Cape Town, South Africa’s “Mother City,” made it in the Top 10 of Time Out‘s coveted list of the ’50 Best Cities in the World to Visit in 2024’.
Cape Town earns top rank in ’50 Best Cities in the World to Visit in 2024′ list
According to Time Out, Cape Town is the second-best city in the world to visit in 2024, placing South Africa’s coastal haven just behind New York City, the perennial front-runner, and ahead of global hotspots like Berlin, London, and Madrid.
Cape Town, known for its scenic beauty, vibrant creative landscape, and adventurous restaurant scene, has long been a favourite among tourists.
The city’s blend of natural splendour and multicultural energy makes it a unique destination. Its inclusion in the Time Out list reinforces its status as a must-visit location.
In this year’s list, Cape Town was praised for its natural beauty, which every survey respondent considered stunning.
The city’s cultural offerings, ranging from late-night museum evenings to theatre and comedy shows, also received high praise. The newly opened Time Out Market in Cape Town was highlighted as a testament to the city’s cultural and culinary vitality.
The survey also underscored Cape Town’s status as the most LGBTQ+-friendly city on the continent, further highlighting its diverse and welcoming nature.
Reacting to the remarkable recognition, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis described the ranking as “good news because record tourism brings new jobs in our City of Cape Town, and that is always our primary goal.”
“It takes a big Team Cape Town effort to offer tourists a world-class experience. Our city is clearly impressing visitors, who uniformly highlighted the beauty of our destination in responses to this global poll,” he said.
Here’s how ‘Time Out’ compiles the coveted survey
The Time Out survey is a comprehensive evaluation of cities worldwide, based on a survey of over 20 000 city dwellers.
The survey, conducted in collaboration with research company Potentia Insight, taps into the heart of what makes cities great – from the quality and affordability of food, culture, and nightlife, to the overall happiness and social connectivity of its residents.
Grace Beard, Travel Editor for Time Out, explains,
“The basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals.”
This approach ensures an authentic reflection of each city from those who live and breathe its air every day.
Respondents were asked about various aspects of their city, including the quality of life, ease of making social connections, and the general beauty of their surroundings.
With this latest accolade, the Mother City continues to solidify its position as a top global destination.