The cost of living differs considerably around the world due to a range of factors including the cost of housing, food, transport, health care, taxation, and general purchasing power. For some countries and territories, either the high cost of living due to good wages and a strong currency, or the lack of space and an over-reliance on imports in some places causes the cost of living in such places to be relatively high. A number of places are the costliest according to the cost of living ranking on the World Population Review website.

Switzerland

The Cost of Living Index is 98.4; hence, Switzerland is one of the costliest countries globally, with high accommodation cost, high quality of gastronomy, and high quality of services being major factors. Zurich and Geneva are some of cities that are ranked among the costliest cities around the globe. Groceries, dining out, public transportation, and healthcare all come at a premium, partly due to high labour costs and strict quality standards. Nevertheless, Switzerland’s cost of living is matched by their high salaries, excellent public services, and excellent social security. Citizens of Switzerland enjoy the best healthcare possible, the best transportation systems, and very high safety standards.

United States Virgin Islands

Similar to Switzerland, here too the Cost of Living Index stands at 98.4. This is largely because of its heavy reliance on imported goods. Almost everything, from food and fuel to construction materials, must be shipped in, significantly raising everyday expenses. The cost of living, especially with regards to housing, is relatively high. The cost of electricity and water, which further form part of the basic services, is also relatively quite high as there are no resources within the region. The people have a tropical climate and benefit from US government structures.

Iceland

In Iceland, the Cost of Living Index stands at 83.4. Living is very costly in Iceland, mainly because of its isolation, being in the middle of the ocean, and its limited population. It is necessary for them to have imported goods. Consequently, everything pertaining to food and other basic requirements has become quite costly. Eating out at restaurants is even more so compared to other European countries. The price of living in Reykjavik has increased dramatically due to tourism. Nevertheless, the living standards and public welfare programs in this region are very good.

Bahamas

With the Cost of Living Index at 81.4, the Bahamas ranks among the most expensive countries in the Caribbean due to its import-dependent economy and strong tourism-driven demand. Food prices are notably high, as most groceries and consumer goods are imported. Housing costs, particularly in Nassau and tourist-heavy islands, further add to the expense. Utilities and transportation costs are also elevated, while local wages often do not rise at the same pace as prices.

Singapore

Here, the Cost of Living Index stands at 79.1. This means that Singapore is the most expensive country in the whole of South-East Asia and one of the most expensive cities in the world. The cost of living in Singapore is aided by the high costs of housing, the purchase of vehicle, healthcare, and education. Owning a vehicle is very costly because of the regulations and taxes, while the cost of property is high because of the unavailability of land. On the bright side, Singapore provides top-notch public transportation, healthcare, security, and economic stability.

Best cities in the world for nightlife, ranked by late-night culture, safety and venue density across Europe, Asia and beyond.

When the sun goes down, some cities truly come alive. Streets glow brighter, music spills from doorways, and entire neighbourhoods seem to shift into a higher gear. For travellers who judge a destination by what happens after dark, nightlife is not an accessory to the trip — it is the trip.

From Mediterranean club capitals that party until sunrise to Eastern European cities where drinks cost less than bottled water, the world’s nightlife map is constantly evolving.

A new global ranking, based on factors such as venue density, safety, affordability, late-night culture, and customer ratings, highlights the cities where evenings stretch long into the early hours and the options never seem to run out.

What follows is a tour through the top 10 cities in the world for nightlife (rated by CN Traveler), each offering its own take on what a great night out should look like — whether that means rooftop cocktails, underground techno, beach clubs, or wine bars that never quite close.

1. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona doesn’t simply have nightlife — it is designed around it. Dinner begins late, conversations linger even later, and clubs don’t truly fill up until well past midnight.

The city’s after-hours appeal lies in its variety: beachside mega-clubs like Pacha, multi-level music hubs such as Razzmatazz, and long-standing cultural venues like Sala Apolo all coexist within a compact urban core.

What sets Barcelona apart is balance. Drinks remain relatively affordable, venues stay open until dawn, and nightlife districts are seamlessly woven into everyday neighbourhoods.

Whether you’re chasing techno, reggaeton or a no-frills bar crawl, Barcelona delivers consistency, density and atmosphere — the holy trinity of nightlife.

2. Paris, France

Paris by night is more restrained than Barcelona — but no less compelling. The French capital excels at layered nightlife, where cocktail lounges, live-music bars, and elite clubs operate side by side. Some nights feel cinematic and intimate; others stretch into glamorous excess.

Paris also boasts one of the highest concentrations of nightlife venues anywhere in the world, meaning no neighbourhood is ever truly quiet.

Drinks are expensive, yes, but the trade-off is quality: carefully crafted cocktails, world-famous club brands and a cultural acceptance of staying out until early morning. Paris isn’t about chaos — it’s about refinement after dark.

3. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo’s nightlife doesn’t shout; it hums. With thousands of venues spread across districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi, the city offers more choices than almost anywhere else on Earth.

Tiny six-seat bars sit above neon-lit streets, while massive clubs operate behind unmarked doors.

What makes Tokyo exceptional is how effortlessly nightlife blends into daily life. Trains run late, safety is rarely a concern, and it’s entirely normal to end the night with ramen at 5am.

Whether you want quiet jazz, experimental electronic music or a full-scale club experience, Tokyo delivers depth rather than spectacle — and does it better than most.

4. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague remains one of Europe’s most reliable nightlife destinations, particularly for travellers who value affordability. Beer is famously cheap, venues are plentiful, and the city’s compact layout makes bar-hopping easy.

Beyond its pub culture, Prague has built a strong reputation for clubs housed in historic buildings, underground electronic scenes and late-night venues that cater to locals and visitors alike.

Nights here tend to unfold organically — starting in a centuries-old tavern and ending somewhere loud, crowded and unforgettable.

5. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi’s nightlife reputation has grown quietly but steadily, driven by a fiercely loyal underground scene. The Georgian capital is now known internationally for its techno culture, spearheaded by iconic venues that prioritise music, inclusivity and endurance over spectacle.

What Tbilisi lacks in sheer numbers, it makes up for in atmosphere. Bars are intimate, drinks are inexpensive, and crowds tend to stay until the very end.

Add in the city’s strong safety record and emerging cocktail culture, and Tbilisi stands out as one of nightlife’s most interesting modern success stories.

6. Seoul, South Korea

In Seoul, the night rarely ends — it simply changes shape. The city is built for 24-hour living, with entire districts dedicated to late-night dining, drinking and clubbing.

Areas like Hongdae and Gangnam offer dramatically different experiences, from student-heavy bar streets to ultra-polished lounges.

Seoul’s nightlife shines through its energy. Venues are packed, music is loud, and moving from one place to another is effortless thanks to late-night transport and dense neighbourhoods.

While drinks cost more than in Eastern Europe, the quality, scale and enthusiasm easily justify the price.

7. Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan is the definition of an underdog. Often overlooked, the Armenian capital has quietly built a nightlife scene centred on rooftop bars, wine lounges and sociable streets that stay active well into the night.

The city’s appeal lies in its friendliness. Venues are approachable, prices are low, and the atmosphere feels local rather than tourist-driven.

For travellers looking to discover something unexpected — a city where nights unfold naturally rather than aggressively — Yerevan offers surprising depth.

8. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok’s nightlife is legendary, but it has evolved far beyond its stereotypes. Today, the city offers everything from sky-high cocktail bars to intimate jazz clubs and sprawling nightlife complexes that never seem to sleep.

The sheer scale of Bangkok’s after-dark options is its defining feature. No matter the night of the week, entire neighbourhoods pulse with activity.

While the city may not top the list in venue density, its diversity and stamina make it one of the world’s most reliable cities for unforgettable nights.

9. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is proof that nightlife doesn’t need skyscrapers to thrive. Spread across beach towns like Seminyak, Canggu and Kuta, the island’s scene revolves around sunset cocktails that seamlessly turn into late-night parties.

While venues are more spread out and close earlier than in major cities, Bali boasts some of the highest-rated nightlife experiences in the world.

The combination of beach clubs, DJs, and relaxed island energy creates nights that feel more like celebrations than routines.

10. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest rounds out the list with a nightlife scene unlike any other. The city’s famous ruin bars — set inside abandoned buildings and courtyards — have become global icons, blending art, music and chaos into one unforgettable experience.

Drinks are among the cheapest on the list, crowds are lively, and the city’s riverfront adds a scenic edge to late nights.

While venues tend to close earlier than in Southern Europe, Budapest earns its place through originality and value.

Bottom Line

Great nightlife isn’t just about staying out late — it’s about choice, atmosphere, safety, and the feeling that the city wants you to be awake.

From Barcelona’s endless energy to Tokyo’s quiet intensity and Budapest’s creative chaos, these ten cities prove that the best nights in the world happen far from your hotel room.

Looking to escape the crowds but not the buzz? Tripadvisor’s 2026 awards reveal the destinations that will pop this year, from remote Atlantic islands to cities you already know and love.

The birth of a new year always brings with it a raft of awards and top tens covering every conceivable aspect of travel. Many are arbitrary, backed by limited surveys or easy-to-interpret-however-you-like data.

We can treat the results of Tripadvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Awards with far more credulity because they’re backed by an entire year of customer reviews and determined by the quantity and quality of ratings of real people. The awards cover several categories, from fantastic food and culture destinations to the best places for solo travel or to spend your honeymoon.

