Less than 2 hours from Paris, this seaside town of colorful houses over 400 years old is the happiest in the world… and not for the first time!

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Looking for a change of scenery? In 2026, you might just find happiness 2 hours from Paris… The pretty Danish city of Copenhagen has just been voted the happiest city in the world in 2026. The study, conducted by the Institute for Quality of Life, used no fewer than 80 criteria to establish its top 20, including safety, access to culture and the environment… And it’s the pretty waterfront capital that comes out on top. Our beloved Paris, the only French city in the ranking, climbs to 13ᵉ place…

Copenhagen: the happiest city in the world

For this ranking, the English institute based itself on 80 criteria divided into six different major themes. Safety levels, the quality of public transport, access to decent housing and culture, and the government’s efforts to promote the well-being of its citizens were all closely scrutinized.

Pleasant in many ways, Copenhagen stands out from the rest of the world’s cities for its peaceful environment. Ideally located on the seafront, the Danish capital offers its inhabitants a highly appreciable quality of life: a rich cultural scene, reinforced security, a well-preserved history (with buildings over 400 years old that can still be visited), modern infrastructures for healthcare and housing… It ticks almost all the boxes for happiness. Often cited as one of the happiest countries in the world, Denmark once again stands out in this study. Incidentally, we find another Danish city in 4ᵉ position, less well known to the general public but just as charming: Aarhus.

The rest of the ranking includes :

1. Copenhagen
2. Zurich
3. Singapore
4. Aarhaus
5. Antwerp
6. Seoul
7. Stockholm
8. Taipei
9. Munich
10. Rotterdam
11. Vancouver
12. Vienna
13. Paris
14. Helsinki
15. Aalborg
16. Berlin
17. New York
18. Dresden
19. Brussels
20. Geneva