1. Vienna, Austria
Happiness: 8th
Historical Landmarks: 2nd
Sports: 13th
Schools and Education: 7th
Governmental Stability: 13th
Crime: 11th
Healthcare: 7th
Affordability: 32nd
Food: 9th
Innovation: 5th
Pollution: 4th
Climate: 24th
Overall Average: 11.25
There are many factors that help make Vienna the best city to live in Europe, as seen by the metrics described below. Beyond those, some famous landmarks of the city include the historic shopping center, Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, the numerous classical music locations in the central hub of classical music, and of course, the Schonbrunn Palace and gardens. With great food, great nature, extensive history, and plenty of fun, Vienna is an incredible place to live. But what moves it up to the number 1 spot in these rankings?
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, Viennese citizens are the 8th happiest in Europe, meaning the many amenities in the city are indeed contributing to a higher quality of life.
Historical Landmarks: With the Schonbrunn Palace and Historic Centre of Vienna within the city proper, along with locations like the Danube lines, Semmering railway, and Wachau nearby, Vienna is home to the joint-2nd most UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sports: The two most successful clubs in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga, Rapid Wien and Austria Wien, are both located in Vienna in one of the top 10 domestic leagues in Europe.
Schools and Education: Vienna has 5 of the top 1,000 colleges in the world according to US News and World Report, with the highest being the Medical University of Vienna at #206, placing the city in 7th for this metric.
Crime: The level of crime is considered low and violent crime considered very low, meaning Vienna is quite safe to both visit and live within the more crowded areas.
Affordability: Critically, while other cities placed well along with Vienna in the various other categories, the Austrian city maintains a greater level of affordability than some of the bigger names, placing 32nd in this category with a 62.2 score.
Food: Vienna has 11 restaurants that are considered Michelin-star quality, meaning it finishes 9th amongst cities in Europe for this metric.
Pollution: With a pollution index of 17.70, Vienna ranks 4th in terms of the pollution in their city, combining with its innovation to provide a clean and forward-thinking environment.
Climate: Temperatures can reach the high 70s in Fahrenheit during Summer and dip into the 30s (F) during the Winter months, placing it 24th for climate.
Personal Note: I had the chance to visit Vienna in the summer of 2022, and one of the first words that comes to mind regarding this city is elegant. This is encapsulated in the city’s iconic Schonbrunn Palace, which not only has a beautiful interior, but also expansive gardens with a great overlook over the palace and the entire city if you walk to the top. The museum and shopping districts share in this elegance with their architectural style and luxurious offerings. For a fun time, I recommend the Prater theme park, which is the oldest theme park in Europe and offers a wide variety of rides. The Domkirche St. Stephan (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) and the Wiener Staatsoper (Opera House) are also incredible sights I had the chance to visit while there. I found Vienna to be a very clean and orderly city, with more “honor” than other cities but perhaps less charm. Although I don’t personally find it to be the best city in Europe, contrary to this list, it is certainly around the top (keep in mind I was a traveler, not looking for a permanent residence, which changes some elements). I would highly recommend visiting.
