Bangkok and other 49 best cities in the world in 2025 - survey by Time Out

How’s your winter going?

Mine is going well, here in Bangkok, working remotely and enjoying sunny days and lively nights.

I remember when I came to the city for the first time and fell in love from day one.

And it was not for nothing that the Time Out magazine called Bangkok the second-coolest city in the world in 2025, according to their recent survey.

Bangkok excelled in Happiness and Affordability in the rankings. Residents found joy in everyday experiences, and activities like dining out, grabbing speciality coffee and relaxing during Thai massage were all budget-friendly.

Time Out Bangkok publisher Nigel Oakins praised Bangkok’s incomparable range, from sizzling street food to elegant fine dining, and its vibrant new parks.

Chiang Mai also ranked at No. 28, showcasing Thailand’s growing reputation as a top tourism destination and a place with a great quality of life. As the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, Thailand leads the way in inclusivity.

One more compelling reason to visit Bangkok now is because Bangkok Art Biennale is on until February. This biennial international art fair brings workshops, exhibitions and thought-provoking talks to various venues all over the city, featuring artists such as Choi Jeong Hwa, Tony Cragg, Anish Kapoor and many others. I just completed the City Route!

Perhaps unexpectedly, it only gives up the first place to South African Cape Town.

Both Cape Town (No. 1) and Bangkok (No. 2) are ranked higher than some of the world’s iconic destinations such as New York (No. 3), Melbourne (No. 4) and London (No. 5). Notably, it’s the best metropolis on the whole continent, outshining cities such as Shanghai (No. 9), Hong Kong (No. 14) and Hanoi (No. 21).

The list is based on a survey of more than 18,500 city-citizens, who shared their opinions on “coolness“ – everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness, and the overall city vibe. Of course, it’s subjective, but it gives some hints about the cities.

And here is how the TOP-10 looks like.

Other notable cities are as follows: Amsterdam ranks 16th, Barcelona 17th, Berlin 23rd, and Dubai 24th.

Dubai has become quite enjoyable recently and has an incredible list of things to do, but the higher price tag detracts some from the experience. Also, one of the main drawbacks in Dubai is the pedestrian infrastructure, more precisely the lack of it. I’ll cover that in a following issue.

Tokyo is spectacular and on the other hand is super cheap now thanks to the weak yen, ranks 31st; Los Angeles 40th. And Warsaw takes the last 50th place. I’m glad Warsaw made it!

End Note

That was a quick overview of the top 50 cities to live in, published by the Time Out magazine. Overall, I believe the ranking is mostly accurate. If you personally know that a city is cool, it’s most likely included in the ranking, but feel free to explore more.

Do you agree? What’s the coolest city to live in 2025, in your opinion? Let me know!

Until next time!

📍Bangkok, Thailand

— Ilya

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