Travel + Leisure Asia and the U.S. News & World Report recognised Cape Town as top destination to visit this year. Its picturesque landscapes, vast oceans, iconic landmarks and a range of cultures to experience are the main reasons that it received this honour.
On Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025 Travel + Leisure Asia announced their winners of the India’s Best Awards 2025 and nominated Cape Town in three categories, such as:
- 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 that attracted 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 as 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.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth and Tourism – Alderman James Vos said that there’s something for everyone in Cape Town. From aquatic activities to the trails of Table Mountain and everything in between.
The City of Cape Town is a playground for every resident, visitor and holidaymaker. These latest recognitions have landed at the right time, just as we head into the very busy festive season, which attracts tourists from across the globe.
According to Vos, his recognition follows focused work to unlock priority markets, including the engagements earlier this year in India with tourism operators and travel media to establish new partnerships and campaign exchanges. It promotes the right mix of experiences and aligns marketing with demand.
They always ensure that every campaign contributes meaningfully to Cape Town’s tourism economy. From smart destination marketing to targeted trade relationships, the 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.
Cape Town team is honoured that these awards have recognised them, which underscores the commitment to create 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 visited the city, creating jobs in tourism and stimulating the local economy.
Rankings for the Best Vacations identify the top destinations for travellers across a variety of categories. U.S. News travel editors thoroughly evaluate over 1500 destinations and score them based on multiple facets.
Users also vote on destinations within each ranking. Their scores are individual to each ranking list. Rankings do not co-relate, and destinations may appear higher on one ranking than on others. You can read more specifics about the individual vacation rankings on their methodology page.