by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Tue August 18, 2026
For many people, summer is synonymous with a sun-soaked beach escape, whether that’s a coastal location or a lake retreat. But of course, not all travelers have the same #summergoals. Meaning, for some, city-based vacations may be far more appealing.
If that sounds like you, bookmark this page. The experts at Premier Inn have just released a ranking of the most beautiful summer cities around the world.
Based on research involving study participants reviewing summertime images of more than 60 major cities across the globe and eye-tracking technology, researchers identified which city pictures people were drawn to quickest, and where their gazes lingered longest.
Participant viewing times for each of the cities included in the study were tabulated and combined to create overall scores corresponding to the most beautiful summer cities around the world.
So which cities came out on top in this unique effort? Read on to find out more.
Mykonos in the Greece Cyclades (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
10 most beautiful summer cities in the world
The top 10 most beautiful summer cites globally are dominated by locations in Canada and Europe, though cities in Australia, Japan and one U.S. city landed in the mix.
The number one most beautiful summer city, according to the ranking is Banff, Canada, a place known for stunning lakes, mountain views, and unforgettable outdoor adventures in the Rockies. The picturesque city earned a score of 96.0/100. It seems study participants spent an average of 3.2 seconds gazing at the image of this stunning Canadian city – the longest time for any image in the study.
Mykonos, Greece, one of the most well-known Greek islands, earned second place with an overall score of 87.3/100. Often referred to as the “Ibiza of Greece”, Mykonos draws hordes of tourists thanks to its high-end shops, restaurants, and bars. It was the top city to get people’s attention - taking only 1.5 seconds for those in the study to notice it, according to the research.
Following closely behind Mykonos is Australia's most populous city, Sydney, which completes the top three most beautiful summer cities with a score of 85.6/100.
Historic city center of Bruges (Brugge), Belgium (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
Bruges in Belgium, which is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site, ranks in fourth place (84.1/100), with Bristol in the United Kingdom rounding out the top five (83.7/100).
The remaining cities in the top 10 and their scores are:
6.Palma de Mallorca, Spain: 79.7
7.Kyoto, Japan: 78.0
9.Auckland, New Zealand: 77.6
10. Los Angeles, California: 73.6
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