Quality of Life
Listen up! For cities to thrive, they need to sound as good as they look
Noise pollution in urban environments is on the rise but better acoustic planning could help to silence the issue.
Latest in Monocle Radio
Latest
Despite its enormous scale, Tokyo remains a city where good manners thrive
Depending on how you count it, Tokyo is a city of nine million (the central 23 wards), 14 million (Tokyo Metropolis) or 37 million (the Greater Tokyo Area). A densely populated urban area of…
Tyler Brûlé introduces Monocle’s 2026 Quality of Life survey on CNN
View the full city ranking here.
The art of the amble: Exploring the social rituals of evening walks across Spain, Italy and Greece
A languid stroll is an enriching daily ritual in much of southern Europe. In Spain, Italy and Greece, it is an art form. We join the crowds to learn how it’s done.
Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey 2026: The 20 most liveable cities in the world
Welcome to Monocle’s 2026 Quality of Life Survey. What started 19 years ago as an antidote to bloodless, data-heavy city rankings has become central to the debate on what it means to live well.
How a city splashed out on staying cool: Zürich’s best fountains
Summer is the perfect season to explore the Swiss city’s ubiquitous fountains. Here are five of our favourites.
The people’s charter for living well in cities: 13 rules for oafs, oiks and rapscallions
What can residents expect from their city – and what should it expect in return? Here, we present a 13-article charter laying out the rights and responsibilities of an ideal citizenry.
A shore cure for urban fatigue: How Sydney, New York and Kobe are rethinking their waterfronts
A fish market revelling in theatrics, an amphitheatre-inspired hill uniting the sea and mountains, and a park acting as a flood defence. Smartly designed spaces are bringing people back to the water.
Fashion label +351’s Lisbon café kiosk lets you get to know the brand over coffee – and a game of backgammon
We visit a Lisbon ‘quiosque’ opened by Portuguese fashion label +351 that combines coffee, clothing and community gathering.
From Bangkok to Bogota, these 23 innovative urban initiatives keep people moving and joyful
Fitness is often framed as a personal endeavour but cities can help to nudge us into healthier lifestyles. A charming playground, safe cycle lanes and well-designed waterfronts are a start.
From Singapore to Tokyo, here’s what clean cities get right
Cities all across the globe have taken different approaches to keeping their streets clean. But what matters most is inspiring residents to take the lead
