The Happiest Cities In The World To Add To Your 2024 Travel Bucket List

Apr 01, 2024

Happiness is, well, all anyone really wants for themselves. Sure, eating healthy mealsand getting your daily dose of sunlight can contribute to your inner happiness, but where (and how) you live is the biggest indicator of total lifestyle satisfaction. World Happiness Report published data that measures just that, and they released an exhaustive list of the happiest cities in the world.

The WHR data leans on the Gallup World Poll, which is conducted in more than 160 countries covering 99% of the world’s population. It essentially measures how individuals evaluate their own quality of life and happiness.

The final ranking is also based on individual feedback on a measure WHR calls ‘life evaluation’ – ranking their quality of life from 0-10 (ten being the best). The resulting data also takes into account respondents’ emotional wellbeing, each answering for the day before they were polled. Did they smile or laugh a lot, or did they experience more sadness or anger?

More than half of the top ten happiest cities are Scandinavian. Australian cities drew a close second. Wherever they are, these 10 happiest cities are begging for a spot on your travel bucket list. Pack your bags, and let’s dive in!

The Happiest Cities In The World

Photo by Elena Golovchenko / PEXELS

Helsinki, Finland

Finland’s capital city of Helsinki earns the spot of happiest city in the world. It’s located alongside the Gulf of Finland, oozing with coastal charm. Residents of Helsinki really pride themselves and their city on their sustainability efforts.

Helsinki has an efficient and well-connected public transport system, with plenty of trams, buses, commuter trains, and even ferries to get you from place to place.

Helsinki is the second safest city in the world according to Mercer 2019 Quality of Living Rankings, which is just another amazing reason to go visit, not worrying about your personal safety throughout your itinerary.

Year-round, you can discover stunning modern architecture, Finnish cuisine, and Finland’s islands right off the coast. In the winter, the sun disappears for months, but that only gives you a better chance to spot the Northern Lights!

Photo by Pixabay / PEXELS

Aarhus, Denmark

Aarhus, Denmark is a remarkably cozy city, though many say it feels more like a small, tight-knit neighborhood. It’s very walkable, which allows you to see and do tons, checking off the items on your bucket list with each step. Additionally, the city has a widespread, free bike service to help you get around!

Aarhus boasts a bustling harbor that’s clad in cultural centers, libraries, and outdoor activities. It played a pivotal role in the viking days, so there’s plenty of Aarhus history to soak up for the history-lovers out there.The Your rainbow panoramaand The Infinite Bridge are must-do’s in Aarhus, along with a slew of Michelin-starred restaurants, if foodie things are your thing.

Photo by Donovan Kelly / PEXELS

Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington is located in central New Zealand, right along the Cook Strait, which flows between the country’s two major islands. It’s the capital city, and its vibrancy comes primarily from business, finance, government, and the film industry!

Wellington has a very youthful energy about it, but there’s still a rich history behind the present day. The city’s architecture styles range from 19th-century government buildings to Art Deco facades. For more to see and do in Wellington (there’s a lot), check out this site.

Photo by Firdevs Birol / PEXELS

Zurich, Switzerland

Going along with the theme of balancing nature with urban life, Zurich ranks fourth for the happiest cities in the world. You can prance around the city, exploring its buildings, shopping centers, bars, restaurants, and more, then end up in the Swiss mountains in less than an hour if you feel like it!

Zurich is situated on the northern side of Lake Zurich and is just as vibrant in the winter as it is in the summer. There’s endless opportunity for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing once it gets powdery and cold. When it’s warm out, take advantage of the numerous outdoor recreational spots in the city and throw a picnic, barbecue, or toss the frisbee around.

Although there is much to see in Zurich, just being around the way of life and carrying on as normal will feel like a super vacation.

