(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Beirut was recently listed in the 14th spot of “Top 25 Cities in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle magazine based in the United States.
Beirut was listed before Sydney, Australia, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, among others.
CN Traveler says it selected Beirut from the responses of “nearly 77,000 of our readers (who) rated their favorite cities in the world.”
CN Traveler wrote:
“Though the Middle East’s current political climate is volatile (and, admittedly, has been for much of the last three millennia), Beirut remains a popular port of call for seasoned and in-the-know travelers. As editor David Jefferys says, “it’s simply a city that won’t die.” This immortality is buttressed by a thriving dining and shopping scene—try Tawlet, the ‘farmers’ kitchen’ of Souk el Tayeb (every day, a different regional Lebanese chef is showcased) and Artisan du Liban et d’Orient for traditional local garments and crafts. Adding to Beirut’s appeal as a top world city is the presence of numerous fabulous hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Le Gray, and Hotel Albergo come to mind.”
The full list includes:
1 – Florence, Italy
2 – Charleston, SC, USA
3 – Budapest, Hungary
4 – Cape Town, South Africa
5 – San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
6 – Prague, Czech Republic
7 – Rome, Italy
8 – Siem Reap, Cambodia
9 – Barcelona, Spain
10 – Santa Fe, NM, USA
11 – Krakow, Poland
12 – Luang Prabang, Laos
13 – Bangkok, Thailand
14 – Beirut, Lebanon
15 – Vienna, Austria
16 – Siena, Italy
17 – New Orleans, LA, USA
18 – Quebec City, Canada
19 – Sydney, Australia
20 – San Fransisco, CA, USA
21 – Chiang Mai, Thailand
22 – Salzburg, Austria
23 – Chicago, IL, USA
24 – Bruges, Belgium
25 – Kyoto, Japan