Jakarta is included in the list of cities with the best public transportation in the world according to Time Out.

Jakarta ranks 15th on the global list of cities with the best Public Transport in the world, based on evaluations from local residents. In the 2026 Time Out Travel magazine survey, the capital city of Indonesia scored 79.2 percent, outperforming major global cities including Riyadh, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Vancouver, and Oslo.

This ranking holds significance for travellers, as Public Transportation is one of the key factors when exploring a city. Easy mobility between locations makes trips far more practical, especially for visitors wishing to travel across multiple destinations without relying on private vehicles at all times.

The survey gathered responses from over 24,000 city residents across multiple countries. Respondents rated the public transport system in their home city on a scale of 1 to 5, ranging from "very poor" to "excellent". Final rankings were calculated based on the percentage of residents who gave a good or excellent rating.

Taipei Tops The Ranking, Singapore And Hong Kong Place In Top Three

Taipei, Taiwan secured first place with a score of 95 percent. Its MRT system is the main highlight, praised for clean stations, orderly passenger queues, and consistently on-time Train services.

Throughout 2025, Taipei MRT recorded over 767 million passenger trips, averaging around 2.1 million journeys daily. Both local residents and visitors can use the EasyCard to pay for MRT rides, bus fares, and even YouBike bicycle rentals.

Singapore took second position with a score of 93.5 percent. The country's MRT network operates 146 stations and serves approximately 3.5 million trips every day. In 2025, the train system achieved an on-time performance rate of 99.4 percent.

In July 2026, three new stations: Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road commenced operations, completing the Circle Line. This expansion further improves accessibility for both locals and tourists travelling across different areas of Singapore.

Hong Kong ranked third with a score of 92.8 percent. The city offers transport options beyond just the MTR, including the iconic Ding Ding trams and the Star Ferry. This mix of transport modes lets visitors enjoy their journey while experiencing different sides of the city famous for its skyscraper skyline.

During 2025, the Hong Kong MTR recorded nearly two billion passenger trips. Passengers can use the Octopus card to pay for most transport services, making travel very convenient.

Edinburgh And Seoul Complete The Top Five

Edinburgh, Scotland came in fourth place with a score of 92.4 percent. Its Lothian Buses service recorded 119 million passenger journeys in 2025, while the city's tram network served 12.5 million trips. The city tram line was extended to the Newhaven district in Leith back in 2023.

Seoul, South Korea, placed fifth with a score of 91.1 percent. This city operates an extensive integrated subway network connected seamlessly with other public transport modes.

The base fare for Seoul subway starts at 1,550 won, equivalent to approximately IDR 20,600. Tourists may also purchase 1 to 7-day transport passes, while local residents can use the Climate Pass to support their daily mobility needs.

For travellers, this survey result can be used as one of the references when choosing destinations that are convenient to explore using public transport.

That said, these ratings only reflect the lived experience and perception of local residents regarding services in their respective cities, and are not a comprehensive technical assessment of every aspect of the entire transport system.