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I’ve visited the world’s happiest city – with cheap Ryanair flights, huge free attractions and £2 beers
The city is also home to the world's oldest living museum
THE happiest city in the world has been revealed and it's home to free attractions and £2 beers.
Research from the (HCI) recently revealed the world's happiest cities, with destinations in Europe dominating the list.
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The cities were ranked based on "thousands of indicators" that were whittled down into five key categories, including citizens, governance, environment, economy and mobility.
Each category was measured against a resident's quality of life and sense of happiness, and a score was then awarded for each category.
The scores were then combined together to determine an overall total.
their process on their website, they wrote: "Since every city is a moving landscape, their activity must be periodically verified, especially with regard to the quality of public services provided and place-based knowledge, in response to new challenges that arise. We do that every day and publish once a year."
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The annual report named Aarhus (Denmark's second-largest city) as the happiest city in the world.
Last September, I was lucky enough to visit Aarhus on my very first trip to Denmark - and it's easy to see why it's the world's happiest.
The city is home to quaint cobbled streets, winding waterways and cosy independent shops, which make it both easy-going and vibrant.
And it's the city's vibrant atmosphere, one where you can't help but smile, that's earned it the moniker of the "city of smiles".
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During my trip, I challenged myself to enjoy a two-night break in Aarhus for just £250, so I know how to explore the city on a budget.
Unfortunately, there are some things that just can't be done on the cheap, like visiting the city's top attractions.
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Den Gamle By is the world's oldest living museum, making it one of most unique attractions in the Danish city.
I spent around two hours exploring every nook and cranny of the re-constructed buildings, some of which date back to the 1800s.
Entry into Den Gamle By costs £22 per person.
There's also ARoS Art Museum, which dominates the Aarhus Skyline thanks to its rainbow walkway that sits on top of the gallery.
It's packed full of examples of modern art and entry costs £20 per person.
There are plenty of free attractions in the city too, including a stroll along the Salling Rooftop — a network of wooden walkways and green spaces built on top of a department store.
The Cultural Production Center Godsbanen, Aarhus Cathedral and Aarhus Concert Hall are also all free to enter.
Despite Scandi countries having a reputation for being expensive, especially when it comes to food, I made sure to hunt down those bargains.
If you're after a cheap pint in Aarhus, then head to the Book1 Design Hostel.
The hostel has a happy hour where pints costs just £2 - it's certainly not to be missed.
Ryanair operates direct flights between London Stansted and Aarhus, with prices starting from £19 for a one-way ticket.
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The top ten happiest cities in the world revealed
Recent research from the Happy City Index revealed the world's happiest cities, with destinations in Europe dominating the list.
- Aarhus, Denmark
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Berlin, Germany
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Helsinki, Finland
- Bristol, United Kingdom
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Munich, Germany.
Meanwhile, one English city was also named as one of the happiest in the world.
And an often-ridiculed city in the north of England has the cheapest beers in the country and it's been named a top place to visit in 2024.
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