Europe’s capitals have long been known for their high quality of life. Cities such as Vienna, Copenhagen, and Barcelona shine brightly on their own with original contributions to the quality of life. These cities offer a mix of green spaces, efficient public transport, and innovative urban planning that cater to diverse populations. As the world’s leading urban experts judge these cities, they raise up the reasons why they are such remarkable places to live.
Vienna: A Model of Inclusivity and Green Living
Vienna, Austria, is regularly named one of the planet’s most livable cities. Its strong social housing programs, abundant greenery, and effective transit are all factors that help make it worthy of this storied title. The city’s growing commitment to affordable housing means that people from all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds can find a place to call home. With parks and affordable apartments located everywhere from the city’s historic core to the edges of the metropolitan area, Viennese either have an easy commute to nature.
Vienna goes beyond providing free public transport. It’s true that public transport in Vienna is extremely affordable, at just €1 a day. This new accessibility of course allows all communities, including historically marginalized ones, to more easily interact with each other away from their homes. Mathew White, an environmental psychologist at the University of Vienna, emphasizes the positive impact of these factors on residents’ lives.
“The quality of life is out-of-this-world positive,” – Mathew White
Their research found that parks in Vienna are less inequitable. By comparison, in the UK countries they tend to disproportionately load access in favor of more affluent communities. This equitable access has been proven to improve the physical health and mental welfare of a city’s residents.
Beyond improving overall mental health, clinical studies have shown that spending time in nature increases resilience to the stresses of everyday life. Research indicates that more deprived people in Vienna live better than they would live under average conditions. This restoration is attributable in large part to their deep cultural ties to nature. This connection not only strengthens community bonds, it improves mental well-being.
Copenhagen: Cycling and Superblocks Transform Urban Life
Copenhagen has been celebrated in recent years for its imaginative urban design, most recently by developing superblocks and “green axes.” Since 2016, these equitable, community-driven developments have gone a long way to enhance health and livability for all of the city’s residents. Good transit and walkable communities make people free to live their own lives. It’s precisely this sense of safety, among other things, that Zorana Jovanovic Andersen felt moving to Copenhagen from the American Midwest in 2001.
Nearly a third of Copenhagen’s residents commute to work or school via bike on a daily basis. This has a dual effect of improving both physical health and reducing air pollution caused by vehicular emissions. Andersen highlights the role of cycling in fostering an active lifestyle and traveling safely through urban settings.
“Copenhagen is for sure one of the best cities to live in,” – Zorana Jovanovic Andersen
Concerns about air quality remain prevalent. Andersen’s research into air pollution highlights its impact on children’s educational outcomes, reinforcing the need for ongoing environmental vigilance.
“Even with the low levels in Denmark, we see the contrast in air pollution explain some kids getting poorer grades,” – Zorana Jovanovic Andersen
The focus on cycling and green urban spaces has made Copenhagen a model for other cities aiming to enhance livability through sustainable practices.
Barcelona: Urban Challenges and Innovations
Individually, these represent enormous stressors on the environment across climate change and urban density. When environmental health scientist Mark Nieuwenhuijsen first moved to Barcelona about two decades ago, he recalled some weeks of summer as being unbearable. Now, extreme heat complicates air quality concerns amid a city suffocated by dangerous traffic density and a legacy of urban motorways.
To address these issues, Barcelona introduced “superillas” or superblocks that foster cycling and established car-free zones. These preemptive initiatives help curb noise and air pollution that contribute to unnecessary problems for residents, while increasing the overall livability of the urban environment. Nieuwenhuijsen calls for more climate change–proofing measures.
“We would see a quite different, much greener Barcelona: more livable, less air pollution, less noise,” – Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
He cautions that quickly rising temperatures across the Mediterranean region require immediate action from city planners.
“People don’t realise how quickly we’re heating up in the Mediterranean,” – Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
With climate impacts becoming increasingly dire, getting cities like Barcelona adapted yesterday would be better than today well worth the trouble if it means preserving quality of life.