

Key Highlights

• Bangkok, Thailand, was among the world’s most visited cities, with around 24.1 million visitors in 2018 and about 25.8 million in 2019.

• Bangkok was the most visited city in the world in 2025, with approximately 30.3 million projected international arrivals.

• Hong Kong ranked second with around 23.2 million international arrivals, representing an increase of approximately 6% from the previous year.

• London placed third globally and remained the most visited European city, receiving about 22.7 million international arrivals.

• Macau recorded the strongest growth among the top 10 cities, with international arrivals increasing by approximately 14% to 20.4 million.

• Istanbul, Dubai, Mecca, Antalya, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur also ranked among the world’s 10 most visited cities in 2025.

List of the Most Visited Cities Worldwide in 2025

Based on Euromonitor International data, the top 10 most visited cities in the world in 2025 are Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Macau, Istanbul, Dubai, Mecca, Antalya, Paris and Kuala Lumpur.

The table below shows international arrivals in millions and year-over-year growth.

1. Bangkok, Thailand 

Bangkok was the most visited city worldwide in 2025, welcoming around 30.3 million international arrivals. The Thai capital continues to attract visitors through its temples, food culture, markets, shopping areas, nightlife, and strong regional flight connections.

The city is known for landmarks such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. These attractions reflect Thailand’s royal, cultural, and spiritual heritage. Visitors also explore Yaowarat for street food, Sukhumvit for dining and nightlife, and the Chao Phraya River for scenic cruises.

This wide range of experiences gives tour operators many ways to build destination-based packages. They can offer temple tours, street-food walks, floating-market trips, river cruises, and shopping experiences. Bangkok also works well as the starting point for longer itineraries covering Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, or Phuket.

Best time to visit: November to February

2. Hong Kong 

Hong Kong ranked as the second-most visited city worldwide in 2025, welcoming around 23.2 million international arrivals. Its visitor numbers increased by 6% compared with the previous year. Major events at Kai Tak Stadium and the expanded Terminal 2 improved tourism demand and international connectivity.

The city attracts visitors through its harbour views, food culture, shopping districts, traditional markets, modern attractions, and nearby islands. Popular experiences include Victoria Peak, the Star Ferry, Victoria Harbour, Temple Street Night Market, and the Tian Tan Buddha.

This mix of urban and cultural experiences gives tour operators several package opportunities. They can create harbour cruises, food tours, market walks, Lantau Island trips, and arts-focused itineraries around West Kowloon. Hong Kong also works well with Macau as a combined regional package.

Best time to visit: November to April

3. London, United Kingdom 

London ranked No. 3 among the most visited cities worldwide in 2025, attracting around 22.7 million international arrivals, with a 4% increase from the previous year. It also remained the most visited city in Europe by international arrivals.

The British capital is known for Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Visitors also explore world-class museums, watch West End shows, shop around Oxford Street, and cruise along the River Thames.

This combination of royal landmarks, museums, theatre, and river experiences gives tour operators several ways to create focused packages. They can offer royal heritage tours, Thames cruises, museum routes, West End theatre packages, and guided city walks. London also works well as a starting point for itineraries covering Windsor Castle, Oxford, Bath, or Stonehenge.

Best time to visit: March to May and September to November

4. Macau

Small in size but rich in experiences, Macau ranked as the No. 4 most visited touristic city in the world in 2025, attracting around 20.4 million international arrivals. Its strong tourism growth was supported by short-haul visitors, entertainment tourism, luxury resorts, and its close connection with Hong Kong and mainland China.

The city blends Chinese and Portuguese heritage with entertainment, resorts, shopping, and a distinctive food culture. Visitors can do many things, including exploring Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, A-Ma Temple, and Mount Fortress. The Historic Center of Macau includes more than 20 monuments and public squares.

This combination of heritage and entertainment gives tour operators several package opportunities. They can create historic-center walks, Macanese food tours, Cotai resort stays, and Macau Tower experiences. Macau also fits naturally into Hong Kong–Macau packages, short regional itineraries, and event-based tours.

