Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2027 | Best Travel Destinations
Travelling with multiple destinations in mind can be tough when there are too many good options to pick from
In 2025, London topped Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards as the world’s best destination, with Bali, Dubai, Sicily, and Paris rounding out the top five.
As of mid-2026, though, none of the major travel-trend publishers, Lonely Planet, Skift, Pinterest, had actually released their real 2027 picks yet, which means most “best cities to visit in 2027” content circulating right now is quietly recycled from an older year.
This list works differently. Instead of quoting a forecast that doesn’t exist, it’s built around cities with a genuine, current reason to visit specifically now: a currency advantage, a cultural wave, or a level of value that’s hard to beat.
Here are the 10 best cities to visit in 2027, what each one costs, and what to eat while you’re there. Think of it less as a fixed ranking of top travel destinations 2027 and more as a shortlist of the best places to visit in 2027 for genuinely different reasons.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2027
1. Tokyo, Japan
Built from a fishing village into the world’s most populous metropolitan area, Tokyo has been Japan’s capital since 1868, though its roots stretch back to the Edo period in 1603.
- Best fit: First-timers wanting ultra-modern and deeply traditional in one trip.
- Don’t miss: Shibuya Crossing at rush hour, followed by a quiet morning at Senso-ji Temple.
- Cost for a week: $1,400–$2,800, helped by a historically weak yen through 2026.
- The food: Conveyor-belt sushi and a proper bowl of ramen.
- Pros/Cons: Unmatched food scene and safety, but a real language barrier outside major districts.
2. Seoul, South Korea
Once the seat of the Joseon dynasty from 1392, Seoul has ridden a genuine global cultural wave over the past decade, K-pop, Korean skincare, and a now Michelin-studded food scene, tracked closely by the Korea Tourism Organization.
- Best fit: Pop culture fans and food-focused travellers.
- Don’t miss: Gyeongbokgung Palace’s changing-of-the-guard ceremony.
- Cost for a week: $1,200–$2,400.
- The food: Korean BBQ and street-side bibimbap.
- Pros/Cons: Excellent public transport and safety, but can feel overwhelming for first-timers unfamiliar with the language.
3. Lisbon, Portugal
Rebuilt almost entirely after a catastrophic 1755 earthquake, Lisbon has spent the past decade rising as Europe’s best-value alternative to pricier Western capitals, according to Visit Portugal.
- Best fit: Budget-conscious travellers wanting European charm.
- Don’t miss: A Tram 28 ride through the Alfama district.
- Cost for a week: $900–$1,800.
- The food: Pastéis de nata and fresh grilled sardines.
- Pros/Cons: Genuinely affordable by European standards, but summer crowds have grown noticeably in recent years.
4. Dubai, UAE
Transformed from a pearl-diving and fishing settlement into a global hub after oil was discovered in 1966, Dubai has built its modern identity around scale and ambition.
- Best fit: Luxury travellers and families wanting guaranteed sunshine.
- Don’t miss: The view from Burj Khalifa’s observation deck.
- Cost for a week: $1,800–$4,000.
- The food: Emirati machboos alongside genuinely world-class international dining.
- Pros/Cons: Safe, modern, and easy to navigate, but can feel more like a resort than a city with deep local texture.
5. Bangkok, Thailand
Founded as Thailand’s capital in 1782 under the Rattanakosin dynasty, Bangkok blends ornate royal temples with some of the best street food on the planet, per the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
- Best fit: Food lovers and budget travellers.
- Don’t miss: A longtail boat ride through the Chao Phraya River’s canals.
- Cost for a week: $700–$1,500.
- The food: Pad thai and mango sticky rice from a proper street stall.
- Pros/Cons: Incredible value and food, but traffic and heat can wear travellers down fast.
6. Istanbul, Turkey
The only major city spanning two continents, Istanbul carries both Byzantine and Ottoman history in the same skyline, from the Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque.
- Best fit: History lovers and first-time visitors to the region.
- Don’t miss: A Bosphorus ferry ride between Europe and Asia.
- Cost for a week: $800–$1,700.
- The food: Proper Turkish kebabs and baklava from a generations-old bakery.
- Pros/Cons: Deep, layered history and excellent food, but the Grand Bazaar’s crowds and hard sells can wear thin.
7. Marrakech, Morocco
Founded in 1070 by the Almoravid dynasty, Marrakech‘s walled old city, or Medina, remains one of the best-preserved in North Africa.
- Best fit: Culture-focused travellers who enjoy getting a little lost.
- Don’t miss: Sunset at Jemaa el-Fnaa square, when the food stalls open.
- Cost for a week: $700–$1,600.
- The food: A slow-cooked tagine and fresh mint tea.
- Pros/Cons: Atmospheric and affordable, but the medina’s maze-like layout and persistent vendors take adjustment.
8. Mexico City, Mexico
Built directly atop Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded in 1325, Mexico City is now one of the world’s great food and art capitals.
- Best fit: You will enjoy here if you are a food and art lover.
- Don’t miss: The murals at Palacio de Bellas Artes and a wander through Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul
- Cost for a week: $800–$1,700.
