Seoul Named World's Favorite City by Millennials and Gen Z for 5th Year Running

Seoul has once again been crowned the world's most beloved city among younger travelers, topping the "Favorite Worldwide City" category at the 2026 Trazees awards hosted by U.S.-based travel outlet Trazee Travel.

The South Korean capital has now held the top spot for five consecutive years since 2022 — a global first. The city was also awarded "Quint Status" for its winning streak and inducted into the Trazees Hall of Fame. Dublin (Ireland), Hong Kong, London, and Athens rounded out the top five.

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City officials credit Seoul's enduring appeal to the rise of "lifestyle tourism," where young visitors seek to immerse themselves in the everyday routines and local culture of residents rather than simply ticking off tourist landmarks. Urban hiking trails on mountains like Bukhansan, Bugaksan, and Achasan have also become major draws.

A recent study by the Seoul AI Foundation revealed that foreign visitors to the city's top attractions surged last year: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) saw a 12.1% increase, Achasan Mountain 11.8%, the Hongdae area and Naksan Park each 10.5%, Gwangjang Market 10.4%, and Gwanaksan Mountain 10%.

Now in their 12th year, the Trazees are determined by reader voting, with this year's results drawn from the 25-40 age bracket — a key demographic in the global travel market.