The Scottish capital ranked third in Time Out’s Best Cities 2026 list, which ranks cities across the globe based on the views of locals.
Beaten only by Melbourne, Australia, and Shanghai, China, Edinburgh was named as not only the best UK city but also the highest-placed European city.
Explaining the reasons behind Edinburgh’s third-place ranking, Time Out said: “ Edinburgh turns everyday life up a notch, blending historic grandeur with modern vibrancy.
“Built around a towering castle and crowned by an extinct volcano, Edinburgh boasts cherry-blossom-lined parks, cobbled alleyways whose stories stretch back to the medieval period, and distinctive neighbourhoods that offer hours of exploration - from Stockbridge for independent boutiques to Leith for trendy new restaurants.
“The Scottish capital came joint-first for walkability in this year’s survey, meaning it's easy to navigate between comedy shows at the Fringe each August, while a thriving food and arts scene keeps locals and visitors coming back for more. 94% of residents rate the food highly, 91% love the green spaces, and 90% rate its culture, cementing Edinburgh as one of the happiest cities surveyed.”
Of course, we here at Edinburgh Evening News have some clue as to why the city has trumped the likes of Tokyo, London, and New York City in the rankings.
But we firmly believe that there is plenty of reason to have Edinburgh go even further and occupy the number one spot - here are a few of the reasons why Edinburgh is one of the best cities in the world.
1. Edinburgh Castle
It's the landmark most people thinks of when they think of Edinburgh - and there's good reason for it. Edinburgh Castle towers over the city, resting on top of an extinct volcano. It's undoubtedly one of the most impressive structures in Scotland, if not the UK, and cements Edinburgh's stature as a city steeps in history. | Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
2. Views from Arthur's Seat
Climbing high above the city, Arthur's Seat towers over Edinburgh and offers stunning views on your doorstep. The sprawling landscape views are immense to experience for the first time and offers up a gentle hillwalk without have to travel outside of the city, bringing the best of both worlds to residents. | Visit Scotland Photo: Visit Scotland
3. Edinburgh's green spaces and parks
There is plenty of green space in Edinburgh to enjoy even if you don't fancy climbing Arthur's Seat for the views. Nothing beat grabbing a coffee, or some snack and setting a picnic blanket down on one of the city's many popular green spaces such as The Meadows, Inverleith Park, Princes Street Gardens and many more. | Lisa Ferguson
4. World-class education
The University of Edinburgh is one of the most prestigious education institutions in the country, steeped in rich history stretching back to 1582. Alongside Edinburgh University, the city is home to plenty of other higher education institutions including Heriot Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University, as well as boasting some of the top ranking high school and primary schools in the country. | Greg - stock.adobe.com