In the highly anticipated Time Out survey of the world’s 50 best cities for 2025, Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur has unfortunately nowhere to be seen in the list this year.
Meanwhile, Bangkok, Thailand, has made an impressive leap to 2nd place, showcasing its growing global appeal.
Other major Asian cities like Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo have also made it onto the prestigious list, further solidifying Asia’s place at the forefront of global city rankings.
Each year, Time Out gathers feedback from over 18,500 readers, who evaluate cities based on factors like food, culture, nightlife, urban atmosphere, cost of living, and overall happiness.
The results of this year’s survey have highlighted a diverse range of cities that continue to shape the global urban landscape.
While Malaysia’s capital may have missed out, cities like Bangkok are thriving in the rankings, proving that the competition is tougher than ever.
The full list of the top 50 cities includes:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Bangkok, Thailand
- New York, US
- Melbourne, Australia
- London, UK
- New Orleans, US
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Porto, Portugal
- Shanghai, China
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Chicago, US
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Edinburgh, UK
- Hong Kong
- Sydney, Australia
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Barcelona, Spain
- Seville, Spain
- Paris, France
- Medellín, Colombia
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Madrid, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Dubai, UAE
- Singapore
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Beijing, China
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Vienna, Austria
- Tokyo, Japan
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Perth, Australia
- Brighton, UK
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Glasgow, UK
- Brisbane, Australia
- Marseille, France
- Budapest, Hungary
- Los Angeles, US
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Seoul, South Korea
- Valencia, Spain
- Montreal, Canada
- Bilbao, Spain
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Belfast, UK
- Bristol, UK
- Mumbai, India
- Warsaw, Poland
While it’s unfortunate that Kuala Lumpur didn’t make the cut, the rise of cities like Bangkok is a reminder of the ever-changing nature of global city rankings.
With food, culture, and an electric vibe, Bangkok’s status as a global favourite remains undeniable.
What are your thoughts on this list? Share your opinions in the comments below!
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