3 Asian cities lead world's top 10 for public transport

People living in Taipei, Singapore, and Hong Kong are highly satisfied with their daily commute by bus, train, tram, and cable car, a survey by a leading U.K. travel magazine shows.

Published last week by Time Out and based on surveys of more than 24,000 residents, it evaluated local public transit systems on a scale of 1 ("Awful") to 5 ("Amazing").

The list features 10 cities but only the top-scoring one in their respective countries and territories.

Taipei (Taiwan)

Public transport score: 95%

If you have ever been stuck on a crowded train during rush hour, you will surely be envious of Taipei's MRT system.

All stations are spotless, with clearly marked queuing lines, and trains run strictly on time.

The system operates on a massive scale, serving over 767 million passengers in 2025, or some 2.1 million a day.

A single EasyCard works across the MRT, buses, and YouBike rentals, and can even be used to pay for snacks at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

The transit network is being expanded steadily.

Last year, New Taipei's light rail and circular line recorded a record high of 30 million passenger trips. Photo by WAUG

Singapore

Public transport score: 93.5%

Singapore's MRT system has long been regarded as a benchmark for urban transit.

With its 146 stations, it serves around 3.5 million passenger trips daily.

According to Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA), 99.4% of trains ran on schedule in 2025.

In July 2026, three new stations, Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road, opened for service, making the Circle Line a full loop.

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said people could stop asking the LTA why the Circle Line wasn't actually a circle. Photo by Land Transport Guru

Hong Kong

Public transport score: 92.8%

For anyone who has lived in Hong Kong, the MTR network is an integral part of daily life.

According to MTR’s 2025 business report, 99.9% of trips on the high-frequency rail network ran on time.

Over the course of the year, the system served nearly two billion passenger trips.

What makes Hong Kong truly stand out is the diversity of its transit options.

Few places allow travelers to step off a high-speed train, hop onto a century-old "ding ding" double-decker tram, and finish their journey crossing the harbor on a Star Ferry, all paid for with a single tap of an Octopus card. Photo by N509FZ / CC BY-SA 4.0

Edinburg (U.K.)

Public transport score: 92.4%

A key factor behind Edinburgh’s success is Lothian Buses, a bus operator largely owned by the local council.

In 2025, the company transported 119 million passengers.

Edinburgh Trams also recorded an all-time annual high of 12.5 million trips.

Although the company faced numerous challenges in its early years, passenger numbers surged after the route extension to Newhaven through Leith was completed in 2023.

Passengers can now simply tap contactless payment cards when boarding buses and trams, while also opting for daily or weekly passes. Photo by Ad Meskens / CC BY-SA 4.0

Seoul (South Korea)

Public transport score: 91.1%

Seoul's extensive subway system is renowned for its smooth operation, spotlessly clean train cars, and seamless mobile coverage even underground.

Fares start at just 1,500 won (US$1.13) when paying with a transit card.

Seoul is also a leader in providing affordable transit options.

In Jan 2024, the city launched a 30-day pass offering unlimited travel on subways, buses, and public bikes.

The city also has the Hangang Bus, a water transit service on the Han river.

This seamless integration of subways, buses, shared bikes, and river ferries makes public transit highly convenient. Photo by Takeshi Aida / CC BY-SA 2.0

Zurich (Switzerland)

Public transport score: 90.7%

What sets Zurich apart is its seamless transit connectivity.

Across the city, there is a tram stop or bus station every 300 meters.

With a single ZVV ticket, passengers can ride trams, buses, S-Bahn commuter trains, funiculars, and even boats operating on lake Zurich and the Limmat river.

This convenience and unified connectivity explain why Zurich earns such a high satisfaction rating from locals. Photo by TripSavvy

Vienna (Austria)

Public transport score: 90.3%

For 13 years, Vienna’s annual public transit pass was priced at 365 euros (US$410), equivalent to just 1 euro per day.

This affordable rate made the Austrian capital a benchmark for budget-friendly urban transit across Europe.

In January 2026, the annual pass price rose to 467 euros.

However, residents appeared unfazed by the adjustment, with 90.3% still rating the city's transport system as good or great.

In 2025, the extensive network of U-Bahn subways, trams, and buses operated by Wiener Linien carried 903 million passengers.

Vienna also ranked among the world's top five cities for cycling in a Time Out survey. Photo by TripSavvy

Tallinn (Estonia)

Public transport score: 85.3%

In 2013, Tallinn became the first European capital to introduce free public transport for registered residents.

Locals simply tap their personalized transit cards when boarding buses or trams.

While tourists still need to purchase tickets, fares remain affordable.

The Tallinn Card bundles unlimited public transit access with entry to the city's top attractions.

Furthermore, since the medieval Old Town is compact, visitors often only need a short tram ride to reach it. Photo by Trams Around the World

Helsinki (Finland)

Public transport score: 83.6%

In Helsinki, a single HSL ticket grants access to trams, buses, the metro, commuter trains, and light rail.

The ticket also covers the year-round ferry to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage sea fortress located just a scenic 15-minute ride from Market Square.

The city's newest light rail addition is Line 15, also known as Raide-Jokeri, which launched in October 2023.

This line connects the eastern suburbs of Helsinki with Keilaniemi in the neighboring city of Espoo. Photo by Visit Finland

Medellín (Colombia)

Public transport score: 83%

In Medellín, the metro system is a source of immense local pride.

Since opening in 1995, the network has been built around the "cultura metro" philosophy, a code of conduct promoting civic courtesy and mutual respect that passengers strictly uphold, helping keep stations spotlessly clean.

The standout highlight is a cable car system connecting hillside neighborhoods with the valley below.

The inaugural line to Santo Domingo opened in 2004, making it one of the world's first urban cable car networks.

Today, it has six lines, including one that carries passengers up to the forests of Parque Arví.

In 2025, the combined ridership count for trains, cable cars, trams, and buses was over 310 million. Photo by Uncover Colombia