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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Timeout’s 50 best cities in the world🌍

Cape Town No 1
New York No 3
London No 5
Marrakesh No 32
Lagos No 41

Cape Town🇿🇦 No 1

What makes Cape Town great: 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. Steeped in history and cultural significance, Cape Town provides visitors with a plethora of options to learn, explore, and have fun, all without breaking the bank. Immerse yourself in the fishing culture of the city in trendy Kalk Bay, head to East City for a dose of Capetonian food and design, or be one with the natural world at the majestic Cape Point Nature Reserve. You can even paraglide in the shadow of Table Mountain, which makes for a very different way to see the city.

Visit Cape Town now because: You can go on a wine safari! While you won’t see any lions, this brand-new trip through the Durbanville Wine Valley makes for a proper foodie adventure. Once you’re back in town, head to the Time Out Market at the V&A Waterfront for a range of unique South African flavours.

The big numbers: Cape Town scored highly across the board. Ninety-five percent of Capetonians gave the city’s food scene a high rating, 82 percent would describe Cape Town as beautiful and a whopping 97 percent of locals said their city makes them happy.
Andrew Hallett, South Africa🇿🇦

New York 🇺🇸 No 3

What makes New York great: New York City, the capital of hustle and bustle, is always changing – but that ephemerality is the city’s superpower, keeping New Yorkers on their toes and luring them out to play. FOMO is real here because the next exciting thing could be gone in the blink of an eye, from incredible public art displays like this giant pigeon on the Highline and limited edition foodie pop-ups from international and Michelin-starred chefs, not to mention surprise one-night-only concerts. It feels like anything is possible here because it has been! That’s the spirit that makes NYC one of the best cities in the world. People come here to do big things. No wonder we have some of the world’s coolest attractions (like the northern hemisphere’s highest observation deck, Edge) and vibrant neighbourhoods, from Riverdale to Coney Island and everywhere in between.

Visit New York now because: New York City is becoming a sports destination! Its WNBA team, the New York Liberty, just won the championship for the first time in its history, the Yankees made it into the World Series, and its New York Rangers hockey team made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. This year, FIFA Club World Cup championship will be played at MetLife Stadium followed by the World Cup final there in 2026. It’s a great time to be a sports fan in NYC!

The big numbers: NYC is officially the most exciting city on the planet right now, with 78 percent of New Yorkers – the highest number on the list – describing it as such. That’s thanks in no small part to a world-class arts and culture scene, which got an impressive 92 percent approval rating. 
Shaye Weaver, New York🇺🇸

London🇬🇧No 5

What makes London great: London is always going to be one of the best cities in the world. That’s inarguable, thanks to the capital’s brilliant cuisine, unkillable pub culture, unrivalled shopping opportunities and (best of all) the all-encompassing range of its people. Whatever you’re into, London can provide. What’s that I can hear? ‘What about nightlife?’ you’re saying, ‘Everyone knows everything in London shuts at midnight and all the clubs shut down forever in 2016!’ Wrong! London’s nightlife scene has seen some serious investment in the last year or so, meaning now is exactly the right time to come if you want fun. Hoxton’s flat-roof-pub-turned-serious-club Lion and Lamb, the way-better-than-it-should-be Here at Outernet, Hackney Wick’s thriving Colour Factory, the grassroots-tastic Cause and the already legendary Fold in Canning Town. Plus there’s a host of new hype-y queer bars, including La Camionera, The Wing and a Prayer and The Divine (from the folks behind legendary nightspot The Glory). None of this existed just a few years ago. Does that sound like a moribund metropolis to you?

Visit London now because: You’ll be among the first people to see the new trains on the Piccadilly line! Or, if that’s not exciting enough, how about a whole new branch of the world-class V&A museum? V&A East Storehouse will open in 2025, with the highlight being the David Bowie Centre: a chance to gawp at a rotating selection of 80,000 items from the rock star’s personal archive.

The big numbers: London topped the list of cities most-loved by Time Out staff and was named the most diverse and inclusive city by locals. The UK capital also came third in the ‘culture’ category and for ‘green spaces and access to nature’.
Joe Mackertich, London🇬🇧

Marrakesh🇲🇦 No 32

What makes Marrakesh great: Native Marrakshis exude hospitality. Their adaptability and deep-rooted community spirit was clear when the earthquake that struck the city at the end of 2023 became an opportunity for growth and renewal. Over a year on, the city is abuzz with a burgeoning art and festival scene; check out 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Marrakech Film Festival and Fashion Week. Recent openings include design-centric riad hotels like Izza and Rosemary, while brand-new community hubs like M Avenue have been drawing locals who love pedestrianised streets, vibey cafés, air-con shopping and trendy rooftops like Zest. First-time visitors can meander through the ancient Medina’s narrow streets for a glimpse into Islamic life and traditions. Here, the recently re-opened Ben Youssef Madrasa offers an exquisite display of Moroccan architecture. 

Visit now because: Marrakech’s culinary scene is taking off. The city was voted one of our top cities for food in 2024 for its diverse dining scene, from street food to Michelin-starred. Nowadays, you have to book a slot for popular tables. And, art-lovers, stay tuned for the soon-to-reopen MACAAL. 

The big numbers: Marrakech was voted the fifth-friendliest city in the world this year, with a huge 78 percent of locals saying it was easy to make new friends. Marrakshis were also the fifth-most likely group to say they feel happier in their city than anywhere else. Isn’t that nice?
Sally Kirby, Marrakesh🇲🇦
Lagos🇳🇬 No 41

What makes Lagos great: Lagos these days is all about the multi-purpose, typified by venues like Victoria Island’s La Taverna Restaurant. Launched by Chilean chef and founder Cristian Duhalde, this place not only serves up the best pizza in town but also hosts painting classes and ramen nights.

Stop over at Pitstop Lagos, meanwhile, for a mix of fitness, wellness and cycling in a café setting. Lagos is clearly unafraid to experiment. And while the nightlife of Nigeria’s largest city is well-known, there are now plenty of options for wholesome daytime fun. Escape Room33 brings fun themes like Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones at Silverbird Galleria, Giwa Gardens boasts the largest waterpark in West Africa – a perfect outing as Lagos marches into its dry season. If it’s too hot, cool off at one of Lagos’s private cinemas.  

Visit Lagos now because: In a city known for traffic, congestion has eased lately for multiple reasons, including high gas prices. But Lagosians are also enjoying newly improved public transport. In October, the new LMRT Redline launched, part of a larger vision to create an interconnected Lagos. Spanning 27 kilometers, it is the second metro rail system to become operational in less than two years, passing through bustling towns like Agege and Ikeja. 

The big numbers: Lagos boasts the perfect fun-but-chill vibe, according to locals – it was the second-most likely city to be described as ‘lively’ and the fourth-most likely to be described as ‘relaxing’. No wonder 72 percent of locals said it’s easy to meet people and make friends.
Ade Adeniji, Lagos🇳🇬

https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world#

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