Time Out has crowned the world’s best cities to live in and visit, with Cape Town earning high praise for its history and buzzing nightlife. The publication placed the South African city top in its 50 Best Cities in the World for 2025 list for its historic sites and cultural attractions.
Locals participating in the survey expressed their contentment with the city’s beauty and their own happiness living there. Grace Beard, Time Out’s travel editor, said: “Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe.”
Andrew Hallett from the website highlighted Cape Town’s unique charm, and said: “Where else in the world can you hang out with a colony of African penguins, taste some of the world’s finest wines, stroll along Blue Flag beaches, enjoy stunning views from atop one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and sample some of the most eclectic nightlife and vibes in the world… all in one day? That’s our Cape Town.”
According to the publication, a whopping 95% of locals rate the city’s culinary delights highly. Beauty is another strong point, with 82% agreeing that Cape Town is stunning, while an 97% of residents said they felt happy there, reports the Mirror.
Visitors have plenty to explore, from the Durbanville Wine Valley safari to the bustling V&A Waterfront – South Africa’s top tourist hotspot.
The rankings also incorporated opinions from 100 travel experts alongside the local insights. These globetrotters have identified a mix of well-trodden and offbeat urban gems as the current hotspots for excitement around the globe.
Bangkok snagged second place, with New York City not far behind in third place. Melbourne and London completed the top five.
In Scotland, Edinburgh made the list, placing 13th, and Glasgow 36th.
The capital was praised a food and drink scene “you’ll be hard pushed to beat”, alongside “castles and cobbled streets with breathtaking gothic architecture that has inspired authors, poets and musicians alike”.
Meanwhile, Glasgow residents said they love the city’s culture and food, giving scores of 87% and 69% respectively.