Each and every year, the reliable readers of Condé Nast Traveller are asked to partake in the publication’s coveted Readers’ Choice Awards. The annual awards cover all travel-related bases, really – with categories ranging from airports and accommodation to spas and ski resorts. A particularly sought-after category comes in the form of the ‘best city in the world’, where the travel magazine collates a list of the twenty most desirable spots from across the globe. The awards are dished out based on the overall satisfaction score of each spot, calculated by using the ratings submitted by the respondents. And this year, a whopping half a million people put their two cents in on the matter.
The data was analysed, and the numbers were crunched like a bag of free pretzels on the plane to reveal the world’s best cities for 2025. Unfortunately (and outrageously), London didn’t even get a look in. But rather than focusing on what we don’t have (a comfy spot on the list of the world’s best cities – just in case I hadn’t made that clear enough), I thought we could shift our attention on to what we do have. And that, my friends, is the ability to fly to the city that nabbed the number one spot for less than twenty quid. It’s not all bad, hey?
The best city in the world
Taking the crown as Condé Nast Traveller’s best city in the world is the historic city of Valletta. The Maltese capital managed to earn itself a rather impressive score of 97.33 (meaning that a heck of a lot of people liked it). The sunny spot is the smallest capital city in the European Union, but we all know that good things come in small packages – and what Valletta lacks in size, it sure makes up for in substance.
Valletta is filled to the brim with gorgeous 16th century buildings. In fact, it’s one of the world’s most concentrated areas of historical sites; home to 320 monuments within the space of 0.55 square-kilometres. So, it’s certainly not thin on the ground when it comes to gorgeous things to gawp at. The entire city of Valletta has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. And the city seamlessly blends its rich history and ancient architecture with its modern and fresh cultural scene.
Flights from London Gatwick to Malta International Airport take just over three hours, and Valletta is then just a short car-ride from the airport. The prices of flights, of course, depend on when you wish to visit. But if you were to head there in December or January, for example, flights cost as little as £16. A complete and utter bargain, as far as I’m concerned.
The best cities in the world (according to Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards):
- Valletta, Malta
- Tokyo, Japan
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Quito, Ecuador
- Santa Fe, USA
- Shanghai, China
- Oslo, Norway
- Mumbai, India
- Vienna, Austria
- Copenhagen, Denmark
You can take a look at the full results of Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards here.