True livability lies hidden in the daily life of these cities.

When economists score 173 cities around the world using indicators such as stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure, we would rather ask another question: what does true livability actually feel like? The Economist Intelligence Unit's just-released 2026 Global Liveability Index has put Copenhagen at the top once again, followed by Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, and Zurich. But beyond the data, the ordinary people in these cities offer more vivid answers through their daily lives.

Copenhagen: An Ordinary Tuesday Morning

"You can bike to work, then jump into the harbor for a swim, and come home for dinner. This isn't a special day—it's just a Tuesday." That's how Laura Amira Kassem, a PhD student who has lived in Copenhagen for eight years, describes her city. She likes to go for a morning jog at Utterslev Mose or by the lake, then have breakfast and coffee, and go for a swim in summer. The city seems designed precisely for this kind of life: cycling, swimmable water, and a scale that is truly walkable and bikeable.

When Kassem takes friends on a tour, she starts in Nørrebro, where she lives. In this culturally diverse neighborhood, vegetable stalls, kebab shops, and jewelry stores stand side by side with sourdough bakeries, natural wine bars, and small bistros. Then they bike to Nordhavn, have coffee by the water, and eat a traditional Danish open sandwich—before joining the running loop at Fælledparken in the evening, three kilometers per lap and a meeting place for the running community. "Everyone is welcome—run, chat with friends, then sit outside for dinner," she says. Here, livability is not some carefully orchestrated experience but a daily life woven into the city's fabric.

Vienna: Reading the City on the Tram

Vienna's livability is hidden in the commute. Franziska Hochmüller of the Vienna Tourist Board rides the tram along the Ringstrasse every day—not scrolling on her phone, but reading or gazing at the buildings outside. "It's a tiny detail, yet it reminds me every day how extraordinary Vienna's 'ordinary' is," she says.

In Vienna, you barely need public transport in districts 1 through 9. Roland Eygenhoff, a hotelier, likes to take visitors to the sixth and seventh districts, especially Neubaugasse and Spittelberg, with their cafés, boutiques, and laid-back vibe. The Naschmarkt is a hub for international food. In autumn, the traditional heurigen wine taverns in the vineyards on the city's edge are the best spot for a glass of local wine.

Hochmüller also takes visitors to the Kutschkermarkt in the 18th district, which bustles on Saturdays with its farmers' market, restaurants, and cafés. "Seeing families, couples, and older people shopping or just having a coffee—that, to me, is Vienna," she says. Even though it's a big city, you can always slow down—whether at a café, a park, or the banks of the Danube. "Time just feels different in Vienna."

Melbourne: A Big City Like a VillageMelbourne ranks third, with very high scores for culture and environment. For residents, this cultural depth is reflected in every suburb. “Melbourne is a big city, but somehow it behaves like a village,” says Anne-Marie Lennon, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Carlton, who has worked in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. “People are genuinely interested in you, and then there's culture, food, music, fashion, art—every suburb has its own character and identity.”

Lou MacGregor, a Scot who has lived in Melbourne for twenty years, says Footscray is one of the best local places for eating and drinking. “Every culture and every cuisine is represented, and it's always lively. Fitzroy has cool little bars and vintage shops, St Kilda is great for seaside walks, and Carlton has Italian food and beautiful old streets.” She takes visitors to the domed reading room of the State Library, the ever-changing street art of Hosier Lane, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the iconic laneway arcades. “This is Melbourne—a curious, creative city with unexpected surprises around every corner.”

Lennon, meanwhile, takes people to Princes Park, where there are dog walkers, joggers, families, and people who are simply sitting and breathing. “It's unhurried and real. This is the Melbourne I live in every day, and I never tire of it,” she says. “Move two kilometres, and you feel you've entered a completely different world.”

Sydney: Nature Never Waits for the Weekend

Sydney and Melbourne are tied on overall score, but Sydney took fourth place thanks to perfect scores in healthcare and education. Residents say that easy access to nature, multicultural communities, and an outdoor lifestyle are what make the city so livable. “In Sydney, wherever you are, you're never far from a spectacular view—whether it's the harbour, the Blue Mountains, or the beach,” says Steve Kamper, New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism. But to experience local life, he recommends Burwood in the inner west, “vibrant, with great food everywhere—one of the best places to experience multicultural character.” He would also take people to watch an Australian rules football match. “Very few places in the world treat sport the way Sydney does.”

French jewellery designer Julie Livni has lived on four continents, and Sydney still surprises her. “People don't wait until the weekend to go to the beach or for a swim; they make it part of their everyday life.” Every day at sunrise, she and her friends walk from Bondi to Bronte—that hour is her reset button as an entrepreneur and mother of two. She takes visitors to Tamarama Beach for sunrise, coffee in Bondi, and then the ferry from Rose Bay, “not necessarily going anywhere, just seeing the Opera House and the harbour from the water.” Lunch is at Uncut Seafood. She says: “Sydney is incredibly multicultural, with food and people from all over the world, yet it still has a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere—a truly rare combination for a big city.”

Zurich: Efficient Living on the Water's EdgeAlthough Zurich slipped from joint second place to fifth, residents say the connection between efficiency and nature constitutes its extraordinary quality of life. "Without lakes and rivers, Zurich would not be Zurich. Every day I pass by Lake Zurich, the Limmat River, or the Sihl River, giving myself a little time," said Manuela Leonhard, a Zurich resident. The city has made its waterfronts part of everyday life; whether commuting or strolling, water is always at your side. In Zurich, time is not a resource to be managed, but flows quietly, like a river.

The Essence of Livability

These cities may seem different, yet they share a subtle temperament: they respect the dignity of everyday life. Livability is not about grand landmarks or spectacular events, but about being able to bike to work, go home for a meal after a swim, admire architecture from a tram, sit in a park for a while, or let your mind drift by the water—these ordinary moments are precisely what form a city's deepest appeal. When we talk about livability, we are actually talking about the ability to let life unfold with ease.