Best time to visit: October and November

5. Istanbul, Turkey 

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Istanbul remained one of the world’s beautiful city destinations in 2025, drawing around 19.7 million international arrivals and taking the No. 5 position globally. Its visitor numbers increased by about 6% year over year, showing continued demand for Turkey’s most famous cultural city.

The city connects Europe and Asia through the Bosphorus and combines Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern influences. Visitors explore Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar. Bosphorus cruises, historic neighborhoods, traditional markets, and Turkish cuisine further strengthen Istanbul’s tourism appeal.

This combination gives tour operators several clear package opportunities. They can create Historic Peninsula tours, Bosphorus cruises, bazaar walks, and Turkish food experiences. Princes’ Islands trips and neighborhood tours covering Balat, Karaköy, Kadıköy, and Üsküdar can add more local value. Istanbul can also anchor longer packages that include Cappadocia, Gallipoli, Troy, or the Turkish Riviera.

Best time to visit: April to May and September to October

6. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai continued its rise as a global tourism powerhouse in 2025, taking the No. 6 position worldwide with around 19.5 million international arrivals. Known for pushing the boundaries of modern urban design, the city offers attractions and activities unlike anywhere else in the world.

The city attracts visitors through its modern landmarks, luxury hotels, shopping centers, beaches, desert landscapes, and year-round entertainment. Popular experiences include visiting the Burj Khalifa, exploring the Dubai Mall, walking around Dubai Marina, and discovering Palm Jumeirah. Visitors can also explore Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood and the traditional markets near Dubai Creek.

This combination of city attractions, coastal experiences, and desert activities gives tour operators several package opportunities. They can create Downtown Dubai tours, desert safaris, dhow cruises, heritage walks, and shopping packages. Dubai also works well for short stopover itineraries and combined packages covering Abu Dhabi, Hatta, or other Emirates.

Best time to visit: October to March

7. Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca, also known as “Makkah” in Arabic, while “Mecca” is the anglicized version used in English, ranked 7th in 2025 with 18.7 million international arrivals, marking a 7% growth compared to the previous year and maintaining its status as a top global destination for religious tourism.

The city holds deep religious importance for Muslims worldwide. Pilgrims visit Masjid al-Haram to perform rituals around the Kaaba. Mount Arafat, Mina, Muzdalifah, and Jabal al-Nour also form an important part of many pilgrimage journeys. Umrah can take place throughout most of the year, while Hajj follows fixed dates in the Islamic calendar.

This steady pilgrimage demand creates specific opportunities for licensed travel businesses. Operators can arrange airport reception, accommodation in Mecca, local transport, guided religious support, and historical visits. They can also build combined Mecca and Madinah itineraries using the Haramain High-Speed Railway.

Best time to visit: October and April

8. Antalya, Turkey 

Antalya brings a different kind of travel appeal to this list. While many top-ranked cities are known for skylines, business travel, or historic centers, Antalya is mainly loved as a Mediterranean resort destination. In 2025, it reached around 18.6 million international arrivals, placing it 8th worldwide with about 8% year-over-year growth.

The Mediterranean destination attracts visitors through its beaches, coastal resorts, historic center, waterfalls, and nearby ancient cities. Popular experiences include exploring Kaleiçi, entering through Hadrian’s Gate, visiting Düden Waterfalls, and taking boat trips along the cliffs.

This combination of resort stays, cultural sites, and outdoor activities gives tour operators several package opportunities. They can create beach holidays, old-town walks, coastal boat trips, and rafting experiences in Köprülü Canyon. Perge, Aspendos, Termessos, and Side can also support history-focused day tours and longer Turkish Riviera itineraries.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October

9. Paris, France 

Paris welcomed around 18.3 million international arrivals in 2025, strengthening its role as the leading city destination in France, the world’s most visited country. The French capital offers a memorable blend of historic charm, iconic landmarks, world-class museums, fashion, food, and art.

The French capital attracts visitors through its famous landmarks, museums, architecture, fashion, food, and neighborhood culture. Popular experiences include visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Musée d’Orsay. Visitors also enjoy the Seine River, Montmartre walks, local food tours, and shopping around Le Marais and the Champs-Élysées.

