Newsweek/Tourist city internet speeds
By Joe Edwards
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In today's hyper-connected world, a city's digital infrastructure can make or break a traveler's experience. From booking last-minute tickets to sharing vacation snapshots on social media, reliable internet access is essential for modern tourism.
But not all tourist hotspots are created equal when it comes to download speeds. While some destinations offer lightning-fast connectivity, others leave visitors grappling with frustratingly slow internet.
A new study by Holafly explores the tourist cities that are leading the charge in digital speed and those that are lagging behind. Newsweek has mapped the tourist cities with the best (and worst) download speeds, according to the report.
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To determine the best and worst tourist cities for mobile internet, the study analyzed mobile internet download speeds in popular destinations as ranked by Booking.com and Tripadvisor. For each city, it calculated the time required to download a 1GB map of the city and its surrounding areas using Apple Maps. Data was gathered in August 2024.
The report found that Doha, Qatar, was the tourist destination with the fastest mobile internet. With speeds of 354.5, it takes just 1.9 seconds to download a 1GB map of the city.
Los Angeles was the North American tourist city with the highest speeds, boasting speeds of 186.6 Mbps. According to the study, it would take 5.5 seconds to download a 1GB map here.
L.A. failed to make it into the top 10 despite topping the list in the North American region. The full list of cities claiming the top spots were:
- Doha, Qatar (354.4 Mbps)
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates (351.8 Mbps)
- Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. (325.9 Mbps)
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (273.7 Mbps)
- Copenhagen, Denmark (255.9 Mbps)
- Porto, Portugal (243.6 Mbps)
- Oslo, Norway (240.7 Mbps)
- Lisbon, Portugal (218 Mbps)
- Shanghai, China (213.1 Mbps)
- Beijing, China (202.5 Mbps)
On the other end of the spectrum, Havana, Cuba, is ranked as the tourist city with the slowest internet speeds. With just 4.5 Mbps per second, the report said it would take roughly 229.1 seconds to download a 1GB map of the city.
"The adoption and rollout of 5G networks can positively affect the tourism sector, both for tourists and stakeholders in the industry," Pedro Máiquez, Holafly's chief marketing officer (CMO), told Newsweek.
"Travelers can expect enhanced connectivity and a much faster internet speed with 5G. This allows them real-time access to information, services, and navigation tools, which can especially be helpful when exploring new or remote destinations. As 5G network enables seamless connectivity, tourists get to stay in touch with friends and family back home and easily share updates on social media," he said.
Máiquez added: "5G networks can also spur local economies by facilitating commerce and improving access to different services. Travelers who post their experiences online, for example, may indirectly promote the places they have been, boosting local tourism and contributing to the area's economic growth."
This map shows the states with the fastest internet speeds.
Newsweek previously mapped the riskiest cities for tourists to visit, according to a report compiled by Forbes Advisor.
This study found that Caracas, Venezuela, was the "riskiest," with high crime and safety risks for travelers.
On the other hand, the report considered Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto to be the three safest cities for tourists to visit.
Update, 11/29/24, 1:34 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Máiquez
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