Cape Town has claimed the top spot in Time Out’s annual Best Cities in the World list for 2025, a title that’s been hotly contested by global cities like New York and Bangkok. This year, over 18,500 people from around the world shared their thoughts in Time Out’s global survey, and Cape Town emerged as the clear winner.
This isn’t just a popularity contest—Cape Town excelled across 44 different criteria, ranging from food and nightlife to affordability and overall city vibe.
After New York claimed the top spot in 2024, Cape Town reclaimed its title, beating out fierce competitors like Bangkok (#2), New York (#3), Melbourne (#4), and London (#5). According to the survey, 82% of locals describe their city as beautiful, and an impressive 97% say it makes them happy.
Other African cities also made the Top 50, with Marrakech (#32) and Lagos (#41) earning spots.
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