Sydney has been making waves this year, earning accolades such as being named the best city in the world by Condé Nast Traveller UK, ranking among the top 5 safest cities for travellers, and boasting some of the world’s best coffee, street art, and of course, world-class beaches. To cap off an excellent year, Sydney has secured a spot on another prestigious list — Resonance’s annual World’s Best Cities report, which has ranked Sydney the best city in Australia and the tenth best city in the world — a remarkable leap from last year’s 35th place.
Wondering what caused this dramatic shift from last year?
The World’s Best Cities report highlights Sydney’s iconic landmarks including the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, its “blend of vintage and modern” and its beautiful beaches like Bondi and Balmoral as key factors in the city’s overall appeal. More importantly, the air quality — the seventh best in the world and its overall livability were key factors in securing this ranking.
The report cited other important factors that helped Sydney rank among the best. Notably, hotels like Capella Sydney praised for blending historic architecture with modern elegance, and W Sydney, recognised for bringing a vibrant new waterside experience to the city, were highlighted. The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ recent expansion was also singled out for its impact on Sydney’s cultural scene. Sydney’s “24-Hour Economy Strategy” which aims to revitalise the city’s nightlife, dining and cultural scene also got a mention.
According to the report, Sydney also secured the 17th spot globally for loveability and 12th for prosperity.
Methodology
The methodology combines core statistics from over 400 global cities with resident and visitor perception indicators, rankings from trusted sources, and user-generated ratings and reviews. Resonance then analyses the data through three main factors: Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity. Read more about the methodology used and see the full World’s Best Cities report here.