June 29, 2026, 12:12 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Living in a city doesn’t necessarily mean you find it beautiful. Often, practical factors such as jobs, family, or education determine where we live. This makes it all the more interesting to look at cities that not only attract millions of visitors each year but also particularly captivate the locals. The magazine “Time Out” has taken on this task and created a ranking of what it considers the most beautiful cities in the world.
What “most beautiful cities in the world according to locals” means
What follows is more of a mood picture than a ranking of the world’s objectively most beautiful places. Truly enchanting small towns are likely underrepresented in the survey. According to its own information, “Time Out” asked around 24,000 “urbanites,” or people from larger cities worldwide, whether they would describe their hometown as beautiful. The magazine does not specify which places were included in the survey. However, it is noticeable that mainly well-known large and medium-sized cities are represented.
This doesn’t make the list any less interesting—after all, many of the cities listed are on numerous travel wish lists. The top spot is secured by a capital city that is considered a dream destination worldwide; it has also captured hearts within the TRAVELBOOK network…
Rank 1: Cape Town, South Africa
A remarkable 86 percent of the locals surveyed helped Cape Town (see large photo above) reach the top of the ranking by rating the city as particularly beautiful. TRAVELBOOK author Melanie Hoffmann has also fallen for its charm, as she reports in detail in this article.
A flight attendant from our network also describes Cape Town as her “happy place.” The travel expert, who has been almost everywhere in the world—and whose enthusiasm is shared by many of her colleagues—raves especially about Cape Town’s magnificent scenery of Table Mountain, the sea, and the surrounding mountains. This is also highlighted by the “Time Out” authors. And because beauty is, of course, not everything, the flight attendant also points out the good value for money in Cape Town. Another reason why Cape Town is one of her favorite travel destinations is that there is no time difference, making it easy to combine a stay with remote work.
Rank 2: Edinburgh, Scotland
According to “Time Out,” the Scottish capital is known for its exciting architectural mix of elegant Georgian townhouses, narrow medieval alleys, and striking Gothic towers. The locals’ verdict is also noticeably positive: 84 percent of those surveyed find their hometown particularly beautiful.
However, one should not overlook the downsides of Edinburgh’s popularity. As one of the most visited cities in the UK, it can get quite crowded. An exciting alternative that is still less on the radar of global visitors is Stirling. TRAVELBOOK guides you through the city.
Rank 3: Sydney, Australia
An equally striking contender for the third spot among the most beautiful cities in the world according to locals: Sydney. The harbor city’s skyline is characterized by the iconic Opera House with its sail-like shapes and modern skyscrapers with clean lines. Add to that golden sandstone buildings and numerous beaches right on the doorstep. A proud 78 percent of residents find Sydney particularly attractive.
Also interesting: “My 4 personal favorite places in Sydney”
Surprising! This Is the Most Beautiful City in Europe
Surprising! This Is the Best City in the World, According to Time Out
Jump to Rank 6: Paris
An obligatory mention—Paris, the French capital, of course, cannot be missing from this list. Instead of modern skyscrapers, the city features wide boulevards, classic Haussmann architecture with wrought-iron balconies, and bright stone facades. The picture is completed by cafés, parks, the Seine, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
One might wonder why with “only” about 68 percent approval, the proportion of respondents who describe Paris as beautiful seems initially rather reserved. However, it is also clear that everyday aspects of city life influence the locals’ assessment—even if the city is highly romanticized worldwide. Thus, the verdict is overall more nuanced than pure aesthetic praise.
Most Beautiful Cities in the World According to Locals at a Glance
As you will see, Portugal is the only country with two cities among the most beautiful in the world according to locals in the top 10—Lisbon (rank 5) and Porto (8). Germany, on the other hand, does not appear on the list at all. However, this does not necessarily reflect a lack of attractiveness of German cities. It could be due to the limited selection of cities examined, with a focus on international metropolises. Some German cities would certainly be suitable for such “beauty” rankings! Depending on the criteria used.
Here is the top 10 list:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Sydney, Australia
- Chicago, USA
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Paris, France
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Porto, Portugal
- Medellín, Colombia
- Riga, Latvia