Taipei, Taiwan, has been named the city with the best public transport in the world for 2026, according to a new ranking by Time Out. The study surveyed 24,000 locals to assess the quality and efficiency of transit networks.
Taipei's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system was highlighted for its punctual trains, clean stations, and growing network, which served an estimated 2.1 million passengers daily in 2025. Singapore secured the second position, praised for its extensive MRT system covering 146 stations and its strict enforcement of rules against anti-social behavior on public transport. Hong Kong followed in third place, with its Mass Transit Railway (MTR) achieving a 99.9% on-time performance last year, complemented by its iconic double-decker buses.
The ranking also noted Edinburgh as the sole UK city to make the top 20, placing fourth. Time Out cited Lothian Buses and a user-friendly tram service connecting the airport to Leith as key factors. The Scottish capital's buses facilitated 119 million journeys in 2025.
Asian cities continued to perform strongly, with Seoul, South Korea, taking the fifth spot. Seoul's subway system is recognized for its affordability, eco-friendly focus, safety, and efficiency, allowing travelers to reach major sights without taxis. Zurich, Switzerland, ranked sixth, benefiting from Switzerland's reputation for efficiency and home to Europe's best railway station, Zürich Hauptbahnhof.
Vienna, Austria, landed in seventh place, with its integrated public transport network of U-Bahn, trams, and buses all accessible with a single ticket. The city was also recently named the second most livable city globally, partly due to its infrastructure. Tallinn, Estonia, ranked eighth, with a notable feature being that public transport is free for registered residents and specific groups. Helsinki, Finland, in ninth place, offers a transit system integrated with the city's numerous green spaces, requiring one ticket for trams, metro, buses, and commuter trains.
Rounding out the top ten is Medellín, Colombia. The city's metro is praised for its cleanliness and well-behaved passengers, but its standout feature is the Metrocable, the world's first aerial cable car system integrated into a city's public transport network, which launched in 2004.
The full list includes Shanghai, China; Warsaw, Poland; Osaka, Japan; Stockholm, Sweden; Jakarta, Indonesia; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Hamburg, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Vancouver, Canada; and Oslo, Norway, completing the top 20.