In a new ranking, Time Out magazine has listed Amsterdam as the second-best city in the world to visit, highlighting the beauty of the Dutch capital’s historic centre as well as the wealth of parks and green spaces. 

The 37 best cities in the world in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic may have changed the way we travel, bringing the tourism industry to a standstill for months on end. But as the world gradually reopens its borders to non-essential travel, many may be considering the destination for their next holiday, already looking forward to exploring a new country and a new culture.

With this in mind, Time Out polled 27.000 city dwellers from all around the world to determine the cities that have adapted to a new world post-coronavirus, looking into a variety of factors including culture, sustainability, community and food. As a result of their research, the international magazine put together a list of the 37 best cities for visiting in 2021. 

Amsterdam hailed as both historic and sustainable

Competing against some of the most beloved and beautiful cities around the world, Amsterdam managed to secure a very respectable second place, coming behind San Francisco but ahead of other popular European hotspots. 

While many living in the Netherlands may take issue with a number of aspects of life in the lowlands - for example, the healthcare system or high taxes and house prices - Time Out magazine found the city still had much to offer tourists, praising the Dutch capital for its abundance of green spaces and its sustainability and highlighting Vondelpark as the “city’s lungs."

The city was also congratulated for the way it used the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns to shift its focus away from showcasing art and culture, instead focusing inwards on its “famous beauty, history and community spirit,” and cementing itself as a “modern, environmentally-aware metropolis.”

Top 10 global cities in 2021 

While a number of big names made Time Out’s list - from Sydney and Shanghai to Budapest and Boston - these are the cities that nabbed a spot in the top 10:

1. San Francisco
2. Amsterdam
3. Manchester
4. Copenhagen
5. New York 
6. Montreal
7. Prague
8. Tel Aviv
9. Porto
10. Tokyo

For the full list, visit the Time Out website.