Paris has once again been named the best city in the world, earning the top spot in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024 by Euromonitor International.
This marks the fourth year in a row that Paris has claimed this honor.
The ranking, released in December 2024, is based on 55 metrics that measure everything from tourism and infrastructure to safety and sustainability.
Paris came out ahead of global competitors like New York, Tokyo, and Rome.
Read the official Euromonitor report here: Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024 – Euromonitor International
What Is the Euromonitor Index?
This index is one of the most respected city rankings in the world. It’s not based on opinions but on solid data.
Euromonitor International evaluates 100 cities using six main categories:
- Economic and Business Performance – measures GDP, business travel, and event hosting.
- Tourism Performance – tracks international arrivals, length of stay, and tourist spending.
- Tourism Infrastructure – looks at the quality and number of airports, hotels, public transit, and event spaces.
- Tourism Policy and Attractiveness – reviews visa access, marketing, and efforts to support tourism.
- Health and Safety – includes healthcare access, cleanliness, and public safety.
- Sustainability – covers eco-friendly transport, green spaces, waste management, and air quality.
Each city is rated based on its performance in these areas. Paris performed extremely well in nearly all of them, especially after improvements related to the 2024 Summer Olympics.
How the Top 10 Stack Up
Here are the cities that made it to the Top 10 in the world in Euromonitor’s report:
Highlights:
- Paris leads again thanks to major investments and smart planning.
- Madrid ranks second for its affordability, vibrant culture, and infrastructure.
- Tokyo, the top city in Asia, ranks third with high scores in safety and business.
- New York, the highest U.S. entry, lands at #6. It has a strong economy but lower sustainability and healthcare scores.
- Singapore stands out for its clean and efficient urban design.
- Europe dominates the list with 7 out of 10 cities, showing how strong the continent is in tourism and urban quality of life.
3 Reasons Paris Keeps Its Crown
1. Big Upgrades for the Olympics
Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Paris made major investments in its public spaces and services.
The city improved public transport, created new pedestrian zones, renovated key landmarks, and added hotel capacity. It also launched digital services to help tourists plan visits and move around more easily.
These changes helped Paris rank #1 in the world for tourism infrastructure.
For example:
- New metro lines and tram upgrades helped reduce traffic.
- Hotel upgrades offered better experiences for international visitors.
- Olympic venues like the Arena Porte de la Chapelle were designed for long-term use beyond the Games.
These changes have continued to benefit the city well after the Olympics ended.
2. It Attracts Millions of Visitors
In 2024, over 17 million international tourists visited Paris, placing it among the most visited cities in the world.
Paris ranked in the top 3 globally for tourism performance, which shows how attractive the city remains year after year.
Tourists come to see world-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame, but they also enjoy the city’s walkable neighborhoods, café culture, and food.
The length of stay and spending per visitor remain high, which helped Paris outperform competitors.
3. Pro-Tourism Policies and Smart Planning
Paris also ranked high in the Tourism Policy and Attractiveness category.
This includes visa policies, support for cultural events, and efforts to attract international visitors through advertising and partnerships.
Notably:
- France has expanded access to e-visas and digital travel tools.
- The city has hosted more cultural festivals and events post-COVID.
- Paris has focused on sustainable tourism by promoting low-emission zones and reducing plastic waste.
Health and safety also improved with better emergency services, cleaner streets, and more public toilets.
These small improvements added up and contributed to a better experience for tourists.
What It Means for Travellers
If you’re planning a trip, this ranking means Paris is more visitor-ready than ever before. Here’s what travelers can expect today:
- Better transport: New metro stations and improved airport transfers make getting around easier.
- Smarter planning tools: More apps and online tools help visitors avoid crowds and find open attractions.
- Hotel upgrades: More rooms, better reviews, and a wide range of prices.
- Cleaner and safer public areas: More pedestrian zones and lower petty crime rates in tourist areas.
- Greener spaces: More trees, riverbank walks, and clean energy buses.
How Other Cities Compare
- Madrid (Ranked #2): Known for its cultural richness and affordability. Madrid scored high in sustainability and tourism policy but lacked some of the infrastructure strength Paris gained from the Olympics.
- Tokyo (#3): Tokyo is extremely safe, clean, and efficient. It has strong business travel appeal and good public services, but its tourism policy and international arrival numbers are lower than Paris.
- Rome and Milan (#4 and #5): These Italian cities have improved their rankings thanks to better infrastructure and heritage site management. However, they face challenges in sustainability.
- New York (#6): A major global hub for business and culture. It scored high in economic performance but had lower ratings for healthcare access and environmental efforts.
- Amsterdam (#7): A favorite for travelers looking for a blend of urban charm and environmental consciousness. It scored well on sustainability but has space limitations for further tourism growth.
- Sydney (#8): Strong in safety, infrastructure, and outdoor attractions. However, its distance from major markets like Europe affects visitor numbers.
- Singapore (#9): Performs well across most categories, especially cleanliness, tech, and urban design. It fell slightly behind Paris due to lower cultural visitor scores.
- Barcelona (#10): Remains a favorite for sun-seekers and cultural tourists. However, the city struggles with overtourism and housing costs.
Conclusion
Paris didn’t just win a popularity contest—it scored highest in a data-driven global ranking that looked at more than just Eiffel Tower charm.
The city has made smart, long-term investments to welcome visitors from around the world.
Its lead in infrastructure, strong visitor numbers, and traveler-friendly policies make it a benchmark for other cities.
Top 100 Ranking
1. Paris
2. Madrid
3. Tokyo
4. Rome
5. Milan
6. New York
7. Amsterdam
8. Sydney
9. Singapore
10. Barcelona
11. Taipei
12. Seoul
13. London
14. Dubai
15. Berlin
16. Osaka
17. Bangkok
18. Los Angeles
19. Istanbul
20. Melbourne
21. Hong Kong
22. Munich
23. Las Vegas
24. Florence
25. Prague
26. Dublin
27. Kyoto
28. Vienna
29. Lisbon
30. Venice
31. Kuala Lumpur
32. Athens
33. Orlando
34. Toronto
35. Miami
36. San Francisco
37. Shanghai
38. Frankfurt am Main
39. Copenhagen
40. Zurich
41. Washington
42. Pattaya-Chonburi
43. Vancouver
44. Stockholm
45. Mexico City
46. Oslo
47. São Paulo
48. Phuket
49. Helsinki
50. Brussels
51. Budapest
52. Guangzhou
53. Nice
54. Palma de Mallorca
55. Honolulu
56. Beijing
57. Warsaw
58. Seville
59. Valencia
60. Shenzhen
61. Doha
62. Abu Dhabi
63. Antalya
64. Fukuoka
65. Sapporo
66. Busan
67. Macau
68. Edinburgh
69. Montreal
70. Cancún
71. Bologna
72. Rhodes
73. Verona
74. Delhi
75. Porto
76. Ho Chi Minh City
77. Buenos Aires
78. Marne-La-Vallée
79. Rio de Janeiro
80. Kraków
81. Heraklion
82. Johor Bahru
83. Hanoi
84. Tel Aviv
85. Sharjah
86. Thessaloniki
87. Lima
88. Medina
89. Tbilisi
90. Riyadh
91. Tallinn
92. Marrakech
93. Mecca
94. Denpasar
95. Punta Cana
96. Santiago
97. Vilnius
98. Jerusalem
99. Zhuhai
100. Cairo
With a passion for travel and having visited over 50 countries, Dorian is eager to share his favorite spots and expert tips to help you explore Paris and France like a local.
