Cape Town is the 'Best City in the World' - Time Out

Cape Town has claimed the top spot on Time Out's annual list of the 'Best Cities in the World', released on Wednesday.

The global brand, known for inspiring people to explore the best of city life, ranked Cape Town first for its stunning beauty, overall happiness, and exceptional food scene.

The city has risen one place from last year's second position.

Affectionately known as the Mother City, Cape Town boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, offering visitors a diverse range of experiences – from world-class dining and vibrant nightlife to breathtaking green spaces and easy access to nature. 

“To be recognised as Time Out’s Best City in the World is a huge high five to the Capetonians who work so hard to create a city which can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Cape Town provides not only an amazing playground for those looking for the best food, best sights, and best adventures, but it is also a city where the people are living their best lives and are happy to call it their home. If you’ve never been to Cape Town, do it! You won’t be disappointed.”

- Andrew Hallett, Content Director – Time Out South Africa

In its seventh annual global survey, Time Out gathered insights from over 18 500 people worldwide, including its loyal readers, to assess their cities across a range of factors.

Respondents were asked about everything from food, nightlife, and culture to affordability, happiness, and overall city vibe.

In addition, more than 100 city experts from Time Out’s global network were consulted to identify the most exciting cities on the rise.

Time Out then combined this extensive data – spanning 44 different criteria – to determine the rankings of the world’s best cities for 2025.

Time Out’s top 10 'Best Cities in the World' are:

1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. New York, USA
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. London, UK
6. New Orleans, USA
7. Mexico City, Mexico
8. Porto, Portugal
9. Shanghai, China
10. Copenhagen, Denmark

“We are delighted with Cape Town’s first place on the prestigious Time Out ‘Best Cities in the World’ list for 2025. While Cape Town often features at the top of global travel destination lists, this recognition is particularly meaningful as it is largely based on the responses from residents of the city themselves. In addition to all the things that make Cape Town a must-visit tourism destination – our unmatched natural beauty, blue flag beaches, wonderful cuisine, nightlife and cultural diversity – it is the overall happiness of residents that perhaps means the most in this extensive survey. All our work is aimed at making Cape Town the best city in the world to live in – where people are able to build lives of value and where they have a real sense of ownership of their city – and we could not be prouder that this came across so strongly in the responses of our residents.” 

- Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor – City of Cape Town