Vienna has been named the best city in the world for quality of living, according to several surveys, including the annual Mercer Quality of Living survey, which has crowned it first for more than 10 years in a row.

Vienna scores almost perfectly in a number of categories:

• Very well-functioning public transport and infrastructure: Public transport in the city is cheap, clean, safe, and reliable. The subway runs 24-hour at weekends.
• Clean and green: In Vienna you can enjoy mountain spring water for free, straight from the tap. Parks and green areas make up 50% of the city.
• Excellent education system and impressive healthcare system.
• Flourishing economy: Vienna is the economic center of Austria, the 14th-richest country in the world. Austria has one of the highest GDP per capita, indicating a high standard of living for citizens.
• Incredibly secure: Vienna has some of the lowest crime rates in Europe, making it very safe to walk home late at night.
• Amazing cultural scene:  Vienna has a strong heritage in producing exceptional classical music, fine arts, and theater. It has incredible museums and amazing music venues.

An Affordable City. One of the best things about Vienna is that it is not an expensive city to live in.

• Housing: Viennese apartments generally offer high standards at affordable rents. Prices still remain relatively low in comparison to other major cities in the world. On average, tenants in Vienna spend 27% of their income on rent.
• Public transport: You can travel through Vienna by subway, bus, and tram for just €1 a day.
• Culture: Standing tickets for the State Opera start at €3. Similar prices for standing tickets at most theatres and concert halls.

An international City. If you are from abroad, you will never feel lonely in Vienna.

Vienna is one of Europe’s most international cities. Half of the population of Vienna has an international background and it is very easy to get around with English.

Vienna is home to a large number of international organizations, including the United Nations.There are 14 international schools, and you will find restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. The connection from the city to the airport is excellent (19 minutes train ride from the Vienna BioCenter, and €4.20). From the airport you can reach all major European cities within 3 hours. There are also direct flights to many other international destinations.

The city hosts a dynamic research ecosystem with numerous world-class institutions at the forefront of biomedical science and cutting-edge research across disciplines. Strong collaboration between academia, hospitals, and industry fosters a highly innovative environment, making Barcelona an ideal destination for interdisciplinary research and attracting top international talent.

The Basel region is internationally recognized as Europe’s top center for life science research. The city is home to a world‑class university, two major pharmaceutical companies (Novartis and Roche), and many research institutes and start-ups, all closely connected to one another. This tight-knit ecosystem offers easy interaction between academia, hospitals, startups, and industry, with plenty of opportunities for interdisciplinary projects, industry collaborations, and translational research. Basel’s location at the crossroads of Switzerland, Germany, and France adds a strong international flavor. Researchers here are part of a large cross‑border academic and professional network, supported by excellent public transport and multilingual work environments. English is widely used, making Basel a very welcoming place for international doctoral students. 

Outside the lab, Basel is known for its excellent quality of life. The city offers a vibrant cultural scene with museums, architecture, and music, while also providing easy access to nature — from walks along the Rhine to nearby hills and mountains. Regularly ranked among the world’s most livable cities, Basel is a safe, well‑organized, and inspiring place to live, work, and grow during your PhD.

Berlin's rich cultural landscape, featuring three opera houses, 175 museums, and 2,500 public parks and gardens, provides ample opportunities for recreation and inspiration. This extraordinary wealth of cultural opportunities attracts increasing numbers of visitors, making Berlin one of the most popular destinations in Europe. The city boasts a lively scene with numerous pubs, clubs, restaurants, and cafés. Densely urban areas coexist with large green spaces, nature reserves, lakes, and rivers, offering a truly metropolitan lifestyle.

Notably, Berlin is recognized as one of the three most interesting cities in the world in the "Best Cities in the World 2024" ranking by TimeOut magazine, alongside New York and Cape Town. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and offers a high quality of life, making Berlin an attractive destination for scientists and visitors alike.

Today, Brno is a dynamic university city, home to six public universities and over 90,000 students, making it one of the most vibrant student hubs in Central Europe. The city hosts a dense network of research institutes, science parks, and centres of excellence such as CEITEC, ICRC, and FNUSA, attracting top scientists and international collaborations. With its unique combination of high-quality education, strong research infrastructure, affordable living, and a welcoming international atmosphere, Brno continues to grow as a leading centre for life sciences, technology, and innovation in Europe.

Dortmund is an integral part of the Ruhrgebiet, also known as the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which is one of the largest and most populous urban areas in Europe. As part of the Ruhrgebiet, Dortmund benefits from its excellent transport connections, with easy access to major cities in Germany and beyond. 

