Last updated: 9:00 PM ET, Wed July 15, 2026
WHY IT RATES: Jerusalem was ranked seventh globally and first in Africa and the Middle East by Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Executive Editor
Jerusalem has been ranked seventh in the world in the World’s Best Awards 2026 by the travel magazine Travel + Leisure. The city also earned first place in the Africa and Middle East category.
The ranking is based on the magazine’s annual readers’ survey, which attracted more than 207,000 participants and generated over 661,000 votes across cities, hotels, airlines, cruise lines and other tourism-related businesses worldwide.
This year marks the first time that Jerusalem has entered the top 10 cities worldwide in the ranking.
Now in its 31st year, the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are based on readers’ evaluations of a range of criteria, including attractions and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness and shopping opportunities.
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel welcomed 1,318,000 tourists in 2025.
SOURCE: Israel Ministry of Tourism press release.
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