Bangkok is a hub for food, nightlife, and history, and it’s the perfect jumping-off point for additional travel throughout Thailand.
Thailand is absolutely shining right now. Not only did it snag Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year title and serve as the backdrop for season three of HBO’s The White Lotus, but it’s also home to last year’s most popular city.
According to Euromonitor International’s World’s Top 100 City Destinations report, Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital, drew the highest number of international travelers in 2024. A whopping 32.4 million visitors flocked to this lively metropolis, and the data analytics firm noted that this figure “exceeded pre-pandemic tourism levels from 2023 and kept up its strong momentum with over 30 percent growth in 2024.”
If you’ve visited Bangkok before, you know it’s a city of captivating contrasts—yes, it gets busy in spots, but that’s part of its charm. One evening, you might be slurping noodles at a Chinatown street stall, and the next, you could be savoring a meal at a Michelin-starred spot (for way less than you’d pay back in the U.S.).
Wandering through the temples of the Old Town or browsing Thai treasures at the Erawan Museum should definitely be on your itinerary. But don’t miss out on Bangkok’s glitz and glam either—its top-tier hotels, like the Capella Bangkok and the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, are worth experiencing.
While Bangkok is a fantastic destination on its own, it’s also the perfect launchpad for exploring the rest of Thailand. Whether you’re jetting off to the southern islands—think Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, or Koh Lipe—or venturing north to Chiang Mai, Pai, or Chiang Rai, you’ll want to carve out at least a day or two to soak up Bangkok’s rich culture and history.
The report added, “In 2024, cities worldwide leaned harder into sports and cultural events to drive tourism revenue. Better infrastructure and smart marketing kept travelers hooked, paving the way for even more growth.”
This definitely applies to Bangkok—home to the famous Songkran Festival every April—but it’s just as true for the other cities on Euromonitor’s list. Istanbul, 2023’s most visited city, came in second with 23 million international arrivals in 2024. London, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia’s Mecca completed the top five, while Antalya (Turkey) and Dubai trailed closely behind.
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