The city is the main character in all your favorite TV shows and movies, the inspiration behind countless songs and art – and one of the most famous destinations in the world.
Perhaps it's no wonder, then, that media company Time Out named New York its best city for 2024.
Time Out interviewed nearly 20,000 city dwellers around the world, along with its network of global writers and editors, to compile its latest round up of the world's best cities.
Factors including the cities' gastronomic scene, architecture and cultural events were taken into consideration.
The aim, says Time Out, is to provide “travel inspiration” but also a “global portrait of city life”.
New York City's hodgepodge of museums and thriving theater scene were cited by Time Out as reasons why the US city took the top spot. New York's global reputation also played a role – the city was ranked as the place other global city dwellers would most like to move to.
A city of contrasts
In second place on Time Out's list is Cape Town, South Africa, a city classified, according to Time Out, by “all interviewees” as “beautiful”, thanks, without a doubt, to its impressive combination of sea, urban landscape and its spectacular mountains.
Time Out specifically highlighted Cape Town's cultural offerings – from late-night museum nights during the summer months to theater and comedy offerings at Theater on the Bay, as well as the recently opened Time Out Market Cape Town.
Katy Scott, who grew up in Cape Town and now lives in France, told CNN which sees it as “perhaps the most unpretentious coastal city in the world”, praising the opportunities to get out into nature as well as the “best reviews”. restaurants, pristine wine farms and swanky nightlife.”
But Scott also points out “that these things are not accessible to most citizens.”
“South Africa may be celebrating 30 years of democracy, but inequality in cities like Cape Town is more pronounced than ever,” says Scott.
With this in mind, Scott advises that “to truly understand the city and its people” visitors should “step out of the tourist bubble and take that trip to Robben Island and the District Six museum” – both places recommended by Time Out that involve the history of apartheid in South Africa.
“Both sites offer a unique and powerful insight into South African history,” says Scott.
Rounding out Time Out's top five are Berlin, Germany (praised by Time Out for its bustling nightlife), London, UK (praised for its “legendary” pubs and free museums and galleries) and Madrid, Spain (praised for “exceptional” dining and drinking, according to Time Out).
Smaller cities in the top 10 include Liverpool in the UK (number 7) and Porto in Portugal (number 10). Notably, Porto was named by Time Out survey respondents as a great city for “romance”.
Time Out travel editor Grace Beard said in a statement that what all the cities on the list have in common is their “strong community spirit and undeniable vibe.”
Time Out's 10 best cities
- 1. New York, USA
- 2. Cape Town, South Africa
- 3. Berlin, Germany
- 4. London, United Kingdom
- 5. Madrid, Spain
- 6. Mexico City, Mexico
- 7. Liverpool, United Kingdom
- 8. Tokyo, Japan
- 9. Rome, Italy
- 10. Porto, Portugal
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