Then, of course, there’s the top rated destinations overall for 2025 (where Bali came out on top). But far more interesting are the top trending destinations for 2026—the places generating a buzz but that haven’t yet buckled under the weight of overtourism or that have something special happening this year that sets them apart.

1. Madeira, Portugal

While undoubtedly Portuguese, Madeira’s total geographic isolation has given this wild island in the Atlantic an identity all its own. Miraculously still under the radar of many travelers, it’s best known for its wild landscapes, incredible hikes, jaw-dropping, and often hard to reach beaches, and unique microclimate that sees year-round temperatures stable around the mid to high 70s°F.

Often referred to as the Hawai‘i of Europe, it is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise with its precipitous volcanic trails, whale watching expeditions and giant surf. That of course all comes after the biggest adventure of all—landing on the island’s infamously challenging runway built on pillars over the ocean and reserved only for experienced pilots with special training.

Watching planes come into land from the terminal’s viewing gallery is one of the most popular pastimes on the island. Perhaps best not to watch just before you take off though.

2. Tbilisi, Georgia

It feels like 2026 is the year that Tbilisi finally makes its mark on the global tourist map. Georgia’s capital (the European one) is a city alive with possibility in 2026, reflected in the new openings that are transforming its cultural and visitor landscape.

Book a room at the city’s best new hotel, The Telegraph, which marries post-Soviet Brutalist architecture with enough style and comfort to sate the most demanding tastes. Take to the streets and you’ll be overwhelmed by landmarks worthy of your time.

On the elegant tree-lined Rustaveli Avenue you’ll find the Tbilise Opera House, Rustaveli Theater and several museums. Nearby, the expanded Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts reaches back into the history of Georgian, Russian, Oriental and European art. More recently opened, the Art Foundation Anagi celebrates the best of contemporary Georgian art.

3. Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City needs no introduction. In 2026, there’s even more than usual on the calendar of things to do. The heart of Chicago’s South Side will see the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, a multi-faceted community hub and “beacon for democracy” with a calendar of events, exhibitions and experiences covering the gamut from sports to science.

In late May, Pokémon comes to the Field Museum and with it no doubt fans from around the world. On homegrown soil, The U.S. may be turning 250 this year, but there’s another icon of Americana celebrating its own big birthday. Route 66 turns 100 in November but the centenary celebrations at its start (or end) point on Michigan Avenue and Adams Street will begin much earlier in the year.

4. Quy Nhon, Vietnam

In a country beset by an incredibly picturesque coastline teeming with postcard perfect beaches, Quy Nhon still sounds out for its own combinations of sand and sea. Set equidistantly between the better-known tourist spots of Da Nang and Nha Trang, it’s easy to get to by plane and (very scenic) train, and remains mercifully crowd free—for now.

The city itself is modern and well-catered for tourists, most of whom are domestic at the moment. Its gorgeous new three-mile-long beachfront promenade is bound to draw more visitors, ready to laze on honeyed sands and gorge on fresh seafood plucked from the waters directly out front. If the beach gets boring, up your culture game with a visit to the Cham-era temples and towers that dot not only the city but the surrounding countryside.

5. Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Mexico’s port town on the southern Pacific tip of Oaxaca has long been renowned in the surfing world for its incredible—and terrifying—waves. None more so than Zicatela, known as the Mexican Pipeline after Hawai‘i’s infamous break for the power and speed of its waves.

This year, Zicatela and its neighboring breaks are getting the recognition they deserve, finally being designated as a World Surfing Reserve. Long a mainstay of traveling surfers (and with a nightlife that speaks to that fact), expect crowds to increase thanks to American Airlines’ new route launched in December 2025, connecting Puerto Escondido directly to Fort Worth.

6. Milan, Italy

Italy’s design and fashion capital will allow itself to be distracted in 2026 as the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics takes over the city. Running for most of February, the city will host events from ice skating to ice hockey while the boutiques and galleries will still be open for some between-sport browsing. A few hours north—on a stunning drive past Lake Garda and up into the mountains where the Alps and the Dolomites clash, Cortina will host the best of the snow sports.

7. Glasgow, Scotland

Often overlooked for more glamorous Edinburgh, Glasgow is Scotland’s biggest city and its industrial heart. Yet its misguided grubby reputation is being peeled away to reveal the wealth of cultural and culinary treats. From spring onwards, book a room and the newly opened Arthouse Glasgow hotel and hit the nearby Mackintosh Trail to delve into the artistic legacy of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of Scotland’s most loved artists, designers and architects.

