Now, we’re all travel fans, and we all do our travelling in different ways. Maybe you’re one of those who likes to see the world in luxury, from aboard resplendent cruise ships and on no-expense-spared flights. Being pampered in five-star resorts around the world is certainly one way to see what this planet has offer, if you’re privileged enough to have the option.
On the other hand, maybe you’re one of those canny shoestring travellers. Those who like to get right into the thick of it, backpacking across whole countries and diving in on street level with the locals. Very different approaches, but in the end, it all boils down to the same thing: the experience. Wanting to enjoy something new and unique, the life-changing opportunities that only travelling can give you.
Everyone’s going to have a different bucket list with regards to places to visit, and they’re going to be radically different depending on what you want to get out of the experience. Naturally, then, if you like to travel in the lap of luxury, you’re going to want to be a little more discerning with your choices of destination.
For some of us, only the finest of city breaks will do. As such, the question becomes: which are the finest cities? That’s where the trusty Mercer Rankings come in.
For twenty years, Mercer have been collating all sorts of data (education, crime, health care, transport and recreation among them), in a survey to help companies determine hardship allowances and compensation for their overseas employees. The results are in for 2018, so let’s take a look at those top-scoring cities (in descending order).
20 Transport And Economics And Science, Oh My! (Hamburg)
Coming in at twentieth on the list (or rather, joint nineteenth, if you want to be pernickety) is the beautiful city of Hamburg, Germany.
Hamburg is the country’s second-largest city, behind only the capital of Berlin itself. Once a powerful city-state of the Holy Roman Empire, Hamburg remains one of the country’s most significant cities. It’s a huge tourist destination, both internationally and domestically, and a European powerhouse for research and education. It has many acclaimed universities, as well as music halls and theatres, making it a wonderful place for entertainment. Transport-wise, it’s a real hub too, boasting the country’s largest port; referred to as Germany’s gateway to the world.
Hamburg is also renowned for being clean and green, with its vast Planten un Blomen (plants and flowers) park and famous Alter Botanischer Garten Hamburg (botanical gardens) being the focal point of a 2014 program to renovate and maintain the city’s gorgeous greenery.
19 Canada’s Capital Is… Capital (Ottawa)
Next up on our world tour, we’re crossing over to North America, where Hamburg’s fellow nineteenth-placer is found: Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.
Ottawa is located in the south of Ontario, on the southern bank of the Ottawa River. It’s renowned for its cultural and entertainment attractions, including the National Gallery and National Arts Centre.
With its busy airports, vibrant reputation in sports, low levels of unemployment and reputation as one of Canada’s best-educated cities, it’s no surprise that Ottawa is consistently deemed one of the best places to live in the country, and a very high performer worldwide too (as Money Sense explains).
18 Because Size Isn’t Everything (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg is a small country in Western Europe, nestled happily in between Germany, France and Belgium. As small as it may be, its population growth rate is exponential, which is no surprise when you consider how very attractive the region is.
The capital city is also named Luxembourg, and has flourished under one of the world’s strongest economies. Despite a population of just over 160,000, Luxembourg City boasts an enviable spot as one of the chief cogs of the European Union. The European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank and other crucial institutions are found here.
It’s a real cultural centre, too, despite its size, with impressive museums like the National Museum of Natural History and the Luxembourg City History Museum. Couple all of this with its reputation for world-class cuisine and high ranking for personal safety and quality of living, and you’ve got a wonderful city.
17 Life Sure Is Good In Ontario (Toronto)
Crossing back over to Ontario, Canada, our next city is the beautiful Toronto. Of all the cities in this rundown, Toronto is certainly one of the most diverse. It’s renowned for its many visitor attractions, including its modernist City Hall, the huge and popular Yonge-Dundas Square mall and the Toronto Islands.
Aside from that, Toronto is world-famous in all sorts of fields, from sports (as the beloved Rogers Centre will attest) to festivals and other cultural highlights. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with a hugely diverse population. There’s a real community spirit that permeates the city.
16 It’s A Capital City, Jim, But Not As We Know It (Melbourne)
Some countries just hit upon a capital city they like, and there it stays for eternity. Since ancient times, for instance, London (or Londinium, as it was known to the Romans) has been the primary settlement fo the country, and it’s always going to be.
In Australia, they’re a little more indecisive. Melbourne may no longer be the capital city (Canberra took that title in 1927), but it’s still the state capital of Victoria.
As with so many entries on this list, Melbourne is the complete package. It ranks up there with the very best in terms of entertainment, tourism, sport, health care and education, and is even a UNESCO City of Literature.
15 Wonderful New Zealand (Wellington)
Here’s another capital city, and quite an interesting one too. Unlike many capitals, Wellington is not New Zealand’s largest city. That title goes to Auckland, which is actually over three times more populous. There’s much more to the equation than that, though.
