Scottish city makes prestigious list of the world's best cities for culture

A SCOTTISH city has made a prestigious list of the best cities for culture in the world.

On Wednesday, Time Out released its first ever ranking of the World’s Best Cities for Culture – with Mexico City taking the crown as the world’s cultural capital right now.

Edinburgh came sixth in the list, with much praise for hosting the largest arts festival in the world with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They also highlighted the National Museum of Scotland and the National Galleries.

To compile the list, Time Out surveyed over 21,000 people around the world about culture in their city. Each city was then ranked according to how well locals scored the culture scene for quality and affordability.

In addition, four ‘spotlight’ cities have been added to the final ranking: Florence, Marrakech, Abu Dhabi and Seoul. These cities weren’t surveyed but were nominated by Time Out editors and local contributors – who know these cities inside out – as cultural capitals that deserve a special spotlight right now.

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, says: “This is the first time we’ve carried out a city survey focused on culture, with over 21,000 city-dwellers having a say on what’s great about their city’s culture scene.

"One of the most essential factors that went into this ranking is how locals scored their city’s culture scene for affordability – which is why for example London, although a hotbed for culture, isn’t on the list this time around.

"From Mexico City, praised by locals for the diversity, vitality and affordability of its art scene, to the largest free open-air festival in Vienna, these are cities where art and culture won’t break the bank. Add in our four spotlight city picks, chosen by Time Out’s clued-up writers and editors, and you have an essential guide to today’s cultural capitals.”

Here is the full list:

1. Mexico City, Mexico
2. Prague, Czech Republic
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Athens, Greece
6. Edinburgh, Scotland
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Madrid, Spain
9. Florence, Italy
10. Melbourne, Australia
11. Paris, France
12. Montreal, Canada
13. Marrakech, Morocco
14. São Paulo, Brazil
15. New York, USA
16. Tokyo, Japan
17. Abu Dhabi, UAE
18. Mumbai, India
19. Amsterdam, Netherlands
20. Seoul, South Korea