Share the article
Last updated
There’s nothing better than the hustle and bustle and excitement of a busy city!
Cities serve an important role as the cultural heart of a country, offering everything from world-class museums to vibrant nightlife and incredible dining experiences.
But not all cities are created equal. The best cities are safe to explore alone, easy to navigate, and packed with fun things to see and do.
So which cities are the best cities?
Time-out has done extensive research and determined that these are the top 5 cities to visit in 2025. Some of these choices may surprise you!
5. London
At 5e place is London, a place I lived and loved for decades.
It’s no surprise that London is on the list of one of the best cities to visit in 2025.
London’s main sights obviously need no real introduction.
If you’re a first-time visitor, be sure to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, take a river cruise along the River Thames, and pose for photos in front of Big Ben.
There’s no shortage of iconic cultural and historical sights here either.
Why not see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London? Tickets cost £34.80 ($42.35) per person.
Many of the city’s best museums and galleries are free to enter, including the Natural History Museumthe Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery.
But it’s actually the smaller details that make London such a unique and special city.
Visit one of the Royal Parks to enjoy the green space and people watching.
Or embrace the city’s excellent pub culture.
London’s nightlife is also worth taking a break from: head east to Hackney, where the Color factory is considered one of the best nightclubs in the city.
4. Melbourne
It will take a very long flight to visit the city which took 4e place on this list: Melbourne, Australia.
Melbourne may not be the official capital of Australia, but it is considered the cultural and culinary capital of the country. And a great place to visit!
Some of the top attractions in the city include the beauty of the Victoria Botanical Gardens and the fascinating history at the Melbourne Museum.
If you’ve never visited Melbourne before, book tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck.
This gives fantastic panoramic views of the city, allowing you to appreciate its scale. Tickets cost AUS$30.60 ($18.94) per person.
At the top of the building you’ll find Bar 88, a great place to stop for their signature cocktails.
You’ll immediately notice that Melbourne is bursting with attractions for all ages, from zoos to chic street cafes. This is a great destination for multi-generational exploration.
3. New York
Closer to home and take the 3rd place position is New York, New York: so good they mentioned it twice!
As the most highly rated city in the US, New York is an incredibly busy and often overwhelming city. 78% of New Yorkers currently consider New York to be the most exciting city in the world, which is no small compliment.
If you are visiting New York for the first time, just like London, there are a number of well-known and iconic attractions that you should not miss.
These include a visit to the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and a walk through Central Park.
If you’re interested in art, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is widely considered one of the best modern art museums in the world (and my first stop on my first visit to NYC!).
Ready to eat something? Go to Chinatown! This is one of America’s largest, original Chinatowns and is packed with great restaurants and bars, creating a vibrant nightlife.
2. Bangkok
The most affordable of the destinations on this list comes in 2nd place: Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok is widely regarded as one of the friendliest cities in the world (no surprise in a country called the ‘land of smiles’), and is also high on safety lists.
Bangkok is a vibrant city open 24 hours a day, but the best time to explore this metropolis is at night. Make the most of the city by exploring its vibrant street life and visiting its incredible night markets.
Bangkok also has a lot to offer culture vultures, thanks to its abundance of Buddhist temples.
Visit Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho temple with a huge reclining Buddha. And don’t miss the opulent and golden Grand Palace.
You can experience these temples from a whole new perspective by taking a cruise along the Chao Phraya River. You can book this with Bangkok River Cruise, with prices from B769.15 ($22.41) per person.
1. Cape Town
Finally, and perhaps surprisingly, Cape Town is the number one city in the world to visit in 2025.
Ironically, what makes Cape Town such an incredible city to visit is that it is not a conventional city. As well as offering museums, cultural attractions and excellent nightlife (like almost all cities), Cape Town is also surrounded by exceptional natural attractions.
Cape Town has its own Blue Flag beaches, so you can combine a morning in the city with an afternoon on the coast.
Don’t miss Boulders Beachwhich has its own colony of African penguins, one of the few in the world.
Table Mountain provides a beautiful backdrop to Cape Town and is also easily accessible from the city. This is one of the new 7 Natural Wonders and offers fantastic views over the city.
Back in the heart of the city, you can visit the Two Oceans Aquarium, stroll along the V&A waterfront or visit the fascinating District Six Museum.
This is a somber museum dedicated to the memories of District Six and other communities affected by forced removals. Entry costs R60 ($3.20) per person.
Would you like to know more about South African history? Why not take a boat trip to Robben Island, the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was once held?
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
