27. Athens, Greece
Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world, often referred to as the birthplace of democracy as well as the cradle of Western civilization. Top sights to see include the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Herod Atticus Odeon and many, many more.
Happiness: 53rd
Historical Landmarks: 22nd
Sports: 23rd
Schools and Education: 11th
Governmental Stability: 37th
Crime: 49th
Healthcare: 28th
Affordability: 25th
Food: 25th
Innovation: 19th
Pollution: 32nd
Climate: 2nd
Overall Average: 27.12
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, Greece is in the upper range of the middle tier on the happiness scale, unlike many European countries that make it into the top tier.
Historical Landmarks: Athens has one UNESCO World Heritage site—the Acropolis and its monuments, a very historical contribution to the world.
Sports: Athens is currently home to four clubs in the Super League—AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, Atromitos, and Olympiacos. AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are known as the Big 3 because, combined, they have won a total of 76 out of 83 Greek football championships.
Schools and Education: Athens has two universities in the top 1000 worldwide—National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at 250 and the National Technical University of Athens at 441.
Crime: In Athens, crime is moderate in most categories but is high in drug dealing and use, vandalism and theft, as well as corruption and bribery.
Affordability: Athens has a cost of living index at 59.8, so it’s not as expensive as other major European cities.
Food: 9 restaurants in Athens have at least 1 Michelin star, with 1 of them having 2 stars.
Pollution: A pollution index score of 57.5 means that Athens has moderate air, noise and light pollution but high dissatisfaction with its garbage disposal and park areas.
Climate: Athens reaches the mid 80s to low 90s (F) in summer months, while in the winter, it can be found in the upper 50s in Fahrenheit.
