This Is the Cleanest Tourist City in the World

• Singapore was just named the cleanest city in the world, according to a new report.
• Copenhagen, Denmark, and Prague, Czech Republic, followed closely behind.
• Rome was found to be the dirtiest city on the list.

It's always great to be a prepared traveler. Having all your travel documents ready, your hotel and reservations lined up, and a list of all your must-see sights can help ensure you have a trip to remember. But it's also critical to set your expectations of a destination, too.

To help you do just that, the team at Eagle Dumpster Rental analyzed top tourist hot spots around the globe and their waste management practices, public cleanliness perception, and waste generation per capita. It used facts and figures from the quality of life database Numbeo, the solid waste management database Atlas D-Waste, and city-specific recourses for its report. It then gave each destination a “Street Cleanliness Score.”

“Street cleanliness has a significant impact on visitor experiences,” Brian McDaid, a recycling expert at Eagle Dumpster Rental, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “Beyond the obvious unpleasantness, dirty streets can pose health risks and detract from otherwise beautiful destinations.”

After looking at all the information, it named city-state Singapore the cleanest city in the world. Lion City earned the top spot thanks to minimal dissatisfaction with garbage disposal from city residents and the fact that it generates a rather small amount of trash—709 pounds—per capita annually.

“Singapore's strict enforcement of cleanliness laws, combined with advanced waste management technology, creates noticeably clean public spaces,” McDaid said. “Their comprehensive approach includes public education, hefty fines for littering, and efficient collection systems.”

Coming in a close second is Copenhagen, where residents also report low dissatisfaction with garbage services. “Copenhagen has pioneered sustainable waste management,” McDaid said. “Their focus on circular economy principles and waste-to-energy facilities has created visibly cleaner streets and more satisfied residents.”

Rounding out the top three cleanest cities is Prague. The Czech Republic's capital placed third thanks to its self-reported cleanliness and its extremely low trash generation at just 676 pounds of waste per person annually. 

As for the worst offender, the number one dirtiest city on the list went to Rome, with residents there self-reporting frustrations with waste management—visitors, too, frequently complain about the trash. The city also generates a rather high amount of trash per person at 1,444 pounds annually.

“Rome's historic streets are experiencing a modern waste crisis,” McDaid said. “The city's ancient infrastructure wasn't designed for modern waste volumes, creating challenges for both residents and tourists.”

Still, there is a lot Rome can learn from the top cities on the list to improve waste management for tourists and residents alike. “The cleanest cities show that effective waste management systems, public education, and appropriate infrastructure can create more pleasant urban environments for everyone, whether they're visiting for a day or staying for a lifetime,” McDaid said.