Berlin's Neukölln named one of the coolest districts in the world

By Emily Proctor

The Neukölln district of Berlin has placed 11th in a ranking of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, compiled by Time Out magazine. 

Neukölln represents modern Berlin

The lifestyle magazine, which is headquartered in London, stated that “no district captures the dynamism of modern Berlin better than Neukölln”. The publication added that even though the district has become more popular in recent years, bringing in tourism and encouraging people to set up businesses, the district’s “multicultural atmosphere has survived”.

Alongside its vibrant energy and multicultural atmosphere, Time Out also stated that “Neukölln is an epicentre for protests and demonstrations”, especially for racial justice and affordable housing, that make the neighbourhood come alive.

Copenhagen is home to the number one district

The district of Nørrebro, in the Danish city of Copenhagen, topped the ranking overall. While Copenhagen as a whole is a lively and vibrant city, Time Out described the district of Nørrebro as an area with a "dazzling mix of historical sights, ultra-modern architecture and dining facilities".

Other countries that had their districts featured on the ranking include Colombia, Australia, Senegal and South Korea. Several countries had districts from multiple cities gaining a spot on the ranking, such as the UK (Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Brighton and Newcastle), Spain (Barcelona and Madrid) and the USA (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Boston).

Time Out 49 coolest neighbourhoods in the world 2021

The top 10 coolest neighbourhoods in the world according to Time Out are:

  • 1. Nørrebro, Copenhagen (Denmark)
  • 2. Andersonville, Chicago (USA)
  • 3. Jongno 3-ga, Seoul (South Korea)
  • 4. Leith, Edinburgh (UK)
  • 5. Station District, Vilnius (Lithuania)
  • 6. Chelsea, New York (USA)
  • 7. XI District, Budapest (Hungary)
  • 8. Ngor, Dakar (Senegal)
  • 9. Sai Kung, Hong Kong (SAR China)
  • 10. Richmond, Melbourne (Australia)

For more information and the full 2021 ranking, visit the Time Out website.

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Emily Proctor
Former Editor at IamExpat Media.Read more

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