Jerusalem Ranks Seventh Globally and Tops Middle East in Travel + Leisure's 2026 City Rankings

Jerusalem has solidified its status as a leading global tourist destination, ranking seventh worldwide and first in the Middle East and Africa in Travel + Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards 2026. The ranking is based on over 661,000 votes from the magazine's readers, who evaluated cities on attractions, culture, cuisine, hotels, atmosphere, and overall visitor experience. Jerusalem scored 91.11, surpassing popular cities such as Tokyo, Florence, Seoul, Prague, Cape Town, Salzburg, and Krakow.

The top city globally was San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, recognized for its colorful colonial architecture, vibrant food scene, and unique boutique shops. Following it were Kyoto (Japan), Hoi An (Vietnam), Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Oaxaca (Mexico). Travel + Leisure editors highlighted that this year's winners reflect travelers' desires for exceptional service, authentic experiences, quality hotels, rich culinary scenes, and attractions that encourage repeat visits.

This annual ranking, now in its 31st year, is highly influential in the tourism industry and also includes categories for hotels, islands, airlines, cruises, and tour operators. Jerusalem's achievement comes at a time when Israel's tourism sector is actively working to attract international visitors again, potentially boosting the city's image as a premier global travel destination.