Photo by Nadezhda Moryak / PEXELS

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is a notoriously friendly city, which is why it needs to have a spot on your travel bucket list. Here exists an intriguing contrast of history – on one hand, historical structures of the Viking Age spot the city. On the other, sleek galleries, museums, and residential buildings form a more contemporary impression of Copenhagen.

Regardless of how it looks, you’ll definitely feel the happiness here once you arrive. The ease of life can be attributed to Cophagen’s focus on sustainability. Organic food is the norm, there are endless choices for transportation (so many bikes), and water, light, and greenery are all prioritized whenever a new building is built.

Photo by Jeswin Thomas / PEXELS

Bergen, Norway

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, but like Aarhus, Denmark, it has a smaller, cozier feel. It’s known as ‘the heart of the fjords,” and you’ve probably seen its famous Bryggen wharf while scrolling through Pinterest.

Seafood lies at the center of almost all culinary ventures in Bergen, which is only right since the city lies along the Nordic coast. It tends to rain a lot, but there’s a lot of things to keep you occupied if your outdoor plans get rained out.

There’s no shortage of art, music, and history museums, but there’s still plenty of public art to see for yourself in Bergen. A simple walk around the city lends itself to murals, graffiti, and sculpture.

Like the rest of the top 10 happiest cities in the world, Bergen has a strong focus on sustainability within industry, tourism, and everyday life. This benefits the close surrounding nature. Some of the best excursions beyond the city includefjord and mountain tours, either by boat or cable car.

Photo by Ana Campos / PEXELS

Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway is one of the most walkable capitals in the world, and earns the seventh spot for the happiest cities in the world. It hosts a vibrant mix of everything you’d want, from restaurants, museums, outdoor activities, bars, nightlife, and more.

The food, fashion, and art scenes are very lively in Oslo, likely drawing direct inspiration and energy from the city’s clear landscape and cozy neighborhoods.

Oslo was awarded theEuropean Green Capitaltitle in 2019, which recognizes the city’s sustainability efforts. Because this destination is surrounded by beautiful fjords, islands, and forests, Oslo leans into transport by foot or bike, rather than car. No traffic? Sounds like a great deal to us.

Photo by Vincent Pelletier / PEXELS

Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv is for those who want to marvel in Mediterranean beauty. Beaches surround the coastal town, with shops, bars, restaurants, and markets joining on dry land.

With Tel Aviv having a rich history in sea trade, there are a handful of old ports like Old Jaffa Visitors Center that depict the years and years of commerce that fueled the city.

Indulge in bouts of Middle Eastern food at Carmel Market, go on a pub crawl with locals, or even venture out to Petra or the Dead Sea to witness the landscape’s natural, historical appeal.

Photo by Anna Savelieva / PEXELS

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm claims itself as a creative hub for technology, fashion, music, ﬁlm, design, gaming, and food, which couldn’t be more true. With a wide range of museums, restaurants, nature, hikes, neighborhoods, attractions, and more, you’ll be able to see the happiness from this city.

This capital city stretches across a total of 14 islands, making water a huge part (30% of the city’s area) of the everyday for Stockholm locals and visitors. Parks, green spaces, and forests make up another 30%, so Stockholm is definitely a must if you like to get outside!

Take the artsy metro to get from place to place, or traverse by bike for an authentically Stockholm experience.

Photo by Valeriia Miller / PEXELS

Brisbane, Australia

Balancing structured urban life with the endless great outdoors, Brisbane ranks number ten on the happiest cities in the world. It’s a no-brainer to get out on the water when you visit; the Great Barrier Reef is only a quick trip up Queensland’s coast.

Between oceanic adventures (surfing! snorkeling! beaching!), there are plenty of buzzy foodie spots to eat and drink at, like cocktail bars and brunch places.

Explore modern art, aboriginal history, and nature museums when you’re back on land. One of the coolest things to do in Brisbane is walk the iconic Story Bridge. Make sure to visit in summertime to make the most of what this lively city has to offer!

Discover even more destinations and travel tips with our weekend scroll!

