We’re not gonna lie, when Time Out’s annual list of the best cities for 2024 dropped, we were pretty sad to see Melbourne sitting at number 20. After all, this is a vibrant, sparkling metropolis beloved by locals and tourists alike, and it's home to epic sporting events like the Australian Open, world-class blockbuster exhibitions and the fifth best restaurant in the world.
Well, we’re stoked to say that all is right once more, with the just-released 2025 rankings revealing Melbourne has rocketed back up the prestigious list to secure fourth spot. Applause, please!
Coming in hot at number one is Cape Town in South Africa – and with its pristine natural surroundings, rich cultural history and legendary wine scene, we totally get it. The Thai capital of Bangkok took the silver medal, while the illustrious cities of New York and London sandwiched Melbourne in third and fifth positions, respectively. Yeah, we’d say we’re in pretty good company.
On the Aussie front, it was a record-breaking year, with four local cities making the cut for the first time ever. Sydney came in at a very honourable 15th spot (no shade, we promise!), while Perth made its debut at 33 with Brisbane not far behind at 37.
So, we hear you asking, how exactly is this list compiled? This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights with Time Out on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. The data was then combined with votes from our global network of city editors and local experts to create the ranking of the world’s best cities for 2025.
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Our city has long had a good pedigree when it comes to these lists – since 2016, Melbourne has not dropped out of the top 20. On top of that, the reigning coolest street in the world is High Street in the inner north, while Windsor was named the tenth coolest neighbourhood in the world for 2024.
But what makes Melbourne so special is how it continues to thrive and surprise. There are plenty of new green spaces, wellness hubs and swish cycling paths popping up, and the city sure knows how to host a major music moment – Taylor Swift played her biggest-ever concert at the MCG last year, Melbourne is the only Aussie location to score three Oasis gigs and Robbie Williams recently thrilled thousands of fans with a surprise pop-up show at Fed Square.
And in 2025, the much-hyped Metro Tunnel and its five state-of-the-art underground train stations will also finally open, providing a direct connection between the western and southeastern suburbs.
In a surprise to no one, Melbourne ranked extremely high in the ‘restaurants and eating out’ and ‘culture’ categories, while ‘walkability’ and ‘quality of life’ also rated well. The data also revealed that 91 per cent of people agreed that Melbourne makes them happy (cute!), while 77 per cent said the vibes in the city are diverse and inclusive. In a nod to Melbourne’s buzzing cultural scene, 78 per cent of survey respondents said going out to see art is their favourite affordable activity.
“The most exciting thing about being a Melburnian is the feeling of having the city’s colourful cultural life right at your fingertips” said Melbourne’s arts and culture editor, Ashleigh Hastings. “Walk out the door any night of the week and you might stumble upon your new favourite band, an exquisite exhibition or a talk that’ll forever change your perspective.”
"Better yet, heaps of these local events won’t break the bank."
To check out the full list of Time Out’s 50 best cities in the world for 2025, head here.
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