Health and well-being can be affected by a number of
factors, but probably one of the most important is where you live. There’s no
arguing that when you’re in a city that makes healthy living easy, you’re more
likely to create healthier habits (and more likely to stick with them, too). If
you’re looking for a change of pace, take a look at some of the healthiest
cities worldwide—there, you’re more likely to keep up your New Year’s
resolutions ‘til summer.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Much like Copenhagen, Amsterdam touts itself as a cycling
city. If you’re planning on getting around the city, you’ll be on two wheels,
rather than four. Amsterdam has more than just its bike-friendly streets to
recommend it, however. Amsterdam looks to make healthy changes both for
residents and for the world. The city has made strides to become more
sustainable, with efforts to make as many households as possible run on locally-generated sustainable electricity.
Hong Kong
You might say that Hong Kong is a trendsetter. Although Hong
Kong has a population of around 7 million people, the island city is known for
its commitment to community-based health initiatives, dating all the way back
to 1997. It certainly doesn’t that the city is surrounded by gorgeous ocean
views, either. Aside from the ocean, though, the urban area is additionally
surrounded by picturesque mountains and landscapes, which means plenty of
outdoors activities—and plenty of fresh seafood.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
If you’re looking for the top of the top in terms of healthy
lifestyles, look no further than Minneapolis. Ask any Minneapolis resident and
you’ll hear a little about their own ways of staying fit and keeping the city
among America’s healthiest. The American Fitness Index has ranked the city highly in health and wellness for the
past several years, and besides residents’ interests in hiking and biking,
there’s plenty more reasons why. For one, it’s proximate to many beautiful
parks (and many, many bike trails, spanning the distance of suburbs to city)
and it’s got plenty to offer in terms of healthy dining. But even more
significantly than dining and doing, local government has banned
smoking in public spaces, and the Twin Cities spend where it counts—they’ve
allocated a good chunk of change toward parks and green spaces, not to mention
weekend farmers’ markets.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo boasts some of the lowest rates of greenhouse gas
emissions in the Eastern hemisphere, but there’s a few more ways Tokyo
residents boost their well-being. The Tokyo metropolitan area has some of the
best public transit in the world, meaning most residents can walk or bike to
work and play. It’s easier to pick up a healthy snack in the city, too—with
cheap fresh fish, whole foods, and a general lack of vending machines, you’ll
find yourself noshing light.
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm has made it its personal mission to almost
entirely eliminate cars, and it’s working. The city has made pedestrian safety
one of its higher priorities, which has in turn aided the
local economy and urban growth across the area. Attractions like Skansen, an
open air historical area and living history museum with restored buildings, and
Berzelii Park, the home of the China Theater, make it all the more appealing to
stretch your legs as you’re exploring. The city is also focused on ways to
promote more green spaces across Stockholm.
Sydney, Australia
Australia’s biggest city is known for its great culture (the
Sydney Opera House, anyone?), gorgeous views and, really, the sheer amount of
things to do. It’s also among the country’s healthiest areas, proximate to
hiking and caving attractions such as Minnamurra Rainforest and Mungo National
Park. Easy access to healthcare and healthy weekend activities such as
swimming, boating and snorkeling certainly help Sydney’s case, but the city
also boasts an abundance of high-end fitness and health clubs, as well as
healthy dining, from Vietnamese to vegan.
Munich, Germany
Not only has Munich been named one of the cities worldwide
with the best quality of life, but it’s an easy place to find a brand-new
active hobby. The city’s historic landmarks and architecture beg to be explored
by foot, and it’s begun to make major strides toward sustainability in the past
few years—Munich plans to have a 100% clean energy supply by 2025.
Copenhagen, Denmark
It shouldn’t be any surprise that Copenhagen ranks as one of
the healthiest (and happiest) cities on earth. Danes rarely work more than 40
hours a week, aiding them in the crucial work/life balance, and the city is
well known for its love of bicycles—around 50%
of all commutes around Copenhagen are made on bike (and trust us, it shows: on
any given day, you’ll see bikes almost everywhere you go). The capital is
sprinkled with green spaces, and the city has begun to emphasis mental health
as well as physical fitness, offering free therapy consultations, clinics and
classes in meditation and yoga.
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