Top 15 Best Cities to Live in Europe

What are the best cities to live in Europe for more opportunities and better social services? Find out more in this article.

Europe has some of the best cities to live in in terms of cleanliness and safety levels, and economic opportunities.

Today, more and more nationalities are trooping to these cities to experience well-supported social welfare and gain higher income. Of course, these cities are also hubs for numerous attractions.

What are these cities? Read on.

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Top 15 Best Cities to Live in Europe

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is one of the most liveable cities in Europe, and many migrants and ex-pats attest to that. For one, it consistently ranks top as the happiest place in the world due to its high quality of life and virtually zero crimes. It boasts numerous diverse cafes and restaurants, thus, expect a thriving food scene locally.

It also hosts world-class universities and museums, making it a hotspot for international students and culture aficionados. The natural setting of Helsinki is likewise a beauty to behold, with lush forests, pristine lakes, and snow-capped mountains. Of course, it does not lack architecture with its beautiful churches and historic buildings.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Stockholm, Sweden

Scenic view of a charming European city street.

Those who want to experience the best of Scandinavian life may visit Stockholm, known for its cultural and natural attractions. It’s a dream destination for many. However, it’s a relatively expensive city like other Scandinavian destinations. But it also offers countless economic opportunities to both ex-pats and local populations.

It’s also one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world. With its vibrant nightlife, it’s ideal for those chasing thrill with locally-made spirits, wines, and coffee. Stockholm also has world-class educational institutions. Thus, it is a favorite destination for students abroad.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is another underrated European city that is becoming a hotspot for ecotourism. More than just the impressive buildings and landmarks, the city hosts welcoming people.

Thus, it’s an ideal place to reconnect with people and build meaningful connections. There are also museums for creatives and churches for those chasing spiritual retreats.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the best cities to live in Europe. — Image by Dennis Trevisan from Pixabay

Lisbon is one of the most affordable cities to live in in Europe. But that belies the numerous attractions, including the various economic opportunities here. Both locals and tourists will surely enjoy the leisure activities and the economic engagements here.

The local government stresses providing the best social welfare to improve the quality of life. Numerous churches and pilgrimage sites also reflect the locals’ deep religiosity.

Looking for calming venues? Check out the numerous cafes and restaurants serving authentic Portuguese cuisines. Then there’s the specialty coffee culture that helps improve social bonds among the locals and with the tourists and ex-pats.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!

I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!

Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.

Oslo, Norway

Oslo is one of the best cities to work in Europe. It has some of the continent’s most efficient transport and infrastructure system. The streets are very neat, and locals and tourists alike are encouraged to walk to explore what this city offers.

The locals also welcome visitors, thus, fostering a family-oriented social culture. These bars, cafes, and restaurants with high ratings as they offer premium cuisines. Many of these are inspired by local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

However, Oslo is one of the most expensive cities to live in. But of course, the social programs compensate for that.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen City Denmark — Image by SvitlanaRom from Pixabay

Because of the inhabitants’ quality of life, Copenhagen is consistently ranked among the best cities to live in.

Aside from the aesthetic feature rivaling medieval towns, the city maintains safety and cleanliness. It’s also one of the happiest cities in the world, and the government has consistently provided the best social services and programs.

Most government programs here are aligned with enhancing a green, inclusive, and dynamic economy and environment. Because of that, it remains one of the most expensive places to live in.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Berlin, Germany

Woman in a hat reading by the sea with cityscape in the background

Berlin was once a divided city, with democratic countries controlling the western section and the communist Soviet Union holding the eastern section. But the fall of the Berlin Wall finally gave way to unification.

Today, it’s one of the most liveable cities in Europe and one of the most frequented destinations on the continent. It features numerous music and art venues, cafes, techno parties, beer gardens, and bars. Thus, there are a lot of fun things to do.

Although it’s one of the world’s most developed and prosperous cities, it’s cheaper than other Western European cities. One can already explore its numerous historical and cultural attractions in a day or two.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the best cities in Europe for ex-pats, owing to its inclusive and diverse culture. Add to that the many economic opportunities with outstanding financial returns. It’s internationally acclaimed for its vast flower plantations, winding canals, and festive activities.

