A hidden gem in Europe has been crowned the world's best city for 2025
A hidden gem in Europe has been crowned the best city in the world for 2025 - which means it probably won't stay 'hidden' for long.
Malta's capital, Valletta, achieved a historic milestone by being named the Number One City in the World in Condé Nast Traveller's prestigious Readers' Choice Awards 2025, just one day after it was also crowned Europe's Best City.
Valletta was recognised by hundreds of thousands of travellers as a city that perfectly captures cultural authenticity, historical depth, but with a contemporary energy.
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Valletta, Malta, has been crowned the best city in the world for 2025. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Despite being one of Europe's smallest capital by size and population, the city was awarded a near-perfect score of 97.33 out of 100.
"Malta is reinventing what Mediterranean cool looks like.... It feels at once ancient and fresh, with one of Europe's buzziest creative scenes bubbling above foundations built by knights," Conde Nast editors wrote of the destination.
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The city was actually built by the Knights of St John back in the 16th century, earning it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Film enthusiasts might also recognise Valletta from popular movies or TV shows, as it has featured in Game of Thrones, Jurassic World: Dominion and American Assassin.
Valletta's cathedral is one of the highlights. Situated in the heart of the city, it is not only an architectural masterpiece but a treasure trove of artistic delights as well.
Plus visitors can also walk the impressive stone walls surrounding the city.
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The city is known for its cathedral and winding golden laneways. Getty
Getaway presenter David Whitehill also labelled Malta an "underrated travel gem" after a recent visit.
Other than checking out the cathedral, something else David recommends visitors do is to jump on a traditional dgħajsa boat to the Three Cities.
"It's a five-minute ride, but you feel like you are cast back centuries," he recently shared on Nine show, Journey to Europe.
Or, if you've got a free afternoon, he said to take the ferry to Gozo - slower pace, salt pans, and "the kind of homemade cheese that sums of the flavours of a whole country in one mouthful".
For seafood lovers, he said Marsaxlokk is where the locals go.
Following Valletta in second place on the best cities list for 2025 was Tokyo, Japan.
Our obsession with Japan continues to go from strength to strength, which has seen the destination jump from sixth to second place in this year's Readers' Choice Awards.
Meanwhile Cape Town, South Africa was ranked third.
Cape Town was the third best city in 2025. Getty
Jacques, who is the Marketing Director for Sabi Sabi Collection, recently told 9Travel he has definitely seen an increase in travellers, especially post-pandemic.
"Cape Town was once described to me as Sydney, because of the ocean, with [Uluru] smack bang in the middle of it. With a lot of Melbourne's culture," he explained.
"Plus, it's surrounded by the Barossa, McLaren, and Margaret River. All those different kind of wineries literally are surrounding Cape Town."
