5 Happiest Cities in the World

Some cities just seem like a good time. Whether it's their weather, their laid-back attitude, or the sheer wealth of the people who live there, some towns just seem more fun than others, making better places to relax, unwind, and start a high quality life.

However, the cities that you'd think of as being the most fun aren't necessarily the happiest. On the contrary, when you factor in living expenses, general quality of infrastructure, surveys and the Global Happiness Index, the places that are the happiest are often far from what you'd expect. It is honor of that discrepancy that we, at Traveler's Today, have listed below five of the happiest cities in the world, places where the locals almost unanimously seem to be able to look on the bright side of their lives.

5. San Francisco

For most people, the Bay Area is as foreign as the United States gets: a weird commune full of ex-hippies, tree-huggers and tech magnates. However, what you probably wouldn't expect is that the residents of San Francisco are among the happiest in the world.

Indeed, with their plethora of park-space, public events, and major industrial hotspots, San Francisco appears to have basically anything a normal person would want from a city. Just don't expect to move there for cheap - San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world, meaning your happiness will come at a (literal) price.

4. Amsterdam

Amsterdam may seem like a lot of fun. After all, their decriminalized drug dispensaries and red light districts are almost a sure-fire recipe for an unforgettable evening. But permanent residents of the town also mark among the happiest.

As it turns out, there's more to the city than meets the eye. Amsterdam's literally hundreds of locally-owned coffee-shops offer a unique flavor hard to find in other cities, as does their largely judgment-free attitude towards most types of people. That fact, coupled with the availability of simpler pleasures, makes Amsterdam a true hub for happy residents, a city that literally never stops smiling.

3. Sydney, Australia

This one is perhaps more obvious. After all, what's not to love about Sydney. It has good weather, surfing, some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, and, of course, Australians.

Indeed, even in spite of the millions of species of deadly spiders, snakes, and other pests that call Down Under home, its largest city is one of the happiest places in the world. Just don't venture too far outside the metropolitan area. The real Outback is a lot more fearsome than the space within the Sydney city limits.

2. Rio de Janiero

With the World Cup just wrapping up, Rio has been getting a lot of press as of late, most of it positive. However, what you might not have known is that the locals think the city lives up to the hype.

Indeed, one of the things Brazilians love best about Rio is how full of things to do it is. From small-town bars and eateries to the unbelievable extravaganza that is the yearly Carnavale celebration, the city is chalk full of places to make unforgettable memories.

Plus, even the tourists can't cramp the city's style. This place is one of the most receptive to outsiders in the world, a laid-back attitude that is, perhaps, one of the reasons for the high quality of life its locals have become accustomed to.

1. Copenhagen

However, the number one spot is reserved for a place that doesn't need glitz and glamour to smile. After all, while Copenhagen may seem relatively bleak at first glance, there doesn't seem to be very much rotten in the state of Denmark.

From an amazingly efficient government, to sensible living and eating expenses, to a whole bunch of local character, Copenhagen has pretty much whatever someone would need to settle down and live the highest quality life possible. And the location isn't half bad either- residents have nearly all of Continental Europe at their fingertips, providing a necessary escape from the city whenever it is needed or desired.

Which is why Copenhagen is ultimately the happiest city in the world, the perfect place for people of all ages to go, settle in, and really feel at home.