Cape Town voted among world's best for green spaces
The results are in, and after the numbers have been crunched on thousands of global votes, Time Out has confirmed what we Capetonians have known all along: that colourful, cosmopolitan Cape Town is also one of the best places in the world to combine urban adventure with easy access to the great outdoors.
In the latest global survey of the best cities in the world for access to nature and green spaces, more than 18 500 urban natives cast their vote for what made their city great for getting outdoors. Those that made the top 20 list had the highest share of 'good' or 'amazing' ratings for their green space and access to nature.
Coming out tops was Medellín, Colombia's second city, where 92 percent of locals raved about the green space and access to nature. Perhaps that's no surprise, as the 'city of eternal spring' boasts ' green corridors ' and a network of riverside parks.
Coming in second was Boston, which also ranked second for walkability in a recent Time Out survey. Bostonians love the city's green spaces and access to nature, with incredible parks open to both locals and tourists. This includes the iconic Boston Common, the most visited green space in the city and the oldest park in the US! Third place went to Sydney, which boasts more than 100 beaches and easy access to the Blue Mountains National Park.
And Cape Town?
Well, we clocked in at 9 th position in the poll, a slot shared with Abu Dhabi and Chicago.
Now Abu Dhabi may seem like a strange bedfellow for a green oasis like Cape Town, but in fact the capital of the United Arab Emirates is home to some 200 parks and beaches, making it something of a hotspot for getting outside.
Chicago, too, is a city that embraces the outdoors, with the Chicago Park District managing over 600 parks and thousands of hectares of green space. They love urban greenery so much that they even put it in the city's motto: 'Urbs in horto' (City in a garden)!
Against that sort of competition, Cape Town can be proud of coming in 9 th, and whether you're wandering through the historic Company's Garden, hiking on Table Mountain – try one of these fantastic day hikes in Cape Town – or hanging out in some of the city's fantastic urban parks, you're never far from a bit of green space. Besides, what Chicago, Sydney or even Medellin don't have is the best accolade of all: #1 spot in Time Out's list of The 50 best cities in the world for 2025.
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