The Danish capital ranks first in the Happy City Index 2026. But Copenhagen is far from the only destination where quality of life, sustainability and urban lifestyle come together in perfect balance. These ten places are definitely worth a city break.
What makes a city worth living in? This question is at the heart of the Happy City Index 2026, which was presented in London. The comprehensive international study analyzes hundreds of cities worldwide and focuses on those that stand out for their balance, innovative strength and high quality of life.
Falstaff TRAVEL presents the top cities that are worth a visit.
From more than 3,400 cities, around 1,000 were initially analyzed in more detail - on the basis of a uniform system with 64 indicators, which enables well-founded and comparable results. A total of 251 cities were ultimately included in the current edition, based on around 150,000 analyzed data sets and the work of 466 researchers. The focus is on six key factors: citizens' quality of life, good governance, the environment, the economy, health and mobility. The best 50 cities make up the so-called "Gold" group - they are exemplars of balanced, sustainable and liveable urban development.
1.Copenhagen, Denmark, score in the index: 6954
Between historic buildings, modern architecture and lively districts such as Vesterbro or the Nyhavn harbor area, you will discover a city where everyday life and aesthetics are closely interwoven. Bicycles characterize the streetscape, short distances and quiet side streets create an almost village-like atmosphere in the middle of the big city. Copenhagen is internationally renowned for its design scene, fashion events and exceptionally dense top-class gastronomy. At the same time, there are places of retreat everywhere - from green courtyards to quiet canal banks. This mixture of creativity, everyday pace and high quality of life regularly makes Copenhagen one of the happiest cities in the world.
2. Helsinki, Finland, score: 6919
