Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga named world’s coolest neighbourhood for 2026

Jongno 3-ga in Seoul, South Korea, has been named the world’s coolest neighbourhood for 2026 by Time Out.

The travel and culture publication placed the Seoul district at the top of its annual ranking of 40 neighbourhoods around the world.

Time Out said its global network of local experts nominated neighbourhoods before editors assessed them using factors including food and drink, nightlife, culture, independent businesses, liveability and community.

Jongno 3-ga was praised for combining historic Seoul with a growing contemporary food, nightlife and creative scene.

The district includes Ikseon-dong, an area known for traditional Korean hanok buildings that now house cafés, restaurants and independent businesses.

Its late-night food stalls, known as pocha, were also highlighted as an important part of the neighbourhood’s renewed popularity among younger residents and visitors.

Time Out also pointed to Seosulla-gil, where craft workshops, jewellery studios and bars have developed alongside the walls of the historic Jongmyo Shrine.

The L’Ocean District in Rabat, Morocco, placed second globally.

Neos Kosmos in Athens ranked third, followed by Chinatown in Los Angeles and Govanhill in Glasgow.

The 2026 list covers 40 cities in 26 countries and territories.