Royal Yacht Britannia: Edinburgh tourist attraction named best in the world ahead of Eiffel Tower
Royal Yacht Britannia and The Real Mary King’s Close placed in the top ten of the worldwide list
An Edinburgh attraction has been named the world’s best tourist attraction, topping the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards list.
The Royal Yacht Britannia has been named this year’s number one attraction, above iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City, and Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The list is ranked by the highest rated experience by Tripadvisor users over the past 12 months.
The former floating palace of Queen Elizabeth II is docked in Leith and has welcomed visitors on board since 1998. It has an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, with more than 25,000 people having left reviews.
Reviewers described it as a “must see attraction” with many having praised its in-depth tour, audio guide and museum layout. They added that it is great for all ages and great value for money.
Franck Bruyère, chief executive at The Royal Yacht Britannia, said: "We are incredibly proud of The Royal Yacht Britannia’s success and wish to thank our visitors for taking the time to share their gift of feedback. Being number 1 in the world is a tremendous achievement and a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional visitor experience."
Another Edinburgh attraction is also celebrating after placing in the list, with the city being the only in the world to have two attractions in the top 10.
The Real Mary King’s Close was ranked as the sixth top attraction in the world.
The historic landmark, located in the Old Town, welcomes visitors to step back in time to one of Edinburgh’s historic closes.
The full list of Top Attractions in the World for the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2026 is:
- The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
- Empire State Building, New York City, New York
- Cayman Crystal Caves, Grand Cayman
- The Real Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
- Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee
- Cachoeira Boca da Onça, Bodoquena, Brazil
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