When deciding on where to stay in a new city, an obvious place to start is to narrow it down by neighbourhood. Perhaps you want to stay in a city’s old town, or its creative district. Or maybe you just want to be as close as possible to the nightlife scene.
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If you’re looking to stay in the ~coolest~ neighbourhood in town, however, you might just want to check out Time Out’s new ranking.
Based on the expert opinions of the magazine’s editors around the globe, neighbourhoods have been evaluated across their food and drink offering, nightlife, local businesses, liveability and sense of community to create a list of the 40 coolest around the globe.
The top spot overall went to Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga, thanks to its abundance of pojangmachas (the tented street food stalls you’ll no doubt recognise from K-dramas), independent craft workshops and bars.
Second place went to Rabat's beachfront L’Ocean District, which is buzzing with independent businesses and cultural centres.
Of the 40 neighbourhoods in the ranking, 13 are in Europe – including three in the top 10.
The coolest neighbourhood in Europe title goes to Neos Kosmos in Athens, which came out third overall.
Time Out praised the area as one of the city’s “most exciting neighbourhoods without losing its local touch”. Visitors can get their culture fix at Onassis Stegi, and there are tonnes of brilliant bars, restaurants and cafés around to satisfy any and every craving.
The next highest ranked spot in Europe goes to Glasgow’s Govanhill. According to Time Out, the area has a “thriving queer community” as well as a charming blend of restaurants and shops that reflect the diversity of the neighbourhood.
Rounding out the top 10 is Esquilino in Rome, with Time Out noting: “Its appeal lies precisely in that mix: ancient ruins sit beside a Vietnamese pho shop, Rome’s oldest gelateria, contemporary galleries and cool wine bars.”
The coolest neighbourhoods in Europe for 2026
- Neos Kosmos, Athens, Greece
- Govanhill, Glasgow, UK
- Esquilino, Rome, Italy
- Russafa, Valencia, Spain
- São Bento, Lisbon, Portugal
- Slakthusområdet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Rákóczi tér, Budapest, Hungary
- Crooswijk, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, UK
- Oost, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Quartier d'Aligre, Paris, France
- Newington Green, London, UK
- Boavista, Porto, Lisbon