Bangkok has been voted the world's best city for tourists. The result comes from the Readers' Choice Awards of British magazine Condé Nast Traveller, chosen by more than 800,000 readers. Last year, the Thai capital was not even in the top 20, and Valletta in Malta took first place. The magazine praises the city's lively markets, palaces, religious sites, and street food. It also mentions rooftop bars and fine restaurants.
Paris came second, followed by Istanbul and Rome. Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and Amsterdam complete the top ten. The award arrives at a difficult moment. In late September, nearly 300 millimeters of rain fell on Bangkok in three days. The city was declared a disaster zone. The flooding disrupted the main airport, causing long delays and many canceled flights. More heavy rain was expected, and the damage may hurt tourism in the near future.