Lead photo by Anna Savelieva / PEXELS.

9 Annoying Airplane Habits You’re Probably Guilty Of (& How To Avoid Them)

Planning summer vacationhas me thinking about stylish duffel bags and small rolling suitcases so much that I almost forgot about all the lack of airplane etiquette that comes with traveling. I've briefly mentioned an overzealous passenger who swore an overhead bin space belonged to him before, but that's not the only weird and downright inconsiderate behavior that can happen during a flight.

It's just a solid reminder that all the personal prep in the world can't keep other people from getting in the way. There's always at least one person who seems to think you want their feet propped up by you, and we can't forget about the person who's impatient to get to their seat as if there aren't other passengers on the plane. To avoid making the mistake of being inconsiderate or careless, I'm sharing a list of 9 offensive things to avoid while flying. And with that, welcome to Airplane Etiquette 101!

Airplane Etiquette Lessons:

Photo by Palu Malerba/PEXELS

1. Don't Complain That Someone Gets To Board Before You

When you're booking your flight, you usually can choose your seat assignments based on the ticket that you're purchasing. You're usually placed in different boarding groups as a result so please don't think someone is out to get you if you're placed in groups 4-6. All this means is that you purchased an Economy ticket that's placed you in a middle or aisle seat, or you may not have a boarding number.

Assuming someone shouldn't board before you based on their appearance or your annoyance isn't going to change what's on the ticket you purchased.

Image via Polina Zimmerman/Pexels

2. Don't Worry About Why Someone's Flying First Class

This one feels self-explanatory, but here goes: It's not anyone's business why someone is flying first class. Their job could've purchased the ticket, or they may have felt like splurging for once. It's not up to us to look at someone, judge their appearance, and say things like, "They just let anyone fly first class these days."

It's classist and — not to mention — childish.

Image via Lukas Souza/Unsplash

3. Just Cooperate With The Flight Attendants, OK?

We've all been on a flight where at least one person decides they're not going to listen to the flight attendants onboard. This usually looks like refusing to temporarily turn off their cell phones, having their headphones in during important demonstrations and announcements, or being told to calm down if there's ranting involved.

They want to make sure everyone will be safe, including you.

Image via Gustavo Fring/Pexels

4. Never Make Snide Comments About Parents Traveling With Kids

At the same time, being an asshole to parents who are traveling with kids just because you "really don't like kids" isn't going to earn you brownie points. This idea that children shouldn't be in public spaces when I'm sure someone travelled with us is wildly hypocritical and whiny.

A child may end up crying because their ears are popping or the plane is experiencing some turbulence. I highly doubt that they took one look at you and decided you were going to be the person they wanted to piss off.

Photo by Payton Butler/Dupe Photos

5. Please Stop Repeatedly Elbowing Your Seat Mate

Respecting someone's personal space is one of the greatest forms of respect in public. You could be waiting to board the plane or you can be sitting in your assigned seat or you can feel comfortable one you're sitting down. Whatever the case may, continuously elbowing the passenger next to you isn't going to go over well.

Photo by Jason Toevs/PEXELS

6. Don't Open The Window Cover If The Person Actually Sitting By It Closed It

This really boils down to respecting someone's personal space. If the person sitting by the window has it closed, ask them if they mind opening it. Please don't reach over them to open it yourself because it shows a disregard for their personal space and, possibly, their preference.

This used to happen to me all the time when I was younger until I finally asked someone what they were doing. It's amazing how startled people are when you ask them a simple question because some people genuinely don't believe they're doing anything wrong.

Photo by Rafly Alfaridzy/Unsplash

7. Stop Blowing Your Nose Loudly In Your Seat Mate's Ear

The first time I flew to California, I wondered how I was going to survive being on a plane for five hours. I figured I'd be okay with reading a couple of books and taking a nap. While I did read, the nap didn't happen thanks to the person sitting next to me.

