The World’s ‘Most Scenic Cities At Night’—According To A New Report

Sightseeing isn’t just a daytime activity. After the sun goes down and the stars light up the sky, many cities around the world come alive with glittering lights, dancing fountains, and bustling markets. (Added bonus: Touring a city at night is a great way to beat some of the daytime heat!) To rank the world’s most scenic nighttime destinations, analysts at Travelbag, a company that arranges multi-destination trips, started with a seed list of 136 of the world’s most popular cities.

The team used criteria such as Instagram hashtags, light and noise pollution levels, as well as safety of walking alone at night to determine which 10 cities ranked the most scenic at night. Worth noting: The top-ranking cities dominating this list are notable for their illuminated skylines and buildings, which does bring about light pollution. (If stargazing is more your speed, these designated dark sky resorts outside of city limits are great at turning down the lights so you can uninterrupted views of the night sky).

So, which destination landed on the top of the list of the most scenic city at night?

With superlative skyscrapers and yacht-filled ports, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates took the No. 1 spot for the most picturesque city at night, according to the Travelbag study.

Some sights to see at night in Dubai include the Dubai Garden Glow that’s open only at night and features gigantic, illuminated sculptures in a rainbow of colors. Or, take in the city lights with an aerial view at Burj Khalifa, which, piercing the sky at 2,716 feet, is the world’s tallest building.

“Some of the best views can be seen from Burj Khalifa but having the Burj Khalifa in your view at night is one of the most mesmerizing views there are,” says Sheryl Drane, Travelbag’s destination manager of the Middle East and Indian Ocean.

Her tip: Grab a cocktail at one of the city’s rooftop bars to take in the iconic Dubai skyline or head to a restaurant at Souk Al Bahar to catch a glimpse of the famous fountain shows and the Burj Khalifa.

Tokyo ranked No. 2 on the most scenic cities at night list, with the Travelbag study pointing out that the Japanese capital racks up more than 17,617 posts (and counting) on Instagram with the #tokyoatnight hashtag.

Soaring 1,150 feet in the sky, the Tokyo Skytree’s observation decks popular spots to take in the cityscape after sundown. Overall, Japan claims the most cities on the top 10 list with Hiroshima and Kyoto also making the cut.

Set in a cove on the Gulf of Oman, Muscat, Oman rounds out the top three on the list of most scenic cities at night, and p.m. itinerary highlights include a show at the opulent Royal Opera House, shopping for textiles and antiques at Mutrah Souk, and taking in the beauty of the commanding silhouettes of historic forts and palaces.

New York City is the only U.S. destination to make the most scenic city at night list. On the entertainment front, tourists will find much to do at night from Broadway shows to stand-up comedy, and to take in the sights, the city has some stellar observation decks including The Edge, which has a triangular slice with angled glass walls that juts out in the skyline and a glass floor to look down 100 stories. The last entry each night is at 10:10 p.m. and the observation deck is open until 11 p.m.

Ahead, the world’s most scenic cities at night, according to Travelbag’s ranking:

No. 1: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

No. 2: Tokyo, Japan

No. 3: Muscat, Oman

No. 4: Singapore

No. 5: Hiroshima, Japan

No. 6: Kyoto, Japan

No. 7: New York City, United States

No. 8: Sydney, Australia

No. 9: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

No. 10: Taipei, Taiwan