Mykonos has been ranked the second most beautiful summer city in the world, while Sydney has taken third place in a new global study using eye tracking technology.
The Greek island scored 87.3 out of 100, finishing behind Banff in Canada, which topped the ranking with 96.0. Sydney followed closely in third with a score of 85.6.
The study, conducted by hotel group Premier Inn, examined 63 cities around the world, using eye tracking technology to determine which summer destinations captured and held people’s attention for the longest.
For Mykonos, the result reinforces the island’s reputation as one of the world’s most visually striking summer destinations. Its whitewashed architecture, blue Aegean waters, beaches, windmills and famous waterfront scenes make it instantly recognisable to travellers around the globe.
Sydney, meanwhile, was the highest ranked city in Oceania, beating Auckland, which placed ninth, Queenstown at 11th and Wellington at 13th.
The Australian city’s combination of its spectacular harbour, golden beaches and iconic landmarks helped it secure third place. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge provide a world famous backdrop, while beaches including Bondi, Tamarama and Manly add to the city’s appeal during the summer months.
How were the cities ranked?
Rather than asking travel experts to select the world’s most beautiful destinations, researchers used eye tracking technology to measure people’s visual reactions.
A selection of summer images representing the 63 cities was shown to 200 participants. Researchers recorded how quickly participants looked at each image and how long they continued viewing it.
The results were then combined using a weighted scoring system to produce a score out of 100. Destinations that attracted attention quickly and held it for longer received higher scores.
The study does come with some limitations. It measured reactions to photographs rather than people’s experiences of the destinations themselves, while the sample consisted of only 200 participants. Factors such as culture, weather, architecture and personal preferences cannot necessarily be captured through visual attention alone.
Mykonos and Sydney among the world’s most eye catching cities
Mykonos’ second place finish puts Greece firmly among the world’s most visually appealing summer destinations, while Sydney’s third place ranking gives Australia another reason to celebrate.
The remainder of the top five was made up of Bruges in Belgium, which scored 84.1, and Bristol in the United Kingdom, with 83.7.
Other major international destinations also featured prominently, with Kyoto ranking seventh, Los Angeles 10th and Paris 12th.
For travellers choosing their next summer escape, the results place Mykonos and Sydney among the world’s most eye catching destinations, offering two very different but equally spectacular summer experiences, from the Aegean Sea to Sydney Harbour.
Source: Time Out Sydney
