Europe's best cities for green spaces and access to nature

2026-04-19 15:38:33, Sociale CNA

Europe is home to some of the most popular cities in the world, many of them convenient for shopping, entertainment, dining and nightlife.

But the continent's most attractive cities become even more enjoyable, in the truest sense of the word, when they are interspersed with a little greenery. A city with easy access to nature and wildlife means happier residents and a healthier environment, so a park near your home is as important as anything else a city has to offer.

That's why, when the annual survey of city life around the world was conducted to compile this year's Time Out's Best Cities list with Intrepid Travel , it wasn't just about culture, food and nightlife.

Residents were also asked how they would rate green spaces and access to nature in their city.

Based on the percentage of respondents who answered “good” or “excellent,” out of 24,000 people interviewed this year, a list of the 20 greenest cities in the world was compiled.

At the top of the list was the green-filled British city of Bath, which received an impressive rating of 94%, likely thanks to its abundance of parks and local initiatives, such as the construction of a "green infrastructure network."

Following Bath, eight other European cities secured a place on the 2026 list.

Riga was ranked as Europe's second best city for green spaces, with 87% of residents saying that nature is accessible in their city.

According to HUGSI.green data, 47% of the city's surface is green space and 39% of it is covered with trees, so this high rating is not at all surprising.

In the center of Riga is Bastion Hill, a corner with arched paths, small flowing waterfalls, and a beautiful rock garden.

There are also places like ??psala beach on the Daugava River and V?rmanes Garden park, the city's second oldest green space.

Stockholm received a rating of 86%, while Hamburg followed closely with 85%. Cities in Norway, Finland and Poland were also included in the list.

Europe's best cities for green spaces:

1. Bath (94%)
2. Riga (87%)
3. Stockholm (86%)
4. Hamburg (85%)
5. Vienna (83%)
6. Helsinki (83%)
7. Krakow (82%)
8. Oslo (81%)
9. Luxembourg (78%)