- The food: Tacos al pastor from a genuine taquería, not a tourist restaurant.
- Pros/Cons: Extraordinary food and culture, but high altitude and traffic take some adjusting to.
9. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Founded by Spanish settlers in 1580 and later shaped by waves of Italian and Spanish immigration, Buenos Aires earned its reputation as “the Paris of South America.”
- Best fit: Culture and nightlife-focused travellers.
- Don’t miss: A tango show in the San Telmo district.
- Cost for a week: $700–$1,500.
- The food: A proper Argentine asado (barbecue) and a glass of Malbec.
- Pros/Cons: Excellent value and European-style elegance, but Argentina’s currency volatility can complicate your budget.
10. Singapore
Founded as a British trading post in 1819 and independent since 1965, Singapore transformed from a small port city into one of the world’s wealthiest nations in a single generation.
- Best fit: First-timers wanting cleanliness, safety, and easy logistics.
- Don’t miss: The Gardens by the Bay Supertree light show.
- Cost for a week: $1,600–$3,200.
- The food: A hawker-centre meal, Singapore’s most authentic dining experience.
- Pros/Cons: Exceptionally clean, safe, and easy to navigate, but among the more expensive stops in Southeast Asia.
Best Travel Destinations at a Glance
Picking from the best cities to visit in 2027 gets easier once you sort by what you actually want from the trip. Among the best international cities to visit, Tokyo and Singapore suit best cities for you if you want zero rough edges, while Marrakech and Istanbul suit those chasing the most iconic cities around the world for depth of history.
If you’re after the best cities to visit for food specifically, Bangkok, Mexico City, and Seoul are difficult to beat on both quality and price.
And for genuinely trending travel destinations 2027 should reward, Lisbon’s value proposition and Seoul’s cultural momentum are the two most likely to keep climbing rather than plateau both are strong contenders for anyone’s list of top city vacations 2027, alongside the best cities to visit in 2027 named above.
The Food Across These Cities
There’s no single “world food” story here that’s rather the point of a global list like this one.
What does hold across most of these best value travel destinations is a strong street food and market culture: Bangkok’s street stalls, Mexico City’s taquerías, and Singapore’s hawker centres all deliver some of each city’s best food for a fraction of restaurant prices.
European entries like Lisbon lean more toward sit-down café culture, while Middle Eastern stops like Dubai and Istanbul offer both extremes side by side.
Where to Start
If you can only pick one city from this list of top city break destinations, match it to your travel style rather than its popularity: Tokyo or Singapore for an easy, polished first trip, Marrakech or Istanbul for depth of history, and Bangkok or Mexico City if food is the whole point of the journey.
Among the most visited cities in the world and the most popular cities in the world more broadly, these 10 stand out precisely because each earns its spot on this list of the best cities to visit in 2027 for a specific, current reason, not just because it always has.
FAQs on Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2027
Q1. What are the best cities to visit in 2027?
Based on current, verifiable trends rather than an official 2027 ranking (which no major travel publisher has released yet), the strongest picks include Tokyo, Seoul, Lisbon, Dubai, Bangkok, Istanbul, Marrakech, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Singapore. Each was chosen for a specific, current reason, a favourable exchange rate, cultural momentum, or standout value, rather than simply enduring popularity. Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards, which ranked London, Bali, and Dubai among its top five, offer the most recent verified benchmark available.
Q2. Is there an official “best places to visit in 2027” list yet?
Not as of this writing. Major travel-trend publishers like Lonely Planet, Skift, and Pinterest typically release their annual “best of” predictions later in the year, and none had published verified 2027 picks as of mid-2026. Content claiming to show a definitive 2027 ranking published earlier than that is likely recycled from a prior year’s list. The most reliable current benchmark is Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards, which this guide draws on directly.
Q3. What is the most affordable city on this list?
Bangkok offers the lowest overall costs, with a comfortable week achievable for $700–$1,500 per person including food, accommodation, and local transport. Marrakech and Buenos Aires follow closely, both offering strong value thanks to favourable exchange rates against many Western currencies. Dubai and Singapore sit at the opposite end, both capable of costing two to three times as much for an equivalent week.
Q4. Which city is best for first-time international travellers?
Tokyo and Singapore are generally the easiest entry points for first-time international travellers, thanks to excellent public transport, strong safety records, and infrastructure built to accommodate visitors comfortably. Both cities also offer a genuine mix of modern convenience and cultural depth, so first-timers don’t have to sacrifice authenticity for ease. Cities like Marrakech or Istanbul are equally rewarding but ask a little more adaptability from a first-time traveller.
Q5. How much does a week in a major city typically cost in 2027?
Costs vary enormously by city, from roughly $700 a week in Bangkok or Marrakech to $1,800–$4,000 in Dubai or Singapore, per person, excluding international flights. Exchange rates matter more than most travellers expect, Tokyo’s affordability, for instance, is directly tied to a historically weak yen through 2026. Booking accommodation and major attractions in advance, rather than relying on walk-up rates, typically brings costs down further in every city on this list.
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