wanderlust.co.uk April 2020 73Dreamstime; Shutterstock
TOP CITY WORLDWIDE
Kyoto, Japan
For many, Kyoto embodies the essence of
Japan: an abundance of temples, palaces and
shrines, teahouses and townhouses, cherry
blossom and zen gardens. The city dropped
to seventh last year but, given the boom in
popularity of Japan – tourist numbers are up 21%
over the past three years – it’s no shock to see
it back on top. This presents some overtourism
issues, but canny travellers can ind ways to
escape the crowds – for instance, the city’s
popular Fushimi Inari Shrine is technically open
24 hours a day, so consider visiting at sunrise
to have it to yourself.
A slight surprise in second place, Singapore
proves it’s more than just an excellent airport.
The Asian hub has long been known for its
skyscraper-slick style but there’s been a recent
shift towards experiential tourism, with ‘Passion
Ambassadors’ showcasing more unusual
o erings – for instance, take a Disappearing
Trades tour to learn about old crafts or you
can try modern street food on a Next
Generation Hawker tour.
Cusco is also back on the list. Having been
a perennial favourite with readers over the years,
the Inca capital is back in third place.RANKINGS
1 Kyoto 96.92
2 Singapore 94.44
3 Cusco 93.64
4 Seville 93.08
5 Cape Town 92.76
6 Amsterdam 92.09
7 Istanbul 91.88
8 Siem Reap 91.43
9 New York 90.91
10 Vancouver 90.71⊳
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