Visiting famous landmarks is always a highlight of any trip. After all, there’s something special about discovering a local neighborhood with cozy cafés, charming bookstores, and elegant restaurants. That’s the gist of Time Out’s latest survey of the “coolest neighborhoods in the world” in which the Gloria neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, appeared in 9th place in the ranking.
While a city’s most famous landmarks are often packed with tourists, these lesser-known areas allow visitors to live like locals, even if just for a few hours.
The destinations on this list may not be the hottest parts of a city, but they are worth a visit thanks to their “culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink” as defined by Time Out.
To create the 2024 ranking, the company’s global network of editors and writers nominated their choices, which were evaluated based on criteria such as what Time Out calls “unique local flavor.”
At the top of the list is the vibrant neighborhood Our Lady of the Mount in Marseille in France, known for its street art and nightlife. According to the owners of the Razzia restaurant, “everyone knows each other and helps each other out.”
“It’s always changing. The stores are authentic, as are the people who work and live here,” Razzia owners Axelle Poittevin and Thomas Benayoun told CNN Travel . “Long live Notre-Dame du Mont!” they added.
Razzia is one of several establishments in Notre-Dame du Mont highlighted by Time Out. Among them is the Histoire de l’œil bookstore, which has been a landmark for almost two decades.
“Our bookstore is 19 years old and we have seen the neighborhood change a lot, which is wonderful,” owner Nadia Champesme told CNN Travel . “Notre-Dame du Mont is a really cool place to live and shop.”
Marie Dijon, owner of Caterine restaurant — praised by Time Out for its “incredible octopus kebab” — grew up in the neighborhood.
“This is where everything happens,” Dijon told CNN Travel mentioning that the cultural diversity of Notre-Dame du Mont is what makes it special.
Balance between “real” and “cool”
In second place is Mers Sultan in Casablanca, Morocco praised by Time Out for its artistic authenticity. According to the magazine, “it’s still a genuine place, without a trendy café (or anything trendy, really) in sight.”
Already Pererenan, in Bali, Indonesia comes in third place, with its “unspoiled beaches, charming cafes, shops and a relaxed lifestyle, free from noise and traffic”, as described by Time Out.
The highest-ranking US neighborhood is Kerns in Portland, Oregon — chosen for its small-town feel, rounding out Time Out’s top five. Stokes Croft and St Paul’s in Bristol, southwest of the US, are also ranked among the top five. England appear in sixth position.
Bristol resident Alex Egge told the CNN Travel that Stokes Croft and St Paul’s “epitomize the town’s distinctive and rebellious identity”, also highlighting the neighborhood’s thrift stores as a highlight.
“It’s cool to see [Stokes Croft e St Paul’s] in the top 10 and I’m glad St Paul’s was mentioned as it is home to a large Afro-Caribbean population and has an annual carnival that takes over the town,” Egge told CNN Travel .
Interestingly, the Royal Prince, in Lisbon appears on Time Out’s list in eighth place, six years after appearing in the 2018 ranking.
“There’s no rule that stops a neighborhood from appearing multiple times,” Grace Beard, Time Out’s travel editor, told CNN Travel .
“This year’s list is a real mix of surprising, overlooked neighborhoods that have just hit their stride, and historically ‘cool’ neighborhoods that are experiencing a renaissance. Príncipe Real is a perfect example of this, showing how neighborhoods adapt and evolve without losing their identity.”
The 10 coolest neighborhoods in the world in 2024, according to Time Out:
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, UK
7. Chippendale, Sydney, Australia
8. Príncipe Real, Lisbon, Portugal
9. Glory, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
10. Windsor, Melbourne, Australia
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The post Rio de Janeiro has a neighborhood among the most popular in the world in 2024; see ranking appeared first on CNN Brasil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
