2 Canadian cities ranked among the world's best for nature — but Vancouver isn't one of them

When it comes to the best cities to live in Canada, nature lovers might want to rethink where they're setting their sights — especially if they assumed Vancouver is as good as it gets.

A new global ranking from TimeOut recently dropped, revealing the world's best cities for green space and access to nature. And while two Canadian cities made the cut, they're not the usual suspects in this category.

The list is part of TimeOut's annual global city survey, where 18,500 people around the world were asked how they feel about their city's green spaces.

From riverfront parks to urban forests and nearby mountain escapes, respondents rated their hometowns on how good — or amazing — their access to nature really is. The ranking celebrates cities that not only have plenty of natural beauty, but also make it accessible and integrated into urban life.

When it comes to the best cities in Canada for nature, it's usually the West Coast that dominates the conversation. Vancouver is pretty consistently known as the country's top big city for lovers of the outdoors, with beaches, giant parks, forested trails and epic mountain views all within arm's reach, it's basically a four-season playground.

Also high on the list for many nature lovers would be Victoria, Calgary and Banff — so the Canadian cities that actually landed on the global top 20 might come as a surprise.

Topping the list was Medellín, Colombia, where an impressive 92% of locals gave glowing reviews for their city's nature offerings. The "city of eternal spring" is known for its river lined with parks and easy access to nature escapes like Río Claro Valley reserve. TimeOut says an initiative to cool the city with lush "green corridors" in 2016 even helped drop the overall temperature by 2 degrees.

Boston came in second, with its mix of historical charm and major green hubs like Boston Common — the oldest park in the United States.

Sydney, Australia, landed third, boasting more than 100 beaches and national parks within easy reach.

Meanwhile, of all the cities in Canada known for their green spaces and access to nature, it was Montreal that took the crown. The city ranked 14th on the global list — tied with Munich, Germany — with 81% of locals praising the city's access to nature.

Ottawa also made the list, tying for 18th place with Zurich, Switzerland, with a score of 77%.

Here's the full list of the top 20 cities:

1. Medellín, Colombia – 92%
2. Boston, U.S. – 88%
3. Sydney, Australia – 87%
3. London, U.K. – 87%
5. Austin, U.S. – 86%
5. Edinburgh, U.K. – 86%
5. Melbourne, Australia – 86%
8. Denver, Colorado, U.S. – 84%
9. Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. – 83%
9. Cape Town, South Africa – 83%
9. Chicago, U.S. – 83%
12. San Francisco, U.S. – 82%
12. Stockholm, Sweden – 82%
14. Montreal, Canada – 81%
14. Munich, Germany – 81%
16. Mumbai, India – 79%
17. Beijing, China – 78%
18. Ottawa, Canada – 77%
18. Zurich, Switzerland – 77%
20. Brisbane, Australia – 76%

So if you're looking for the best cities in Canada that blend urban living with a breath of fresh air, Montreal and Ottawa might just surprise you. Whether you're hiking one of the many trails up Mount Royal or biking along the Rideau Canal, it's clear these cities are doing something right.

Vancouver, you've got some catching up to do.

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