Which cities in Europe are leading the way in livability, innovation, and cultural vibrancy? Resonance Consultancy’s Europe’s Best Cities 2025 ranking provides a comprehensive look at how European cities are performing in a fast-changing world shaped by post-pandemic recovery, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing sustainability demands.
In collaboration with Ipsos, the report is based on the opinions of 7,512 citizens across 10 countries and a data-rich assessment of 100 cities with populations over 500,000. It offers a unique perspective on urban transformation-evaluating cities through the lenses of Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity.
Top 10 Best Cities in Europe 2025
According to the Resonance and Ipsos report:
| Rank | City |
| 1 | London |
| 2 | Paris |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 |
Key Trends & Takeaways
-
Geopolitical Shifts: European cities are adapting to global uncertainties with a renewed focus on strategic autonomy and urban resilience.
-
Livability Reimagined: Cities are redefining what makes a place desirable-moving beyond economic performance to include quality of life, sustainability, and emotional connection.
-
Urban Innovation on the Rise: Projects like Rail Baltica and Grand Paris Express signal a broader push toward smarter, more sustainable infrastructure.
-
Place Branding and Reputation: Cities that invest in marketing and branding continue to stand out- attracting talent, tourism, and foreign direct investment.
Notable Ranking Performance & Changes
The 2025 edition of Resonance Consultancy’s Europe’s Best Cities report highlights several shifts in city rankings, reflecting evolving urban dynamics across the continent.
-
London (1st): Retains its top position for the third consecutive year, bolstered by strong international traveler spending, which reached nearly £16.3 billion in 2024, and its leading status in Europe for inward investment.
-
Paris (2nd): Maintains second place, benefiting from significant investments in pedestrian-friendly initiatives and metro expansions, enhancing its urban environment despite ongoing challenges.
-
Berlin (3rd): Secures the third spot, noted for its cultural energy and transformation into a hub for urban innovation and defense.
-
Amsterdam (7th): Drops to seventh place, as the city shifts its focus from “party tourism” to prioritizing quality experiences, which may have impacted its ranking.
-
Vienna (8th): Ranks eighth, performing strongly in healthcare and cultural offerings, highlighting its strengths in livability and cultural appeal.
-
Prague (9th): Secures the ninth spot, facing challenges in balancing tourism with resident needs and ongoing infrastructure and sustainability efforts.
-
Stockholm (10th): Enters the top ten, recognized for its sustainability initiatives and quality of life.
-
Budapest (17th): Rises to 17th place, gaining recognition for its rich historical heritage, vibrant cultural scene, and growing economic vitality.
-
Warsaw (19th): Climbs to 19th place, propelled by impressive performance in the Prosperity index, including Europe’s lowest unemployment rate and a highly educated population.
Methodology: How Europe’s Best Cities Were Ranked
The Europe’s Best Cities 2025 report by Resonance Consultancy evaluates 100 major cities across the continent, each with a population exceeding 500,000. The ranking is based on a holistic methodology that combines statistical performance with public perception, offering a nuanced understanding of urban competitiveness.
Cities are assessed across three core pillars: Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity. The Livability pillar considers essential aspects of urban life such as healthcare quality, public safety, educational infrastructure, transport accessibility, and the availability of green spaces. Lovability focuses on a city’s cultural appeal and emotional resonance, drawing on data from online platforms such as Google, Instagram, and Tripadvisor to gauge interest in dining, nightlife, and public spaces, as well as overall imageability. The Prosperity pillar measures economic performance, including employment rates, business activity, innovation capacity, and talent attraction, with a particular focus on educational attainment and startup ecosystems.
To complement the data analysis, Resonance partnered with Ipsos to conduct a perception survey among 7,512 citizens across 10 European countries. This qualitative layer ensures that the ranking reflects not just how cities perform on paper, but also how they are experienced and valued by the people who live in or visit them.
All findings are integrated into a proprietary scoring system known as the Place Power™ Score, which balances objective performance metrics with subjective perceptions to produce the final city rankings.
For further information and the full list of ranked cities, visit worldsbestcities.com
Our Key Takeaways
Resonance Consultancy’s Europe’s Best Cities 2025 ranking paints a compelling picture of a continent in transition. From our perspective at TPBO, several key trends and insights stand out – not just about which cities performed well, but why they did, and what it reveals about the future of urban competitiveness in Europe.
1. The Return of Resilience as a Core Urban Asset
Top-performing cities like London, Paris, and Berlin demonstrate that infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural capital continue to matter – but what’s equally clear is the rising importance of resilience. These cities are not just large or wealthy; they are increasingly seen as reliable, adaptive environments in uncertain times.
2. Urban Innovation Is No Longer Optional
Cities climbing the rankings – including Warsaw and Budapest – reflect how strategic investment in innovation ecosystems and quality of life infrastructure can transform perception and performance. The continued expansion of transit networks (e.g. Grand Paris Express) and projects like Rail Baltica illustrate that long-term vision pays off in reputation and prosperity.
3. Reframing the ‘Lovability’ Factor
The emphasis on culture, walkability, and emotional connection signals a shift away from traditional economic metrics alone. Amsterdam’s drop – amid its campaign to reset visitor behaviour – is a reminder that destination management is as much about values as volume. Cities that focus on creating places where people want to live, not just visit, are gaining ground.
4. Eastern and Southern Cities Are Rising
The inclusion and upward movement of cities like Warsaw, Sofia, and Budapest indicates a broader rebalancing of Europe’s urban map. These places combine affordability, talent, and cultural energy, making them increasingly attractive to both investors and residents priced out of Western capitals.
5. Rankings Reflect Reputation, Not Just Reality
Finally, it’s worth remembering that rankings like this one reflect both performance and perception. That means place branding and storytelling remain critical. Cities that are able to clearly communicate their strengths – backed by real progress – are the ones that will continue to lead.
Want to dive deeper into the performance and potential of cities worldwide? Visit our City Observatory for expert insights and detailed analysis.
For a full list of city rankings highlighted by experts, visit our Rankings Dashboard.
Resonance is a member of our impact partners – leading agencies that are committed to promoting responsible place branding.
