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Ask anyone who calls Montreal home, and they’ll probably have a few complaints about the place. But when it comes tothe global stage, we’ve just outshone every other Canadian city, earning a well-deserved spot among the world’s best.
On January 15, Time Out released its list of the 50 best cities in the world for 2025, and Montreal landed at number 44 — making it the only Canadian spot to crack the global top 50.
According to Time Out, Montreal stands out for its vibrant culture, incredible food scene, and world-class festivals. The city was also highlighted for having some of the coolest streets and neighbourhoods on the planet, a brand-new luxury supermall, award-winning hotels, and one of the world’s best patisseries.
The ranking, based on over 18,500 global responses, also focused on factors like livability, walkability, and community vibe, with Time Out’s city experts weighing in to highlight cities that are especially exciting right now.
While Montreal dropped from No. 29 last year, securing a place on this list is still a testament to the city’s undeniable charm.
And it’s not just global experts who are raving about the Quebec metropolis — 88% of Montreal locals gave the city’s food scene glowing reviews, while 85% praised its cultural offerings.
Sorry, Toronto, you might be ahead in some university rankings, but in the city game, Montreal’s taking the lead.
Meanwhile, Time Out’s top city in the world for 2025 was South Africa’s legislative capital Cape Town, followed by Bangkok and New York rounding out the top three. Here’s the full top 10:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Bangkok, Thailand
- New York, U.S.
- Melbourne, Australia
- London, U.K.
- New Orleans, U.S.
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Porto, Portugal
- Shanghai, China
- Copenhagen, Denmark
The entire list is available on Time Out’s website.
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