This Year's Top Vacation Spots

The top ten happiest places in the world

While the Happiest City Index includes the world's top 40 locations, if we gave you a description of each, you could be in one of them before you finish reading.

1. Lisbon, Portugal
   There is a reason why Lisbon leads the happiness scale. Portugal's capital is one of the world's most picturesque cities, known for its warm, sunny environment, colourful, quaint buildings, vibrant nightlife, Fado music, and friendly residents.

In fact, in addition to being hailed top in terms of happiness, it was also named fourth most beautiful city in the world by U City Guide, a website dedicated to urban tourism.

Lisbon's ranking in each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 16th.
• Sunshine: 6th.
• Working Hours: 21st.
• Friendly locals: second.
• Cost of Living: Sixth
• UK and European citizens do not need a visa to enter Portugal, while US citizens can stay for up to 90 days for tourist or business without a visa.

Many non-EU citizens (except Americans) are required to obtain a Schengen visa if they want to remain for more than 90 days. If you want to stay longer (this applies to everyone), you must apply for a residency permit.*

2. Barcelona, Spain
   Barcelona is not only home to one of the world's top football teams, but it is also known for its diverse architectural styles. The city's bright and colourful atmosphere is created by the coexistence of Gothic, Romanesque, and modernist architecture. In addition, there are lovely sandy beaches, a vibrant nightlife, superb cuisine, a vivid cultural heritage, and a slew of neighbourhood festivals that draw visitors from across the world.

Primavera Sound, Sónar Barcelona, and the Barcelona Beach Festival are all music-related events. However, there are more traditional, historic festivities, such as Barcelona's La Mercè. The celebration, which lasts for five days, is dedicated to Barcelona's patron saint, Mare de Deu de la Mercè.

Barcelona's ranking in each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 5th.
• Sunshine: 13th.
• Working Hours: 19th.
• Friendly locals: 9th.
• Cost of living: eleventh.
• As a British, European, or American citizen, you can visit Barcelona for up to three months without a visa for vacation or business purposes.

Many non-EU citizens are needed to obtain a Schengen visa if they want to stay for more than 90 days.

3. Athens, Greece

Athens, Europe's oldest capital, is named for Athena, the Greek goddess of knowledge and combat.

Athens is a blending pot of old and modern delights, brimming with excellent food and drinks, beaches, and breathtaking architecture. You can also explore the city by arranging a Segway trip. We will be right back, just dusting off our helmets and knee pads.

Athens ranked each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 14th.
• Sunshine: 7th.
• Working Hours: 25th.
• Friendly locals: Third
• Cost of Living: tenth.

Because Athens is in the Schengen zone, many visitors can visit for up to 90 days in 180 days without a visa. Otherwise, apply for a Schengen visa.

4. Rome, Italy

When you think of Rome, you see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and a metropolis with Classical architecture.

If you want to imagine the city in a romantic, movie-like environment, watch Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in A Roman Holiday. You will be ordering neckerchiefs and renting a Vespa in no time.

Rome's rankings for each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 4th.
• Sunshine: 14th.
• Working Hours: 17th.
• Friendly locals: 26th.
• Cost of living: 14th.

UK nationals with a full UK passport or a BOC, BOTC, BPP, or BS passport are not need to obtain a visa for Italy. Europeans do not require a visa to enter the nation.

US residents are permitted to enter Italy without a visa for up to 90 days for tourist and business purposes. Most others require a Schengen visa to visit Italy.

5. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is well-known for its high standard of living, so it is no surprise that over 100,000 Britons will call the Australian city home by 2021. Sydney is regarded as one of the world's safest, most liveable, and prettiest cities, and its low crime rate is one of the primary reasons to visit.

In addition to the lovely shore, Sydney is very close to some magnificent scenery - the best of both worlds if you enjoy surfing, swimming, and going on inland walks. It is also not far from the Great Barrier Reef, another natural wonder that attracts millions of visitors each year.

Sydney ranked each satisfaction factor:

• Life Expectancy: 7th.
• Sunshine: Tenth
• Working Hours: 24th.
• Friendly locals: 11th.
• Cost of Living: 29th.

Before travelling to Australia, you must apply for a AnyVisa online.

6. Madrid, Spain.

Do you like old buildings, food markets, and the Royals? Madrid is calling your name. Along with this, the Spanish capital is well-known for its blend of contemporary and Renaissance art museums, vibrant nightlife, trendy metropolitan ambiance, and, of course, the desirable Mediterranean temperature.

Madrid's ranking in each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 5th.
• Sunshine: 8th.
• Working Hours: 18th.
• Friendly locals: 8th.
• Cost of Living: 12th.

