Seoul has officially claimed the number one spot as the world’s best big city, surpassing Tokyo in a major global travel ranking. The city’s unique charm—seamlessly blending K-pop and K-dramas with traditional hanok alleys, rich history, and modern life—has successfully captivated global travelers.
Seoul Ranks First in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the renowned U.S. travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler announced on October 6 (local time) that Seoul Best Big Cities selection placed the South Korean capital at the very top of its 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Marking its 39th anniversary, the awards gathered a total of 798,867 reader votes across categories including cities, hotels, and resorts.
Seoul jumped four spots from fifth place last year, officially dethroning Tokyo, which had claimed the top spot consecutively in 2024 and 2025. Tokyo placed second this year, followed by Phnom Penh in third, Shanghai in fourth, and Sydney in fifth.
The Harmony of Tradition and Modernity Captivates Global Travelers
When Conde Nast Traveler featured Seoul last September, it highlighted the city’s distinct urban landscape where tradition and modernity coexist. While K-culture elements like K-pop, K-beauty, and K-dramas serve as major drivers pushing Seoul onto the global tourism stage, the magazine emphasized that a deep 2,000-year history and cultural foundation lie beneath the surface.
A prime example of this dynamic charm is the Jongno 3-ga district. In Ikseon-dong, narrow alleys are lined with modernized hanok cafes and restaurants, while a short walk leads to Seosunra-gil, where artisan workshops and independent shops run alongside the ancient Jongmyo Shrine stone wall. By evening, the nearby pocha (tent bar) street around Jongno 3-ga Station fills with locals and visitors alike.
Jongno 3-ga Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood
Ikseon-dong and the broader Jongno 3-ga area were also recently named the number one spot on the British culture and travel publication Time Out’s list of ‘The World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods in 2026.’ Having ranked third in the same evaluation back in 2021, Jongno 3-ga reached the top position for the first time this year.
Time Out highlighted Jongno 3-ga’s vibrant atmosphere, where diverse generations and communities blend together. Older generations visiting traditional gukbap (soup and rice) restaurants, younger crowds enjoying hanok cafes, and tourists exploring the back alleys all share the same space. The area’s history of housing LGBTQ+-friendly spaces since the 1970s also drew special attention.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, ‘This is a recognition by the global community of Seoul’s diverse charms, built upon 2,000 years of history, world-captivating K-culture, and everyday life embedded in hanok and alleys. We will continue to preserve Seoul’s unique historical character while adding fresh culture and vitality, making it a proud city for our citizens and a global destination where international visitors want to stay longer and return again.’
