At the start of the year, Time Out unveiled its annual list of the world’s best cities for 2024, and we weren’t surprised to see our two most populated capital cities included in the top 35. While Time Out hasn’t released its official 2025 rankings, we’re happy to take the word of the annual World’s Best Cities report – regarded as “the most comprehensive study of its kind” – as gospel in the meantime. This prestigious list ranked four Australian cities among the top 100 places to live, work and visit globally, with Sydney even taking the tenth spot.
Released annually by Canadian-based consultancy firm Resonance, the World’s Best Cities report identifies and ranks the top 100 cities globally based on desirability for locals, visitors and businesspeople. The researchers collate and merge rankings from trusted sources (including urban leaders, like city mayors, and publications like National Geographic and yours truly, Time Out) to determine the very best cities in the world for living and travel.
This year, Sydney soared to tenth place, jumping an impressive 25 spots from 2024 and overtaking Melbourne, which previously ranked four positions ahead. The World’s Best Cities report cites Sydney’s “luminous Opera House” (recently ranked as one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world), magnificent Harbour Bridge and “sun-drenched beaches” (specifically Bondi and Balmoral) among the city’s main drawcards, but some other key metrics were used to secure its position. Crucially, Sydney’s air quality – the seventh-best in the world – was cited as “the perfect backdrop to explore its remarkable blend of vintage and modern”, along with the NSW capital’s cultural offering (with the recent expansion of the Art Gallery of NSW explicitly mentioned) and its ever-evolving hotel landscape (with Capella and W Sydney shouted out).
As usual, Melbourne ranked as the second-best city in Australia and the 25th-best in the entire world for 2025. What the Victorian capital lacks in centuries-old landmarks, it makes up for with its vibrant food, coffee culture and arts scene. The report specifically called out quirky attractions, like Hosier Lane, the Brighton Bathing Boxes and the adorable St Kilda penguins, with the state’s wineries and annual Australian Open also boosting Melbourne’s appeal. Key urban projects under Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 could see the city climb even higher in next year’s rankings, with the Metro Tunnel, revitalisation of Federation Square and Queen Victoria Market expansion all underway.
Known for its stunning natural beauty, Perth ranked in as the 83rd best city in the world for 2025. The report praised this coastal metropolis for its “pristine beaches, 50 miles of coastline and the expansive Kings Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.” New luxury hotels and water developments have also enhanced its appeal in recent years, with the report also celebrating how “Perth’s cultural scene is deeply influenced by its Indigenous heritage, particularly that of the Noongar Nation.”
The final Aussie city to make the global ranking was Brisbane in position 90. Despite its rapid urbanisation – including the $3.6-billion Queen’s Wharf project – the report commended the subtropical city for maintaining its “relaxed, welcoming atmosphere” with “many riverfront parks, promenades and weekend markets”. Brisbane’s upcoming role as host of the 2032 Olympics is set to accelerate the city’s growth even further, with grand plans to expand its cultural landscape, such as the addition of a new 1,500-seat glass theatre in the South Bank.
You can read the full report outlining the key draw cards of all of the world’s best cities over here.
