Best city for 20 year olds according to Time Out

Best city for 20 year olds according to Time Out

Cape Town was named the best city in the world by Time Out - unless you're under 30. The renowned publishing house, known for its best lists, has for the first time created a list of "best cities" specifically tailored to young people, which is significantly different from the multi-generational rankings published earlier this year.

The best cities for under 30s

In January, the South African metropolis was named the largest city in an annual survey of over 18,500 city dwellers worldwide best city for 2025 crowned, followed by Bangkok, New York and Melbourne. However, filtering the same data to only take into account responses from people under 30 shows a different picture.

Bangkok at the top

The Thai capital occupies the top spot with its young residents first place for 2025. They rated the city particularly highly in the categories of happiness, affordability and as an excellent place to meet new people. Young urbanites in Bangkok rate their city as an ideal place to make friends.

But Bangkok has many other advantages. The capital of Thailand "ticks all the boxes for a great city: it's famous for its friendliness, rich in culture and boasts iconic sights like Wat Arun and the Grand Palace," Time Out said in January.

Melbourne in second place

Melbourne ranks second on the under-30 list, two places higher than the multigenerational rankings. Almost four in five young Melburnians described their city as diverse and welcoming, while an impressive 96% praised the arts and culture scene. Additionally, more than nine in ten said the quality of life in Melbourne was “good” or “fantastic”.

The Australian city is also home to Time Out's Coolest Street of 2024 Melbourne High Street, which was praised by editor-in-chief Leah Glynn for its “epic restaurants, hidden bars, live music venues and boutique shops.”

Capitals full of beauty

Coming in third on the under-30s list, Cape Town particularly scores points for its beauty - the coastal city is surrounded by the stunning Table Mountain - and cheap nightlife options. Three out of four young people think a night out on the town is affordable.

New York City, in fourth place, is the city described as “exciting” by its younger residents. It is also praised for its walkability and, as you might expect, its exciting nightlife.

More Gen Z Favorite Cities

Copenhagen, previously ranked tenth in the multigenerational rankings, jumps to fifth place for those under 30. The Danish capital “emphasizes good food, nice people and mutual support,” Time Out reported in January. Additionally, more than half of young people rated Copenhagen as an easy place to find love.

Barcelona, ​​another favorite among young people, comes in 17th on the overall list, but sixth with Gen Z and the youngest Millennials. The lively coastal city is known for its nightlife, but is also valued for its diversity and inclusivity. A whopping 77% of young residents gave positive feedback to the city's diversity standards.

Edinburgh comes in seventh on the list for under-30s, thanks to its walkability, green spaces and proximity to nature. Almost 95% of young people value opportunities for outdoor activities, giving the city the highest rating in this category.

Mexico City ranks eighth and is the second most affordable place for Gen Z, just behind Bangkok, with 69% rating the city highly for affordability - a crucial criterion for young city dwellers early in their careers. It is also the fourth happiest city for 2025 across all generations, with 96% of respondents saying they are happy in their city.

Young Londoners don't rate their city particularly well in terms of affordability; only 45% agree that it is wallet-friendly. Still, the British capital makes it to ninth place on the list for under-30s, thanks to its excellent cultural scene and diverse range of leisure activities, many of which are both fun and free. The diverse gastronomy scene is also well received by young people; 95% rated them positively.

Last in the top 10 is Shanghai, described by Time Out as “a cinematic city where everyone is the protagonist.” Young people in this Chinese metropolis are most likely to describe their city as modern. It also performed well in public transport (96% rated it highly) and overall satisfaction was also high (84% were happy to live there).

The best cities in the world for Gen Z

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Melbourne, Australien
3. Kapstadt, Südafrika
4. New York, New York
5. Kopenhagen, Dänemark
6. Edinburgh, Schottland
7. Mexiko-Stadt, Mexiko
8. London, England
9. Shanghai, China
10. Sydney, Australien
11. Peking, China
12. Paris, Frankreich
13. Tokio, Japan
14. Berlin, Deutschland
15. Sevilla, Spanien
16. Chicago, Illinois
17. Chiang Mai, Thailand
18. Prag, Tschechei
19. Lissabon, Portugal