Mexican Cities named in World’s Best City Awards

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Three of the world’s top five cities are in Mexico according to famed travel magazine, Travel + Leisure.

San Miguel de AllendeOaxaca, and Mexico City shone in the magazine’s annual world’s best list which was voted for by readers.

San Miguel placed highest of all the Mexican cities, coming second overall behind first-placed Hoi An in Vietnam. Mexico City came fourth and Oaxaca fifth with Chiang Mai in Thailand rounding off the top five.

The world’s top 10 best cities

1. Hoi An, Vietnam

2. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

4. Mexico City, Mexico

5. Oaxaca, Mexico

6. Ubud, Indonesia

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Kyoto, Japan

9. Florence, Italy

10. Udaipur, India

The list forms part of T+L’s annual World’s Best Awards, which sees readers rate cities on their sights, landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and value.

In a further boost for Mexico, two of its hotels came in the top 20 in The Best Hotels in the World category.

Luxury boutique getaway Hotel Matilda in San Miguel claimed spot number 18 while The Resort at Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas was one place behind.

The Top 5 Cities in Mexico

All talk of walls aside, Mexico remains one of the most compelling destinations for American travelers. Reasons to love the nation are many on the food front alone — tacos, conchas, sotol, pulque, mole, and did we mention tacos? — but chief among the factors that draw Travel + Leisure readers on a regular basis is the diversity of experiences they find there. And nowhere is that more evident than in Mexico’s cities, which are richly varied, each offering a cultural experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

Guadalajara, our fifth-place winner, has made a name for itself among travelers for a vibrant arts and culture scene where locals are exceedingly welcoming. It’s the beating heart of the country’s mariachi tradition, but it also has Modernist architecture, contemporary art galleries, and a booming tech industry. “Even the police are friendly,” noted one reader. “They let us tour a building even though it was closing time. Our tour guide took us to the best restaurants for lunch. Could’ve spent a month there.”

Oaxaca, which took third place, draws visitors for its multilayered culinary heritage, handicraft traditions passed down through generations and easy access to ancient sites that offer a deeper look at Mexico’s indigenous roots. “You can find almost any type of entertainment and shopping,” observed one traveler. “Ancient sites, as well as colorful and interesting ages old villages, are all within short drives.”

And of course, there’s CDMX: always a favorite, No. 2 Mexico City has gotten more popular than ever with travelers. “Possibly one of the most exciting cities in North America,” gushed one frequent visitor. “I go at least once per year, and every time I do it’s a new and exciting experience.” The metropolis is huge and sprawling, which only means more opportunities to chase down exactly what speaks to you, whether it’s wandering Chapultepec Forest, strolling the ruins of Templo Mayor, scoping out artwork by Diego Rivera and glimpsing Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul, or perusing the wares at Merced. Don’t miss the chance to explore stylish Condesa and boho Roma, take in the nightlife in Zona Rosa, and eat your way through Tepito.

Below, find out which other cities made the cut, and which talked-about town snagged the top spot.

5. Guadalajara

Guadalajara, Mexico

Score: 84.49

4. Mérida

Merida, Mexico

Score: 85.70

3. Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico

Score: 89.16

2. Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 89.30

1. San Miguel de Allende

Score: 90.23

Travel + Leisure readers just can’t get enough of San Miguel de Allende. “A truly fairytale city — lovely people, magical, and a great place to visit and maybe even retire,” wrote one fan. The sweet cobblestoned streets lined with colorful Spanish-colonial buildings, with the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel towering over it all, would make the city charming enough even without anything else to recommend it. As another reader enthused, “Its weather is unmatched, and the people are wonderfully friendly.” But then consider that San Miguel has an artistic soul, a blossoming restaurant scene, and a bevy of luxurious hotels that opened within the past few years — not to mention that large swathes of the city are now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site — and the appeal becomes even clearer. Just be sure to bring a good camera to capture all of the city’s photogenic sights.

Source: journey mexico, travelandleisure

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