September 30, 2024, 10:10 am | Read time: 6 minutes

The special atmosphere of a city district is created by lively squares, local restaurants, historical sights, or quiet parks. The magazine “Time Out” has now selected the coolest city districts in the world in 2024. TRAVELBOOK takes a closer look at the top 3, reveals the full list, and shows which German neighborhood made it to 18th place.

Food, culture, fun, community – quite simply, the atmosphere of a district was decisive for the ranking. Factors such as uniqueness and a lively street life were also taken into account when compiling the top list.

The 3 coolest districts in the world at a glance

1st place: Notre-Dame-du-Mont, Marseille, France

The Notre-Dame-du-Mont district in Marseille is one of the coolest districts in the world this year, taking first place. For a long time, Vauban was the “in” district of France’s second-largest city, but today, Notre-Dame-du-Mont attracts the really cool people. According to “Time Out”, the district is colorful and unconventional, with lots of graffiti, narrow alleyways, and winding staircases. On the terraces of the cafés and bars along Rue de Lodi, tourists mingle with punks, women in colorful dresses, and sailors.

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The former artists’ quarter now has the relaxed flair of a local market and is home to an unusually high number of galleries, restaurants and stores in relation to its size. For the perfect start to the day, the “Time Out” authors recommend brioche from the Pain Pan bakery, followed by a visit to the market and a gallery tour. Browsing through the Histoire de l’Œil bookshop is also a must-do during a visit. One of the most unusual restaurants in Notre-Dame-du-Mont is Livingston, where changing guest chefs serve their creations.

2nd place: Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco

French is also spoken in the second-coolest district of 2024 – albeit often in a crazy mix with Moroccan Arabic and English, if you believe the “Time Out” authors. The Mers Sultan district south of Casablanca’s city center is a maze of intersecting, narrow streets lined with a wild mix of buildings in art deco, youth, or modernist styles. In recent years, the area has become the preferred place to live for young artists and cultural workers in Casablanca. Gentrification? No sign of it! According to the authors, everything here is (still) authentic, you will look in vain for hip cafés or trendy stores.

What to do instead: Go on a treasure hunt with street booksellers or eat your fill of modest but delicious food in the many small restaurants and snack bars – the authors’ favorite is a sandwich with saucisse de foie (beef liver sausage). While strolling through the street market, you can meet young filmmakers, graffiti artists, or EDM musicians. Other places where you can enjoy the special atmosphere of the district and watch the hustle and bustle are the Café Champs Elysées or the Nevada Skate Park.

3rd place: Pererenan, Bali, Indonesia

Pristine beaches, cozy cafés, authentic stores and a relaxed coolness without much noise or traffic – hardly anyone knows this Bali anymore. Canggu on the West Coast, directly adjacent to the island’s capital Denpasar, once stood for exactly that; today the place is flooded with crowds of tourists. But in the neighboring village of Pererenan, you can still find a piece of the old Bali – if you believe the authors of “Time Out”.

Surfers and beachgoers can enjoy the sun and waves on the black sandy beach of Pererenan, while those looking for peace and quiet can find it in the warungs – small restaurants with moderate prices. In any case, the gastronomy scene in this once sleepy coastal town is flourishing, as can be seen in places such as the jungle-inspired restaurant Woods or the beach bar Hippie Fish.

In 18th place: The coolest German district

The Berlin district of Friedrichshain made it to 18th place in the “Time Out” ranking of the coolest districts in the world. One of the reasons given by the magazine for the choice was that Friedrichshain is currently experiencing its second spring. The district was once the epitome of Berlin’s “poor but sexy” culture but has since degenerated into a noisy party center with tourists from all over the world, who flock to the district in droves, not least because of the world-famous Berghain club.

Friedrichshain is now slowly but surely reinventing itself and also offers something for a more “adult” target group, from mezcal tastings to interactive art exhibitions. According to the authors, there is also everything that made Friedrichshain so special even before the party boom, such as the flea market on the RAW site or iconic places like the Michelberger Hotel.

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The 38 coolest districts in the world at a glance

1. Notre Dame du Mont, Marseille, France
2. Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco
3. Pererenan, Bali, Indonesia
4. Seongsu-dong, Seoul, South Korea
5. Kerns, Portland, USA
6. Stokes Croft & St Paul’s, Bristol, Great Britain
7. Chippendale, Sydney, Australia
8. Principe Real, Lisbon, Portugal
9. Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
10. Windsor, Melbourne, Australia
11. Zablocie, Krakow, Poland
12. Little River, Miami, USA
13. Saint-Henri, Montreal, Canada
14. Punavuori, Helsinki, Finland
15. Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo, Japan
16. Thao Dienm, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
17. Flatbush, New York, USA
18. Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
19. East City, Cape Town, South Africa
20. Belleville, Paris, France
21. Northbridge, Perth, Australia
22. Strathbungo, Glasgow, Great Britain
23. Chacarita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
24. Leyton, London, Great Britain
25. Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
26. East Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
27. Ekkamai, Bangkok, Thailand
28. San Rafael, Mexico City, Mexico
29. Mount Pleasant, Washington DC, USA
30. Bonfim, Porto, Portugal
31. Palace Quarter, Budapest, Hungary
32. Brewerytown, Philadelphia, USA
33. Kowloon City, Hong Kong
34. Logan Square, Chicago, USA
35. Norwood, Adelaide, Australia
36. Osu, Accra, Ghana
37. Orchard, Singapore
38. Union Square, Boston, USA