This UK city has been named as one of the best in the world (Image: Getty Images)
A beautiful UK city has been named among the best in the world for 2026, thanks to its thriving food scene, green spaces, and vibrant art and culture offerings.
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, formed around its iconic castle that towers over the historic city, was ranked third-best in the world for 2026 by Time Out’s ‘Best Cities’ with Intrepid Travel. Edinburgh followed shortly behind mega destinations Melbourne and Shanghai in a ranking conducted by more than 24,000 city residents and a panel of Time Out experts from across the globe, to highlight the cities locals love.
Charming cobbled streets and historic architecture line the Old and New Town of Edinburgh, where nooks of cosy coffee houses, independent boutiques, comedy venues and bustling bars await. But one of its most celebrated qualities is how incredibly easy it is to navigate and to explore on foot.
Edinburgh’s walkability was highlighted by its residents (Image: Getty Images)
Residents who took part in the Time Out survey ranked the city highest for walkability, thanks to its narrow, winding streets that link the city, with major attractions and eateries never far apart. With an approval rating of 94 per cent from locals, its walkability was on par with its thriving food scene.
The culinary scene in Edinburgh is worth noting, as last year it was named the ‘most exciting food destination’ by The Good Food Guide, and it’s clear to see why. There’s plenty of choice from their array of cosy pubs serving up traditional dishes of Haggis, to their luxurious Michelin-starred restaurants, to the lively Bonnie & Wild and Edinburgh Street food courts.
The city’s green spaces were another outstanding feature that scored highly with locals (91 per cent), with Royal Botanic Garden and Princes Street Gardens among the most splendid spots. There’s also Holyrood Park with Arthur’s Seat, offering panoramic views over the city, and the sprawling grounds around Inverleith Park.
Yet, with a whopping 144 parks and green spaces, and known as one of ‘the UK’s greenest cities’, you’ll rarely need to go far before finding a burst of lush landscapes. And of course, there’s the iconic and striking Edinburgh Castle, standing on Castle Rock at a towering 260 feet above the city.
Locals praised the city for how easy it was to explore by foot (Image: Getty Images)
The Union Canal is a great way spot to explore more of the city’s landscapes, whether wandering along the waterfront or hopping on a bike along the cycle path.
Time Out recommends 2026 as the year to visit Edinburgh, thanks to its thriving art and cultural scene, which locals have been celebrating. The publication noted that the small Hidden Door festival will return this year with its « cultural takeover of forgotten urban spaces », alongside the Edinburgh Art Festival, the UK’s « largest visual art festival », which will showcase incredible art and host various events across the city.
Another notable event for this year is the Edinburgh International Festival, which will be opened by the renowned orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker. The Edinburgh International Book Festival will also return in August, along with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is said to be the « world’s largest performing arts festival » and runs for 25 days, featuring thousands of productions and performers.
The survey found that those in Edinburgh were among the happiest, with 90 per cent of residents revealing that they find joy simply by living in the city. So it’s no wonder that Edinburgh found itself in third place among worldwide destinations and was dubbed one of the cities to visit this year.
The city’s green spaces was a major factor in its ranking (Image: Getty Images)
Best cities in the world for 2026:
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Melbourne, Australia
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Grace Beard, travel editor at Time Out, said: « Every year, we survey locals in cities all over the planet to create our definitive annual ranking, now in its tenth anniversary year. Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel is not only a global snapshot of city living, but a celebration of the fun, culture and community that defines urban life.
« For 2026, we expanded our survey to reach 150 cities and added questions that dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, including new categories for love, romance and community feel. The result is a truly diverse and exciting list of destinations, deeply informed by local insight and Time Out expertise, with smaller and second cities slotted between the world’s major metropolises. Our Best Cities ranking is a comprehensive rundown of the most exciting places to live in and to explore in 2026. »
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