08/07/2026
CAPE TOWN NAMED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY IN THE WORLD 🌍🇿🇦
Cape Town has been named the most beautiful city in the world in Time Out’s 2026 global list, and this one comes with some serious context. ⛰️🌊
Time Out asked 24,000 locals in cities around the world one simple question: would you describe your city as beautiful?
Cape Town came out on top, with 86% of Capetonians saying yes.
It was a close race at the top, with Edinburgh second on 84%, followed by Sydney at 78%, Chicago at 77%, and Lisbon at 74%. Paris, Stockholm, Porto, Medellín, Riga, San Diego, Florence, Rio de Janeiro, Vienna and Brasília also made the list. 🏆
So yes, Cape Town beat some of the most famous cities on earth.
And honestly, it is not hard to see why. Where else do you get Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, beaches, vineyards, the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Twelve Apostles, historic neighbourhoods and sunsets that stop people in their tracks?
But here is the bigger good news. Cape Town’s beauty is not just good for postcards. It is good for people. Cape Town Tourism reports that the city generated R24.5 billion in direct tourism spend in 2025, supported more than 106,000 jobs, attracted 1.44 million foreign overnight visitors, and saw 11.1 million two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport.
That means beauty becomes bookings. Bookings become jobs. Jobs support families. 💛
Cape Town is not perfect. No city is. But today we can celebrate this proudly: a South African city has once again reminded the world that we live in one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
Cape Town, you beauty. South Africa is proud. 🇿🇦✨
