The Colombian cities of Bogota and Medellin achieved a significant leap in international recognition in 2025 by appearing in the global list of the “World’s 100 Best Cities” in the World’s Best Cities 2026 report by Resonance Consultancy. This not only highlights their tourist appeal but also reflects deep transformations in infrastructure, connectivity, culture, and investment.
In addition to Bogota and Medellin, five other Latin American cities appear in the World’s Best Cities 2026 ranking: Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, and Santiago.
What position do the Colombian cities hold in the ranking of the World’s 100 Best Cities?
According to the ranking, Bogota ranked 51, while Medellin ranked 76 among more than 270 cities evaluated.
In the case of Bogota, the report highlights its growth as a cultural and economic hub in Latin America, with notable air connectivity, a diverse cultural offering, and steady urban modernization. Its advances in infrastructure, transport, and mobility position it as a city with an increasingly solid international projection.
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Medellin, for its part, continues to strengthen its status as a model of social innovation in the region. Its reputation as a “smart city,” along with urban renewal, the expansion of its integrated transport system, and the rise of the creative and technology sectors, make it a regional benchmark for sustainable development and talent attraction.
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Bogota and Medellin: the cities that receive the most foreign visitors in the country
The international prominence of both cities is supported by their strong tourism growth. In Bogota, official records confirm that by 2025 the capital had already surpassed 1 million foreign visitors. Between January and September, it reached around 1.4 million international tourists, a number that represents a steady increase compared to the previous year and sets it on track to close the year with a historic record.
Medellin, as of September 2025, has been reported as the country’s second-most-visited destination by foreign tourists, with nearly 1 million visitors so far that year. In the first four months of 2025, 472,114 visitors were recorded (including nonresident nationals and foreigners), marking a 13.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
This growth in both cities is largely explained by improvements in air connectivity, the strengthening of the hotel sector, the rise of international events, and the diversification of their cultural and gastronomic offerings.
What does this recognition mean for Colombia and its main cities?
The inclusion of Bogota and Medellin among the world’s best cities represents an international endorsement of the urban, social, and economic progress Colombia has made over the past decade.
For the country, this positioning strengthens its global reputation as an attractive destination for investment, tourism, and technological development. Both cities become showcases of Colombia’s potential, demonstrating that urban renewal, security, sustainability, and mobility policies are beginning to yield visible results on the world stage.
At the local level, the recognition boosts the growth of strategic sectors such as tourism, the creative economy, gastronomy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It also helps improve the country’s international perception, a key factor in attracting foreign talent, major events, global companies, and new opportunities for cooperation.
This is the top 10 in the list, where London claims first spot for the 11th consecutive year:
- London
- New York
- Paris
- Tokyo
- Madrid
- Singapore
- Rome
- Dubai
- Berlin
- Barcelona