Victoria, B.C., beat out more exotic spots in Italy, Mexico, and Spain, such as Florence, San Miguel de Allende, and San Sebastian, to be named the best small city in the world, while Vancouver was named one of the world’s best big cities.
The honour comes from Condé Nast Traveller‘s latest look at the best cities in the world. To add to the honour, it was the readers’ choice.
CN Traveller states that Victoria is a popular day trip from Vancouver, but it also deserves a standalone visit.
“Arrive via one of the world’s most scenic ferry rides across Swartz Bay and check in to the bucket list-worthy Fairmont Empress, where the Fairmont Gold rooms include access to a private waterfront lounge,” CN Traveller writes.
“With a reputation as the most British town in Canada, most restaurants and hotels offer a proper high tea.”
CN has also offered some recommendations for anyone visiting Victoria; however, one of the recommendations is for the now-closed baked goods and tea shop Venus Sophia. Thankfully, there are plenty of other tea and baked good spots in Victoria, like Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden.
For rural travellers, CN recommends disconnecting in the ancient forest with a Vancouver Island road trip.
What about Vancouver?
Destination Vancouver
While Vancouver didn’t rank quite as highly as Victoria did for small cities, it was named the seventh best big city in the world. It fared the best for Canadian cities, ranking slightly higher than ninth-place Montreal.
CN Traveller gave Vancouver props for its creative and competitive arts scene, rugged natural beauty, and “no shortage of things to do.”
“As one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse cities, it’s also one of the country’s best food cities: after you’ve taken a cable car up Grouse Mountain, return down for Indian fare at Vij’s, rustic Italian dishes at Savio Volpe, or modern spins on Chinese classics at Bao Bei.”
CN says that there’s something “wonderful” about a city that lets you hang out in the heart of a metropolis where you’re fine dining one day and “enjoying the skyline from the seat of a kayak the next.”
Kyoto and Tokyo were named the best big cities in the world.
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