Bangkok Was the World’s Most Visited City in 2024

Thailand is having a second. Not solely is it Journey + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year and the filming location for season three of HBO’s The White Lotus, but it surely’s additionally house to probably the most visited metropolis final 12 months.

In accordance with Euromonitor International’s World’s Top 100 City Destinations report, Bangkok, the nation’s capital, attracted probably the most worldwide guests in 2024. A grand complete of 32.4 million individuals made their method to this bustling metropolis, and the information analytics firm said that this quantity “surpassed [the] pre-pandemic stage of worldwide tourism flows in 2023 and continued dynamic development of over 30 % in 2024.”

For those who’ve ever been to Bangkok, you’ll know that, whereas crowded in some areas, it’s a spot full of fascinating contrasts. One night time, you possibly can eat at a road meals stall in Chinatown; the following, you possibly can dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant (for a fraction of what you’d pay in America).

Exploring the temples across the Previous City or perusing the Thai antiques within the Erawan Museum needs to be in your to-do checklist, however you must also search out the glamour and trendy luxurious of Bangkok’s best hotels—together with the Capella Bangkok and the 4 Seasons Resort Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.

Whereas Bangkok is a vacation spot to expertise in and of itself, it’s additionally a great place to begin for trying out different elements of Thailand. Whether or not you’re headed to the islands within the south—specifically the Phuket Province, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, or Koh Lipe—or up north to Chiang Mai, Pai, or Chiang Rai, you’ll wish to spend not less than a day or two soaking within the tradition and historical past in Bangkok.

“In 2024, international cities more and more leveraged sports activities and cultural occasions to spice up tourism revenues. Infrastructure enhancements and steady advertising and marketing have attracted travellers’ consideration, opening additional development alternatives,” the report mentioned.

Whereas this rings true for Bangkok—which hosts the annual Songkran Competition in April—it’s additionally related to the opposite cities that made Euromonitor Worldwide’s checklist. Istanbul, the world’s most visited city in 2023, adopted Bangkok with 23 million worldwide visits in 2024. London; Hong Kong; and Mecca, Saudi Arabia, rounded out the highest 5, with Antalya, Turkey, and Dubai not far behind.

See the complete checklist of the world’s most-visited cities on euromonitor.com.