The 50 Best Cities in the World for Families
Looking to relocate your brood? Real estate portal Homebuy recently revealed the Best Cities for Families Index of 2017, and the results just might surprise you. To come up with the list, Homebuy rated 100 cities around the world on 16 factors including affordability, pollution, safety, maternity laws, healthcare quality and green spaces. It turns out that a few American cities made the cut, so you might want to stock up on moving boxes.
1.
Copenhagen, Denmark
When coziness is a national lifestyle, you’d better believe that the population is pretty damn happy.
2.
Oslo, Norway
You and the kids could go explore the fjords on weekends.
3.
Zurich, Switzerland
All that chocolate, beautiful scenery and cheese? We’re not surprised.
4.
Stockholm, Sweden
This Scandi city came in first place for healthcare. We’re betting that its balanced approach to living has something to do with how family-friendly it is, too.
5.
Hamburg, Germany
Of course, the place that inspired the hamburger (aka your kid’s favorite dinner) made the list.
6.
Vancouver, Canada
Like Manhattan but with mountains (and way less pollution).
7.
Basel, Switzerland
Just imagine how sophisticated your brood would be if you attended the famous Art Basel every year?
8.
Toronto, Canada
The “It” travel destination of the year, according to Google.
9.
Stuttgart, Germany
With more than half the city made up of forests, vineyards and meadows, it’s no wonder it topped the list for number of green spaces.
10.
Munich, Germany
Even the legendary Oktoberfest is child-friendly.
11.
Lausanne, Switzerland
This picturesque lake-side town came in first place for safety.
12.
Vienna, Austria
The chance to eat Sacher torte every day? Yes, please.
13.
Sydney, Australia
"The Harbour City" topped the list for kid-friendly airports.
14.
Helsinki, Finland
Your children could even deliver their letter to Santa in person.
15.
Melbourne, Australia
This European-style metropolis boasts a thriving art scene, cool restaurants and excellent wine.
16.
Bern, Switzerland
This capital city came out on top for its range of family-friendly transportation options.
17.
Montreal, Canada
Ice-skating in the winter and music festivals in the summer. (And poutine all year-round.)
18.
Brisbane, Australia
Sydney’s more sophisticated cousin.
19.
Auckland, New Zealand
Swimming, hiking, kayaking, surfing and more—there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to keep kids of all ages entertained.
20.
Frankfurt, Germany
A bustling metropolis that scored highly in housing, healthcare and education.
21.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Home to the world’s happiest kids. (It’s also one of the most walkable cities in Europe.)
22.
Hannover, Germany
Low cost of living, great public transport and plenty of green space make this quiet town ideal for family life.
23.
Geneva, Switzerland
See earlier note about chocolate and cheese.
24.
Wellington, New Zealand
Or as locals call it, “Windy Welly.”
25.
Düsseldorf, Germany
One of the country’s wealthiest cities is also one of its artsiest.
26.
Berlin, Germany
The city scored top marks for healthcare and children’s activities, although unemployment is pretty high.
27.
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Every August, the entire town transforms into the world’s largest arts festival. (Plus, a real life castle overlooks the city—how cool is that?)
28.
Graz, Austria
Well, that just looks adorable.
29.
Cologne, Germany
Moving overseas may not be an option, but this charming town is definitely worth a visit in wintertime for its festive markets.
30.
London, United Kingdom
Sure, the capital may be expensive, but there are plenty of free things you can do, too.
31.
Seattle, United States
Finally, an American city that made the list.
32.
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
You may not be able to find it on a map, but this town scored top marks for affordability and low pollution.
33.
Singapore, Singapore
A huge ex-pat community means that you and your crew would fit right in.
34.
Dublin, Ireland
There’s so much more to do than just hanging out in pubs (but do grab a pint).
35.
Houston, United States
The second most affordable city on the list (after Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
36.
Boston, United States
Beantown has lots of kid-friendly activities (the aquarium! The Freedom Trail!), but like other U.S. cities, it scored poorly when it came to parental law.
37.
Tokyo, Japan
New meets old in this city of neon skyscrapers and cutting-edge design that’s dotted with ancient Buddhist shrines and tranquil gardens.
38.
Southampton, United Kingdom
Did you know that Southampton is known as the cruise capital of Europe?
39.
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Drag the kids around the city’s many free museums.
40.
Tallinn, Estonia
The number one country to visit in 2018 if you’re on a budget.
41.
Osaka, Japan
Aka the country’s culinary capital, from its luxurious Michelin-starred restaurants to its amazing street food.
42.
Lyon, France
A charming town with a restaurant scene that rivals Paris.
43.
Toulouse, France
Ski slopes, beaches, thermal baths and delicious food—what’s not to love?
44.
Paris, France
The City of Light came in first place for kid-friendly activities. (Eating pastries counts as an activity, right?)
45.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
This small country is surrounded by Croatia, Hungary, Austria and Italy—just think about all the amazing weekend trips you could take if you lived here.
46.
San Francisco, United States
Luckily, San Fran is full of hills—you’ll need them to work off all the amazing food the city has to offer.
47.
New York, United States
The Natural History Museum, Central Park, the High Line—New York is just one giant playground for children.
48.
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Once considered a dismal place to visit, regeneration efforts have transformed “Brum” into a hip metropolis.
49.
Madrid, Spain
Eating out with kids is easy in this friendly city that welcomes niños with open arms.
50.
Vilnius, Lithuania
Walking around this capital city with its cobbled streets and grand architecture will feel like you’re in a fairy-tale.