7. Toronto, Canada

When you think about Toronto, you have certainly heard it described as one of the world's most multicultural cities, and there is a reason for it. According to official statistics, more than half of Toronto's citizens were born outside of the city and Canada, making it a multicultural hotspot.

Because of this variety, you will be surrounded by a fantastic food and drink scene, so you will most likely need to spend some time here.

Toronto's ranking in each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 15th.
• Sunshine: 21st.
• Working Hours: 22nd.
• Friendly locals: 7th.
• Cost of Living: 27th.

If they are visiting Canada for a short amount of time, British and EU citizens are normally exempt from visa requirements.

8. San Jose, Costa Rica

San José is seen as a hybrid of a traditional Central American city and an urban, cosmopolitan hub with an astounding variety of sights and activities.

There are parks, museums, historic buildings, theatres, and the most breathtaking beaches, wildlife, and scenery. San José, surrounded by lush rolling hills and magnificent volcanoes, is a picture-perfect destination.

San José's ranking in each happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 28th.
• Sunshine: 15th.
• Working Hours: 34th.
• Friendly locals: first.
• Cost of Living: 7th.

Visitors from the United Kingdom can stay for up to 90 days under a tourist visa waiver. EU and US citizens do not need a visa to enter San José.

9. Istanbul, Turkey

Simply searching for and viewing photographs of Istanbul makes you desire to visit the Turkish metropolis. Are we correct?

There is little doubt you will not fall in love with the city's old-world ambiance, which is known for its ageless charm, rich history, and magnificent grandeur (the domed buildings are a sight to behold). You will also fall in love with the inhabitants, who are extremely kind and eager to help.

• Life Expectancy: 30th.
• Sunshine: 16th.
• Working Hours: 26th.
• Friendly locals: 12th.
• Cost of living: second.

If you are a British citizen, you can visit without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Other nations may require a Turkish Electronic Visa (e-Visa).

10. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is Thailand's capital, and there is a reason it made our list. Aside from the sunny environment, white sandy beaches, and crystal blue oceans, there is also delicious food, a vibrant street scene, and magnificent cultural treasures.

Buddhist temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, as well as the Grand Palace, stand in stark contrast to Patpong and Khaosan Road's lively nightlife. There is also wonderful food and drink, and if you enjoy seafood, you must try the Tom yum Goong (spicy prawn soup).

Bangkok's score for every happiness factor:

• Life Expectancy: 31st.
• Sunshine: 9th.
• Working Hours: 36th.
• Friendly locals: Fifth
• Cost of living: eighth.

The Happiness Factors

Here's some information about each happiness category, including which city had the highest score for each:

Cost of Living

It is no secret that holidays can be expensive, which is why money is frequently a deciding factor when planning a trip. This is why the cost of living was picked as a happiness factor: the less expensive the region, the fewer financial concerns you will have while there.

Out of the 40 cities chosen for the survey, Kanpur in India was rated the cheapest destination to visit. We obtained this information from Numbeo's Cost of Living Index 2023 when researching which city has the lowest cost of living.

Sunshine

We are all aware that enough vitamin D intake is beneficial. It has been scientifically demonstrated to promote the release of serotonin, sometimes known as the "mood-boosting hormone." So, if sunshine makes your brain happy, there is little doubt that it must be a happiness component.

We analysed data from World Weather and Climate Information to determine which cities in the index receive the most sun on average each year.

Las Vegas, Nevada, took the top rank, averaging 3,830 hours of sunlight each year. Okay, that is it. When is the next flight to Sin City?

Working Hours

It is usually a good indicator when residents maintain a healthy work-life balance. They, too, must take the time to appreciate the lovely environment and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Data from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) were used to determine which city worked the fewest hours each week.

Frankfurt, Germany, leads after the fewest hours, with Copenhagen, Denmark, following closely behind.

Friendly locals

What is a trip without asking a local for directions or conversing with them in pubs and restaurants? When travelling, one of the most real ways to immerse oneself in diverse cultures is to meet new people. It is only natural that residents' friendliness would appear as a pleasure factor.

_We analysed data from Inter Nation's Expat Insider 2021 Report to determine which city has the friendliest residents. Based on the data, we could determine the (statistically) friendliest city in the world.
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Life expectancy

A long life is healthy, and a healthy life is happy, right?

Following this approach, we used Worldometer data to determine where you should relocate if you intend to stay for an extended period of time. While you may be thinking of the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, where nonnas appear to live forever, Hong Kong took the top rank. Their average life expectancy is 82.29 years (!).