Lisbon and Porto are among the 100 best cities in the world for tourism, according to a ranking prepared by Euromonitor International in its “Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024”.

This ranking compares 55 different metrics, in partnership with Lighthouse, across six key pillars for 100 urban destinations to create a global city attractiveness index. Thus, it analyses Economic and Business Performance, Tourism Performance, Tourism Infrastructure, Tourism Policy and Attractiveness, Health and Safety, and Sustainability.

Lisbon appears in 29th place, while Porto appears in 75th position in the ranking led by Paris, followed, in the Top 3, by Madrid and Tokyo.

Despite positive recovery projections, challenges such as “labour shortages, geopolitical tensions and a fragile economy will persist, limiting the growth of cities,” says Euromonitor in its analysis.

“Lesser-explored” destinations and “third-tier” cities are set to gain popularity as travellers seek “hidden gems, off-peak experiences and slower-paced tourism,” noting that “consumers will prioritize culturally enriching and personalized experiences, making them the new ‘currency’ of tourism.”

According to the consultancy's calculations, international arrivals at a global level registered a 19% increase in 2024, driven by strong tourist demand. Europe remains the most popular region, reaching 793 million international trips throughout the year.