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Date Published: 27/10/2025

Discover which two Spanish cities made the 2025 list of the 20 happiest places in the world

Time Out magazine has compiled its annual list of happiest cities by analysing aspects such as culture, nightlife, gastronomy and quality of life... and some of this year’s entries might surprise you!

If you’ve ever wandered through a sunny plaza, tapas in hand and not a care in the world, you may already have an inkling where happiness can be found. But this year, a noted British magazine has gone one step further, asking thousands around the world to pinpoint exactly which cities make people smile the most.

Happiness when it comes to city living is a slippery concept, of course, and very subjective. For some, it’s a buzzing nightlife while others prefer clean air, friendly faces and the ease of getting around without needing a car.

To get a proper measure of it, Time Out magazine surveyed more than 18,000 residents in major cities worldwide. Participants were asked about culture, affordability, food, quality of life and the general joy of everyday living.

More intriguingly, they were asked to rate statements such as “My city makes me happy” and “I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers”. From these answers, a list of the 20 happiest cities on Earth was drawn up.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Middle East scored remarkably well, with Asia and Latin America making a strong showing.

But Spain also has reason to celebrate. Two of its cities appear in the top 20: Seville, with its passionate flamenco pulse and orange-scented evenings, dances in at number nine in the list. Valencia, with its Mediterranean charm and paella by the sea, claims the nineteenth spot.

Here is the complete list:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Medellín, Colombia
Cape Town, South Africa
Mexico City, Mexico
Mumbai, India
Beijing, China
Shanghai, China
Chicago, United States
Seville, Spain
Melbourne, Australia
Brighton, United Kingdom
Porto, Portugal
Sydney, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Marrakesh, Morocco
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hanoi, Vietnam
Jakarta, Indonesia
Valencia, Spain
Glasgow, United Kingdom

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