Time Out has officially released its annual ranking of Europe's happiest cities, based on the insights of thousands of residents. Topping the continental list—and securing a spot in the worldwide top ten—is the sun-drenched Spanish city of Seville.
The ranking is drawn from a survey of 18,500 city-dwellers, who were asked to rate their home on factors contributing to overall happiness. The survey focused on whether locals felt happier in their city than elsewhere, if people seemed positive, and if they found "joy in the everyday experiences."
Seville's Formula for Joy
Seville’s residents responded overwhelmingly with positivity, making it the happiest city in Europe. A staggering 91 percent of locals surveyed reported that their city makes them happy. Digging into the details, 86 percent of residents said they found joy in the everyday and felt their neighbours were positive, indicating a strong sense of community and daily delight. Furthermore, 74 percent agreed that the city's sense of happiness had grown recently.
Iberian Peninsula Shines
The Iberian nations of Spain and Portugal dominated the top rankings. Spain, in particular, proved to be a country of contented residents, claiming half the spots in the top 10. Beyond Seville, Valencia secured fourth place, and the nation's capital, Madrid, rounded out the list at tenth.
Perhaps the most remarkable finding came from Bilbao, which landed seventh place. An incredible 100 percent of residents surveyed in the Basque city reported being happier there than in any other place they had lived.
Portugal also made a strong showing, with its two largest cities, Porto and Lisbon, claiming third and eighth place, respectively.
The UK's Strong Showing
The United Kingdom was the only other country represented in the European top ten, securing four spots. Both England and Scotland saw successful entries, with Brighton taking an impressive second place and London coming in sixth. Up north, Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh (9th) and Glasgow (5th) both made the grade, cementing the UK's position as a hub for happy city-dwellers.
In total, Europe's top 10 happiest cities for 2025 were found to be concentrated exclusively in three countries: Spain, the UK, and Portugal.
Europe's 10 Happiest Cities, According to Locals:
1. Seville
2. Brighton
3. Porto
4. Valencia
5. Glasgow
6. London
7. Bilbao
8. Lisbon
9. Edinburgh
10. Madrid