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The magazine Time Out has released its annual list of the 50 best cities in the world. The list was compiled from a survey of 24.000 city residents across the globe, along with expert assessments. This survey looks not only at a citys food, nightlife, parks, and culture, but also at what its like to live there, weighing factors such as quality of life and sense of community.
At the top of the European list was a capital that blends old and new in a unique way, earning high marks for culture, green spaces, and its food.
Edinburgh: The «best city in Europe» for 2026
The capital of Scotland took first place on Time Outs list of the best European cities for 2026, while it came third on the global list (after Melbourne and Shanghai). Edinburgh is a captivating city that combines historic grandeur with contemporary vibrancy, notes Time Out.
The imposing city enchants visitors with its Gothic buildings, the impressive Royal Mile (Royal Mile) and the 12th-century castle at the top of the hill. «Built around a towering castle and crowned by an extinct volcano, Edinburgh offers parks with blossoming cherry trees, medieval cobbled alleys and distinct neighborhoods to explore - from Stockbridge with its independent boutiques to Leith with its trendy restaurants», writes Time Out.
Edinburgh received the highest score for walkability, and also very good scores for food (94%), green spaces (91%) and culture (90%) in Time Outs survey.
As Time Out notes, in 2026 the citys arts scene takes center stage. The ever-evolving Hidden Door festival returns, as does the Edinburgh Art Festival. Also, the Berlin Philharmonic will open the program of the renowned Edinburgh International Festival this year.
The top 10 cities in Europe for 2026
These are the cities that made Time Outs top ten:
1. Edinburgh
2. London
3. Zurich
4. Copenhagen
5. Krakow
6. Porto
7. Madrid
8. Valencia
9. Paris
10. Bath
