Few cities are as beloved as La Serenissima, reflected in its #22 ranking in our overall Lovability index. What’s not to love? This is the iconic floating city, where gondolas drift through storied canals, ferrying wide-eyed visitors. And boy, are there plenty of visitors: 5.6 million a year, more than 15,000 a day. That’s a lot of new bodies for a city centre of just 7.6 square kilometres, and Venice is extending its day-tripper tax to quell – and capitalise upon – the crowds. Still, you’ll want to come to Venice, be it to experience its #17-ranked Sights & Landmarks or find enlightenment in Europe’s 28th-best museums. Sardines by the water don’t hurt either.
Meanwhile, Venice has bigger fish to fry, confronting climate change while also planning its bright future. In 2025, it unveiled plans for an 18,500-capacity stadium, designed by Populous. This year, it will welcome a new Orient Express Hotel and open its San Marco Art Centre, adding more for visitors to love. Yet flooding remains an existential problem for a city so bonded with the sea. Its multi-billion-euro MOSE sea barriers have already proved a divisive marvel, and all eyes will be on Venice as it continues to adapt over the next decades.