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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Why Minneapolis is one of the world's happiest places
Minneapolis ranked among the world's happiest cities for 2025. Locals say the secret lies in its Nordic roots, creative energy and community spirit that bring all-season joy. When it comes to measuring the happiest places in the world, the Nordic countries often come out on top. That was certainly the case in this year's 2025 Happy Cities Index, conducted by the Institute for the Quality of Life, where Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden all had at least one city rank in the top-marked "Gold" category. So perhaps it's no surprise that Minneapolis – the only US city aside from New York City to earn a Gold happiest city designation – has its own ties back to Scandinavia. Home to the largest population of Norwegians, Finns and Swedes outside of Europe, Minnesota and its largest city Minneapolis still maintain strong ties to their early settlers who came to the United States in the mid-19th Century, fleeing religious persecution and famine. With its long, cold winters and abundant lakes, Minneapolis's climate and landscape certainly can resemble its Nordic counterparts. In the same vein, its residents have long learned to embrace the four seasons, and even say it contributes to their overall sense of happiness. "Although the winters do get cold and the summers can be hot and humid, we have a lot more sunny days than many metros," says Steven Rothberg, who moved here from Winnipeg in 1988. "People here embrace the outdoors. It is a rare day that is cloudy, gloomy or drizzling, which makes outdoor activities much easier to plan and enjoy, even if it is cold or hot." He notes that the city consistently ranks among the country's highest number of commuters who bike to work, with more than two thirds of the population reporting they often or sometimes ride a bike to go to school or run errands. The Midwest city has made continuous improvements to its cycling infrastructure, with the 51-mile loop Minneapolis Grand Rounds Scenic Byway as its crown jewel, connecting the downtown riverfront with the Mississippi River and Chain of Lakes region to the north-east part of the city. In total, Minneapolis has 21 miles of on-street protected bike lanes and 106 miles of off-street sidewalk and trail miles – many which were converted from former railway lines. "The Rails-to-Trails paths converted abandoned former rail lines into bike and walking paths. If you look at a map of them, you can see how easy it is to get from almost anywhere in the Twin Cities to almost anywhere else without having to bike more than a mile on a city street," said Rothberg. "The beauty, serenity and safety of the trails is a massive benefit to living here, and one that I take advantage of almost every day, year-round." The Happy Cities Index gave Minneapolis particularly high marks in the environment category, measuring green spaces, pollution and overall sustainability – a factor that residents resoundingly agree with. Whether walking or cycling, the trails give residents easy access to the city's abundant park system, clocking in at 22 lakes and 180 parks. "The parks and lakes are incredible. Whether I'm shooting an engagement at Lake Harriet or a family session at Minnehaha Falls, I'm constantly reminded how much access we have to beautiful, natural spaces right in the city," said local wedding photographer Kristine Barron. "The city puts a lot into bike trails, public libraries and community centres, which shows how much they value wellness and connection." Minneapolis was also a standout in the economy category, ranking fourth of all measured cities in the index for its strong growth, reasonable cost of living, innovation and prioritisation of education. The index noted that nearly a quarter of residents hold a master's degree and one in five people speaks a second language. "The welcoming nature of the people and policies that mean anyone can come here or live here and feel at home," said Kristen Montag, senior public relations and communications manager at Meet Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association, who lives in nearby St Paul, Minneapolis' "Twin City", which makes up the large metro area. The cultural diversity is held together by a sense of community. "Culturally, people here are kind, community-focused and resilient," said Barron. The city has been under the spotlight again recently as it marks the five-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd. In honour, the city holds an annual Rise & Remember Festival to showcase the power of art and community activism to continue the healing process. More like this:• What it's like to live in the happiest country on Earth• The world's five happiest cities for 2025• Why people love living in Switzerland This creative energy reshapes the city from season to season. "Summertime means outdoor cafes, concerts and festivals that keep your calendar full, while wintertime brings a cosy embrace of sauna culture, outdoor recreation like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and more, and the coffee culture, dining next to fireplaces (indoor and outdoor!) and outdoor beer festivals like the Winter Beer Dabbler," said Montag. "Spring and fall are gorgeous seasons too." For first-time visitors, residents recommend visiting the Stone Arch Bridge, the National Civil Engineering Landmark that offers views of St Anthony Falls. "Start around sunset," recommends Barron. "You'll get skyline views, riverfront beauty and a true sense of the heart of Minneapolis. It's also one of my favourite photo spots, so bring a camera." Locals also raved about Native American restaurant Owamni, winner of the 2022 James Beard national best new restaurant award. The restaurant proudly serves a "decolonised dining experience", removing colonial ingredients such as wheat flour, cane sugar and dairy from its recipes. Instead, it prioritises Indigenous food producers for its signature seasonal dishes, like bison ribeye, huckleberry-cured salmon and stuffed poblanos. Montag also