The eponymous capital of Western Europe’s landlocked powerhouse, Luxembourg City is keen to keep a centuries-long prosperity streak going. Once a steel epicentre, now a financial hub and one of the capitals of the EU, Luxembourg City ranks #3 for Economic Output, standing tall alongside cities many times its size. Standard of Living (#6) follows suit, as does the city’s ranking for Health (#28).
But it’s not all finance and power plays. This, after all, is the “Gibraltar of the North”, famed for its nigh-impregnable fortifications. These marvels of history, from crumbled fortress ruins to the Bock Casemates tunnels, make up a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws history buffs yearly. While it preserves its past, the city is working hard to expand its horizons. Demolition has begun for its Nei Hollerich development plan, which will build a new neighbourhood alongside the city’s central railway station, with capacity for 2,200 new homes. It promises new parks and public spaces – the city’s #9 Biking and #11 Walkability may just climb higher. What’s more, Luxembourg’s landlocked position may have some key practical benefits, too: this northerly enclave ranks #3 in our Climate Risk subcategory.