Bangkok is named World's Best City in the Condé Nast Traveller 2026 UK Readers' Choice Awards

Bangkok has been named World's Best City in the Condé Nast Traveller 2026 UK Readers' Choice Awards, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on 9 October. The capital scored 97.68 and took first place in a category decided by votes from 296,356 readers in the United Kingdom.

The jump is notable. According to TAT, Bangkok did not appear among the top 20 cities in the 2025 awards. Thailand as a whole also placed 8th in the Best Countries for Food category, which suits a capital where street stalls and restaurants are a reason to travel in their own right.

The islands and beaches did well too. In Best Islands in Asia, Ko Lanta ranked 3rd, Phuket 4th and Ko Samui 9th. In Best Beaches in Asia, Railay Beach came 2nd, Ao Nang Beach 10th, Pattaya Beach 16th and Maya Bay 18th.

Wellness and hospitality were recognised as well. Five Thai spas made the world's top 20 for Best Destination Spas, led by Chiva-Som in Hua Hin in 1st place and Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in 3rd. In the Best Hotels in Southeast Asia list, six Bangkok properties earned places, with Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok in 1st and The Sukhothai Bangkok in 2nd.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the awards support Thailand's positioning as "Asia's No. 1 High-Value and Meaningful Destination", with a focus on quality, sustainable growth and benefits for local communities. TAT adds that the results join a growing list of international accolades for the country.

For travellers, a readers' vote is useful because it reflects what people actually did and enjoyed. It also points to how spread out these favourites are: the beaches around Krabi, the islands of Lanta, Samui and Phuket, and the capital itself all sit in different parts of the country, and each has its own rhythm. Many visitors who read about a top-ranked beach end up wanting to reach the quieter viewpoints, markets and temples nearby on their own schedule. For some, a scooter or a car is the simplest way to do that, as long as they hold the right licence, have suitable insurance and know the local rules.

This is where Balm Rentals fits in. Balm is a single marketplace, available on iOS, Android and the web, where travellers can book scooters, bikes and cars from licensed, verified local owners. Price, deposit and rental terms are shown before payment, in the traveller's own language. The aim is to make the vehicle part of a trip as clear as the rest of the plan, and to work alongside the local rental owners and the wider industry that earn recognition like this.

Awards of this kind tend to send more visitors to the same well-loved places, so a little planning pays off: check the route, the weather and the rental terms before setting out. Thailand has given travellers plenty of reasons to come. Making the practical side easy is a small way to help them enjoy it.