Paris has been named as the world’s leading city for tourism for fifth consecutive year, according to the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025, published by Euromonitor International.
The French capital recorded more than 18 million visitors this year, driven by its ‘strong tourism infrastructure, vibrant culture and focus on sustainability’, Euromonitor said, adding that the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris drew ‘significant’ tourism interest.
Europe leads the way
The annual report, which is published alongside data firm lighthouse, features four European cities in the top five, with Madrid ranking second, recognised for its ‘sustainability leadership and urban mobility initiatives’.
Tokyo is the top Asian city destination in the rankings, placing third, with Rome in fourth and fellow Italian city Milan placing fifth.
According to the report, international tourism has grown over the past year, with the Asia Pacific region seeing the biggest increase in tourism, up 10%, followed by the Middle East and Africa, up 7%.
Bangkok was the most-visited city over the past year, with 30.3 million visitors, followed by Hong Kong, London and Macau.
The growth in international tourism was boosted by ‘visa relaxations, major infrastructure upgrades and high-profile cultural and sporting events, which strengthened connectivity and enhanced visitor experiences’, Euromonitor noted.
Overall, international arrivals to the top 100 cities on the list totalled 702 million in 2025, an increase of 8% from the previous year.
‘Exceptionally resilient’
Commenting on the findings, Nadejda Popova, global head of loyalty at Euromonitor International, said, “Even amid economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, global travel proved exceptionally resilient in 2025.
“International arrivals to the top 100 cities climbed 8% to 702 million, highlighting the ability of cities to adapt, innovate and deliver experiences that travellers continue to find irresistible.”
Sustainability is an emerging area of focus for city travellers, the data showed, with Spanish cities including Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia and Seville, along with Helsinki and Oslo, ranking highly.
Infrastructure investment was also highlighted, with Rome, Tokyo and Paris noted for recent hotel projects and airport upgrades, and the Brazilian city of São Paulo noted for metro and logistics improvements. Read more here.
