Helsinki, with its 330 islands, is a model of urban naturalism, earning #8 for Business Ecosystem and #7 for Green Space. Nearly 40% of the city is green, from pocket parks to Central Park, 10 square kilometres of urban woodland. The city runs a focused climate-resilience agenda, and its #7 Air Quality and #3 Climate Risk rankings are worn with pride.
The capital of the country that topped the World Happiness Report again in 2025 is doubling down on green mobility and culture. The 1.23-kilometre Kruunuvuori Bridge, part of the €326-million Crown Bridges network, will be one of the world’s longest bridges for trams, pedestrians and cyclists, helping lift a #49 Public Transit ranking when pedestrians cross in 2026 and trams in 2027. Tourism is following the Nordic vibes. In 2024, Helsinki beat its pre-pandemic record with 4.5 million overnight stays, fuelled by travellers drawn by saunas, food and architecture. New hotels like The Hotel Maria and Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 raise the bar for stays, while the Helsinki Biennale brought contemporary art to the archipelago in 2025. A renewed Makasiiniranta waterfront and a new Architecture and Design Museum set for 2030 will anchor Helsinki’s status as a lovable and livable European capital.