This person blew their nose the entire flight and balled up their countless napkins before placing them near my elbow. I couldn't even use my armrest because they insisted on elbowing me throughout the flight. Take it from someone who's been subject to this, don't be this person. It's really aggravating.

The solution? Just make your way to the bathroom and blow your nose to your heart's content. That way, you're not bothering the people around you, plus there's a trash can right there for your leftover tissues!

Photo by Polina Zimmerman/PEXELS

8. Absolutely NO Burping Or Passing Gas — Especially Without Saying Excuse Me Afterwards

Sigh. Please, just don't. If your body has to release gas, the least you can do is say "Excuse me," when seating on a plane that contains over 200 people. It's not like you can open a window to get rid of the scent that may come along with your body's gas so people will be aware of it if it's particularly, well, smelly.

Much like the tissue situation, just take a trip to the bathroom and handle things alone, in a closed room, away from other people.

Photo by Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash

9. No More Rushing People When It's Time To Deplane

Again, there are other passengers on the plane, so everyone will have to wait to exit it. It'll eventually happen, but rushing other people isn't going to make you leave any quicker. You may actually get a few dirty looks or hear some choice words if you're not careful. Please just sit back, relax, and make your move when it's actually your turn.

What do you think are some offensive things people can do while flying? Let us know in the comments!

Lead image via Ashley Diego/Dupe Photos

This Is My Dream Sydney Sweeney & Billie Eilish Sister Movie

When Sydney Sweeney showed up to the Met Gala red carpet rocking a jet black bob, the entire Brit + Co team thought she was Billie Eilish — and I immediately started daydreaming about these incredible women playing sisters! We know from Anyone But You and SNL that both Sydney and Billie can balance humor and heart, and I am convinced they need to headline a sister comedy, like, right now. I asked AI to write the plot of a (very hypothetical, unconfirmed) Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney movie so, for now, we can daydream even more!

Billie Eilish And Sydney Sweeney's Sister Roadtrip Comedy

Image via Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Sister Vibes

In Sister Vibes, Sydney Sweeney would star as Ruby opposite Billie Eilish's Lily. These two sisters might have opposite personalities, but they're both at a crossroads in their lives. Ruby is a meticulous, Type-A oldest daughter who's always played it safe in the corporate job she hates. Lily is a free-spirited artist struggling to find her place in the world, and although she dreams of making it big, she's afraid of losing her authentic self.

Feeling totally stuck and unsure about their futures, the sisters decide to go on a big roadtrip to fulfill their desire for adventure. As they make their way across the country (snacks in-hand and roadtrip playlist at full volume), they learn more about their dreams, themselves, and each other than they could have hoped for. And it wouldn't be a comedy without a memorable cast of characters Ruby and Lily encounter along the way! Pedro Pascal? Ayo Edebiri? Lindsay Lohan? (It's a trick question because I want to see all of the above!)

In their journey, Ruby and Lily encounter mishaps, unexpected detours, and some seriously profound self-discovery. From mistaken identities and spontaneous dance parties to moments that take their breath away, Sister Vibes would capture the essence of what it's like to be a young woman in 2024 with authenticity and relatability.Through the ups and downs, Ruby and Lily's bond as sisters is tested, but it always comes out stronger on the other side.

Image via Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In this Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney movie, their characters discover that their greatest adventure is simply accepting who they truly are and supporting each other no matter what. As cheesy as that sounds — it's so important (and actually more difficult IRL than it sounds!).With its blend of comedy, heart, and vibrant wit, this contemporary comedy would celebrate the strength and resilience of women today. It explores themes of self-acceptance, authenticity, and the importance of meaningful connections in a digital age.

Would you see a movie starring Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney? Because I would be all over this! If you love daydreaming about your favorite stars in new movies, check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com!

