Sun‑soaked Seville is Andalusia’s easygoing capital, all palm‑lined plazas, tiled courtyards and late‑night bar chat. And the city is now in the spotlight, taking a spot in Time Out's top 10 happiest countries in the world. Spring smells of orange blossom and processions, autumn hums with terrace life, and even on a Tuesday, a flamenco tavern will be buzzing with neighbours.
Seville enters Time Out’s 2025 happiest cities top 10
Time Out’s latest city index for 2025, built on responses from more than 18,000 locals worldwide, has named the year’s happiest cities, with Abu Dhabi taking the top spot. The survey gauges day‑to‑day satisfaction across culture, nightlife, food, walkability, affordability and overall quality of life, alongside five happiness statements such as “My city makes me happy” and “I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers”. Seville comes in at number nine, just ahead of Melbourne, on the strength of its everyday joy factor and easy liveability.
Why Seville stands out among the happiest cities in the world
Not only is Seville one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but day-to-day life here is pretty effortless. A compact historic core stitched with lively plazas, shade from orange trees, and the Guadalquivir River for golden-hour strolls. The city doubled down on soft mobility, too. Decades of grassroots pressure helped deliver a coherent network of bike lanes, layered onto an already dense, mixed-use urban fabric that keeps most errands within easy reach. That mix of walkability, human-scale streets and outdoor culture does a lot for mood and community.
Food and culture sit at arm’s length and fair prices. You’ve got tapas bars that still pour a small caña for pocket change, markets where lunch is unfussy and tasty, and neighbourhood peñas keeping flamenco close to the ground. Sun helps, of course, but it’s the social rhythm—chatty bartenders, late terraces, kids playing in squares—that gives Sevilla its lift.
Comparisons with other happiest cities
- Copenhagen and Zurich deliver high polish and public services, a cooler climate and higher everyday costs. Seville swaps that sleekness for warmth, street life and easier prices.
- Singapore is efficient and hyper‑modern, with a fast, structured pace. Seville moves more slowly, with historic streets and a stronger plaza culture.
- Aarhus and Antwerp are creative mid‑sized hubs with plenty going on. Seville matches their human scale, then adds Mediterranean weather and deeper tapas‑and‑plaza living.
Living in Seville as a foreigner
Living in Seville is a popular choice for foreigners looking to start a life in Spain, and not only because it's the hottest, sunniest spot in continental Europe. Expat life clusters around the centre, Triana, Los Remedios and Nervión, with plenty of English spoken in co‑working spots and along the river. The social side is easy to tap into: InterNations meetups, English‑speaking book clubs, and weekly language exchanges (intercambios) pop up in bars around Alameda de Hércules and Arenal. Plus, hiking and padel groups that head for the Sierra Norte at weekends aren't tricky to find.
For families, the metro area has solid international and bilingual options. In the historic centre, there’s Colegio Internacional San Francisco de Paula, while to the west, you’ll find the bilingual school Yago. Plus, south of the city, in the Dos Hermanas area, there’s CBS, The British School of Seville. Many foreign families pick Triana or Los Remedios for river walks and city living, or settle in the Aljarafe for easier school runs and more space; commute times and school bus routes are worth weighing up alongside your budget and how much plaza life you want on your doorstep.
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