There are also numerous cafes serving specialty coffee and a relaxed level of marijuana. Of course, that is always optional.

Looking for a place to learn about culture and history? Visit the Museum of Bags and Purses, Heineken Experience, and Anne Frank to van Gough.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?

Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!

The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.

I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.

Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.

Get a FREE quote from SafetyWing

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is the proud bastion of Austria. Little do many people know that it played a significant role in European and world history. For example, it served as a buffer that halted Islamic expansion in Europe and maintained the continent’s Christian legacy.

More and more tourists are trooping to the city to experience its calming vibe and its wondrous natural attractions. It also has a very low crime and a thriving food culture. To make the gastronomical experience more authentic, try some of the best wines in town.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

London, UK

London is one of the most world-renowned cities in the world with its iconic attractions, such as Big Ben and London Bridge. It is also one of the most populated cities and remains a top financial hub. With many nationalities migrating to the city, it has become a multicultural destination.

Thus, the city is a fusion of diverse traditions. Those looking for financial opportunities will also love it here as it hosts the London Stock Exchange, one of the most rewarding.

But of course, there is more to London than its historical and cultural destinations. Modern amenities include clubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants serving unique cuisines and beverages.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the proud capital of the once vast and sprawling Spanish Empire which ruled most of the New World. It’s now regarded as one of Europe’s most flourishing metropolises and top destinations for international expatriates. It has a diverse culture and traditions, many of which are tied to the Catholic faith.

The city alone is a beauty. It boasts wide avenues, grand boulevards, and impressive architecture. There are also specialty cafes, tapas bars, and historical monuments, including churches and grand cathedrals.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Nestled at the foot of Mount Orjen and the Western entrance to the Bay of Kotor, Herceg Novi is a coastal town with captivating views that remain underrated. This makes it one of the most liveable cities in Europe.

It’s most known in the country for its wellness facilities, spa, and healing sea mud. From any section of the city, one can view the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, including surrounding limestone cliffs and lush mountains. It’s a perfect getaway for those chasing calming destinations.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

What are my favorite travel must-haves?

As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!

Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana is an underrated city, but it’s gradually becoming a hotspot for ecotourism. But it has been an important city since the Roman Empire. Its historical and cultural attractions include museums, castles, and churches.

These come with a unique architectural style, reflecting the different cultures that influenced the country. The city also hosts numerous lush spaces, such as parks and forests with crystal-clear rivers and streams.

Some of the historic buildings here date back centuries ago. The locals hold festive activities within the city square during the special days.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Nice, France

Nice is more than just a renowned tourist destination in France. It’s the country’s fifth-largest city and is fast becoming a hub for industry, science, and advanced technology. What compelled this growth is the establishment of Sophia Antipolis and Acropolis.

It’s no wonder that scientists and researchers from different countries come here to experience the innovative culture and foster breakthroughs. The city lies on the foot of the French Alps on the southeastern coast of France.

It also borders the Mediterranean Sea, thus, giving the city a pleasant and idyllic view. The buildings and houses also carry a medieval feel. The best time to visit would be May and September. These are also less touristy months, thus, ideal for those chasing less crowded spots.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Valetta, Malta

Valetta may not create as much buzz as other European cities, but it is a can’t-miss destination, especially for historical aficionados. Structures date back centuries ago, including churches and remnants of the Roman Empire.

Churches also abound for the religious, while these also reflect the Catholic faith of most Maltese. From Valetta, one can also catch a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea and understand what it was like during colonial times.

🛏️ Book your hotel ahead of time to get the best deals, click here to find the best hotels to stay!

🧳 One of the best way to explore a new destination stress-free is through guided tours! Check this out to find the best tours at affordable prices.

Related reads to help you plan your trip:

Top 15 Best Cities to Live in Europe

Top 15 Best Cities to Live in Europe

Helsinki, Finland

Stockholm, Sweden

Tallinn, Estonia

Lisbon, Portugal

Oslo, Norway

Copenhagen, Denmark

Berlin, Germany

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Vienna, Austria

London, UK

Madrid, Spain

Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Nice, France

Valetta, Malta

Plan your trip to Europe: Monthly breakdown

Plan your trip to Europe by season

Europe by Experience

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