If your idea of travel bliss includes wide streets, happy locals, and clean air, then we have the perfect travel bucket list for you. According to Happy City Index 2025, these cities didn’t just top global rankings; they’re urban utopias with policies and vibes that make people genuinely happier. So, scroll on and plan your next vacation as we list out the world’s happiest cities, making way for smiles, one spot at a time!
World’s Happiest Cities You Should Visit In 2025
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
No. 1 on the list is the beautiful city of Copenhagen. It has one of the most intense yet workable models of sustainability. This Danish capital boasts green transport (almost 69%), short workweeks, universal healthcare, and low pollution. With over 60% of people commuting on bikes, clean air isn’t a luxury, it’s a norm here. The city works like a finely tuned playlist: short work days, no honking, and a metro system that glides more than it moves. Its public healthcare services are commendable and the city’s mood is always good. So, it’s no wonder that Copenhagen tops the list and trust us, you feel it the moment you land, this city knows how to live.
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
2. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is where order meets lakeside ease. Tram schedules are gospel and always on time. It’s expensive (we won’t lie), but it balances that with world-class healthcare, top safety ratings, and streets so pristine they almost sparkle. You don’t just visit Zurich, you recalibrate your life standards. It ranks high for safety, public transport, education, and green living. Plus, it’s as charming as it is efficient. Watch out for the lush greens, they’re literally everywhere!
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
Also Read: Sonam Kapoor & Fam Visits Zurich Zoo; Here’s What Makes It A Tourist Favourite?
3. Singapore
Singapore leads Asia in happiness. It’s spotless, smart and safe. Its bountiful green zones subtly add to its new-city charm. It is often said to be the ideal destination for first-time international travellers as it perfectly balances discipline and design. It’s green, like, actual trees on skyscrapers. But underneath the rules is a heartwarming mix of cultures and cuisines that never bore. It’s no-nonsense but never cold. The city wants you to thrive and you kind of do.
Visa for Indians: Tourist visa required
Also Read: Everything For Everyone: Kamiya Jani Shopped Till She Dropped At Singapore Changi Airport
4. Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus ranks fourth on the Happy City Index 2025 list. The city lives and breathes art and is proof that smaller cities often do things better. It’s quieter than Copenhagen but arguably cooler, especially if you’re into arts, architecture, and that breezy coastal energy. The locals seem like they just walked out of a sustainability initiative but in the best way. They smile, they recycle, they brunch. This creativity-boasting, artsy city thrives on green policies. It is a coastal area which boasts free healthcare, and excellent quality of life.
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
5. Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp doesn’t scream for attention, it just earns it. It’s where cobbled streets meet edgy fashion. There’s a diamond district, but also entire blocks of affordable student cafés. Its public transport is too smooth. While it’s not the loudest city on this list, it’s got quiet confidence and a serious infrastructure game. It is like the stylish cousin of its happy-go-lucky counterparts. This chic city is not just beautiful on the outside but has resourceful depth too. With its strong education stats, efficient transit, and universal health access, it establishes a name of its own!
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
6. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul is a sensory overload, and we mean that in the best possible way. The city reinvents itself every week, yet somehow keeps its traditions stitched into everyday life. Everything from its public restrooms, healthcare, and cuisine to fashion game gets an A+. It blends tech innovation with green infrastructure so seamlessly that no one bats an eyelid. It represents a fast-paced cultural pulse with traditional-intimate architecture and clothing.
Visa for Indians: Tourist visa required.
7. Stockholm, Sweden
Ranked 7th on the list of world’s happiest cities and rightly so! Stockholm is the Scandinavian sibling who reads philosophy, drinks oat lattes and knows how to sail. Public transport actually feels public, YES people read books on the metro instead of doomscrolling. If you like cities that don’t just work but breathe with intention, this one’s your jam. Stockholm offers serene living, top-notch healthcare, and nature-integrated urban design. Famous for its beautiful archipelago, it deserves all the attention.
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
8. Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei in Taiwan ranks eighth and surprises with high livability, public health access, and a vibrant local culture. It is warm, and we’re not just talking about the temperature. This city is like a warm hug, where strangers help you read signs, and street food vendors hand you napkins before you ask! The city’s public health system is a global model, and you get the sense that people genuinely like living here. It’s not flashy, but it gets under your skin in the gentlest, most comforting way.
Visa for Indians: Tourists visa required.
9. Munich, Germany
Ninth on the list of the world’s happiest cities is Munich. It’s a bit formal, a bit traditional, but also clean, green, and shockingly fun once the beer starts flowing. It has space to breathe (hello, English Garden), trains that run like clockwork, and that perfect European rhythm where work ends at 5 and life begins shortly after. This Bavarian place is a gem! Here green spaces, beer gardens, and reliable public transport create a feel-good lifestyle that one cannot afford to skip.
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
10. Rotterdam, Netherlands
Forget the postcard image of the Netherlands. Rotterdam is what happens when a city decides to rewrite its own story and wins. It’s architecturally stunning, forward-thinking, and oddly emotional if you look beneath the surface. You’ll find floating farms, solar-powered water taxis, and cafés where you overhear conversations about urban ecology over oat milk flat whites. Rotterdam in the Netherlands represents a modern urban success story. Known for its cutting-edge design and bike-friendly streets, it is literally the heart of the Netherlands.
Visa for Indians: Schengen visa required.
So, if you’re dreaming of Denmark’s hygge-filled cities or Seoul’s tech-meets-tradition buzz, then plan a trip to one of these 10 happiest cities in the world to get a refreshing look at how urban living can actually feel good.
Cover Image Courtesy: Unsplash/GettyImages
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.
First Published: June 30, 2025 6:15 PM