Athens tops list of world's best-smelling cities, Nicosia also makes the top 10

A recent study by HAYPP has crowned Athens, Greece, as the world's best-smelling city, overturning the common perception of cities as unpleasantly odorous. The research evaluated 30 major cities across Europe and beyond, using factors such as cleanliness, and the density of flower shops, bakeries, and perfume stores to generate a "smell score."

Athens led the list with a score of 8.3 out of 10, thanks to its vibrant street markets, aromatic local cuisine, and high concentration of floral and perfume shops. The city features 31 flower shops and 22 perfumeries per 10 square kilometers, enhancing its fragrant environment. Athens also scores well on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), with a rating of 56.2.

Nicosia, Cyprus, also earned a spot on the list, reflecting the island's growing reputation for pleasant urban experiences. The complete list of the world's top-smelling cities is as follows:

1. Athens, Greece
2. Paris, France
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Luxembourg
6. Nicosia, Cyprus
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
8. Bucharest, Romania
9. Valletta, Malta
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands

The study highlights how cities like Athens and Nicosia are redefining urban appeal through their sensory environments, offering a new perspective on the charm of city living.

[Information sourced from Time Out]