Tel Aviv named top gay city; Israeli city bumps out New York for best Pride City

People and floats fill the streets of Tel Aviv in June, 2010, as thousands celebrate during the city's annual Gay Pride parade

The Big Apple came in a distance second for best city for gay fun and travel

Tel Aviv has topped New York to be named the best gay city in the world, in a recent survey conducted by American Airlines and GayCities.com.

The Israeli city was named City of the Year 2011 by GayCities readers and American Airlines customers, with a whopping 43 percent of the popular vote -- far outstripping those of the next closest city, New York, which secured 14 percent.

Other contenders including Toronto with seven percent, Sao Paulo with six percent and Madrid and London five percent each -- San Francisco, popularly known as the gay capital of the US, was nowhere to be seen, although it did receive top marks for its Pride carnival.

Runners up for the world's Best Pride City included Sao Paulo, Toronto, Amsterdam and Atlanta.

For the best gay nightlife, vacationers should head to New York, which topped London and Madrid to take the vote from night owls, while gastronomes should head to Paris, followed by New Orleans.

Those with a sharp sense of style will also feel most comfortable in New York, the survey suggested, with London and Rome in second and third place respectively for the Best Dressed City award