CAPE TOWN: Time Out has recognised Cape Town as the Best City in the World for this year after scoring high for its stunning beauty, overall happiness, and excellent food scene. The global magazine also highlighted that Cape Town offers visitors countless opportunities to experience remarkable food, vibrant culture, exciting nightlife, beautiful green spaces, and access to nature.
According to South African Government News Agency, more than 18,500 people around the world shared their thoughts on their city, including Time Out’s regular readers. A panel of more than 100 city experts, drawn from Time Out’s global network, was also asked to name the most exciting cities in the world right now. Time Out then aggregated all the data – a total of 44 different criteria – to rank the best cities in the world for 2025.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed delight at the city’s top ranking on the prestigious Time Out Best Cities in the World list for 2025. He noted that 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. Hill-Lewis emphasized that the overall happiness of residents is what perhaps means the most in this extensive survey.
The Mayor further stated that all their work is aimed at making Cape Town the best city in the world to live in, where people can build lives of value and have a real sense of ownership of their city. He noted that they could not be prouder that this sentiment came across strongly in the residents’ responses.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, echoed similar sentiments, stating that this recognition speaks volumes about the incredible spirit of Cape Town. He emphasized that at the heart of it all are communities sharing cuisine and cultures, making it a shared achievement. Vos expressed excitement about continuing to attract visitors from around the country, continent, and the rest of the world.
According to Vos, the 2023 Gross Value Add of the industry for Cape Town was more than R27 billion, in addition to supporting over 91,000 jobs. He remarked that this acknowledgment from Time Out and their readers is sure to provide a further boost to Cape Town’s local tourism industry, further fuelling economic growth, and that Cape Town isn’t just the best city to visit but also the best city to be a part of.
Time Out South Africa’s Content Director and Capetonian, Andrew Hallett, described this recognition as a ‘huge high five’ to the residents who work tirelessly to create a city that can be enjoyed by both locals and visitors. Hallett encouraged those who have never been to Cape Town to visit, assuring them that they wouldn’t be disappointed.
Travel Editor at Time Out, Grace Beard, indicated that liveability was a key factor in the survey this year. Beard explained that the list not only showcases the world’s most exciting cities to visit in 2025 but also reflects the places where locals feel most at home, highlighting world-class culture, great food, and exciting nightlife found in every corner.