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World's happiest city in 2025 revealed with theme park that inspired Disney and new UK flights

World's happiest city in 2025 revealed with theme park that inspired Disney and new UK flights

The Irish Sun07-05-2025

THE Danish city of Copenhagen has been voted the happiest in the world - and it's now even easier to get to from the UK.
The capital of
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Copenhagen is the happiest city in the world
Credit: Alamy
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It's also home to one of the oldest ever theme parks
Credit: Alamy
Out of every city in the world,
The Happy City Index awarded the Danish capital with 1039 points.
It evaluates the city through well-being combining existing data on factors like employment, education, and health with survey data on residents' feelings.
Sadly, none in the UK made the list with others including Singapore, Zurich and Paris.
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Copenhagen isn't just a great place for people to live, it's also fun to visit - one reason being that it's home to the
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is said to have inspired Walt Disney and his theme parks.
The Danish theme park first opened in 1843, and it claims to be the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world.
Nearly 100 years after it opened, the amusement park welcomed Walt Disney who visited the park.
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In 1951, Walt Disney visited the Danish theme park - which was four years before the first Disney park opened in California.
After being open for nearly two centuries, Tivoli Gardens is now home to 30 rides and other attractions.
Inside the tiny European theme park that inspired Disneyland – and flights are just £14
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Tivoli Gardens has 30 rides and attractions
Credit: Alamy
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Tivoli Gardens has rollercoasters and a 63m high drop tower
Credit: Alamy
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One of the theme park's main attractions is the giant
The Golden Tower is one of the highest rides at the theme park.
Any Brits planning a break to Copenhagen will be happy to hear that tourists get
Visitors will be able to redeem freebies like lunches, cups of coffee, glasses of wine and kayak rentals if you pick up litter, cycling through the city and using public transport.
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Holidaymakers will be able to gain free entry to several popular tourist attractions, including the National Museum, The National Gallery of
Denmark
, the Karen Blixen Museum, the Museum of Copenhagen, and the Cisternerne.
It's easy for Brits to get there too, especially with
The twice-weekly service from Newcastle International Airport to Copenhagen started operating in May 2025.
Flights operate every Monday and Friday from £41.40.
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Sun Travel also
And the
Here Are The World's Happiest Cities
Copenhagen, Denmark
Zurich, Switzerland
Singapore
Aarhus, Denmark
Antwerp, Belgium
Seoul, South Korea
Stockholm, Sweden
Taipei, Taiwan
Munich, Germany
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Vancouver, Canada
Vienna, Austria
Paris, France
Helsinki, Finland
Aalborg, Denmark
Berlin, Germany
New York, USA
Dresden, Germany
Brussels, Belgium
Geneva, Switzerland
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Copenhagen is the world's happiest city for 2025 and has a huge theme park
Credit: Alamy

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World's most dangerous jellyfish with killer sting washes up in Brit hols hotspot as cops cordon off beach
World's most dangerous jellyfish with killer sting washes up in Brit hols hotspot as cops cordon off beach

The Irish Sun

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  • The Irish Sun

World's most dangerous jellyfish with killer sting washes up in Brit hols hotspot as cops cordon off beach

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Ryanair introduces strict new £500 fine for passengers
Ryanair introduces strict new £500 fine for passengers

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Ryanair introduces strict new £500 fine for passengers

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Six-drink limit, sandcastles ban & ID check – Little-known Spain hol rules that could cost YOU €3k amid protest chaos
Six-drink limit, sandcastles ban & ID check – Little-known Spain hol rules that could cost YOU €3k amid protest chaos

The Irish Sun

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  • The Irish Sun

Six-drink limit, sandcastles ban & ID check – Little-known Spain hol rules that could cost YOU €3k amid protest chaos

