Chiang Mai Ranks Third-Best City Worldwide

Hipsters trying to be hip.

Tell them to live all year and deal with the pollution and mass tourism.

17 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I rate San Francisco fairly high.

Maybe it's changed since I was there.

Wasn't so expensive in the 90s.

SF was fantastic before COVID.

There are several European cities that should be included on the list.

Amsterdam and Vienna. What about Rome, Florence, and Venice?

15 hours ago, Leopold Bloom said:

Doesn't mention Seville or Lisbon, two of Europe's most beautiful cities.

San Miguel and Oaxca are worth a visit, but both become very ordinary the moment you leave the city centre, like most Mexican cities.

As for CM, good place to be between April and December, but it is a murderous place to be as a pedestrian. Have you ever tried crossing the road at the junction of Niman and Huay Kaew? Or at ANY point on Niman?

Not just Mexican, all throughout Central and South America, too. Even more rundown than your typical Thai city built up quickly in the 70s. Really ugly urban design or lack thereof.

Muy pesado (very tiring) ✅

5 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Not a reliable survey. Aside from the issues of pay for play, I would be surprised if a majority of people had actually visited the city. The traffic congestion, and deteriorating air quality do not allow for a positive experience for much of the year. Obviously, these enthusiasts have never visited from February to April.

CM wins lots of surveys. Phuket traffic is worse and CM prices are cheaper.

Maybe for a few days out of 365. Otherwise it's just pollution.

Crazy how one can find or bend statistics to prove anything.

22 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Chiang Mai is awesome. Great food, cheap transport, hills nearby, gyms, markets, road trips, hot springs, caves.

TravelGuides & Travelogues

You forgot, " that if required for days when the air pollution is extreme they will provide a free oxygen mask.

6 hours ago, CecilM said:

Maybe for a few days out of 365. Otherwise it's just pollution.

Crazy how one can find or bend statistics to prove anything.

Only 2 months that AQI is above 70 on average.

keep an eye on your oxymeter when in CM

These ratings are done by people paid or who have never even set foot in the countries they acclaim probably ?

Chiang Mai has been named the third-best city in the world in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2026, placing the northern Thai city among the highest-rated destinations globally. The result also saw Chiang Mai rank second in Asia, behind Kyoto, Japan, while moving ahead of Bangkok, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Tokyo, Japan.

I wonder how you get that rating when you don't even have adequate sidewalks to actually walk on.

1 hour ago, connda said:

I wonder how you get that rating when you don't even have adequate sidewalks to actually walk on.

That comment applies to most towns/cities in Thailand!

On 7/11/2026 at 3:01 PM, Rockyroad said:

Only 2 months that AQI is above 70 on average.

And how many years of a person's life can be be affected by breathing that air for the 2 months?

Just now, jacko45k said:

And how many years of a person's life can be be affected by breathing that air for the 2 months?

Go to the beach for 2 months!

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Go to the beach for 2 months!

There isn't one in CM!

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

There isn't one in CM!

Fly to Hua Hin obviously.

Except they forgot to mention almost zero risk of getting gunned down by the Mexican Cartel in #3 like you would in the so-called #1 and #5 and #9 cities.

Ooops. 🤔

Edited July 13Jul 13 by SiSePuede419
So dangerous in Mexico

6 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Except they forgot to mention almost zero risk of getting gunned down by the Mexican Cartel in #3 like you would in the so-called #1 and #5 and #9 cities.

GeographicReference

Ooops. 🤔

You make sense. This company has no idea probably never travelled outside their own front door to get the newspaper.

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

And how many years of a person's life can be be affected by breathing that air for the 2 months?

It probably doesn't make much difference to most of us that are already at death's door.