San Miguel de Allende named world's best city for third year

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has been named the best city in the world for the third consecutive year by Travel + Leisure magazine in its 2026 World's Best Awards Source: Excelsior. The award is based on a survey of over 207,000 readers who rate cities on culture, hospitality, gastronomy, and overall experience Source: Euronews.

The recognition

Mayor Mauricio Trejo celebrated the achievement, calling it a "world tourism championship" and emphasizing that it reflects the joint effort of citizens, hoteliers, restaurateurs, artisans, and tour guides Source: Milenio. He noted the award strengthens the local economy by attracting visitors and investments Source: Heraldo.

Global context

San Miguel de Allende topped the global list, followed by Kyoto (Japan), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Hoi An (Vietnam), and Oaxaca (Mexico) Source: Euronews. In Europe, Florence was ranked first, but only 13th worldwide Source: Euronews. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, is praised for its well-preserved colonial architecture and vibrant arts scene Source: Heraldo.