As travelers plan their 2025 adventures, two key questions emerge: which cities offer the most compelling experiences, and within those urban landscapes, which streets capture the true essence of local life? Recent rankings from Time Out shed light on both, offering a comprehensive guide to the world’s most vibrant urban destinations. So if you’re thinking of exploring cities in the year to come, here are some great suggestions.
Cape Town Claims the Crown
Cape Town has emerged as 2025’s must-visit city, offering an unmatched combination of natural wonders and urban excitement. Where else can you encounter African penguins, sample world-class wines, and gaze upon one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature all in one day? The city’s blend of historical significance and affordable experiences makes it particularly appealing for international visitors, with areas like trendy Kalk Bay and the food-centric East City leading the charge in urban innovation
Global Cities Making Waves
Following Cape Town’s lead, Bangkok secured the second spot, earning praise for its legendary food scene, with 86% of locals rating it as exceptional. New York City, though dropping from its top position last year, still commands attention as the third-best city globally, with an impressive 92% of respondents celebrating its world-class cultural offerings.
Melbourne, securing fourth place, proves itself a double threat – not only is it among 2025’s top cities, but it’s also home to what’s been crowned the world’s coolest street for 2024: High Street.
With all of this in mind, here is the rundown of the top 10 cities to visit this year:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Bangkok, Thailand
- New York, US
- Melbourne, Australia
- London, UK
- New Orleans, US
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Porto, Portugal
- Shanghai, China
- Copenhagen, Denmark
What about the best streets?
It’s interesting to evaluate places to visit based on which ones have the coolest streets. Undoubtedly, if you have one cool street, you probably have other places worth seeing. High Street in Melbourne exemplifies what makes a street truly “cool” – a perfect blend of epic restaurants, hidden bars, live music venues, and boutique shops, all wrapped in a warm community spirit. This vibrant thoroughfare, crossing through the suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury, and Preston, showcases everything from Portuguese custard tarts at Casa Nata to innovative pasta at 1800 Lasagne.
Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road claims the second spot among cool streets, featuring Michelin-starred dining at Tate Dining Room and cultural landmarks like Man Mo Temple. Meanwhile, Austin’s East Eleventh Street packs remarkable variety into just a quarter-mile, with highlights including the unique Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar and the perpetually festive Kenny Dorham’s Backyard.
Here is the list of the top ten streets to visit, as covered by Time Out.
- High Street, Melbourne, Australia
- Hollywood Road, Hong Kong
- East Eleventh, Austin, Texas, USA
- Guatemala Street, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
- Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Rua da Boavista, Lisbon, Portugal
- Arnaldo Quintela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Chazawa-dori, Tokyo, Japan
- Consell de Cent, Barcelona, Spain
This certainly offers a lot of suggestions as you plan your 2025 travels!