BOOZING on the beach, participating in pub crawl's and strolling shirtless through the streets are popular activities amongst Irish tourists jetting off to relax or party in Spain. But as 6 Building sandcastles may get you in some trouble in some areas Credit: Getty Images 6 Irish tourists have been urged to stay clear of any protests Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti 6 Walking around without a shirt on could leave you facing a €600 fine (Stock Picture) Credit: Alamy The sunshine spot has been And locals claiming their homes have been turned into playgrounds for tourists has put pressure on the government to set strict rules in place that put a stop to unruly tourist behaviour. The new regulations could affect some of the nearly three million or so Irish punters expected to visit the hotspot this year. And any rule breakers could be hit with whopping fines of up to €3,000. Irish tourists heading to popular Spanish sunshine spots will now need to be more cautious about how and where they drink. Public drinking in Llucmajor, Palma, and Magaluf, along with Sant Antoni in Ibiza, is banned - unless it takes place in clearly designated areas approved by authorities. And the rule extends out to sea, covering party boats operating within one nautical mile of those towns. Those who don't follow the law could be hit with a steep fine, which starts at €500 for minor offences but rolls all the way up to €3,000. Tourists have also been warned that alcohol cannot be bought in shops from 9.30pm to 8am in Spain - but bars and clubs can continue selling. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Those opting to relax at an all-inclusive resort can continue to expect sea and sunshine but have been warned that alcohol rules will apply there too. 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Failure to produce an ID on the spot when asked by the Civil Guard, National, Regional or Local And Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish tourists abroad that ignoring direct requests or challenging a police officer may be viewed as "disobedience", which is a criminal offence. The DFA warned that those arrested can't always jet right back home. A spokesperson said: " If you're arrested by the Spanish police at any stage, please ensure that all judicial matters against you are resolved before you leave Spain and that you have paid any fines. " Otherwise, you may be detained when you come back to Spain and you may incur further fines or even a prison sentence ." Sarah Slattery, a former travel agent based in Ireland, also advises Irish sunseekers to prepare ahead by photocopying their ID and passport in case they're stolen while abroad. She said: "It is not something we like to think about, but is it possible that you could be a victim of a crime on holidays, or you could simply loose your passport or other documents. "I suggest photocopying or uploading images of your passport, tickets and insurance policy to the cloud before you travel. "This is an important part of your holiday checklist, and once you have uploaded images of your passport once, they will be there for your next trip." SHIRTLESS STROLL In specific areas of Spain tourists may face a fine for wearing swimwear outside of pool or areas. Going shirtless or donning a bikini while walking in specific public locations is a major no-no in some parts of Spain. And those who take the chance could be stopped by police in the street and slapped with a fine of up to €600. Barcelona, Malaga and Benidorm are known as the spots tourists breaking this rule get caught out the most. BAD BEACH BEHAVIOUR The swimwear rule is not the only new regulation to have been implemented across certain sunshine destination in Spain. In some seaside towns, entering the beach between midnight and 7am can see tourists landed with a fine worth between €750 and €1,200. Swimming when the red flag is flying can cost €1,000. Sleeping or camping on the beach can result in a sickening €1,200 bill while placing a parasol or towel to reserve a space comes with the risk of a possible €150 fine. WHY IS SPAIN CLAMPING DOWN ON TOURISTS? MANY of Spain's most popular tourist destinations have been introducing tighter regulations for tourists as we approach the summer. It's a response to a fierce anti-tourism backlash in Spain. Locals blame tourists for crowded streets, traffic jams, a proliferation of souvenir stalls and generic coffee shops and restaurants and spiralling cost-of-living prices. Anger is also growing over the impact tourism is having on housing, with short-term tourist accommodation driving up the cost of rental properties. The new measures aim to mitigate the issues caused by overtourism and ensure a more sustainable tourism model. Smoking on the beach has a fine of up to €2,000 and alcohol is strictly banned - even when illegal beach vendors are offering it up at cheap prices. And urinating in the sea can get you a fine of €150. In parts of Benidorm and Tenerife, However, according to 'Frank The Stag Man', a travel agent who runs stag and hen dos in Benidorm, the fine does not include children's sandcastles and is aimed towards larger "sand architects ". ALCOHOL & DRUG CONSUMPTION The Irish government has issued warnings to Irish holidaymakers heading off to Spain to party. It said: "Alcoholic spirits are usually sold in significantly larger measures in bars and restaurants in Spain than in Ireland. "Consumption of alcohol in public places, except licensed bars and restaurants, is generally not permitted and may result in a fine. "There have been fatalities involving Irish citizens who have consumed illegal drugs in Spain. "The Spanish authorities take the possession of illegal drugs in any quantity extremely seriously and such activity may result in imprisonment. "The authorities in Mallorca and Ibiza are particularly active in anti-drug law enforcement, and are likely to prosecute in cases of use or possession of drugs." 'STAY CLEAR' OF PROTESTS Multiple cities across Spain are expected to be brought to a standstill on June 15 when locals take to the streets to protest against mass tourism. Representatives of 60 groups in are among those who vowed that the date would mark their biggest protest yet. The demonstration in Palma, Majorca will be held simultaneously with similar marches in Some cities in And the Irish government has warned tourists abroad to "stay clear" of any protest action, amid fears that growing anger over mass tourism could make demonstrators more hateful. The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. "We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities. "Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. "You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain." YOU'RE GETTING TAXED A NUMBER of popular Spanish tourist destinations have a tourist tax in place. Popular regions like Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia are among those who charge tourists a tax often added to their accomodation bill. However, some hotspots have confirmed that the tax on tourists will be upped this year. In the Balearic Islands, overnight charges may rise depending on the quality of the accommodation. The Balearic Islands include holiday hotspots such as Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza. Cruise ship passengers visiting the popular region will be hit with a 200 per cent increase in tax. In Barcelona, the tourist tax is set to double per person per night. But children under 16 are exempt in both cases. CAP ON CARS & CARAVANS Ibiza has this month introduced a limit on the number of tourists cars and caravans that can visit the hugely popular holiday island. From June 1 until September 30, the number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,168. Only 16,000 of these vehicles will be allowed to be rental cars and the other 4,108 will be for tourists who want to disembark with their cars in Ibiza from the ports of Barcelona, ​​Denia, Valencia, or Palma. And Irish tourists planning on taking a drive to the sunshine spots have been warned vehicles must obtain prior online authorisation first. Those making the journey in caravans must present a confirmed reservation at an authorised campsite on the island to make it through. I biza Island Council President Vicent Marí insisted the island is "not closing the door the door to tourists". He said: We're introducing this limit to guarantee the sustainability of Ibiza. The island cannot withstand uncontrolled tourism flows. "This measure is about protecting the quality of life for residents and the environment. "We are not closing the door to tourists. We are simply inviting them to enjoy our island in a way that is respectful, measured, and future-focused." 6 Irish tourists heading to popular Spanish sunshine spots will now need to be more cautious about how and where they drink (Stock Picture) Credit: Getty Images 6 Thousands took to the streets of Tenerife to protest about mass tourism last month Credit: Getty Images 6 Irish tourists must have a valid ID on their person 'at all times' in Spain Credit: Getty Images - Getty

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