According to timeout, this is the best city in the world for people in their 20s

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Cape Town is the best city in the world, Timeout says. Unless you are under 30 years old.

The publishing giant, renowned for its best list of everything from cool streets to foodie destinations, has released its first “best city” list tailored to youth.

In January, an annual survey of more than 18,500 city residents around the world revealed that South Africa’s metropolis became the best in 2025, followed by Bangkok, New York and Melbourne. However, to filter the same data for responses under the 30s, Gen Z cohort and baby millennials between the ages of 13 and 28 draw different pictures.

The Thai capital, along with the youthful inhabitants of 2025, scored it as a great place to meet happiness, affordable and new people. Young urbanites here were more likely than under the 30s to rate the city as an ideal environment for making friends than anywhere else.

Of course, it adds to many other assets in Bangkok. The Thai capital “checks out all the boxes of great cities. It’s famous friendly and culturally rich and packed with iconic sites like Wat Arun and the Great Palace,” Timeout said in January.

Melbourne was second on the under-30 years list, and second in the multi-generational rankings. Four of the five young Melbanians described their city as diverse and inclusive, with an impressive 96% praised its art and cultural scene. More than nine in 10 also said that the quality of life in Melbourne is “good” or “surprising.”

Australian cities also have Melbourne High Street, the coolest boulevard of 2024 timeouts. Melbourne High Street was praised for its “magnificent restaurants, hidden bars, live music venues and boutique shops” of its time.

Cape Town ranked third on the under-30 list, earning a particularly high score for its beauty. Coastal cities are overlooked by breathtaking Table Mountain. Three of the four young people say it’s affordable to go out for drinks.

New York City, number four, was the city most likely to be called “exciting” by younger residents, Timeout says. It was also praised for its walkability and not surprising.

Copenhagen ranked 10th in the multi-generational rankings, but it rose to 5th in the case of filtering under the 30s. The Danish capital “prioritizes good food, good people and caring for each other,” Timeout said in January, but it also appears to be ranked in finding special people to look after. More than half of the young people said it was an easy place to find love.

Barcelona is another favorite for young people, taking 17th place on the overall list, but ranked 6th with Gen Z and the youngest millennials. Buzzy Seaside Metropolis is well known for its nightlife, but the city is also tied to Melbourne for its highest ratings for diversity and inclusion. 77% of young residents gave their thumbs qualifications for that diversity.

Edinburgh ranked seventh on the 30 under list thanks to its walkableness, green space and access to nature. Almost 95% of young people love green space action opportunities and are the highest city in this category.

Mexico City, in eighth place, scores 69% after Bangkok, with 69%, one of the young urban standards at the start of their careers. It was also the fourth closest city of all generations in 2025, with 96% of respondents saying they are happy in their city.

Young Londoners do not value their city because of its affordability. Only 45% agree that it’s easy in a wallet. However, the British capital ranked 9th on the under-30s list thanks to its excellent cultural scene. Its diverse food offerings have become a hit for young people as well. 95% highly praised the food scene.

The final spot in the top 10 was filmed by Shanghai, and earlier this year saw a timeout called “a cinema-like city where everyone is the main character.” Young people living in this big Chinese city are most likely to describe their city as modern. It also worked well with public transport (96% highly rated) and overall happiness (84% said they were happy living there).