Happiness Atlas 2025: The happiest places in Germany ranked

Whether it's a short weekend trip or an extended vacation at home, anyone planning to visit a German city shouldn't just focus on sights or shopping opportunities. The true holiday feeling comes from where people are happy, and good moods are known to be contagious. But where in Germany do the happiest people live?

The SKL Happiness Atlas provides answers. The study again examined life satisfaction in 2025 in the 16 federal states and in 40 major German cities with over 200,000 inhabitants. In the country rankings, the previous leaders continue to secure the top spots. However, there are some surprises in the middle field.

As in the previous year, Hamburg once again ranks first, making it the happiest federal state in Germany. However, with a score of 7.33, life satisfaction among its residents fell slightly by 0.05 points compared to the previous year. Bavaria remains in second place, as it did in 2024. Third place holds a surprise.

Rhineland-Palatinate made it onto the podium, climbing significantly from fifth place. Satisfaction in this western state increased by 0.1 points within a year. North Rhine-Westphalia remains in fourth place. The researchers noted a negative trend in fifth place. Schleswig-Holstein fell significantly from third place. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, satisfaction in this northern German state is declining.

Familiar states also appear at the bottom of the list. As in the previous year, Saxony ranks 12th, followed by Bremen in 13th. Berlin and Saarland occupy 14th and 15th places, respectively. According to the Happiness Atlas, people remain the unhappiest in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The eastern German state once again secures last place with 6.06 points.

However, the "happiness gap" between western and eastern Germany is shrinking, according to the ranking. In the west, life satisfaction increased by only 0.02 points compared to 2024. In the east (including Berlin), the value rose by 0.12 points. The gap is currently 0.24 points (west: 7.15, east: 6.91), a level similar to that of the late 2010s.

First, the good news for all city travelers: General life satisfaction in German cities has increased – by an average of 0.13 points compared to the previous year. This is due to the omission of data from the coronavirus pandemic, which was still included in the last analysis. For the city ranking, the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research surveyed a total of 23,468 people between January 2022 and April 2025.

The result: The smaller a city, the greater the happiness tends to be. The city ranking is not just based on hard facts like income, housing, or environmental quality – it also reflects the mood of the people. And it's precisely this atmosphere that visitors sense. So, if you're looking for a genuine sense of well-being on your next trip, you'll find new favorite destinations off the beaten track among the top-ranked cities in the ranking.

According to the new ranking, medium-sized and "family-friendly" cities with plenty of green space, a young population, and a relaxed atmosphere offer a holiday atmosphere with a feel-good factor. Three places make it into the top ten: Augsburg (4th place), Aachen (5th place), and Münster (7th place).

Aachen once again scored 7.33 out of ten in the happiness index – the same as last year. Nevertheless, the traditional university and border city fell from third to fifth place in the current ranking, unable to quite keep up with the dynamism of other cities.

The Aachen metropolitan region is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Germany – without the crowds of tourists . Anyone visiting the old imperial city should definitely add the historic town hall on the Aachen market square, the neoclassical Elisenbrunnen fountain, and Aachen Cathedral to their bucket list. The latter was Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage site and attracts over a million visitors annually. But Aachen is far more than a place of history: Students at RWTH Aachen University and the University of Applied Sciences shape the young, open cityscape. Thermal springs invite you to relax, while the old town boasts charming cafés and the famous Aachener Printen (a traditional sweet).

Other highlights in and around Aachen include the Burtscheider Kurpark – the oldest park in the city – and the modern Nelson Mandela Park.

Augsburg has moved up from seventh place to fourth place in 2024. The city is one of the oldest cities in Germany and is located on the Romantic Road.

The Fuggerei, the world's oldest social housing project, is just as impressive as the UNESCO World Heritage site of historic water management. The Golden Hall in the town hall, the winding alleys, and a vibrant cultural scene make this Bavarian city a worthwhile destination.

Larger cities tend to perform worse in the happiness rankings—the more people there are, the more anonymous and stressful everyday life becomes. But there are exceptions here too: Düsseldorf (3rd place) and Hamburg (9th place) demonstrate that even metropolises can make you happy—if they score highly for quality of life, diversity, and good public infrastructure.

Düsseldorf has even catapulted itself from eighth place last year to third place among the happiest cities in Germany in 2025.

The Rhine promenade, the historic old town with its legendary pub scene, museums like the K20/K21, and the stylish Media Harbour make the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia an attractive destination for weekend trips. The mix of international flair (thanks to the large Japanese community) and the relaxed Rhineland atmosphere is particularly unique.

Krefeld has risen from fifth place in the 2024 happiness ranking to second place. The so-called "Velvet and Silk City" on the Lower Rhine impresses not only with affordable housing and a pleasant pace of life, but also with its unique blend of industrial history and modern Bauhaus architecture.

The silk era still shapes the cityscape today. Remains of this flourishing era are reflected in the town hall, the former city palace of the von der Leyen family, and the Lange and Esters houses. The neighboring villas now house contemporary art museums, offering insights into Bauhaus architecture. The Old Velvet Weaving Mill is now an industrial monument. Other sights include the medieval Linn Castle, one of the oldest large castles on the Lower Rhine, Hüls Castle, and the neo-Gothic hall church of St. Cyriakus on Hüls Market Square.

If you want to admire Krefeld from above, you should consider a trip to Hülser Berg, where the 30-meter-high Johannesturm is located.

Kassel remains Germany's happiest city in 2025, defending its first place in the happiness rankings. With an increased score of 7.44 points on a scale of zero to ten, the northern Hessian city significantly extends its lead over bottom-place Rostock (6.08 points) – the gap is now 1.36 points.

In our WhatsApp channel, you'll find the best travel tips, unusual places, and affordable travel deals at a glance. If you want to receive our news immediately, simply activate the bell in the channel. You'll then be notified of new messages.

Highlights in addition to the high level of life satisfaction include the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with the Hercules monument, the baroque orangery with its flower island in the Karlsaue State Park, as well as the enchanting Grimm World and the Löwenburg.

Here you'll find the ranking of the 40 happiest cities in Germany. If you're looking for a specific city, simply use the search function in the table.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter , and the best travel deals on our deals page .