Lead images via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/JC Olivera/Getty Images

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2024’s Biggest Travel Trends To Find Your Next Destination

If you’ve been itching to pack your bags and book a flight, but don’t know where to jet off to quite yet, taking a peek at the biggest travel trends for 2024 may help you land on your final destination. Between where to go and how to get there, there are some really cool travel trends we’re seeing emerge for the year. Read on for 2024’s travel trends!

2024 Travel Trends: Where To Go

Photo by Max Andrey / PEXELS

Shoulder Cities

You’ve got your stereotypical spring break destinations – think Miami or Orlando, but one of the biggest travel trends we’re seeing in 2024 thus far is “shoulder” cities. Travelers are opting to stay in cities close to landmark destinations since accommodations in shoulder cities typically cost less.

For example, Pricelinesaw a 20% jump in hotel searches in Kissimmee, Florida, where hotel rates typically cost $100+ less per night than stays in Orlando.

Photo by Aleksander Pasaric / PEXELS

Asia’s On The Itinerary

According to Priceline, interest in traveling to Asian countries is on the rise for 2024. This year so far, they’ve observed a nearly 400% increase in searches for Hong Kong, a 361% increase in searches for Taipei, and a 149% increase in searches for Bangkok.

2024 Travel Trends: How To Get There

Photo by Janiere Fernandez / PEXELS

Young Travelers Are Going Solo

According to a travel trends report by American Express, 76% of Millennials and Gen Z respondents say they are planning on taking a solo trip in 2024. This comes at no surprise, especially considering that solo travel has grown in popularity over the past few years.

Per Google Trends, searches for ‘solo travel’ have increased every year in the past decade (with 2020 being an exception, as COVID limited travel worldwide). Whether young travelers are taking a trip solo for solely self-care or simply having more freedom when traveling, we’ll likely continue to see the trend growCaught the solo travel bug? Check out our list of solo travel tips.

Photo by Vishnu R Nair / PEXELS

Traveling For Main Events

One of the biggest travel trends for 2024 has roots in 2023, with many travelers having the desire to travel for big events like concerts and sports games.

We saw this with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, where many dedicated fans would travel across state lines (or several state lines) to see her. Unsurprisingly, people are still spending on travel even though concert tickets are quite expensive (per Gametime, the average Taylor Swift ticket price for 2024 is $3,525.42)!

Lyft observed the economical impact of the Eras Tour through an influx of ride shares. According to Lyft, when a city hosted an Eras Tour show, the number of total Lyft rides went up an average of 7.6%.

Cincinnati saw the greatest increase in hotel stays for the Eras Tour (63%), which may help explain why a room at Days Inn & Suites shot up from about $72 to $1,024 per night in that window, according to Cincinnati Enquirer.

Travel trends in relation to sports games aren't too dissimilar from the Swiftie travelers. According to American Express, 67% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents are interested in traveling for sporting events in 2024. Furthermore, 58% of respondents who are traveling for sports in 2024 will do so for soccer, basketball, or Formula 1 racing.

Considering the Paris summer Olympics are coming up in July, American Express also found that New York, Miami and Paris are the top destinations to travel to for sporting events in 2024.

Image via Brit + Co

Loud Budgeting For Travel

According to Priceline’s latesttrip planning survey, more than a quarter of respondents say that finding a good deal on flights and hotel rooms is the most exciting part about booking a trip. Travel is not always cheap, so loud budgeting has been apparent in the planning process.

This has led travelers to plan smart: waiting for the best day of the week to book a flight, using travel price tracking tools like Google Flights and Priceline, and scouring accommodation options beyond hotels into Airbnbs and hostels.

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Nicole Kidman Is Officially Back For "Nine Perfect Strangers" Season 2

There's something appealing about an anthology show. You know, the ones where we get a new cast every season but the location or the themes remain the same (hello White Lotus and American Horror Story!). Your next TV show obsession is right around the corner because Hulu just announced the full lead cast for Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 and it's literally almost too good to be true. Keep reading for everything you need to know!