The world’s best city to visit right now, according to Time Out

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Time Out has revealed the 50 best cities in the world right now, with South Africa’s Cape Town crowned the top destination for a city break in 2025.

The platform’s seventh annual survey of city dwellers asked more than 18,500 locals and over 100 experts about 44 criteria – including food, nightlife, culture, affordability and happiness – to rank the most exciting cities in the world this year.

Cape Town was hailed as the number one city for its fine wines, Blue Flag beaches and rich history, scoring high for happiness with 97 per cent of locals.

Ranked second, Thailand’s Bangkok ticked boxes for culture and affordable street eats, followed by the bustle of New York and Melbourne, Australia – home to Time Out’s “World’s Coolest Street” in 2024.

As for the UK, the capital, London, took the fifth spot to be named the best capital in Europe, with Edinburgh, Brighton, Glasgow, Belfast and Bristol all listed in Time Out’s top 50.

Grace Beard, travel editor at Time Out, said: “Our annual list of Time Out’s Best Cities in the World right now proves that if you want to know what makes a city truly great, ask a local.

“Thousands of city-dwellers worldwide responded to our survey this year, sharing their opinion on everything from nightlife and food to public transport, green spaces and friendliness. Their collective insights, coupled with the opinions and expertise of Time Out experts around the globe, allow us to create a definitive ranking of the best cities in the world right now.

“From affordability to access to nature, liveability was a key factor in our survey this year. This list not only showcases the world’s most exciting cities to visit in 2025, where world-class culture, great food and exciting nightlife can be found on every corner but also reflects the places where locals feel most at home.”

Time Out’s top 50 cities in the world for 2025

Cape Town, South Africa
Bangkok, Thailand
New York, USA
Melbourne, Australia
London, UK
New Orleans, USA
Mexico City, Mexico
Porto, Portugal
Shanghai, China
Copenhagen, Denmark
Chicago, USA
Lisbon, Portugal
Edinburgh, UK
Hong Kong
Sydney, Australia
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Barcelona, Spain
Seville, Spain
Paris, France
Medellín, Colombia
Hanoi, Vietnam
Madrid, Spain
Berlin, Germany
Dubai, UAE
Singapore
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Beijing, China
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Jakarta, Indonesia
Vienna, Austria
Tokyo, Japan
Marrakech, Morocco
Perth, Australia
Brighton, UK
Prague, Czech Republic
Glasgow, UK
Brisbane, Australia
Marseille, France
Budapest, Hungary
Los Angeles, USA
Lagos, Nigeria
Seoul, South Korea
Valencia, Spain
Montreal, Canada
Bilbao, Spain
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Belfast, UK
Bristol, UK
Mumbai, India
Warsaw, Poland

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

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