This European city has topped a poll of the top 10 greenest cities with a 77.3 score based on air quality, green spaces and public parks
Almost all residents are never more than a 300-metre walk from a green area in this city(Image: Getty)
Travel needs for Brits looking for a holiday are changing and one search term in particular has surged by a staggering 9,900% in the last year – the ‘greenest city in the world’.
Research has suggested people are picking cities to visit that blend exploration with outdoor relaxation and open green spaces. If that sounds like a combination too-good-to-be true, it turns out it isn’t with many cities across the world classed as ‘nature rich’.
The travel pros at Iglu Cruise have developed a Green City Index which charts the top 10 cities where nature and urban life combine. Based on the amount of greenery in each city, air quality, and accessible public green space, they have discovered a European city has topped the poll – and it’s only a two-hour flight away.
Oslo, the capital city of Norway, came first with a green score of 77.3 because of its high air quality and a high percentage of green spaces and public parks.
A staggering 95% of residents in Oslo live within a 300-metre walk of a green area, making it one of Europe’s most walkable capitals and a city that feels like you’re living in a national park.
The city also has an initiative scheme called ‘pocket parks’ which have been developed through community-led efforts to transform old parking spaces into green areas. In addition, Oslo has the world’s first ‘bee highway’ – a corridor of flowers and bee hotels running across the city’s streets which gives tourists a unique experience of stunning Norwegian nature only minutes away.
The city also boasts well-known sites including the Royal Palace Park and Vigeland Park, which is the largest sculpture park in the world created by a single artist.
Visitors can take a 20-minute metro ride out of the city centre to Oslomarka forest and the trails around Sognsvann Lake.
There are also well-known sites like the Royal Palace Park and Vigeland Park, the largest sculpture park in the world created by a single artist. A 20-minute metro ride from the city centre takes you to Oslomarka forest and the trails around Sognsvann Lake.
There are also a number of impressive beaches in Oslo, primarily located on the Bygdoy peninsula which offers sandy shores, green spaces and is easy to access from the city centre. The most popular beach is the bustling Huk which has sandy spots, grassy lawns and a beach volleyball court. For a quieter experience, visitors can go to Paradisbukta or urban Tjuvholmen which are ideal beaches for swimming, sunbathing and walking alongside the Oslo Fjord in the summer.
Other green cities in Europe included Vilnius in Lithuania, Helskini in Finland and Vienna in Austria in second, third and fourth place while Reading was the only entry for the UK in at ninth place.
Canberra and Sydney in Australia and Singapore flew the flag internationally in fifth, sixth and eighth spots with Stockholm in Sweden in seventh and Munich in Germany rounding out the list at ten.
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