A Portuguese city has taken second place in Time Out’s 2026 ranking of the world’s best cities for Gen Z to live in. The result was based on responses from people under 30 in Time Out’s annual survey, with only the highest-scoring city in each country included.
Second-ranked city for Gen Z
Porto ranked second in the world, behind Tokyo, in Time Out and Intrepid Travel’s 2026 list of the best cities for Gen Z to live in.
Time Out’s ranking is a perception-based survey, rather than a comparison of rents, salaries or household costs, but it gives a useful snapshot of how younger locals see daily life in Porto.
For young foreigners considering living in Portugal, the survey results point to a few practical positives.
Porto for young people: community and everyday social life
Porto received a 100% positive rating for community feel among the Gen Z respondents surveyed by Time Out.
That finding may matter to people looking at moving to Porto, particularly those arriving without an established local network. The ranking also treats ease of meeting people as part of what makes a city liveable for younger residents, alongside practical factors such as walkability, nature and affordability.
Affordable city life in Porto
Among respondents, 93% considered Porto affordable. The areas specifically mentioned were dining out, going for drinks, and art and culture.
These are the parts of day-to-day city life that can quickly add up for younger residents, students and newcomers. Time Out’s findings place Porto among the affordable cities in Portugal in the eyes of the under-30s surveyed.
Free and low-cost culture in Porto
Among the many things to do in Porto, accessible culture was one of the features singled out.
- The Portuguese Centre of Photography is free to enter every day. It is one of the cultural spaces mentioned as accessible to younger residents.
- The Soares dos Reis National Museum waives entry fees on Sundays for people with a Citizen Card.
River, sea, gardens and Porto’s historic centre
Time Out highlighted Porto’s mix of outdoor spaces and urban heritage. The city has access to:
- The River Douro
- The sea
- Gardens
- A historic centre with Portugal's busiest street
- Cultural institutions
Porto’s history-filled city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For people comparing the best places to live in Portugal, this proximity to the river, coastline, gardens and central cultural spaces formed part of the city’s appeal in the Gen Z ranking.
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