22. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
The city of Luxembourg is the capital of Luxembourg and is one of the de facto capitals of the European Union, having several E.U. institutions and agencies within its borders. It also has the highest GDP per capita in the world. Top sights to see include the Adolphe Bridge, the Bock Casements, and the Grand Ducal Palace.
Happiness: 10th
Historical Landmarks: 22nd
Sports: 38th
Schools and Education: 39th
Governmental Stability: 8th
Crime: 16th
Healthcare: 18th
Affordability: 46th
Food: 22nd
Innovation: 33rd
Pollution: 8th
Climate: 42nd
Overall Average: 25.12
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, Luxembourg scores very highly on the happiness scale.
Historical Landmarks: The city of Luxembourg has one UNESCO World Heritage site, that being its Old Quarters and Fortifications.
Sports: The city of Luxembourg has one football club that plays in the National Division—Racing Fussball Club Union Luxembourg or Racing-Union.
Schools and Education: The city of Luxembourg has one globally ranked university, the University of Luxembourg at 570.
Crime: In the city of Luxembourg, crime is generally low (with assault and armed robbery being very low), but did rank as moderate for drug dealing and use.
Affordability: The city of Luxembourg has a cost of living index at 74.6, meaning it’s one of the more expensive European cities.
Food: 9 restaurants in the city of Luxembourg have at least 1 Michelin star, which is rather impressive given its size.
Pollution: A pollution index score of 19.7 means that the city of Luxembourg has very low air and water pollution and is a very clean city.
Climate: The city of Luxembourg reaches the low 70s (F) in summer months, while in the winter, it can be found in the upper 30s to low 40s in Fahrenheit.
Personal Note: I visited Luxembourg in the summer of 2022, and I was quite surprised with my experience. Of course, the city feels very small and hidden away from the public eye much like the country as a whole is. However, it is one of the most vertical cities I’ve ever visited, and it’s the contrast of parts of the city being above a cliff versus within a valley that really makes it appeal as a gorgeous location. In particular, the very small neighborhood that is nestled below the cliff (part of which can be seen in the above image) feels like a fairy-tale town, especially when looking up at the rest of the city above. The ability to work with the surrounding natural environment is some of my favorite in Europe with how the city is laid out, and it offers some fantastic pictures. Still, with all its picturesque nature, Luxembourg can feel a bit stale outside of this small area, while also lacking things to do given the entire country’s small size. If deciding to live there, however, this may be less of a problem, while the free public transport offers a large bonus. Given the stark difference in the traveler experience versus the resident experience in a place like Luxembourg that is really not set up at all for tourism due to its size, it is challenging for me to judge it in a livability sense. With that said, I can certainly see the upsides to living in the city given its status as quite a wealthy location, so the placement on the list seems fair to me.
