The best city in South Africa ranks among the top in the world for the fourth year in a row
Cape Town has been ranked the 15th best city in the world on the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, for the fourth year in a row, since the post-COVID era kicked off.
In the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, Cape Town also earned tenth place for the friendliest city in the world, making it the only African city on both lists.
Cape Town has won several other major international awards over the years, including the Telegraph Travel Awards’ Best City in the World award for seven consecutive years.
In 2025, Time Out also crowned Cape Town with the Best City in the World award, for its food, nightlife, culture, affordability, and happiness.
Condé Nast Traveller readers contributed 798,867 votes in this year’s 39th Readers’ Choice Awards to share their thoughts on the best travel experiences around the world.
The award praised Cape Town for its iconic Table Mountain, beautiful beaches, and “colonial-era grand dames” such as the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel.
The city was also praised for its “cutting-edge new designs”, which include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art in Africa.
The local wineries in and around the city were highly praised, as well as the history living on Robben Island.
The City of Cape Town said the award was warmly welcomed, expressing how much tourism contributes to the city’s economic growth.
“Yes, the beaches and mountains are beautiful beyond compare, but it’s Capetonians who are so welcoming to visitors. That’s what makes this place unmatched,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos.
Vos commended the city’s food scene, noting that diversity plays an important role in the city.
“Cuisine is one of the most remarkable aspects of Cape Town and South Africa. Our food reveals our history and the spread of cultures that make us unique and memorable,” he said.
Government spends R24.5 billion on tourism in 2025
When noting the importance of tourism, Vos highlighted that there was R24,5 billion in direct tourism spent in 2025. He said that the industry also sustained more than 106,000 jobs that year.
“We are working to increase those figures and are aiming for R35 billion in tourism spend and 234,041 tourism jobs in 2030,” said Vos.
“We will keep pushing to get there by doubling down on our place marketing campaigns, and strengthening airline partnerships to bring more visitors directly to Cape Town.”
He said that the city will be working with its tourism partners to convert the increasing demand into more bookings, longer stays and greater visitor spending.
The awards ranked the top 10 best small cities and the top 10 best big cities, which comes to a total of 20 best cities in the world.
The best cities get voted for based on several parameters involving readers’ personal travel experiences, including friendliness and hospitality, such as how welcoming local residents are towards visitors.
Other factors, such as food and the city’s culinary scene, are also taken into account, including signature dishes, culinary history, and local dining culture.
Culture, art, and architecture also play a significant role in the vote, including factors such as historical sites, local art, museums, and architectural heritage.
Other aesthetic experiences, such as mountain views, natural landscapes, and beautiful beaches, are considered when making a vote.
The destinations on the list range from coastal towns such as San Sebastián, Amalfi, and Dubrovnik to cultural hubs with rich history and architecture such as Florence, Venice, and Kyoto.
Other top destinations include Lucerne, San Miguel de Allende, and Singapore.
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