50 Most-Visited Cities in the World

Which cities in the world are the most often visited? That is a question Euromonitor International asks — and answers — each year.

Researching the arrival records of more than 400 cities around the globe, the organization determines the most popular destinations on Earth. Form historic centers in Europe to up-and-coming hot spots in Asia to long-time favorites in the United States, find out which places top the 2019 ranking. 

How many will you be adding to your bucket list? 

2019 Arrivals: 5.5 million*

Year-Over-Year Growth: 4.8%

It’s easy to see why this city remains one of Europe’s, and the world’s, biggest draws. Here, you can walk along brick-lined streets and still see pubs and shops that have existed for generations, interspersed with hot new restaurants and fast-paced businesses.

This combination of old and new lends Dublin a quaintness not found in many of the cities on this list. Even in the face of a 4.5 percent VAT increase that’s affected the hospitality industry, Dublin isn’t going anywhere. 

*Numbers reflect visitors staying a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of less than 12 months.

2019 Arrivals: 5.5 million

Year-Over-Year Growth: 3.5%

Euromonitor found an increased focus on tourism offerings in the Middle East, and highlighted Riyadh as a city in the region investing heavily to lure travelers.

Riyadh witnessed a decline in arrivals between 2017 and 2018 due to an exodus of oil and energy expats and rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Visa fees for pilgrims to visit Mecca and Medina also increased.

To combat the decline, the country offered a new visa to open the country to more international leisure travelers and pushed for more entertainment options, even hosting the first WWW wrestling match to help shake its image as a conservative country. 

Healthy growth in 2019 makes it clear the efforts worked. 

2019 Arrivals: 6.2 million

Year-Over-Year Growth: 18%

For years, Vietnam was hidden behind a Communist cloud, which kept tourists from visiting. With new visa programs, however, it showed it was ready to welcome travelers with open arms. The result? A robust 18 percent growth in arrivals in 2019.

Ha Long, or Halong, has become especially popular with the Chinese, as it’s close to the border and easy to get to for weekend jaunts and excursions. The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 1,600 limestone islands that jut from a green-blue sea. Plus, travelers from the west who fly into Hanoi can easily get to Ha Long by bus in less than two hours.

2019 Arrivals: 5.6 million

Year-Over-Year Growth: 2.9%

As its sister sister of Barcelona decries an influx of tourists, Madrid, Spain’s largest city and capital, has remained quiet, happily accepting those who want to experience its amazing culture, food and nightlife that goes well into the wee hours.

Madrid did impose a ban earlier in 2019 to prevent Airbnb rentals to apartments and homes without private entrances, shutting down more than 10,000 units, but that change was more a safety and hospitality business alteration that had little impact on travelers.

Not only did Madrid experience minor growth this year, but Spain as a country is set to break tourism records with 83.4 million visitors, according to “The New York Times.”