Copyright dailyrecord
Two Scottish cities have been ranked among Europe’s happiest, with locals reporting high levels of everyday joy. Time Out surveyed 18,500 city residents to determine what makes a city worth living in. Participants were asked to rate statements such as: ‘I feel happier in my city than other places I’ve lived,’ ‘the people in my city seem positive,’ ‘I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers,’ ‘the sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently,’ and overall, ‘my city makes me happy.’ The results produced a global list of the world’s happiest cities and a European ranking, where the two Scottish cities featured in the top 10. Glasgow , the only Scottish city to make the world list, came in at number five. Meanwhile it featured in the world list at number 20. According to Time Out: “There’s plenty of things going on in Glasgow to keep locals content. For those who find happiness in a good night out, it’s home to our favourite club night of 2025, the hair-salon-slash-club-night-slash-immersive-theatre-show Ponyboy; for those who get their joy from great food, there’s a thriving food scene; and if cultural experiences boost your mood, there’s an abundance of historical and artsy sites to explore.” Another study also highlighted Glasgow as one of the best cities in the world for live music, coming at number eight, cementing its reputation as a hub of entertainment and cultural richness. Meanwhile, Edinburgh was named the ninth happiest city in Europe. The Scottish capital’s rich heritage , never-ending calendar of events, and diverse gastronomy offer something for everyone. Edinburgh’s distinctive architecture, with its historic streets, medieval buildings and dramatic skyline, creates a striking and picturesque setting for everyday life, adding charm and character to the city’s routines and experiences. Edinburgh has also been ranked as one of the happiest holiday destinations globally, coming fifth in the Holiday Happiness Index compiled by retreat specialists BookRetreats.com, in collaboration with Harvard-affiliated psychologist Dr Natalie Dattilo-Ryan. It claimed the title of the happiest city to visit in the UK, finishing ahead of London and Manchester. London was the only other UK city to feature in Europe’s top 10, coming sixth just behind Glasgow. Seville topped the ranking, with 86 percent of residents saying they found joy in everyday life and that their neighbours seemed positive. Seventy-four percent agreed that the sense of happiness in the city had increased recently, and 91 percent confirmed that Seville made them happy. Spain also featured Valencia in fourth and Madrid in tenth, while Bilbao impressed with a perfect score, with 100 percent of residents claiming they were happier in the Basque city than anywhere else.
