Riga also made it into the top ten.
Green spaces are as integral to urban life as quality transport and the overall atmosphere. The resource Time Out conducted a survey among 24,000 people to determine the greenest city in the world.
Although this year Melbourne was recognized as the best city overall, the title of the greenest city in the world, according to residents, was awarded to Bath in the UK. Chicago in the USA took second place in the ranking, while the Canadian city of Montreal rounded out the top three.
The Best Cities in the World by Green Spaces
1. Bath, Green Space Rating 94%
The British city of Bath is not only surrounded by the green countryside of Gloucestershire. The city itself is also abundant with both small green islands and large spaces, such as the impressive 18th-century landscape garden Prior Park. A guide to the best walking routes in the city and its surroundings has even been created.
2. Chicago, 89%
The American city of Chicago, while home to glass skyscrapers, features a significant amount of green spaces. It is even referred to as the "city in a garden." According to the Chicago Park District, there are over 600 parks in the city, covering more than 8,800 acres.
3. Montreal, 88%
Montreal in Canada is often praised for the scale and quality of its green areas – it is even named in their honor. The city offers not only trails for hiking and biking in the summer, as well as places for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but also ecologically diverse forests, wetlands, and Beaver Lake. You can also visit the Botanical Garden or Jean-Drapeau Park, which spans the islands of Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame.
4. Riga, 87%
The capital of Latvia, Riga, boasts impressive green space statistics. 47 percent of the city's area consists of green spaces, while 39 percent is forest.
5. Melbourne, 87%
Australia's second-largest city was recognized last month by Time Out as the best city in the world. The accessibility of nature and green spaces undoubtedly played a role in this result.
6. Cape Town, 86%
The capital of South Africa is located in a valley known as the Cape Floral Region. It is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is divided into 13 different clusters, including a National Park. 70 percent of the plants growing there are not found anywhere else in the world.
7. Singapore, 86%
Nature has always been a priority for Singapore. Since 1967, the goal has been to transform the island into a "garden city." Currently, almost 50 percent of its area is covered with greenery. By 2030, Singapore aims to become the greenest city in the world.
8. Medellín, 86%
Colombia's second-largest city topped last year's ranking of the best cities with green spaces. Although this year's score is slightly lower, the abundant and innovative green spaces in the city still received an impressive approval rating from local residents. Strategically placed greenery has even helped lower the average temperature in the city.
9. Stockholm, 86%
The capital of Sweden has long been considered one of the greenest cities in Europe. In 2010, this city was the first to receive the title of "European Green Capital" and has since maintained high environmental standards. It is also home to the world's first National Urban Park, with the Royal Djurgården at its heart.
10. Hamburg, 85%
Completing the top ten cities for green spaces is Hamburg in Germany. Over the last century, the city has been developed based on a large-scale project called GrünesNetzHamburg, or "Green Network of Hamburg." It is also a leader in green roofs and offers incentives for residents and businesses to retrofit their properties.
