Barcelona ranked eighth in latest World's Best Cities report

Barcelona is the eighth best city in the world, according to the latest report from Canadian consultancy firm, Resonance.

The "defiant" Catalan capital earns its ranking for its "intoxicating mix of beach, architecture and creativity" which has "framed the city as the poster child of global overtourism—and its solutions."

The rankings – led by London in first place, followed by New York (2nd) and Paris (3rd) – take into account a range of factors including a city's natural and built environment, its institutions, cultural offerings, diversity, prosperity and online recommendations.

Barcelona has maintained its position since the previous report, although since 2019 it has slipped three places from 5th, being overtaken by Moscow (4th), Dubai (6th) and Singapore (7th).

The rest of the top 10 is made up by Tokyo (5th), Los Angeles (9th) and Madrid (10th).

The report describes Barcelona as an "almost ideal European city, one with near-perfect weather year round, miles and miles of beaches, iconic parks, striking architecture and colorful neighborhoods that march to their own beat—artistic, sophisticated, bohemian."

It goes on to describe the city as a "tourism magnet", which has "led the world with programs aimed at controlling the effects of runaway tourism—like real estate investors who snatch up apartments only to rent them on Airbnb, depleting an already limited supply."

The report also acknowledges the severe impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Catalan capital, citing the potential permanent closure of "almost 40%" of bars and restaurants as "catastrophic", especially given Barcelona's "#3 ranking for global nightlife."