Cape Town has been named the best city in the world by Time Out.
Cape Town claimed the number-one spot for 2025 in the British-based company’s rankings.
The results were based on opinions from 18,500 people around the world who were surveyed about their city for the seventh Time Out global survey of city-dwellers.
Time Out said that Cape Town’s rise to number one was no surprise, due to the fact that locals and visitors enjoy visiting the colony of African penguins, tasting world-class wines, enjoying strolls on the beaches, and visiting one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, East City.
Time Out has a presence in the city, with the Time Out Market situated in the V&A Waterfront.
Cape Town scored highly across 44 different criteria used in the survey, with 82% of Capetonians describing their city as beautiful, and 97% of locals saying it makes them happy.
No other South African city made the top 50, with only Marrakech in Morocco (#32) and Lagos in Nigeria (#41) making the top 50.
“Cape Town is a city built on its people’s passion, resilience, and creativity. From bustling markets to serene beaches, every corner of our city tells a story of community and connection,” said Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
“This recognition speaks volumes about the incredible spirit of Cape Town,” added James Vos, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
The global top ten are:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Cape Town, South Africa
Bangkok, Thailand
New York, USA
Melbourne, Australia
London, England
New Orleans, USA
Mexico City, Mexico
Porto, Portugal
Shanghai, China