This variety gives tour operators several ways to create focused Paris packages. They can offer museum tours, food walks, fashion and shopping experiences, and guided routes through Montmartre or historic Paris. The city also works well as a base for packages covering Versailles, Giverny, Disneyland Paris, or the Champagne region.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October

10. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s bustling capital, ranked 10th in 2025 with approximately 17.3 million international arrivals, reflecting its growing popularity as a Southeast Asian gateway. Unlike historic cities or beach resorts, KL is known for its dynamic mix of modern skyscrapers, cultural diversity, and urban attractions.

Popular experiences include visiting the Petronas Twin Towers, exploring Chinatown, walking through Merdeka Square, and discovering colorful temples and markets. Batu Caves also remains a popular excursion from the city.

This combination gives tour operators several ways to create focused Kuala Lumpur packages. They can offer city sightseeing tours, street-food walks, cultural neighborhood routes, shopping experiences, and Batu Caves trips. Kuala Lumpur also works well as a starting point for packages covering Malacca, Genting Highlands, Penang, or Langkawi.

Best time to visit: May to July

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Most Visited Cities in the World 2024

According to Euromonitor International, the most visited cities in the world in 2024 include Bangkok, Istanbul, London, Hong Kong and Mecca. Other top cities are Antalya, Dubai, Macau, Paris and Kuala Lumpur.

The table below shows the list of the top 10 most visited cities in 2024.

You may also read: World Tourism Ranking by Country

Most Visited Cities in the World 2023

Euromonitor International highlighted that Istanbul led the list of the most visited cities in 2023, followed by London, Dubai, Antalya, Paris, Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York, Cancún and Mecca.

The table highlights the top 10 global cities for tourist visits in 2023.

Most Visited Cities in the World 2022

In 2022, Euromonitor International identified Paris, Dubai, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, London, Munich, Berlin, Barcelona, and New York as the world’s most visited cities.

The following chart outlines the leading 30 cities for global tourism in 2022.

Rank	City	Country
1.	Paris	France
2.	Dubai	United Arab Emirates
3.	Amsterdam	Netherlands
4.	Madrid	Spain
5.	Rome	Italy
6.	London	United Kingdom
7.	Munich	Germany
8.	Berlin	Germany
9.	Barcelona	Spain
10.	New York	United States
11.	Prague	Czech Republic
12.	Lisbon	Portugal
13.	Milan	Italy
14.	Los Angeles	United States
15.	Singapore	Singapore
16.	Vienna	Austria
17.	Frankfurt	Germany
18.	Dublin	Ireland
19.	Stockholm	Sweden
20.	Tokyo	Japan
21.	Florence	Italy
22.	Orlando	United States
23.	Athens	Greece
24.	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates
25.	Istanbul	Turkey
26.	Seoul	South Korea
27.	Venice	Italy
28.	Zurich	Switzerland
29.	Toronto	Canada
30.	Miami	United States

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Most Visited Cities in the World 2021

Based on Euromonitor International’s 2021 city arrival data, Dubai, Shanghai, Paris, and Guangzhou continued to attract millions of travelers. The cities of New York, Shenzhen, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas and Berlin were also among the top global destinations.

Below is a list of the ten most frequented cities by international visitors in 2021.

Most Visited Cities in the World 2020

Euromonitor International noted that in 2020, despite global travel disruptions, Dubai, Paris, New York, and Shanghai remained key destinations for international visitors. Guangzhou, Miami, Orlando, Berlin, Las Vegas and Shenzhen continued to see significant tourist activity.

The table provides an overview of the top 10 destinations for travelers worldwide in 2020.

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Most Visited Cities in the World 2019

Euromonitor International reported that Hong Kong, Bangkok, Macau, Singapore, London, Paris, Dubai, Delhi, Istanbul, and Kuala Lumpur were among the most visited cities in 2019. 

Here is the table below presenting the leading city destinations of 2019, along with the estimated number of international tourist arrivals.

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Most Visited Cities in the World 2018

Data from Euromonitor International shows that the most visited cities were Hong Kong, Bangkok, London, Macau, Singapore, Paris, Dubai, New York, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. 

The table provides an overview of the world’s top fifty cities in terms of international tourism for 2018.

