The Mother City has once again proven it's got serious global appeal, especially among Gen Z. Cape Town is among the top three best cities in the world for Gen Z. No, seriously, we've asked twenty-somethings around the globe, they've brought receipts.
What is Gen Z?
Gen Z, short for Generation Z, includes those born between 1995 and 2012, making them 13 to 28 years old this year. They’ve come of age in a fully connected world, with smartphones in hand and social media at their fingertips.
How did the survey work?
Each year, Time Out publishes its highly anticipated ranking of the world’s greatest cities. In 2025, Cape Town came out on top as the best city on Earth overall, scoring high across factors like food, nightlife, culture, and public spaces.
ALSO READ: The 15 best clubs and nightlife in Cape Town
But Time Out didn’t stop there; they dug deeper to ask: what makes a city truly great for Gen Z? Using the same data, they highlighted what today’s young adults actually value in a place to live.
So, what matters most to Gen Z?
- An accessible cultural scene
- Walkability
- Affordability
- Great nightlife
- Ease of meeting new people
The findings
Cape Town ranked third in the world for Gen Z, with an impressive 82% of local Gen Z residents saying they’re happy living here. The city also earned top marks for its looks (71% describe it as beautiful), budget-friendly social life (76% say nights out are affordable), and general vibe – 62% say it's just an exciting place to be.
Only Bangkok and Melbourne ranked higher, making Cape Town the highest-rated Gen Z city in Africa.
The World’s Best Cities for Gen Z in 2025:
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Melbourne, Australia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- New York City, USA
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Barcelona, Spain
- Edinburgh, UK
- Mexico City, Mexico
- London, UK
- Shanghai, China
- Sydney, Australia
- Beijing, China
- Paris, France
- Tokyo, Japan
- Berlin, Germany
- Seville, Spain
- Chicago, USA
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Lisbon, Portugal
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TIME OUT RECOMMENDS:
😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town
🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town
🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town
🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town
🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town
📍 The best things to do in Cape Town