8. Abu Dhabi, UAE

Slowly stealing some of the limelight away from its flashier sibling, Dubai, the UAE’s capital city is transforming itself into one of the world’s most vital cultural gathering points. Saadiyat Island’s cultural district is the focus, already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and, since December 2025, the Zayed National Museum. In 2026, both will be joined by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, creating a triumvirate of world-class historic and artistic collections.

9. Recife, Brazil

Brazil’s coastal megacities are all wild and wonderful, but the buzz around Recife is only growing in 2026. Maybe it’s the dizzying mix of Afro-Brazilian culture, music and food, and the legendary Carnaval that takes over the city mid-February. Or perhaps it’s the calm amid the mayhem and the opportunity to float in crystal waters above the reefs (recifes) that gave the city its name. More likely, it’s a combination of the two that you’ll need to try for yourself to understand.

10. San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

While cities have played a major role in the top ten trending destinations, we finish in the wilds on the northern fringes of Argentine Patagonia. A slice of Switzerland in South America, it’s renowned for its Swiss chalet style architecture and artisanal chocolate. On its doorstep, the glacial waters of Nahuel Hapi Lake. Beyond, the boundless adventures of Patagonia—ski, hike, climb and boat your way through its wonders.

The United States has more airports than any other country in the world, far ahead of every nation and even entire continents. Its vast aviation network reflects how deeply air travel is woven into everyday life. Here is a closer look at the countries that lead the world in number of airports.

Air travel has its icons, the crowded terminals, the red-eye flights, the runway lights blinking at dawn. But the bigger story often sits quietly in the map: which country has the most airports, and why that matters for mobility, emergency access, defence, business and even daily life.

The country with the most airports: United States

By a wide margin, the United States has the highest number of airports/airfields in the world, 16,116 (2025 estimate), according to the CIA’s World Factbook country comparison on airports.

The CIA’s definition is important here: it counts the total number of “airports or airfields recognisable from the air,” including paved and unpaved runways, and even closed or abandoned installations if they are still recognisable.

That means the list isn’t limited to big commercial hubs. It includes local airstrips, regional airfields, general aviation facilities, and remote landing grounds that support everything from medical evacuation to firefighting.

The scale is striking: the US total is more than three times the number in second-placed Brazil.

Visual summaries of the same dataset show how the US runway network is shaped by geography and a long general-aviation culture, thousands of small communities have aviation access even without major airline airports.

TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST AIRPORTS

Below are the top five based on the CIA World Factbook’s latest country comparison (2025 estimates).

1) United States – 16,116 airports

The US leads because its aviation system isn’t only built around a few mega airports. It’s an ecosystem: small-town airfields, training strips, private and public general aviation airports, and remote landing sites.

That density matters in a vast country where air access can also mean emergency connectivity, rapid logistics and regional movement.

2) Brazil – 5,297 airports

Brazil ranks second, and the number reflects its geography as much as its economy. Large distances, difficult terrain in parts of the country, and communities that rely on air links make smaller airfields a necessity, not a luxury.

The CIA data places Brazil firmly behind the US, but far ahead of the rest of the world.

3) Australia – 2,257 airports

Australia’s high count is driven by a familiar story: huge landmass, widely dispersed population, and a long reliance on air transport to connect remote settlements and regional centres.

That’s how a country with a relatively small population still ends up with one of the world’s largest airport networks.

4) Mexico – 1,580 airports

Mexico’s airport footprint reflects a mix of commercial aviation, regional connectivity, and airfields that support industry and internal travel across varied terrain. It sits fourth globally, ahead of Canada and well ahead of many European powers that have fewer but busier airports.

5) Canada – 1,459 airports

Canada rounds out the top five. The reasons are intuitive: long distances, harsh winters in many regions, and remote communities where air travel can be the most reliable connection for passengers, supplies and emergency services.

It’s tempting to read “most airports” as “most advanced aviation”. But the ranking is really about coverage, not glamour.

A country can have fewer airports and still handle more passengers, because a handful of giant hubs can move enormous volumes.

A country can have many airports because it needs remote access, not because it has more international flights.

And because the CIA count includes airfields “recognisable from the air,” the list captures aviation as infrastructure – the quiet landing strips that rarely feature in travel Instagram posts, but matter for national logistics and everyday connectivity.

WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND TRIVIA

Airport density shapes how a country functions:

Disaster response: quicker access for relief and evacuation.

Healthcare: air ambulances and emergency transfers.

Economic reach: faster movement for high-value goods and personnel.

Regional equality: connectivity for places far from rail or highways.

In that sense, the US figure isn’t just a record, it shows how deeply aviation is woven into daily life, commerce and governance. India, as a developing nation, is also increasing the number of airports to meet rising domestic demand.

The country currently has around 487 airports and airstrips, including international, domestic, private and civil enclaves, as it builds infrastructure to support its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. However, the road to that level of connectivity is long and requires sustained vision and a booming economy.