According to the latest analysis published by VegOut Magazine, travellers who have truly immersed themselves in any of the 10 highlighted global cities can consider themselves more worldly than 95% of the world’s population. This fresh perspective on travel moves beyond simply counting passport stamps to focus on the depth of experience and cultural exchange, revealing how time spent in certain destinations can transform not only the way we view the world but also how we understand ourselves (VegOut Magazine).
The report, published on July 29, 2025, identifies Istanbul, Hanoi, Lisbon, Cape Town, Mexico City, Seoul, Prague, Buenos Aires, Montréal, and Bangkok as the ultimate cities for travellers seeking to go beyond surface-level encounters. These are not just tourist hubs, but places described as “cultural crossroads, where history still shapes street life and modern ambitions elbow their way in.” The magazine posits that simply visiting— and more importantly, living like a local in— any one of these cities immerses you in complex narratives of history, art, social change, and daily rituals, creating a version of travel that is both eye-opening and transformative.
For Thai readers, the inclusion of Bangkok as a core global travel destination is a source of pride and reflection. Often known internationally for its vibrant mix of Buddhist heritage, bustling street markets, and neon-lit nights, Bangkok is showcased as a microcosm of sensory overload and spiritual continuity. “Aromas of lemongrass and diesel mingle above tuk-tuk traffic, while glittering stupas guard canals where monks collect morning alms. Bangkok rewards the traveller who embraces sensory overload by revealing rhythm beneath the rush,” the article describes. This recognition highlights the city’s ability to shape visitors as much as it is shaped by them—a point of significance for both locals and those working to promote sustainable, meaningful tourism.
The reasoning behind the selection of these ten cities is clear: they challenge visitors to “switch mental gears—sometimes within a single block,” and to become part of an “ever-shifting conversation” that the city is having with the world. In Istanbul, for example, travellers can stroll from Byzantine relics to third-wave coffee shops and join daily rituals as old as the city itself. Hanoi offers dichotomies of chaos and calm, as visitors sample street food near centuries-old crafts villages. Each city offers opportunities to engage in everything from throwing clay pots in Vietnam’s Bat Tràng village, to joining impromptu samba sessions in Buenos Aires’ open-air galleries, and bartering for hand-woven silk in Bangkok’s Chatuchak.
Dr. Leonard Adkins, a cultural geographer based in London, notes that these destinations represent “the pinnacle of travel not because they are expensive or hard to reach, but because they require openness—culturally and emotionally. Emerging research in the fields of psychology and tourism studies indicates that these multifaceted, sometimes contradictory experiences foster personal growth, empathy, and creative thinking.” Academic publications reinforce this, suggesting that exposure to complex, culturally rich environments rewires neural pathways and boosts global competence (APA PsycNet, Tourist Studies).
Significantly, the list challenges conventional metrics for what it means to be ‘well-travelled.’ Instead of collecting photographs at famous monuments, true travel sophistication is depicted as an accumulation of perspectives, not places. The article urges readers to “juggle beauty and complexity at the same time,” mining their experiences for lessons in nuance and contradiction rather than simple pleasure.
For Thai travellers and the local tourism sector, this global perspective offers food for thought. In recent years, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has shifted its marketing strategy from generic ‘Amazing Thailand’ campaigns to emphasising ‘Meaningful Travel’ and ‘Sustainable Experience’ programs. A senior official from the TAT told the Bangkok Post, “The real value of tourism lies in exchange—when visitors give back to communities and learn from our heritage, it benefits all of us.” Efforts such as the “Visit Local Wisdom Villages” initiative and community-based tourism in Bangkok’s Thonburi and Rattanakosin areas exemplify how the city continues to cultivate its global reputation as a destination for transformative travel (TAT Newsroom).
There is also a rising awareness among Thai academics and travel professionals that facilitating deeper engagement with the city’s living traditions, be it morning alms-giving, food heritage, or canal-hopping, can drive economic and social benefits. Studies conducted by Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts highlight that tourists who participate in local rituals and community activities are far more likely to return and recommend Bangkok as an essential stop for serious globe-trotters (Chula Global Network).
Looking to the future, experts predict that destinations like Bangkok will play an even more vital role as “gateway cities” for emerging travel trends in Asia. “The appetite for travel that challenges assumptions—rather than just entertains—is growing among Southeast Asians, especially as incomes and English proficiency rise,” said a tourism economics lecturer from Thammasat University. The same sentiment is echoed in recent World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts, which place Bangkok among the top five ‘megacities of the future’ for urban explorers (UNWTO Highlights 2024 Edition).
Of course, alongside celebration, the report provides important lessons for cities adapting to increased visibility and higher visitor volumes. The VegOut article, while mostly celebratory, hints at the delicate balance between showcasing a city’s living identity and preventing overtourism or commodification of heritage. Thai heritage conservators have warned about the risks of “performative culture” and urge municipal officials to support genuine, ongoing traditions. “We want Bangkok to thrive as a living city, not become a backdrop for foreign expectations,” noted a researcher at the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority’s Department of City Planning.
Moreover, Thai travellers themselves are taking cues from international trends. Digital forums such as “Pantip” and newer travel blogs like “The Cloud” and “Mango Zero” frequently debate the merits of deeper, slower, more conscious travel within the kingdom and abroad (Pantip, The Cloud). Many young Thais now plan itineraries around local experiences, from artisanal coffee shops in Chiang Mai to heritage walks in Ayutthaya, rather than simply ticking off the “must-see” list.
On the international front, data from Mastercard’s 2023 Global Destination Cities Index further reinforce the importance of cities such as Bangkok, which consistently ranks among the world’s most visited urban destinations, welcoming over 22 million international visitors pre-pandemic (Mastercard Index). Yet, as travel reopens and diversifies post-pandemic, the push for travellers to seek more immersive and responsible experiences will likely shape local tourism policy and city planning.
For those eager to take actionable steps based on these insights, the recommendation is clear: slow down, stay longer, and interact more deeply whenever you visit a new city—especially one in your own country. Whether exploring Bangkok or far-flung destinations like Istanbul and Cape Town, seek out opportunities for learning, dialogue, and shared rituals. The true hallmark of a well-travelled individual is not just an impressive passport, but an empathetic world view, fluency in cultural nuance, and the ability to see beauty and contradiction not as opposites, but as essential partners.
For Bangkokians, the challenge and opportunity now lie not only in welcoming the world but also in continuing to honour and enrich the city’s own complex identity. As the VegOut article puts it, “the capacity to stay open, surprised, and teachable is the real mark of someone who’s genuinely well-travelled”—a lesson as relevant for Thais at home as for adventurers venturing abroad.
For those inspired by this ranking, practical recommendations include joining local city walks led by resident cultural advocates; sampling regional and street-side cuisine with expert guides; visiting living heritage communities beyond the typical tourist circuit; and engaging in sustainable practices, such as reducing single-use plastics and supporting community-run homestays.
As travel resumes on a global scale, the real journey, as the report emphasises, is not merely to visit places, but to let them change us for the better.
Sources:
- VegOut Magazine - If you’ve been to any of these 10 cities, you’re more well-travelled than 95% of people
- APA PsycNet: Cultural Immersion
- Tourist Studies: The Transformative Power of Urban Exploration
- Chula Global Network
- TAT Newsroom
- UNWTO Highlights
- Mastercard Index 2023
- Pantip Community
- The Cloud Magazine