It’s been a big year for Hong Kong on the world stage – with the harbour city laying claim to the best hotel and the best bar in the world. Now, we’ve got a new title to add to the trophy cabinet – with Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index ranking Hong Kong as the second-most visited destination on the planet, pulling in an estimated 23.2 million international arrivals in 2025.
For a city that’s equal parts steadfast and ever-evolving, the ranking serves as a very welcome reminder that Hong Kong is firmly back on the world stage, and travellers can’t get enough.
Euromonitor’s annual index crunches everything from tourism and sustainability to economic performance and health and safety. While Europe dominated the overall top ten (with Paris, Madrid, Rome, Milan and Amsterdam all taking prime real estate), the Asia-Pacific region made serious waves. Tokyo hit number three globally, Singapore landed at number nine, and Seoul climbed confidently into number ten. But when it came to people power – the actual number of travellers flocking in – Hong Kong stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Asia’s biggest hitters.
The only city ahead of us? Bangkok, which retained its long-standing number one title with a staggering 30.3 million international arrivals this year. London, despite its historic pull, slid to number three with 22.7 million. Even Macau – the glitzy gambling enclave just across the delta – followed behind with 20.4 million.
What’s driving the surge? With revitalised neighbourhoods, a thriving dining and nightlife scene, world-class cultural institutions and some of Asia’s most ambitious tourism campaigns, Hong Kong is leaning confidently into our magnetic mix of energy, nature, and sheer sensory overload.
Elsewhere in Asia, Kuala Lumpur ranked at number ten on the list for international arrivals, welcoming 17.3 million overseas visitors in 2025.
You can check out the full report over here.
Top 10 cities for international arrivals in 2025
Here are the top 10 cities in the world for international arrivals, based on research from Euromonitor International:
- Bangkok (30.3 million international trips)
- Hong Kong (23.2 million)
- London (22.7 million)
- Macao (20.4 million)
- Istanbul (19.7 million)
- Dubai (19.5 million)
- Mecca (18.7 million)
- Antalya (18.6 million)
- Paris (18.3 million)
- Kuala Lumpur (17.3 million)
Top 10 city destinations in 2025
Here are the top 10 cities in the world this year, based on research from Euromonitor International:
- Paris, France
- Madrid, Spain
- Tokyo, Japan
- Rome, Italy
- Milan, Italy
- New York, USA
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Barcelona, Spain
- Singapore
- Seoul, South Korea
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended stories:
The Rescued Feast’s last community dinner of the year will be in aid of the Tai Po fire
Jimmy O. Yang is returning to Macau for an epic Lunar New Year 2026 show
AIA Carnival returns this December with new rides and a winter-themed circus