How Travel Businesses Can Turn Popular Cities into Bookable Experiences

Step 1: Choose the Right City

Select a city that matches your audience, experience, services, and customer demand. High visitor numbers matter, but the destination must also fit your market.

Step 2: Research Traveler Interests

Identify why people visit the city. Review its attractions, food, culture, events, religious sites, beaches, shopping areas, and nearby excursions.

Step 3: Create a Focused Package

Choose a clear package type based on the city’s main appeal. It may include a city break, cultural tour, food tour, religious journey, coastal holiday, or multi-city itinerary.

Step 4: Build the Itinerary

Arrange attractions, activities, transport, meals, and free time into a practical day-by-day schedule.

Step 5: Calculate the Price

Include accommodation, transport, attraction tickets, guides, meals, taxes, payment fees, and your profit margin.

Step 6: Plan Dates and Availability

Choose suitable dates based on weather, peak seasons, events, supplier availability, and customer demand.

Step 7: Meet Legal Requirements

Confirm the required business registration, travel license, insurance, taxes, and tourism rules. You can link your country-specific travel agency guides here.

Step 8: Publish and Accept Bookings

Create a detailed package page with the itinerary, price, dates, inclusions, exclusions, and booking terms. Your booking system should also help you manage availability, collect traveler details, and process online payments.

Travel businesses using WordPress can use WP Travel to publish trips, manage bookings, set departure dates, and accept online payments from one website.

Conclusion

The most visited cities in the world continue to lead global tourism because they offer much more than famous landmarks. Destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Macau, Istanbul, Dubai, Mecca, Antalya, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur attract millions of international travelers through a strong mix of culture, food, shopping, entertainment, luxury experiences, and modern infrastructure.

For travel agencies and tour operators, this growing demand presents a great opportunity to offer well-planned city tours and travel packages. With a solution like WP Travel, businesses can easily create destination-based itineraries, manage bookings, and provide travelers with seamless planning experiences, helping turn inspiration into unforgettable trips.

Start with the free version, then upgrade to WP Travel Pro for advanced features that can help you manage and grow your travel business more effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which are the most expensive cities in the world to visit?

Some of the most expensive cities for tourists often include Singapore, Hong Kong, Zurich, Geneva, and Paris. These cities have high costs for accommodation, food, transport, and attractions, making travel relatively pricey compared to other global destinations.

2. Which are the most beautiful cities in the world to visit?

Cities including Venice (Italy), Kyoto (Japan), Cape Town (South Africa), Prague (Czech Republic), and Paris (France) are the most beautiful cities in the world to visit.

3. Is Paris the most visited city in the world?

No, Paris is not the most visited city in the world by international arrivals in 2025. It ranked No. 9, with around 18.3 million international arrivals.

4. Is Tijuana the most visited city in the world?

No, Tijuana is not the most visited city in the world based on international city-arrival rankings. In 2025, Bangkok ranked first globally by international arrivals, while the top 10 included Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Macau, Istanbul, Dubai, Mecca, Antalya, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur.

5. Is Istanbul the most visited city in the world?

No, Istanbul was not the most visited city in the world in 2025. It ranked No. 5 globally, with around 19.7 million international arrivals. However, Istanbul did rank first in 2023, when it welcomed about 20.2 million international arrivals.

6. Is Bangkok the most visited city in the world?

Yes. Based on Euromonitor International’s 2025 city-arrivals data, Bangkok was the most visited city in the world in 2025, welcoming around 30.3 million international arrivals.

7. Is London the most visited city in the world?

No, London is not the most visited city in the world in 2025, but it ranked very high. London placed No. 3 globally, with around 22.7 million international arrivals, behind Bangkok and Hong Kong.

8. Is Mecca one of the most visited cities in the world?

Yes, Mecca is one of the most visited cities in the world. In 2025, it ranked No. 7 globally, with around 18.7 million international arrivals, mainly driven by religious tourism for Hajj and Umrah.

9. Is Orlando the most visited city in the world?

No, Orlando is not the most visited city in the world by international arrivals. However, Orlando is one of the most visited destinations in the United States, with 75.3 million total visitors in 2024, but only about 6.5 million were international visitors.