Perfectly situated in the centre of the country, Wellington has been a focal point since the first British settlers arrived. Today, it boasts iconic landmarks like the Beehive, an extensive travel network, and a worldwide reputation for quality in the movie and effects businesses. Wellington scores very highly in important factors like cost of living, quality of life and safety, making the city one of the world’s most desirable places to live.
14 Another European Marvel (Bern)
From the vast lands of Australasia to a comparatively much smaller country in Europe, Switzerland offers some real hidden treasures. We’ll be hearing more from them later in this list, but first, here’s Bern.
Bern is not the capital city of Switzerland, exactly, but rather what they call a Bundesstadt (federal city). It’s the home of the country’s parliament and government, and what a home it is. Much of the historical old town is still intact in the centre, and has been deemed a world heritage site. Outside of its historical significance, Bern is a cultural hotspot, boasting a wide array of festivals and fairs.
13 You’re Never Too Busy To Go Green (Berlin)
These days, we’re inundated with bad news about pollution, plastics, smoke, all sorts of things. Big cities equal big problems, is the general message, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The world can learn an important lesson from Berlin.
Germany’s capital is green in the most literal sense. As The Culture Trip reports, one third of the city’s area is comprised of parks, lakes and other beautiful natural spots; a real rarity for such a large city (second only to London as the European Union’s largest).
Needless to say, though, it’s also highly advanced, boasting a bustling travel network and an economy based on the many advanced industries that call Berlin home.
12 Now That’s What I Call Vibrant! (Amsterdam)
Earlier in this rundown, we stopped at Bern, Switzerland, which is well-known for its cosmopolitan society. In that arena, though, our next city just cannot be topped.
Amsterdam isn’t the home of the Netherlands’ government (that’s The Hague), but it’s the capital nonetheless. An incredible city, with a truly diverse culture representing around 180 different countries!
If there’s one thing Amsterdam’s known for, it’s that nightlife party feel, and it certainly delivers on that score. If you’re looking for something a little more highbrow, the city is also home to some of the biggest companies in the world, including Philips, and the economy is further boosted by its many tourist attractions, not least of which the Van Gogh Museum.
11 Going Back To The Land Down Under (Sydney)
Australia, as we know, is a popular destination for those brave souls wanting to start a new life overseas. Who could blame them? It’s a beautiful, spacious country, and speaking as a Brit, I could certainly do with a break from constant rain.
As a result, our next city, Sydney, is also characterised by its multicultural society. Visitors are a huge boon to the flourishing market economy of the city, and it’s become a financial powerhouse with all the big multinational banks and corporations that are based there.
Sydney is a major player on the world stage, while offering huge attractions (Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House, to name but two) and a vast array of shows for inhabitants.
10 Switzerland Goes Green (Basel)
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a real sense of déjà vu here. Once again, we’re crossing over from Australasia back to Switzerland, who have another city wanting to throw its hat into the ring.
Basel lies on the river Rhine, in the Northwest of the country. The city is best known around the world for three main qualities: its excellent museums (the biggest of which, the Kunstmuseum, was the first of its kind in Europe), its commitment to humanism and safety at time when much of Europe was in political turmoil, and finally its dedication to a greener lifestyle.
The economically-powerful Basel passed a law in 2002, decreeing that all newly-constructed flat roofs must be greened. It’s at the forefront in the world for this initiative, as well as for development of renewable energy methods and hydrogen/natural gas vehicles.
9 The Home Of The Little Mermaid (Copenhagen)
As The Conversation reports, Denmark is a country that is consistently rated among the happiest in the world. Of course, all kinds of distinct factors contribute to this, including access to quality health care, low unemployment and such.
As such, it’s no surprise that the picturesque capital city, Copenhagen, is rated as one of the world’s most liveable. While it’s very expensive, Copenhagen is another very green city, with environmental planning that favours pedestrians and cyclists. The economy is very stable, the community feel second to none, open spaces are many. In fact, it’s official policy that you must never be more than 15 minutes from a park or beach (on foot) anywhere in the city.
Let’s not forget the vast travel network and unique tourist attractions (the Little Mermaid statue, for instance), too.
8 Switzerland Scores A Hat Trick (Geneva)
What with Toblerone and excellent quality watches, you might think that Switzerland’s proud legacy to the world was already made. It’s the magnificent cities where the country truly shines, though. Next stop on our world tour: Geneva.
As we’ve already seen elsewhere in this rundown, it’s not just about size alone. It’s what you do with it that counts. Comparatively speaking, Geneva isn’t all that large a city, but it’s referred to as the world’s smallest metropolis for a reason. This is a powerful, powerful city, the base of operations for big global names like the Red Cross and the United Nations.
