Remember when going out was banned? It was only four years ago that the idea of partying late into the night in packed, sweaty rooms full of people was an absolute no-no. Out of every sector, the nightlife economy arguably took the biggest hit, and took the longest to recover.

But while our nightlife destinations look a little different than they used to, many have thankfully returned to their vibrant, sparkling, pre-pandemic glory, whether that’s the pulsing gay clubs of Manchester or the beachfront bars of Accra. 

In honour of their return, and our long-time love affair with nightlife, Time Out wanted to pinpoint where in the world is the very best for a night out right now. To do so, we surveyed thousands of city dwellers about their go-to nightlife venues, not just for the vibes, but also the affordability, and compiled all the data to curate a comprehensive list. 

So, where is the best city in the world for nightlife? Well, according to our brand-new ranking, it’s Rio de Janeiro! That’s right – the colourful, pulsating Brazilian city, home to quite literally the world’s biggest party, is the planet’s number one place to head for a night out. 

Okay, okay – it is pretty common knowledge that Rio is a party hotspot, but what we found is that even the scene here has changed a lot. 

Editor of Time Out Rio de Janeiro, Renata Magalhães, says ‘Gone are the days when nightclubs were the go-to places at night in Rio de Janeiro. In the lively Botafogo district, up-and-coming gastronomic hotspots like Alba and Vian Cocktail Bar, become dancefloors on the weekends, and the streets have never been livelier since the end of the pandemic.’

Manila claimed second place on our list, and Berlin claimed third. To read more about our research into the best cities in the world for nightlife, you can check out our feature right here. 

Did you see this is officially the world’s most expensive city in 2024?

Plus: These are the world’s best beaches, according to the Telegraph. 

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