Edinburgh is the world's best city to visit right now ahead of the likes of London, New York and Amsterdam. That's according to the fifth annual Time Out Index, released today.
It says our city is considered the most beautiful on the planet, as well as the world's most walkable.
The index ranked the capital highly across the board and says Edinburgh is much loved as a great place for a stroll through nature and has 'heaps of new exciting things to do.'
READ MORE: We tried self-guided Edinburgh walking tour and it was perfect summer pastime
Meanwhile, our friendly neighbour Glasgow came in fourth place.
Every year, through the Time Out Index, Time Out – the global media and hospitality business that helps people explore and experience the best of the city – surveys thousands of city-dwellers around the world about life in their hometown right now.
Using their responses, Time Out compiles its annual ranking of the world’s best cities, in order to point people in the direction of the places which locals are raving about.
In 2021, the list focused on how cities have pulled together through the pandemic, in particular when it comes to community spirit and resilience. This year, after a prolonged period of limited travel, people are itching to get back out there.
For the 2022 ranking, Time Out has added extra weight to the things that make cities great places to visit as well as to live.
The Time Out team say: "The top cities this year are places that excel at going out, including eating and drinking; art, culture and museums; and nightlife. They are places that locals rate highly for fun and for beauty and aren’t boring, overly expensive or overrated – according to the people who know them best.
"To make for an even more enjoyable break, the top picks also score well for practical stuff like walkability, good public transport and safety, as well as sustainability. "
Dave Calhoun, Chief Content Officer North America & UK at Time Out, said: “The Time Out Index 2022 combines the experiences and opinions of more than 20,000 people in hundreds of cities around the world and – for the inside scoop – we’ve also tapped into the expertise of Time Out’s global network of local editors and city experts to capture and celebrate what makes a city great right now.
“This year, we are showcasing the cities that locals, and our editors, not only love living in, but that we think everyone should be visiting. Many people will be planning their first city break in a long time, and our list of the Best Cities in the World provides the ultimate travel bucket list.”
Here's what Time Out has to say about the capital: "Edinburgh is this year’s number one city and it’s not hard to see why: the city ranks highly across the board and comes out top as the most beautiful city in the world (according to 95% of residents) and also the most walkable city (said 93%) – a perfect combination for visitors looking to explore historic landmarks, architecture and scenic hotspots on foot.
"Its dining and drinking scene is ever-evolving, with heaps of new things to do including the Port of Leith Distillery – Scotland’s first ‘vertical distillery’ – about to open.
"It’s also a great place for a relaxing stroll through nature.
"And self-expression is encouraged, with 88% of locals saying it is easy to express who you are in the city (ranking second for this after Amsterdam), something that’s celebrated every summer with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which this year will be marking its 75th anniversary."
For the full list of the 53 World’s Best Cities to Visit right now, you can visit Time Out here.
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