Singapore just topped Tripadvisor's 2026 cultural destinations list – ahead of Paris and Rome

Singapore just got a shiny new title to add to its already crowded trophy shelf. According to Tripadvisor’s latest Traveler’s Choice Awards, our city has been crowned the world’s top cultural destination for 2026. Yes, above heavyweights like Paris, Rome and Kyoto.

TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” rankings are determined by the reviews and ratings of travellers submitted between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, spanning categories like stays, dining, and attractions. The bar is steep – out of roughly eight million listings globally, under one percent make the cut.

TripAdvisor defines cultural destinations as places where travellers can dive into a city’s history, heritage, arts, and unique local experiences – and, in Singapore’s case, that means everything from our gleaming skyline and surreal green spaces to an endless parade of cuisines. The travel platform paints Singapore as something straight out of a sci-fi fever dream, and they aren’t wrong – you can bounce from hawker centres to sky-high infinity pools, then wander through futuristic gardens, all in a single day. Some of Tripadvisor’s recommended spots in Singapore include the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Cloud Forest, and Adventure Cove Waterpark.

Here are the 25 best cultural destinations for 2026:

1. Singapore
2. London
3. Krakow
4. Paris
5. Rome
6. Edinburgh
7. Hanoi
8. Budapest
9. Kyoto
10. Bali
11. Prague
12. Dublin
13. Siem Reap
14. Istanbul
15. New York City
16. Seoul
17. Beijing
18. Florence
19. Lisbon
20. Barcelona
21. Marrakech
22. Athens
23. Lima
24. Luxor
25. Rio de Janeiro

Check out the full list here.

READ MORE

Five new heritage walking trails across Singapore offer neighbourhood stories and $10 rewards

Vietjet launches direct Singapore–Nha Trang flights with promo fares from $86

T2 Tea shuts all outlets across Singapore – and everything is now 30% off