Porto has topped a new TimeOut ranking of the best European cities for Generation Z, with Poland’s Kraków the only Polish city to break into the top ten, coming in seventh.
View of Kraków’s Wawel Royal Castle reflected in the Vistula River at sunset.CC0
The rankings, part of TimeOut’s annual worldwide survey, focused on responses from participants under 30, comparing top-rated cities across countries based on affordability, culture, social life and ease of making friends.
The magazine said Generation Z — born between 1997 and 2012 — grew up surrounded by smartphones and social media, but that has left them craving authentic offline experiences: places to meet friends, hear music or see art without spending heavily, plus so-called „third places” where casual, community-building encounters happen outside home, work or school.
Porto’s coastal setting, architecture and cuisine helped it edge out far larger cities, underscoring a shift in what makes urban life appealing to young people — daily quality of life and atmosphere now count as much as career prospects.
Edinburgh came second and was ranked Britain’s top city, with TimeOut reporting that 90% of young Scots surveyed said they felt happier there than anywhere else, citing the city’s quality of life and welcoming locals.
Copenhagen took third on the strength of its infrastructure and car-free mobility, while Berlin placed fourth, prized for its long-running alternative culture and music scene. Valencia rounded out the top five, combining big-city amenities with beach access.
Kraków, Poland’s former capital, outranked Paris, Athens and Vienna, a result TimeOut linked to young people’s preference for cities that pair a strong restaurant, cafe and gallery scene with a more intimate, small-scale feel.
(jh)
Source: PAP
Radio Poland