The World’s 20 Best Cities In 2022

What are the excellent towns within the world? Every yr, Time Out surveys extra than 20,000 people round the world to discover the fine towns to go to right now. This yr, Edinburgh topped the list as the fine metropolis inside the international, accompanied via Chicago, Medellín, Glasgow and Amsterdam. Two other North American towns were additionally inside the list of the top 20, along with Montreal (at number 9) and New York (at wide variety 20),

“It changed into wonderful to see so many superb North American towns protected once more in Time Out’s international listing of the pleasant towns in the global,” says Will Gleason, Time Out’s Content Director North America. “It turned into in particular heartening to see Chicago snag the wide variety spot this year with local Chicagoans shouting about the Windy City’s interesting foods and drinks scene and international-elegance artwork and tradition.”

Overall, Edinburgh, Scotland was named the pleasant city inside the world. “The town ranked quite throughout the board, topping the worldwide chart because the maximum lovely and the most walkable town in the world,” says Gleason. “Edinburgh is also lots loved as a remarkable area for a stroll via nature and has heaps of latest interesting things to do.”

There had been a few huge modifications from closing 12 months’s Time Out listing, whilst the top five featured San Francisco, Amsterdam, Manchester, Copenhagen and New York. According to Gleason, the 2021 listing centered more at the fine towns to live and examined how these locations pulled together thru the pandemic, with an emphasis on network spirit, resilience and environmental initiatives.

“It become plenty extra approximately living in the city, in preference to going out, and what this felt like for the duration of the pandemic,” says Gleason. “What we discovered back then became which you’d think a virus might defeat the factor of living in a city while we couldn’t genuinely go out, however the outcomes confirmed that community spirit became higher than ever, with people helping each other in addition to neighborhood corporations and projects.”

Edinburgh, Scotland has been named the quality metropolis within the world in a new Time Out listing.

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One of the motives San Francisco didn’t break the pinnacle 20 this yr: “ninety% view the metropolis as costly,” says Gleason. But the town nevertheless had some properly matters going for it. It was named the maximum modern city, a high percent (80%) stated the metropolis is beautiful, and 80% said it’s now not traumatic.

New York City additionally had a massive drop—down 15 slots from closing 12 months, whilst it become voted number five. According to Gleason, simplest 23% of respondents said it’s a pleasant town, 93% regarded it as costly and sixty one% stated it isn't always enjoyable. But there have been sufficient properly things this yr to maintain NYC in the top 20. It became named the primary city on the listing for resilience, as well as range three for artwork, lifestyle and museums. It turned into also voted the primary place humans would cross if they may flow to some other town.

According to Gleason, the 2022 listing changed into greater focused on what make towns top notch locations to visit, such as eating and drinking; artwork, way of life and museums; and nightlife and party going. What it indicates: Travel is again. “Now, after a prolonged duration of constrained journey, the arena is beginning up and people are itching to get back accessible and discover cities again,” he says.

You can see the total list of the world’s 53 great cities here, or read on to research greater about the cities that ranked in the top 20.

The World’s 20 Best Cities In 2022

This year, Edinburgh was named the great city inside the world. Pictured here: A group of humans taking walks ... [+] along the cliff edge overlooking the city with Edinburgh Castle within the distance.

Getty 1. Edinburgh, Scotland

Why it’s Great: “Edinburgh is that this yr’s number one metropolis and it’s no longer hard to look why: the city ranks fairly throughout the board and comes out top because the most lovely town in the international (according to 95% of citizens) and also the maximum walkable city (said ninety three%)—a super aggregate for site visitors seeking to discover historical landmarks, architecture and scenic hotspots walking,” says Gleason.

Chicago changed into named the second pleasant metropolis inside the global. Pictured right here: Cloud Gate in Millennium Park.

Getty 2. Chicago

Why it’s Great: “Whether you need to try global-magnificence dining from excessive-end restaurants to incredible own family-run eateries, birthday celebration till 4am at historical clubs, spend a day absorbing the sun alongside Lake Michigan, see iconic works of art or simply wander amongst specific neighborhoods—all that is placing the city on the map for visitors,” says Gleason.

Downtown Medellin, Colombia at nightfall.

Getty three. Medellín, Colombia

Why it’s Great: “For the ones searching out a great time, Medellín in Colombia is the vicinity to visit this yr. It tops the charts for its foods and drinks (ninety seven%) and nightlife and partying (90%) scenes, in addition to ranking first for community spirit (ninety four%). And there are several layout-forward boutique hotels shooting up all over the town, showcasing brilliant Colombian craftsmanship,” says Gleason.

Along the riverfront in Glasgow, Scotland.

Getty 4. Glasgow, Scotland

Why it’s Great: “Glasgow is the friendliest metropolis within the international this 12 months (78% of locals agree). It’s also the second maximum inexpensive town (with 87% pronouncing it wasn’t high priced) so 2022 is the best time to visit and explore the region and meet the locals in this town that excels at being outgoing and at going out,” says Gleason.

Biking through Amsterdam.

Getty five. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Why it’s Great: “For those searching out a city where they may be themselves, appearance no further than Amsterdam, the very best metropolis within the international to express who you are (in line with 89% of citizens) and the second one maximum innovative inside the global. It also comes as no marvel that one hundred% of citizens say it is straightforward to cycle around the metropolis,” says Gleason.

Sunrise on Charles Bridge in Prague.

Getty 6. Prague, Czech Republic

Why it’s Great: “Head to Prague and hop on a tram to explore one of the most lovely towns within the world (globally, it ranks 1/3 for this). Ninety% of locals view their city as lovely, and ninety six% say it is simple to get round on public delivery—two elements that make for an attractive manner of existence, and the perfect metropolis break,” says Gleason.

Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Getty 7. Marrakesh, Morocco

Why it’s Great: “Looking for a vacation romance? Marrakesh tops the charts as the very best town within the world to hook up with humans (according to 69% of residents). For those just trying to make friends or meet thrilling human beings it’s nonetheless a pinnacle spot—it comes 2nd for making new buddies, and number one for gaining knowledge of your friends,” says Gleason.

Next to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Getty eight. Berlin, Germany

Why it’s Great: “Affordable, easy to get round, and always something to do? Berlin makes for the precise damage this yr consistent with locals. It ranks second for ‘range of factors to do’ and is the city defined the least via locals as steeply-priced. Berliners are also in love with their public delivery device; 97% praised it, which turned into the best of any of the cities surveyed,” says Gleason.

The streets of Old Montreal.

Getty nine. Montreal, Canada

Why it’s Great: “Montreal is a real all-rounder with a pinnacle-notch food and drink scene (ninety three% said it’s clean to find a tremendous meal), along extremely good artwork and museums (82% think there’s always some thing top on) crowned off by means of a risk to loosen up and enjoy green areas and nature (80% assume it’s easy to take a walk),” says Gleason.

Copenhagen, Denmark at the Nyhavn Canal.

Getty 10. Copenhagen, Denmark

Why it’s Great: “Travelers have to head to Copenhagen if they’re seeking to revel in one of the global’s greenest towns, because it ranks 2nd within the world for sustainability (75% praised it), walkability (86% of locals singled this out) and simplicity of getting round by using motorcycle (97%). The metropolis has also seriously embraced its waterways, with hydrofoil motorcycles, floating saunas, jacuzzis or even kayak bars galore,” says Gleason.

Exploring Cape Town.

Getty 11. Cape Town, South Africa

Why it’s Great: “And loosen up… as Cape Town has been ranked the best town in the world to do that, thanks to 87% of residents’ votes. It’s also the second one maximum lovely (in line with ninety seven% of residents), 0.33 pleasant for its ‘variety of factors to do’ (ninety three% singled this out) and ranks enormously for its food and drinks scene,” says Gleason.

Overlooking the skyline of Madrid.

Getty 12. Madrid, Spain

Why it’s Great: “Madrileños advocate their town for all the integral matters which make up a exquisite ruin; ninety four% reward the Spanish capital’s foods and drinks, ninety five% charge its artwork and subculture notably thanks to the excessive-calibre museums and 86% of locals say the nightlife is extremely good,” says Gleason.

China Town in Manchester, England.

Getty 13. Manchester, England

Why it’s Great: “Mancs have voted their metropolis the second one friendliest (gaining seventy four% of locals’ votes), losing out best to Glaswegians. The metropolis also came 2nd for its resilience (sixty seven% of residents) and 0.33 fine for progressiveness (sixty five%),” says Gleason.

The Mumbai skyline.

Getty 14. Mumbai, India

Why it’s Great: “Mumbai is a city which likes to come together to rejoice existence and every different; locals voted it the 0.33 great global city each for nightlife (with 89% pronouncing there is usually some thing to do, in the back of just Medellín and Miami) and for community spirit. It also scored especially for its food and drinks scene,” says Gleason.

Bathing containers and the Melbourne skyline.

Getty 15. Melbourne, Australia

Why it’s Great: “A wave of new post-pandemic bar and eating place openings has seen the metropolis retain its pinnacle 15 role this 12 months, with ninety two% of citizens lauding its foods and drinks scene. Known for its friendliness and hospitality, it’s no marvel that only eleven% of locals view it as a disturbing region to live. There is also lots of lifestyle to enjoy with live tune, outside installations and lovely semi-permanent exhibitions,” says Gleason.

16. Taipei, Taiwan

Why it’s Great: “Taipei has secured its new entry inside the nice cities listing due to an impressive 86% of locals surveyed seeing it as secure and 92% praising its public transport. Its newly-opened Performing Arts Center, the night time markets, a state-of-the-art rooftop club with tremendous vistas and the centuries-vintage temples are just some of the points of interest putting the metropolis on the worldwide have to-see map,” says Gleason.

Walking on Tower Bridge at dawn in London.

Getty 17. London, England

Why it’s Great: “Londoners regard the metropolis’s variety of things to do as its strongest promoting point (ninety four% of locals praise this), securing it the top spot for this globally. The capital additionally secured second spots for artwork, culture and museums (ninety six% of Londoners surveyed have singled this out), and for diversity (ninety four% said this but Toronto’s locals score their city even higher). It is the 0.33-great metropolis globally to explicit your self (85% of locals) as well as to have amusing,” says Gleason.

Walking down the stairs with the well-known iron bridge within the background in Porto, Portugal

getty 18. Porto, Portugal

Why it’s Great: “Porto’s explosion of thrilling new restaurants and bars within the previous couple of years has earned its function as the third great metropolis within the global for food and drinks (ninety six% of locals think so),” says Gleason.

Along the river Saone in Lyon, France.

Getty 19. Lyon, France

Why it’s Great: “Lyonnais accept as true with the metropolis’s foods and drinks scene (95% of those locals surveyed praise it) and splendor (88% of those locals who responded selected this word to explain their town) are its USPs—those are the key factors that have secured its pinnacle 20 ranking and make it a brand new access within the high-quality cities listing this year,” says Gleason.

New York City's midtown Manhattan skyline at dusk.

Getty 20. New York City

Why it’s Great: “NYC tops 3 classes on this yr’s judging criteria; it’s the city maximum Time Out readers need to visit in 2022, the vicinity they dream the maximum of transferring to and is likewise the world’s most resilient metropolis. It has been voted 0.33 excellent for art, way of life and museums (ninety six% of locals advise it for this),” says Gleason.