Athens Among the Best Cities in the World to Visit Right Now, Says Time Out

Time Out magazine on Tuesday released the 2022 Best Cities in the World Index and Athens, Greece, is in the 35th place.

The fifth annual Time Out Index asked more than 20,000 city-dwellers across the globe on what life’s currently like in their city. This year the media company also tapped into the expertise of its global network of local editors and city experts to capture and celebrate what makes a city great right now.

“This year, we are showcasing the cities that locals, and our editors, not only love living in, but that we think everyone should be visiting. Many people will be planning their first city break in a long time, and our list of the Best Cities in the World provides the ultimate travel bucket list,” Dave Calhoun, Chief Content Officer North America & UK at Time Out, said.

Using their responses, Time Out compiled its annual ranking of the world’s best cities, in order to point people in the direction of the places which locals are raving about.

The 2022 Best Cities in the World Index is comprised of 53 cities with Edinburgh, Scotland, in first place.

Athens, Greece

Monastiraki square, Athens. Photo source: @Athens Municipality

Athens came in at Number 35 out of all 53 cities in the ranking, with 91 percent of Athenians lauding their city’s food and drink and 80 percent speaking out in favour of its nightlife.

“Where else in the world can you find vibrant rooftop bars overlooking temples built by ancient civilisations; dazzling beaches a mere 20 minutes away. Add to that the seemingly endless flurry of new openings: trendy boutique hotels popping up on almost every central street; restaurants specialising in everything from tacos to croissants; ultra-cool bars perfect for cooling down on a summer evening – each is helping Athens become as well known for its present-day creative energy as for its history,” says author Katie Silcox from Time Out.

Photo source: Visit Greece

The magazine recommends readers to visit Athens “now” because: “Summer is when the city comes alive. Pack a picnic and head to SNFCC (Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center) for free movies under the stars, or drink, dine and sleep at 2022’s hottest new hotel-restaurant combo: Estiatoria Milos at Xenodocheio Milos.”

In addition, 77 percent of Athenians didn’t describe the Greek capital as expensive, making it the third least expensive city in the 2022 Index.

2022 Best Cities in the World Index – TOP 10

Edinburgh is the world’s best city to visit right now, according to the fifth annual Time Out Index. The city ranked highly across the board, topping the global chart as the most beautiful and the most walkable city in the world.

Source: Time Out

Chicago came in second on the Index, ranking high in the food-and-drink scene and Colombia’s Medellin, a new entry, took third place, topping the charts for its community spirit, according to the guide.

Glasgow ranked fourth with a high percentage of locals labeling it “the friendliest city” and Amsterdam is in 5th place, applauded by locals as “the easiest city in the world to express who you are”.

Prague ranked sixth on the 2022 Best Cities in the World Index and is followed by Marrakech (new entry), Berlin, Montreal and Copenhagen.

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is second last among the ranked cities, at 52nd place just below Bangkok, and above Doha which is ranked last at 53.

Time Out Group is a global media and hospitality business that curates and creates the best of the world’s greatest cities through its two divisions – Time Out Media and Time Out Market.