Plentiful green space is just as important to city life as the quality of the transport networks and culture spaces, but not all hubs were created equal when it comes to ensuring locals have access to ample nature-filled areas.
conducted its own research into which cities are best for green space by quizzing thousands of urbanites, but another study has just unveiled a fresh list of the greenest cities on the planet.
Iglu Cruise has created a Green City Index by researching the percentage of greenery in each city, the share of accessible public green space, and air quality, and it was (drum roll, please!) Oslo which claimed first place – not just in Europe, but across the whole planet.
Recommended: The world’s best cities for green space and access to nature, according to locals.
The Norwegian capital gained an overall green score of 77.3 out of 100, thanks to excellent air quality and a high proportion of parks, meaning an impressive 95 percent of locals live within 300 metres of a green space.
In fact, a ‘pocket parks’ initiative was developed through community-led efforts and has subsequently transformed lots of old and disused parking spaces into green spaces. Oslo is also home to the world’s first-ever ‘bee highway’, and even more expansive green spaces are still on the city’s doorstep: the Oslomarka forest and Sognsvann Lake, which is surrounded by walking trails, are just a 20-minute metro journey from the city centre.
Vilnius in Lithuania followed closely behind and claimed second place with a score of 72.3, and Helsinki, Finland’s capital, came in third place with 60.3. Europe also stole the show when it comes to the rest of the ranking, claiming seven of the top 10 spots – scroll on to see which ones.
These are the world’s top 10 greenest cities
- Oslo, Norway
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Helsinki, Finland
- Vienna, Austria
- Canberra, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Singapore
- Reading, UK
- Munich, Germany
🌲 Check out ’s roundup of the planet’s very best national parks.
Did you see that Machu Picchu is getting a brand-new airport?
Plus: This popular Italian island has introduced strict new rules to clamp down on overtourism.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