As is characteristic of the country, Geneva is known as the City of Peace, and boasts low crime rates and pollution, along with an abundance of cultural highlights and a great reputation for education.
7 Another Alpha Muscles In (Frankfurt)
The next city of our world tour is Frankfurt. In terms of size, it may not be Germany’s biggest (the fifth largest in the country), but it stands above many others in different ways.
Culturally, Frankfurt is important as the center of the EU, which is (in a geographical sense) found near the Bankenviertel, or business district.
In terms of tourism, culture and entertainment, Frankfurt is considered an alpha city, one of great global importance. Beautiful as it is, the city is particularly significant to the Mercer Rankings because a large proportion of its population (around one quarter) is comprised of expatriates.
6 The Old One-Two (Düsseldorf)
We don’t have far to travel for this one, friends. Coming in at sixth place in the 2018 Mercer rankings, it’s a second consecutive German city. Let’s hop on over to Düsseldorf.
Among the most vibrant and entertainment-centric cities in this rundown, Düsseldorf has an international reputation for the quality and abundance of its trade fairs and fashion shows.
It’s in the fine arts that the city truly excels, attracting visitors from far and wide with its magnificent Deutsche Oper am Rhein opera and state art collection (among many other attractions).
From its huge festivals to its stellar reputation in the literary world, Düsseldorf has it all.
5 You Can’t Just Can’t Keep A Great City Down (Vancouver)
As I say, the Mercer rankings are now in their twentieth year. Over two decades, naturally, things have changed. Cities have moved up and down, the list generally flip-flopping as time has passed. Nevertheless, there are some that will always rank up there with the most livable.
As Reuters states, Vancouver was the first city to appear in the top ten for five consecutive years. So just what is it about this Canadian city?
As a global beta city, it holds a crucial place on the world stage. It plays a huge part in the movie business, with several large production studios. In industry, it’s world-renowned for forestry, and the large and lush open spaces that Canada is known for. In short, a culturally and socially significant city that manages to keep in touch with nature. That’s a rare quality.
4 Magnificent Bavaria (Munich)
You know, I can’t help but notice a pattern forming here. It seems as though certain countries just have that liveability thing down pat. Here comes the fifth and final German city to appear in the Mercer rankings’ top 20: Munich.
Munich is located north of the Bavarian Alps, and is the capital of the state of Bavaria. It was deemed an alpha world city in 2015, and Monocle chose it as their number one most liveable city of 2018.
Why? Because as, Forbes states, “Munich strikes a strong balance between a city that’s fun to live in yet runs like a well-oiled machine. The city’s public transportation is comfortable and clean, the streets are safe and well-maintained, and its airport, which offers connections to over two hundred international destinations, was recently ranked number six in the world,” that’s why.
3 New Zealand Strikes Back (Auckland)
Here’s another country making multiple claims to the liveability crown. New Zealand is back again, with Auckland taking joint third spot on Mercer’s list. Let’s take a closer look.
Auckland is located on North Island and is the most populated urban area in the country. Much as with Copenhagen, it is one of the world’s most expensive cities, but is rated as a Beta + World City for its importance to culture and the arts.
It is world-renowned in education, too, with a great glut of tourism and a super busy airport to top everything off. Auckland is no longer New Zealand’s capital, but it’s as significant to the country (domestically and globally) as it ever was.
2 A Real Swiss Treasure (Zürich)
Okay, Switzerland. We get your point. We see you there, being an all-round magnificent place to live. You’ve got to calm down, though. Leave some spots of this list for somebody else, won’t you? Look out, here comes Zürich.
Switzerland’s largest city has a glowing reputation. With its low tax rates, it’s become a real industry powerhouse, with all manner of overseas companies setting up shop there.
It’s one of the world’s leading banking hubs, as well as a centre of culture and entertainment (the world-renowned Schauspielhaus Zürich theatre is here).
In terms of GDP per capita, it’s Europe’s most well-off city.
1 Drum Roll Please… (VIENNA!)
So, here we are. We’ve seen some of the most beautiful cities this world of ours has to offer, but which took the number one spot? Vienna, Austria.
This proud city’s legacy speaks for itself. It’s been dubbed the City of Music and the City of Dreams, for its musical heritage and as the birthplace of Sigmund Freud respectively.
Needless to say, the quality of life residents enjoy here is impeccable, and Weininternational reports that it’s the world’s number one destination choice for international conferences. Culturally, the town’s credentials are beyond question, and it’s making bold steps to becoming greener. There are some stellar parks and leisure activities too, making Vienna a perfect destination for visitors.
Resources: Mercer, Money Sense, The Culture Trip, The Conversation, Reuters, Forbes.