Singapore at night.
The travel website TripAdvisor recently published its second annual Cities Survey, which collected data from over 54,000 user reviews. The survey evaluated cities worldwide based on traveler feedback.
Tokyo received the highest ranking for providing the best overall travel experience. It also earned top scores for its helpful residents, taxi services, public transportation, and clean streets. Tokyo ranked among the top ten cities in 13 out of 16 survey categories.
Other high-performing cities included Singapore and Dubai. Singapore secured the top position for solo traveler comfort and second place for taxi services, street cleanliness, and ease of navigation. Dubai ranked first in the shopping and hotel categories.
“TripAdvisor travelers consistently give Tokyo high marks, praising its hospitality, clean environment, and excellent public transit system,” remarked Brooke Ferencsik, TripAdvisor’s Director of Communications.
Overall Top Performers in Asia and the Middle East
| Category | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helpful locals | Tokyo | ||
| Friendliest taxi drivers | Tokyo | Singapore | |
| Best taxi services | Tokyo | Singapore | |
| Cleanest streets | Tokyo | Singapore | |
| Ease of getting around | Singapore | ||
| Best public transport | Tokyo | ||
| Best value for money | Hanoi | ||
| Comfort traveling alone | Singapore | Tokyo | |
| Best for shopping | Dubai | ||
| Best for hotels | Dubai | Bangkok | |
| Best for restaurants | Tokyo | ||
| Best for nightlife | Tokyo | ||
| Best overall experience | Tokyo |
Overall Low Rankers in Asia and the Middle East
| Category | Last place | Second to Last | Third to Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helpful locals | Beijing | ||
| Friendliest taxi drivers | Beijing | ||
| Best taxi services | Beijing | Kuala Lumpur | |
| Cleanest streets | Mumbai | Bangkok | |
| Ease of getting around | Mumbai | ||
| Best public transport | Hanoi | ||
| Best for culture | Dubai | ||
| Best for nightlife | Hanoi | ||
| Best overall experience | Mumbai |
*About the survey
The survey was distributed to individuals who had written a review for a hotel, restaurant, or attraction in the featured cities during 2013. To qualify for inclusion, cities needed at least 300 completed survey responses. Rankings were determined by average scores for each question. Brainbox Research conducted all data analysis. The featured cities were selected based on data from the UNWTO 2012, which identifies the cities receiving the highest volume of international tourists.