Furthermore, Dortmund is a diverse and multicultural city, with a large population of immigrants and expatriates. This diversity is reflected in the city's food, music, art, and cultural scene, making it an exciting and dynamic place to live and visit. The city's universities and research institutions also attract students and scholars from all over the world, contributing to its international and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

In recent years, Dortmund has gained international recognition as a soccer powerhouse, thanks to its successful football club, Borussia Dortmund, and its stadium, the Westfalenstadion, the largest in Germany, with a league capacity of 81,365 (standing and seated).

Some useful links:

Living in Dortmund: https://www.mpi-dortmund.mpg.de/students-postdocs/living-in-dortmund

General information of the city Dortmund: : https://www.dortmund.de/?language=en

Public transport: https://www.bus-und-bahn.de/

Dresden's strong emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary approaches cements its reputation as a leading scientific research environment. Dresden is also known for its vibrant atmosphere and relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive destination for researchers and students alike. The city's affordability, combined with abundant green spaces, results in a high quality of life for its ambitious residents.

Freiburg is a very young and lively city with a highly intensive cultural scene. The town with its more than 230,000 inhabitants is characterized by 25,000 students at the University of Freiburg. 15% of those students come from abroad, half of them from other European countries and the other half from outside of Europe, which adds to the international flair of the town. 

The unique location of the city is highlighted by its surroundings. The Black Forest is one of Germany’s highest mountain ranges, ideal terrain not only for nature lovers, hillwalking, and other outdoor activities, but also for skiers, mountain bikers, and paragliders. 

The cultural life of Freiburg is also very diverse. A big concert hall, several theaters, and many clubs offer events on a regular basis. During the summer time, various open air concerts and festivals take place.  

Freiburg is also famous as the Green City, reflected through the large network of cycle paths and the many solar panels on public and private buildings.

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The research landscape of Mainz, too, is very lively and diverse, with the Johannes Gutenberg University and its University Medical Center Mainz, two universities of applied sciences, a Fraunhofer Institute, a Helmholtz Institute, two Max-Planck Institutes, the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) and many biotech companies in close proximity, such as BioNTech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Abbvie etc.

Some useful links:

Living in Mainz: https://www.imb.de/students-postdocs/working-living-in-mainz 

City of Mainz: https://www.mainz.de/en/index.php

5 Reasons to love Mainz: https://www.mainz.de/en/worth-seeing/reasons-to-love-mainz.php

Beyond academia, the city provides a vibrant cultural scene, world-class museums, opera, fashion, and a dynamic international community. Enjoy Italy’s renowned cuisine, stunning landscapes-from the historic architecture to the nearby Alps and lakes-, and efficient transport connections across Europe. All these ingredients create an inspiring environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and personal growth. 

With endless networking opportunities and a perfect balance of work and lifestyle, Milan is the ideal place to grow both professionally and personally while pursuing groundbreaking research.

With its medieval canals, iconic Dom Tower and vibrant student atmosphere, Utrecht [LO1] is one of the Netherlands’ most attractive places to live and study. Home to more than 70,000 students, Utrecht has the youngest population of any Dutch city. As the Netherlands’ largest science and innovation hub, Utrecht brings together world-class research institutes, universities, healthcare organizations and industry partners in a collaborative environment. 

International researchers benefit from a welcoming atmosphere, excellent quality of life and widespread use of English. Utrecht offers a rich cultural scene, with renowned museums, theatres, festivals, and concert venues, while Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague are all within easy reach by train. Beyond the city, the Utrecht region offers beautiful nature, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic castles and forts, and a deep cultural heritage. 

Utrecht has easy rail access to Amsterdam (25 minutes), the Dutch seaside (50 minutes), major European destinations, and connections to the rest of the world via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (30 minutes by train).

Moving to Utrecht: https://www.utrechtinternationalcenter.com/en/why-utrecht-region

Visiting Utrecht Region: https://www.visitutrechtregion.com/en/things-to-do

Utrecht Science Park: https://www.utrechtsciencepark.nl/en

Explore world-class museums, chic boutiques, and trendy cafes in the historic old town. Don’t miss the legendary nightlife in Zurich West, a hot spot for innovative cuisine and eclectic bars. With its efficient public transport and cosmopolitan vibe, Zurich offers an irresistible mix of culture, adventure, and style. Come experience the city where tradition meets innovation!