World’s Most Beautiful Summer Cities Ranked by Eye-Tracking Study
Banff, Canada, has been named the world’s most beautiful summer city in a new study released on August 19, 2026. The research, commissioned by hotel chain Premier Inn, utilized eye-tracking technology to measure how quickly and for how long participants focused on images of over 60 global tourist destinations.
The Methodology Behind the Rankings
The study sought to move beyond subjective travel opinions by quantifying aesthetic appeal. By monitoring eye movement, researchers identified which urban landscapes captured immediate attention and held it the longest. According to the data, Banff secured the top position with a score of 96 out of 100, with participants spending an average of 3.2 seconds gazing at the location—the highest duration recorded in the experiment.
Mykonos, Greece, followed in second place with a score of 87.3. While Banff held the longest gaze, Mykonos proved to be the most “eye-catching” in terms of speed, with participants noticing the destination in just 1.5 seconds. Sydney, Australia, rounded out the top three with a composite score of 85.6, cited for its blend of natural harbour beauty and iconic structural landmarks.
Global Distribution of Visual Appeal
The top 10 list is dominated by locations in Canada and Europe, though it includes representation from Oceania and Asia. The rankings are as follows:
- 1. Banff, Canada (96.0)
- 2. Mykonos, Greece (87.3)
- 3. Sydney, Australia (85.6)
- 4. Bruges, Belgium (84.1)
- 5. Bristol, United Kingdom (83.7)
- 6. Palma de Mallorca, Spain (79.7)
- 7. Kyoto, Japan (78.0)
- 8. (Unlisted)
- 9. Auckland, New Zealand (77.6)
- 10. Los Angeles, United States (73.6)
Notably, Auckland serves as the representative for New Zealand, distinguishing itself from popular domestic competitors like Queenstown.