In an era when travel has become more accessible than ever, the thrill of wandering into the unknown is often flattened by algorithmic recommendations. As Time Out notes, the romance of getting lost—meeting strangers you’ll never see again or stumbling upon eccentric bars after hours of aimless strolling—can feel increasingly endangered.

As we approach 2026, the human experience of discovering foreign places seems stretched on a modern-day Procrustean bed. Thinking of Paris? A quick scroll on TikTok yields a parade of soulless, overhyped bars and restaurants that long ago abandoned the quest for their own identities. The same fate has touched London, Vienna, Barcelona—and, inevitably, Athens and Thessaloniki.

From Porto to Thessaloniki

Perhaps in defiance of this reality, the editors of Time Out, a guide to the best art and entertainment, food, attractions, hotels and things to do in the world’s greatest cities, chose to spotlight streets around the world that have preserved their character—places that resist the homogenization of digital travel culture. And nestled among cool corners of Porto, Montreal, Ho Chi Minh City, and Rio de Janeiro is Thessaloniki’s own Olympou Street.

“Thessaloniki, the capital of the north, is known for its laid-back vibe and outstanding food scene. On Olympou Street, you get both in abundance,” writes Time Out contributor Dimitris Ioannou.

So here it is: Time Out’s list of the coolest streets on Earth—places defined not by hashtags but by culture, gastronomy, community warmth, and genuine fun.

The World’s 10 Coolest Streets

• Rua do Senado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Orange Street, Osaka, Japan
• Rua do Bonjardim, Porto, Portugal
• Fanghua Street, Chengdu, China
• Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Canada
• Montague Road, Brisbane, Australia
• Maybachufer, Berlin, Germany
• Olympou, Thessaloniki, Greece
• Orchard Street, New York City, USA
• Vĩnh Khanh Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam