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New York has always dazzled after dark, but now it’s official: The city was just named the prettiest nighttime destination in the world.
The new ranking comes from Travelbag, which analyzed more than 100 major cities using data points like Instagram hashtag volume, light and noise pollution, safety scores and the number of late-night venues. New York topped the list thanks to its unbeatable combination of nightlife, skyline views and round-the-clock culture.
Among the standout stats: More than 2,300 venues stay open late and the hashtag #NewYorkAtNight has been used over 40,000 times. Sure, the city’s light and noise pollution score came in at a fairly high 69 out of 100—but when the whole point is being lit up, that’s hardly a dealbreaker.
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The report nods to the full spectrum of New York’s after-hours appeal, from midnight walks through Times Square to rooftop cocktails in Brooklyn and late-night jazz in Harlem. As Geoff Dobson, the regional destination manager for the Americas at Travelbag, put it, “There’s no place quite like New York at night. It’s loud, luminous, and alive.”
While “noctourism” is still a niche term, it’s clearly on the rise—searches for “night safari” are reportedly up 22 percent year over year and more travelers are seeking experiences beyond typical daytime sightseeing. In that context, New York’s energy, density and constant motion make it an ideal nightscape.
Notably, the ranking wasn’t based on aesthetics alone. Travelbag also factored in how safe a city feels after dark, how much pollution clouds the skies and how easily travelers can find somewhere to eat, drink or explore once the sun goes down.
Plenty of cities sparkled in the top 10—Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney among them—but New York was the only one to score high across all categories. Whether it’s a twilight view from the Empire State Building or a 3 a.m. slice from a corner pizza joint, the city continues to prove that nightfall here is just the beginning.