Cape Town narrowly misses out on top spot for hiking
From the Pipe Track to Lion's Head and Skeleton Gorge, we are truly spoiled for choice in Cape Town when it comes to hiking adventures, with hikers of all levels being afforded the chance to get out there and have some fun.
While for many the hike itself is the reward, the prize that awaits when you hit the top is surreal, as the views of the Cape region rival anything else the world has to offer.
Well, almost, it seems.
In a bid to find the best hiking city in the world, SportsShoes.com performed a study, with their research delving into various factors.
Time Out Travel reports that 'the number of nearby hikes in each city, alongside the number of reviews and the average rating the hikes were given' were key in determining a winner.
Upon completion of the study, it was found that Brazil's Rio de Janeiro is the best city globally for hiking, while our beloved Mother City came in third, tied with San Francisco in the United States.
Best hiking cities in the world
The full list from the research is as follows:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mexico City, Mexico
San Francisco, USA= Cape Town, South Africa
Los Angeles, USA
Portland, USA
Las Vegas, USA
Sydney, Australia
Edinburgh, UK
Kyoto, Japan= Nashville, USA= Seattle, USA= Philadelphia, USA
Cape Town's best hikes
For those looking to enjoy a hike this Youth Day long weekend, our resident outdoor lover and travel expert Richard Holmes has compiled his list of the best Table Mountain National Park hikes.
However, please bear in mind that following the recent devastating fires that tore through the mountains, some trails are still off limits.
For those looking for a hiking trail adventure outside of Cape Town, the Whale Trail - a three-hour drive - has been named as one of the world's best trails.
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Time Out
13-06-2025
- Time Out
Cape Town narrowly misses out on top spot for hiking
From the Pipe Track to Lion's Head and Skeleton Gorge, we are truly spoiled for choice in Cape Town when it comes to hiking adventures, with hikers of all levels being afforded the chance to get out there and have some fun. While for many the hike itself is the reward, the prize that awaits when you hit the top is surreal, as the views of the Cape region rival anything else the world has to offer. Well, almost, it seems. In a bid to find the best hiking city in the world, performed a study, with their research delving into various factors. Time Out Travel reports that 'the number of nearby hikes in each city, alongside the number of reviews and the average rating the hikes were given' were key in determining a winner. Upon completion of the study, it was found that Brazil's Rio de Janeiro is the best city globally for hiking, while our beloved Mother City came in third, tied with San Francisco in the United States. Best hiking cities in the world The full list from the research is as follows: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Mexico City, Mexico San Francisco, USA= Cape Town, South Africa Los Angeles, USA Portland, USA Las Vegas, USA Sydney, Australia Edinburgh, UK Kyoto, Japan= Nashville, USA= Seattle, USA= Philadelphia, USA Cape Town's best hikes For those looking to enjoy a hike this Youth Day long weekend, our resident outdoor lover and travel expert Richard Holmes has compiled his list of the best Table Mountain National Park hikes. However, please bear in mind that following the recent devastating fires that tore through the mountains, some trails are still off limits. For those looking for a hiking trail adventure outside of Cape Town, the Whale Trail - a three-hour drive - has been named as one of the world's best trails.
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Time Out
Cape Town ranked 10th in the world for culture
You'll remember earlier in the year that Cape Town came out on top in the Best Cities in the World for 2025 list. That result was confirmed after more than 18,500 city-dwellers took part in Time Out's survey of all the elements which make a city great. One of the elements of the survey had to do with culture - which Cape Town scored highly on. So high, in fact, that it is now officially the 10th best city in the world for culture! Now that's lekker! Time Out Travel explains: 'Each city was given a score for both the quality and affordability of its cultural offering (following the survey), and only the highest-scoring cities for each country made the longlist. We then turned to Time Out's culture experts – our global network of city editors and art and culture writers – to vote for their favourite destinations. 'The result? The 20 most exciting, dynamic cultural hubs on the planet right now, where experiencing art in all its forms is affordable and accessible – both to those who live there and to those who visit.' How Cape Town ranked highly A huge 89% of Capetonians rate the city's cultural offering, pointing to events like First Thursdays, Cape Town Jazz Fest and a thriving theatre scene - both big and small productions, as well as what's on offer at the V&A Waterfront, home to our very own Time Out Market Cape Town.
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The best places to hike in Asia, according to Time Out
Lace up your boots, because we're going hiking. It's arguably one of the best ways to experience a destination – whether it's a short trek or a multi-day route, hikes bring you up close with cultural sights and natural attractions. And hey, you'll more than likely to meet a like-minded tramper along the way. Time Out's network of travel experts and editors have walked all over the world to round-up a definitive list of the best places to hike. These encompass spiritual routes criss-crossing Spain and Portugal, 40-day sojourns through the Middle Eastern desert, and spectacular coastal trails atop dramatic sea cliffs in Hawaii. But the mother of all hikes in Asia? The Nakahechi Route, or the Imperial Route of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kumano Kodo network. Walking the ancient pilgrimage route is a spiritual experience: you'll cross "mossy forests, mineral hot springs and centuries-old wooden shrines dedicated to 'kami' (nature spirits')", says Time Out Travel contributor Dana Cape. Our recommendation? Block out three to five days to complete this trek, and settle your accommodations along the route early because they book out fast. One other hike in Asia makes it to the list, and it's another one from Japan. It's the Gotemba Trail, and if that sounds unfamiliar, then you can simply know it as the Mount Fuji summit trek. This 19.4km round-trip takes you to the top of one of the most iconic volcanoes in the world via "four main routes of differing difficulty ranging from 4,600 to 7,900 feet". Only attempt this hike in early-July to mid-September when mountain is snow-free (and safer to hike). Otherwise, this is one you can complete without a guide. These hikes in Japan stand alongside other spectacular tramps like The French Way, Camino de Santiago in Europe and The Jordan Trail in Australia on Time Out's list. For all 20 best places to hike worldwide, top sights, and travel tips, check out complete round-up here. And if you're just interested in Asia, we have a handy guide to the most incredible treks in the region too. These are the top 20 hikes in the world, according to Time Out: The French Way, Camino de Santiago The Lycian Way, Türkiye West Highland Way, Scotland The Nakahechi Route, Kumano Kodo, Japan The Great Ocean Walk, Australia Kungsleden, Sweden The Jordan Trail, Jordan Mount Snowdon, Wales Kalalau Trail, USA Dientes Circuit Trek, Chile Gotemba Trail, Japan Waitukubuli National Trail, Dominica Whale Trail, South Africa Wales Coast Path, Wales Mount Meru, Tanzania Ratikon High Trail Hut-to-Hut Circuit, Austria/Switzerland Coast-to-Coast Path, England Maria Island, Australia Paria River Canyon, USA Tour du Mont Blanc, Switzerland/Italy/France
