Unlike traditional tourist ratings, the focus of the study is not on the cost of travel and the level of safety, but on the visual characteristics of the urban environment. The company’s analysts processed images of 78 cities, assessing the number of unique color tones in urban development and street space. To improve accuracy, only photos without filters and in natural light were taken into account. As a result, the company compiled its own rating of 30 cities.
The leader was Lisbon. The company explains this by the combination of historical architecture, the diversity of facades and the light contrast characteristic of the city.
Top 10 most“vibrant” cities in the world according to World’s Most Vibrant Cities:
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Barcelona
- Prague
- Amsterdam
- Istanbul
- Rome
- Paris
- Budapest
- Copenhagen
According to JustCover, European destinations dominate the top ten. This is explained by dense historical buildings, a variety of facades and active use of color in architecture and urban environment.
Why Dublin lost out
At the bottom of the list was Dublin. According to the study, the city showed a more restrained color scheme: gray, brick and dark shades predominate. This is what influenced the final position.
At the same time, the authors emphasize that we are not talking about a “bad city”. On the contrary, Dublin remains a popular tourist destination with a rich history and culture. It’s just that its visual style is more austere and less diverse compared to southern and coastal cities.
Tourists are guided by photographs
JustCover explains: the purpose of the rating is to show how travelers’ preferences are changing. Today, tourists are increasingly choosing destinations that look good not only in person, but also in photos.
Color is becoming a new factor of attraction. Bright streets, contrasting facades and unusual details make cities more visible on social networks and increase tourist interest.
Ratings affect tourism
Experts believe that such ratings can influence the development of cities. Authorities and businesses are increasingly paying attention to the visual environment – from restoring facades to creating “Instagrammable” locations.
The research reflects the growing trend towards “visual tourism”. According to the company’s assessment, the aesthetics of the urban environment is becoming an additional factor in choosing destinations, especially against the backdrop of the growing influence of digital platforms and user-generated content.
