How Voting Works

Every year, for our World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. This year, nearly 165,000 readers completed the survey, marking a significant increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Cities were rated based on the following criteria:

• Sights/landmarks
• Culture
• Food
• Friendliness
• Shopping
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

This year’s picks range from coastal Japan (Osaka, at No. 11) to western India (Mumbai, at No. 6), extending down to the Balinese city of Ubud (No. 3). Several readers cited incredible experiences in second-place finisher Kyoto, highlighting its innate beauty and cultural richness that “combines the old and new,” as one voter expressed. “The scenery is breathtaking; the gardens inspire meditation and embracing the moment,” according to another traveler. “The friendliness of the local people is unparalleled,” said another.

Impeccable, welcoming service was prevalent in several of these cities. One traveler who visited both Siem Reap (No. 9) and Luang Prabang (No. 8) remarked they “felt like royalty” due to the exceptional hospitality encountered throughout their journey. This sentiment resonates with one reader’s glowing review of Tokyo: “worth every penny and every hour of jet lag you can experience in your life.”

Continue reading to discover this year’s first-place winner and see the full list of the best cities in Asia, according to iBestTravel readers.

The Winner

Udaipur, India

Udaipur is familiar with the top spot on this list: in the last five years alone, it has claimed first place twice. Known as the City of Lakes for the seven bodies of water nearby, this Rajasthani gem lies on the banks of Lake Pichola, nestled within the heart of the Aravalli Range. Among travelers, its most famous sight is the intricate City Palace complex, an ornate granite-and-marble waterfront fortress resembling a town unto itself. The lake and mountain vistas create striking scenery, while the romantic architecture of City Palace contributes to why many readers have praised Udaipur’s visual allure.

The Full List

1. Udaipur, India

Reader Score: 93.33

2. Kyoto, Japan

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.06

3. Ubud, Indonesia

Reader Score: 91.73

4. Tokyo

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 90.30

5. Bangkok

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 89.99

6. Mumbai

Reader Score: 89.79

7. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Reader Score: 89.49

8. Luang Prabang, Laos

Reader Score: 89.44

9. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Reader Score: 88.80

10. Singapore

Reader Score: 88.78

11. Osaka, Japan

Reader Score: 88.05

12. Jaipur, India

Reader Score: 87.95

13. Hoi An, Vietnam

Reader Score: 87.86

14. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Reader Score: 87.64

15. Seoul

Reader Score: 86.73