recommends heading to one of Minneapolis go-to burger joints and ordering a "Jucy Lucy" – a Minneapolis-invented cheeseburger where the cheese is stuffed in the middle of the burger instead of on top. While its exact origins are hotly debated, former speakeasy 5-8 Club Tavern & Grill and Matt's Bar both claim an early version. Although the famous Mall of America – the largest shopping mall in the country with more than 580 stores – is a popular tourist draw, residents warn that it's not too dramatically different from a mall you might have visited before. "Just larger and with a small amusement park in the centre," says local author Michael MacBride. Instead, the truly unique photo ops are at the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden with its 60 creative and oversized sculptures, including the city's iconic pop art-inspired Spoonbridge & Cherry fountain. The nearby Walker Art Center also has free nights on Thursdays and showcases contemporary art, performances and films. "Minneapolis has strong creative energy," said Barron. "Lots of art, music and photography. "It's a city that appreciates the little things." -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Explore The Happiest Cities For Living And Travel, Per New Study
Berlin is one of the happiest cities in the world, as per the Happy City Index 2025 What makes a city truly happy? The world's happiest cities excel in creating environments where residents thrive and visitors are enchanted. A good city undoubtedly offers an affordable lifestyle for its residents, in terms of accessible housing and good jobs, but it's also a lot more. A city that makes its residents happy provides for its citizens in terms of its services and protects its people in environmental, economic, and social senses. A good city for a five-year-old with great playgrounds is different for a working adult who may want accessible and efficient public transport to get home from work and, yet again, for a retiree. The world's happiest cities can do all this and more. Plus, with excellent services and happy residents, they're great places to visit as travelers. The Institute for Quality of Life measures the world's happiest cities under a project organised by the Happy City Hub. The project researches various aspects of quality of life, centered around six major themes—citizens, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Its tagline is from Plato, 'This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are.' Within these themes, the project studies many health indicators, such as nutrition and mental health. In the economy, it looks at factors such as unemployment, cost of living, earnings, GDP, and maternity and paternity leave allowances. It studies indicators such as pollution, recycling, and green spaces in the environment. In governance, data such as voting participation and accessibility of e-payments and e-services are analyzed. For mobility, it looks at public transport networks and road traffic accidents. And for citizens, it assesses educational factors, access to affordable housing, access to culture, and inclusive services such as support for older people or people with disabilities. Indeed, all the things about a city that, when combined, make its residents very happy. As the project says, "There is no single perfect place to live that guarantees happiness for all its residents," but there are factors that make a difference. The project has identified three different levels of cities globally. There are 31 gold standard cities, where cities track their progress against clear benchmarks. These cities have measurable indicators, and the figures allow meaningful comparisons with other places around the world, and the impact of their social policies is undeniably visible. Many of these 31 gold cities are some of the most visited cities in the world. Think Paris, Berlin, New York, Barcelona, Dublin, and London. These cities were recently featured as some of the smartest cities in the world on the IESE Cities in Motion Index 2025, and cities with the best work-life balance, like Dublin, Brussels, and Copenhagen. However, many of these 31 countries are in Northern Europe and regularly appear on indexes of countries with a high self-reported happiness level by their residents. The UN's World's Happiest Countries in 2025 appear on this list in some of its cities. Finland is first on that list, and Helsinki is in 14th place. Denmark is the second-highest happiest country, and Copenhagen topped the world's happiest cities. Aarhus in Denmark is in 4th place, Reykjavik in Iceland is in 27th place, Stockholm in Sweden is in 7th place, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands is in 10th place. These places feature in many of the best places to visit in 2024 or 2025. Zurich, the second happiest city on the list, is loved for its progressive culture, with a dynamic music and art scene and architectural landmarks by Le Corbusier and Santiago Calatrava. Antwerp, at number four, is rapidly becoming what industry insiders call a 'destination dupe' for Paris; places that travelers head to to avoid the overcrowding of summer crowds and because it offers many of Paris' charms—although Paris is also 13th on the list. France remains the most visited country in the world. Berlin, number 16 on the happiest cities in the world, was named by Time Out as one of the 50 Best Cities for its famed nightlife, plethora of positive liveability aspects, and thriving organic wine and restaurant scene. The world's happiest cities are more than just places to live—they're destinations that inspire and delight travelers. With their focus on well-being, sustainability, and inclusivity, these cities set the standard for urban happiness and make them unforgettable travel destinations. This is the 6th edition of the Happy City Index, with these cities ranked as the 200 happiest cities in the world:
CTV News
12-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Vancouver ranked as 11th ‘happiest city' in the world
Vancouver has landed 11th place on a list of happiest cities in the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
