Abu Dhabi, Manama and Riyadh top Capital Cities Index

The ranking compiled by Bounce was determined using factors including hotel costs, transport and attractions

Three GCC capitals, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Manama, have been ranked among the world’s top five capital cities to visit on holiday by travel experts at luggage storage company Bounce.

Numerous factors were taken into consideration, including attractions, amenities and climate, to create a ranking for 69 of the most developed capitals in the world.

Valetta Wins
Occupying the list’s top position is Valetta, in the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta, with an overall score of 6.74 out of 10. This was in part due to the number of attractions and restaurants, with more than 311 and 442.6 per sq km respectively. 

Abu Dhabi Ranks Second
UAE capital Abu Dhabi ranks second with a score of 6.24 out of 10. The city has one of the lowest annual rainfall totals with only 42mm recorded per year. Abu Dhabi’s year-round average temperature is 28 degrees celsius, which is the fourth highest of all cities studied, makes it a popular destination for sun-seekers.

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Is New Delhi a Safe Choice?
Indian capital New Delhi ranks third with a score of 6.06 out of 10, average temperatures topping 25 degrees and 12,409 restaurants to choose between. The average nightly cost of a hotel in the city is $101.87, which is around $35 less than in all other cities studied. In New Delhi, there are 290.61 restaurants per square kilometre and this is the second-highest of any capital. 

Seemingly, the study didn’t take into consideration growing crime rates against women, as recent reports show a rise in these figures in New Delhi, a city that’s been dubbed the “rape capital” of India. The Hindu Times reported: “Crime against women in the Capital increased by 63.3% in the first six months of 2021 as compared to 2020, according to data shared by Delhi Police.”

Bahrain and Saudi Round Out Top 5
Bahrain’s capital city Manama ranked fourth-best for a holiday with a score of 5.77 out of 10. Manama has a very low crime rate and  it scored well for average temperatures and annual rainfall due to its geographical location.

Riyadh ranked fifth with a score of 5.74 out of 10. Riyadh has a low crime rate and slightly less rainfall than Manama, but also slightly lower temperatures.

Best of the Rest: Capital Cities
According to Bounce, Ankara in Turkey is the best capital city for hotel prices, with an average price of US$45.74 per night, while Luxembourg has been crowned the best capital city in the world for transport, thanks to its free public transport services. Bangkok (Thailand) is the best capital city for temperature with an average of 27 degrees centigrade, while Cairo, Egypt, has the least rainfall with only 18mm of average rainfall per year.

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