Every year for their World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine asks readers to choose their favorite cities based on sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and overall value. A teeming street life, a friendly population, and a harmonious relationship with nature are equally essential.

In 2019, for the fourth year in a row, Travel + Leisure readers chose San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, as the top travel destination in Mexico.

In the magazine's "World's Best Cities" rankings, which were chosen by surveys of over 17,000 Travel + Leisure readers, San Miguel placed second this year.

This colonial city, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the United Nations, was named T + L's World's Best City in 2017 and 2018, but this year narrowly fell behind Hoi An, Vietnam, which jumped from eighth place in 2018 to the top of the list.

Travel + Leisure describes San Miguel de Allende as "a glamorous and sophisticated city in the heart of Mexico, surrounded by wonderful vineyards and beautiful landscapes that make it the perfect place to indulge in adventure tourism - without losing its traditional touch..."

One reader called San Miguel "a unique art community in the mountains, with a mix of rich history and amazing food."

Another fan of the city praised its architectural diversity: "Gorgeous, sumptuous modern interiors are mixed with 500-year-old façades. You never know what delights you'll find behind one of the beautifully carved doors."

Oaxaca City, another town with a long and complex history and vibrantly colored buildings, came in fifth place, earning kudos for its food scene and cooking schools.

Mexico City jumped from 11th place to fourth place this year. Describing the country's capital city, one reader wrote, "One of the most exciting cities in North America. I go at least once per year, and every time I do it's a new and exciting experience."

Mexico was the only country with three cities among the world's top 15; Italy, Japan, the United States and Thailand each had two.

To see the full list of T+L reader-favorite cities around the globe, and find out how they scored in the 2019 survey, visit travelandleisure.com.

Sources: Travel + Leisure • The Yucatan Times