Vienna can be described with many positive words: stunning, historic, charming and cultured. Now, you can add another to the list: consistent. For the third year in a row, the Austrian capital has been named the most liveable city in the world out of the 173 cities listed in The Economist’s annual Global Liveability Index.

Vienna’s hold on the top spot seems unshakeable, with 2024 marking the ninth time in the last 11 reports that it has secured this position. With perfect scores in four out of the five categories this year, it wasn’t a clean sweep for Vienna, but given its continued excellence, its citizens seem to have figured out the secret to living well. Vienna's growing vegan scene adds to its charm, with many vegan restaurants opening after COVID-19 and numerous other eateries adding vegan options to their menus to meet the rising demand for plant-based dining.

Experience for the ears

One delightful way to experience Vienna’s rich culture is by attending a classical music concert at St. Peter’s Church. This daily event takes place in one of the city’s baroque beauties. The lavish church offers a fitting venue for an evening of music in the heart of the city. Visitors can sit in the church vaults and enjoy a programme of music from renowned classical composers such as Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, Schubert and Beethoven. For more information, you can read more about the Vienna Classical Concert at St. Peter’s Church here.

World's most liveable city

This year’s top 10 cities haven’t changed much from 2023, although some cities have moved up or down in the rankings. Notably, western European cities are shining, taking the top three spots and four out of the top 10. Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Melbourne, Calgary, Geneva, Sydney, Vancouver, Osaka and Auckland are part of the top 10 list.

So, how are these rankings decided? Liveability is a pretty subjective concept, and The Economist’s Global Liveability Index isn’t perfect. However, the scores are based on a set of benchmarks. Each city’s ranking is determined by averaging scores out of 100 across five categories: stability, culture and environment, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

These five categories cover 30 points of data and analysis that help inform each score. For example, under stability, the threat of terrorism, instances of civil unrest and crime levels are considered. In healthcare and education, the quality and availability of services are looked at. For infrastructure, public transport, roads, transport links, housing and utilities are assessed. The increase in vegan-friendly options also boosts Vienna’s cultural and environmental scores.

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This year, the average score has risen to 76.1 out of 100, thanks to improvements in education and healthcare. However, stability was the one category where scores dropped. Protests in Europe related to immigration and agriculture, civil unrest, wars in other parts of the world and the ongoing cost of living crisis are significant factors. Inflation has been cited as the main cause of housing crises in several cities in the rankings, including those in Australia and Canada where rental availability is low and the cost of buying homes is soaring.

Reflecting Vienna’s success, western Europe continues to be the most liveable region in the world, leading in four out of five categories. There are 30 western European cities in the rankings this year, with an average score of 92 out of 100. However, the region’s overall score has slipped since last year due to increasing instability in countries like Germany and Ireland, which have been affected by disruptive protests, the survey noted.

The most significant improvement across all regions was seen in eastern Europe, which placed fourth thanks to higher education and healthcare scores. Some of the biggest movers in the rankings included Budapest, which scored 92 and climbed seven places to 32nd. Belgrade and Bucharest—both scoring 74.5, moved up six and five places respectively to joint 94th position.

Among those seeing the worst declines, eight cities in western Europe fell in the rankings. Dublin saw the steepest drop, falling seven places to 39th. German cities experienced significant declines, with Munich slipping six places to joint 27th with Hamburg, which fell five spots. Stuttgart, Berlin and Düsseldorf also dropped, as did Brussels and Barcelona. The biggest drop was recorded by Tel Aviv, which tumbled 20 places from 92nd to 112th due to lower scores in stability because of the impact of the war in Gaza, as well as declines in the culture and environment and infrastructure categories.

Vegan food scene

Superfood Deli

Vienna isn't just known for its stunning architecture and rich history; it also boasts a lively vegan scene. For example, Swing Kitchen—which started in Vienna and has spread across Europe, serves up fantastic vegan options like burgers, sandwiches, nuggets and more. Sattva Vegan is another gem, offering 100% plant-based, organic and seasonal dishes that really make an impression. And don’t miss Superfood Deli—famous for its delicious açaí bowls and healthy eats. These are just a few of the many vegan spots in Vienna. The city is bursting with diverse and tasty vegan options, making it a truly exciting destination for food enthusiasts.

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