Happiness Atlas: A Tour of Germany's Happiest Cities

A current ranking presents Germany's happiest cities. Leading the pack is the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, but the other top cities are also worth a visit. Join us as we explore them.

When you're on vacation, you're usually in a great mood. And it's even better when the people in the vacation region are satisfied and friendly. But where in Germany are people actually the happiest?

This question is answered every year by a ranking from the SKL Happiness Atlas. For this ranking, 3,001 people from twelve major cities were surveyed about their satisfaction between March 30 and April 24, with respondents able to award between zero and ten points.

Discover which cities scored best in the survey and what makes them so special right here:

People are happiest in Hamburg! The citizens of Hamburg rated their life satisfaction with an average of 7.16 points, putting them in first place. Not surprising with so much water, green spaces, and a wealth of cultural offerings.

If you're planning a city trip to Hamburg, a visit to the port is a must. There you can marvel at large container ships and even take a ferry ride. The best part: if you've already purchased a day ticket for public transport, the ferry ride is included.

In nice weather, you can rent a pedal boat or a stand-up paddleboard and cruise through one of Hamburg's many canals. Want to simply relax in greenery? Head to Planten un Blomen Park - a 111-acre oasis in the middle of the city with 1.9 million residents. Here you can relax by small lakes, stroll through the rose garden, play chess, or enjoy the tranquility in Europe's largest Japanese garden.

And then there's the Reeperbahn. If you're in the mood for nightlife, visit venues like the Keller, Zum Goldenen Handschuh bar, the famous Zur Ritze, or the night market in the heart of the Reeperbahn.

In second place with 7.07 points, just behind the Hanseatic city, is Frankfurt am Main. If you only associate it with banks, the airport, and the notorious drug scene, you should read the following sections carefully. Hesse's most populous city (around 760,000 residents) also has a lot to offer tourists.

Sure, the Bahnhofsviertel doesn't have the best reputation. But those looking for nightlife will find trendy clubs and bars like the Yok Yok City Kiosk, the Café-Bar Plank, the Club Pik-Dame, or the Bar Shuka.

Top attractions in Frankfurt include the Römer - the city hall built in 1405. Also worth a visit is St. Paul's Church, which was the seat of Germany's first National Assembly in 1848.

For a stunning view over Frankfurt, head to the Main Tower. It features a massive viewing platform at a height of 656 feet.

On to third place: Munich, where residents rated their life satisfaction at 6.90 points. This may be partly due to the many beer gardens, but Bavaria's capital city has much more to offer.

On a city trip to Munich, be sure to plan an excursion to the Isar River. A popular spot there is the Reichenbach Bridge. Conveniently, there's a 24-hour kiosk there too. Or you can sunbathe on the Isar Beach.

Other must-dos in Munich include visiting the Deutsches Museum, the largest science and technology museum in the world, or relaxing in the English Garden. Of course, you should also take a look at Nymphenburg Palace.

Plan some time for your visit to the palace, and after a thorough exploration, have a break at the Palmenhaus Café. Munich also offers several other attractions to explore.

The capital city Berlin just missed the podium: Berliners rated their life satisfaction at 6.88 points. Vacationers here are spoiled for choice in almost everything: cafes, clubs, restaurants, cultural offerings.

Yet there are a few must-dos on a (first) visit to Berlin: Visit the Brandenburg Gate - a former city gate now one of Berlin's landmarks. Also essential is a visit to the TV tower at Alexanderplatz. At 368 meters, it is Germany's tallest structure.

In the mood for a beer in an extraordinary atmosphere? Head to Tempelhofer Feld. On the grounds of the former Tempelhof Airport, you can relax or race down the former runways on your bike, skateboard, or roller skates.

If you've already seen and done all that, we have several more attractions in Berlin for you.

Hannover scores slightly above the average of all cities with 6.75 points, compared to the overall average of 6.72. But what characterizes the capital of Lower Saxony?

The trade fair city surprises with expansive green spaces: In the Great Garden, part of the Herrenhäuser Gardens, you can take a leisurely stroll.

Also, be sure to visit Hannover's magnificent town hall, which resembles a castle more than an administrative building: A viewing platform on the roof offers a view of the city from 100 meters high. Behind it is Masch Park - a 25-acre green area where the Maschsee Festival is celebrated annually.

It's just a stone's throw from there to Maschsee, the largest lake in the Lower Saxony capital. Here, you can stroll along the scenic shoreline, ride a bike, or enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the water.

Is your city not in the top five of the Happiness Atlas?

Then take a look here - these are places six to twelve:

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