Just how happy are your fellow neighbours? Very! That's according to Time Out’s 2025 Happiest Cities Index, which sees the Mother City named as the third happiest city in the world.
More than 18,000 people across the globe were surveyed about how joyful their city makes them feel - and Capetonians came out beaming. Who needs therapy, when you’ve got Table Mountain and a decent Pinotage, right!?
A resounding 97% of locals said Cape Town makes them happy, praising everything from our Blue Flag beaches, breathtaking scenery, to thriving arts & culture and food scenes.
Coming in just behind Abu Dhabi (first) and Medellín (second), Cape Town continues to prove it’s not just beautiful - but it’s full of heart too.
Here’s to the city that keeps us smiling - one view, one meal and one moment at a time.
Top 5 happiest cities in 2025:
1. Abu Dhabi, UAE
2. Medellín, Colombia
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Mexico City, Mexico
5. Mumbai, India
Read the full global list here.
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