Good air quality, a large number of green spaces, drinkable tap water and a functioning waste disposal system contribute significantly to the quality of life of the population. These aspects are also important to many travelers. Who wants to stumble over mountains of rubbish during their vacation and have to seek shelter from smog and exhaust fumes in their hotel room?
A recent ranking by a German health portal shows which cities in Europe set the highest standards when it comes to cleanliness, quality of life and mental balance. The authors of the study compared 48 cities on the basis of several criteria.
Among other things, water and air quality, the percentage of green spaces and the satisfaction of residents with waste disposal were taken into account. These are the top 11 in Europe:
Helsinki is a prime example of urban well-being. The Finnish capital prides itself on its well-maintained green spaces, exceptional air quality, and pristine drinking water, among other attributes. The population also gives excellent marks to the city’s waste management.
The silver medal also heads north with the Swedish capital, Stockholm, ranking second. Highlights include excellent drinking water quality and a high percentage of well-maintained green spaces. There are minor deductions for waste disposal.
Rounding out the Nordic podium is Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, which boasts the best air and drinking water quality among all the cities analyzed. However, Reykjavik falls short due to the smaller proportion and, particularly, the lower quality of its green spaces compared to other cities.
Continuing with the list of clean Nordic cities, Oslo, the Norwegian capital, ranks fourth. The city scores points for its good air quality and high-quality drinking water. However, the relatively low proportion of green spaces keeps it off the podium.
Vienna’s exceptionally clean drinking water and excellently organized waste disposal system help it to 5th place, earning the title of «Best of the Rest» behind the Nordic frontrunners. However, the city loses points for suboptimal air quality and a relatively low proportion of green spaces.
Valencia, the Spanish port city, secures sixth place mainly thanks to its numerous green spaces and well-maintained parks. The air quality is commendable, but the city falls behind the top contenders when it comes to drinking water quality.
Hamburg is the first German city to make the list, earning high marks for its air quality and well-maintained green spaces. However, it falls short in terms of drinking water quality and waste disposal.
Salzburg ranked 8th, primarily due to its numerous parks and green spaces, though their condition only received average ratings. The city performed well in terms of air quality, but there is still room for improvement in waste disposal.
The Scottish capital Edinburgh also makes the top 10 thanks to excellent air quality and a respectable number of green spaces, most of which are very well maintained. Why doesn’t Edinburgh appear higher up the list? Because of its waste disposal system, which is in urgent need of improvement.
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is ranked tenth. It has the poorest air quality of the top ten, but it does impress with its exceptionally well-maintained green spaces, very clean drinking water and good waste disposal.
Zurich narrowly missed securing a spot in the top 10, coming in 11th place despite having good air quality and excellent drinking water. The primary factor holding Zurich back is the condition of its green spaces, which the study did not rate favorably.
