Cape Town shines in Travel and Leisure Asia and U.S. News rankings

Travel and Leisure Asia and the U.S. News & World Report have respectively marked Cape Town in their top ranks for best destination this year.

With picturesque landscapes, vast oceans, iconic landmarks and a range of cultures to experience, it's not hard to see why.

On Tuesday, December 16, Travel and Leisure Asia announced their winners of the India's Best Awards 2025 where Cape Town was nominated in three categories: Best Beach Destination, Best City Destination and Best Adventure Destination.

The Mother City officially bagged the Editor's Choice Best City in the International Category, a nod to the city's unique offerings attracting local and international visitors to the shores.

On the same day, the U.S. News & World Report's Best Vacations list was officially released, where Cape Town was voted the 5th Best Place to Visit in Africa.

The news outlet attributed the impressive ranking to the city's dramatic scenery, stunning beaches, Constantia Valley wine region and the Simon's Town penguin colony, among other things.

This recognition earns Cape Town a Gold Award Badge of excellence.

"There's something for everyone in Cape Town. From aquatic activities to the trails of Table Mountain, and everything in between, the city is a playground for every resident, visitor and holidaymaker," said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos.

"These latest recognitions have landed at the right time, just as we head into our very busy festive season, which attracts tourists from across the globe.

"This recognition follows focused work to unlock priority markets, including our engagements earlier this year in India with tourism operators and travel media to establish new partnerships and campaign exchanges.

"By promoting the right mix of experiences and aligning our marketing with demand, we are ensuring that every campaign contributes meaningfully to Cape Town's tourism economy. From smart destination marketing to targeted trade relationships, our approach is designed to generate sustained economic spin-offs for businesses back home and strengthen Cape Town's position as a world-class city to visit.

'We are honoured that these awards have recognised Cape Town, which underscores our commitment to creating a world-class city.

"It also shows that the messages encompassed in the City of Cape Town's international marketing campaigns are communicating with travellers across the world, who then visit the City, creating jobs in tourism and stimulating the local economy,' 

Rankings Methodology The Best Vacations rankings identify the top destinations for travelers across a variety of categories. U.S. News travel editors thoroughly evaluate more than 1,500 destinations and score them based on multiple facets; users also vote on destinations within each ranking list. User scores are individual to each ranking list.

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