13. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, sits on the Vltava River and is home to such renowned landmarks as the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock and Old Town Square, as well as the Dancing House.
Happiness: 19th
Historical Landmarks: 16th
Sports: 22nd
Schools and Education: 9th
Governmental Stability: 33rd
Crime: 10th
Healthcare: 25th
Affordability: 21st
Food: 20th
Innovation: 17th
Pollution: 17th
Climate: 38th
Overall Average: 20.58
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, the Czech Republic scores in the highest category of happiness.
Historical Landmarks: Prague has two UNESCO World Heritage sites—the Historic Center of Prague and Pruhonice Park.
Sports: Prague has 3 teams in the Czech Premier League, or Fortuna Liga, namely AC Sparta Prague, SK Slavia Prague, and Bohemians 1905.
Schools and Education: Prague has three universities in the top 1000 worldwide, with Charles University Prague at 226, Czech Technical University Prague at 698, and Czech University of Life Sciences Prague at 930.
Crime: In Prague, crime is generally low, but with corruption and bribery in the moderate range.
Affordability: Prague has a cost of living index at 54.6, meaning it is more affordable than many other European cities.
Food: Only 2 restaurants in Prague have at least 1 Michelin star, suggesting that the city may not be a foodie mecca quite yet.
Pollution: A pollution index score of 33.38 means that Prague is well above average in terms of clean air and water and has moderate noise and light pollution.
Climate: Prague reaches the mid 70s (F) in summer months, while in the winter, it can be found in the upper 30s to 40s in Fahrenheit.
Personal Note: During the summer of 2022, I got to visit Prague, and it immediately left an impression on me as one of the most magical cities in all of Europe. The city is gaining more and more of a reputation for a great place to both visit and live, and I can absolutely see why. Prague feels like the perfect balance, having one of the most fascinating and gorgeous old towns, while sprinkling in just enough modern elements further away from the center if a break from the history is needed. Of course, the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and Old Town Square were incredible in their scale and architectural designs, but I also really enjoyed simply strolling around the narrow cobblestone streets and the multicolored buildings. Prague has a sort of fairy-tale feeling that hasn’t been as strong in the other places I’ve been, and this mixture of quaint and thriving makes it a beautiful city. I’m slightly surprised Prague isn’t even higher on the ranking based on my experiences, as it feels like it at least deserves a place in the top 10 places to live. As such, I highly recommend either visiting the city or considering it for a possible relocation.