London Eye
London on top of the world… for the 11th consecutive year. New York follows closely behind, six European cities in the top-10.
The table of best cities in the world for 2026. The index is prepared by real estate consultancy Resonance Consultancy and involved surveys of more than 21,000 experts in 30 countries, in addition to data generated by users globally.
The table takes into account several criteria: habitability, nature, ease of travel on foot, public transport, air quality, attractiveness, nightlife, culture, attractions, restaurants, prosperity, economy, education, job market or connectivity. The news this time was climate risk.
London It’s the best city in the world. For the 11th year in a row. Why?
It is the “capital of capitals”, as it says. It has a “magnetism” that continues to attract a global audience, from students and businesspeople to tourists and corporate tycoons.
But there’s more: “I think obviously London’s history as a global capital is probably one of the elements that people are most familiar with, in terms of popular entertainment, film, culture and history, which seems to resonate well,” explained Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy.
The Tower of London, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and Westminster Abbey attract millions of visitors; some of the best cuisine in the world is in London, whether in haute cuisine or on a more informal level; the economy has recovered promisingly since the pandemic.
However, continues Chris Fair in , the fact that London has so many people harms other British cities: “There are several smaller cities in the United Kingdom, so London being first is great, but it has a certain negative impact on the rest of the cities in Great Britain, because it consumes a lot of attention”.
Second place goes to New York, the “beating heart” of the USA. It is a city of fascination, it has a special touch.
Closing the podium appears Paris, the city that illuminates. Few cities attract as much global attention, among entrepreneurs, opinion leaders or avid travelers. Paris impresses.
There are six European cities in the top-10: London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Berlin and Barcelona. In the first 100, the USA, Germany and China are the countries with the most cities.
Lisbon and Porto
Portugal has two cities: Lisbon in 37th place, Porto in 97th place. There are 60 places difference.
The capital of Portugal has a curious description, right at the beginning: “You’re not imagining things: everyone you know goes to Lisbon and doesn’t want to leave there”. Investments in mobility and transport are highlighted. And the tragedy of: “But Lisbon moved forward, driven by new and bold openings, such as the MACAM modern art museum and the future debut of Andaz Lisbon”.
Porto, almost at the end of the top-100 list, justifies an apparent connection to… Game of Thrones: “Everyone wants a piece of the king of northern Portugal”. The city is receiving more and more passengers, with the “long-awaited Pink Line (G) of the Porto Metro” coming, which connects São Bento to Casa da Música. Also highlighted is the transformation of the Campanhã slaughterhouse and the new Convergências Museum. And Porto attracts billions of euros in foreign direct investment.
Nuno Teixeira da Silva, ZAP //
