Believe it or not, Gen Z aren’t just teenagers scrolling on their phones anymore (even if our collective screentime is abominable). We’re fully out in the wild now, dealing with dodgy landlords, navigating the 9-5 grind, and trying to figure out how to afford a proper night out.
So, where are Gen Z actually finding the good life? As part of our massive annual city survey, we asked thousands of under-30s across the globe about life in their hometowns, and the results have completely shaken things up. Last year’s winner, Bangkok, has officially been dethroned by a totally different Asian capital.
How were the world’s best cities for Gen Z decided?
Every year, we survey thousands of urbanites to create our ranking of ’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel, quizzing them on everything from nightlife to green space to how easy it is to actually make a friend. But what makes a city great in your twenties, when you’re probably broke and figuring life out, looks pretty different to what matters once you’re a bit more settled.
So, we went back into that same data and pulled out only the under-30 responses. The result is a full ranking of the best cities in the world for Gen Z, created with Intrepid Travel. And this year’s winner? Tokyo.
Yep, the Japanese capital has knocked last year’s winner off the top spot, and it’s not hard to see why. A perfect 100 percent of the Gen Z locals we spoke to said they find joy in everyday experiences living there, the highest happiness score of any city on the list. It also has excellent walkability and transport, plus easy access to culture, with the city’s ‘Welcome Youth’ programme granting free entry to new exhibitions every spring.
As for after dark, there}s everything from listening bars to world-class bars and clubs – but don’t forget the karaoke till 3am, 24-hour bathhouses, or Spo-cha, indoor sports centres where you can bowl, throw darts and play table tennis in one go. Tokyo’s nightlife scene scored big with 89 percent of under-30s rating it highly – although only 33 percent called it affordable.
The Japanese capital is also home to the current title-holder for the world’s coolest neighbourhood, according to the latest ranking. Read more about Jimbōchō here.
Where else do Gen Z thrive?
Porto claimed second place, scoring a flawless 100 percent for its community feel, with its UNESCO-listed old town and free museum entry sweetening the deal.
Melbourne, ‘s reigning best city in the world overall, took third thanks to a 100 percent approval rating for its restaurant scene, alongside strong scores for culture and neighbourhood vibes.
Rounding out the rest of the top five were Edinburgh, prized for its underground nightlife scene in the Cowgate’s medieval vaults, and Shanghai, which scored well for safety and being welcoming to newcomers.
ICYMI: Malaysia has been named the best country for digital nomads in 2026.
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