Munich surprise winner of city survey

Cramped commuting, overpriced housing, shoddy workmanship, scorched parks, charmless high streets and outdated schools are a few of the things that make city life less than pleasant. Random violence, bad weather and Victorian trading hours make it hell.

Over the next few weeks, Europe and America make their annual holiday migrations, with millions sampling how the fortunate and less fortunate live. New Yorkers will be seduced by Barcelona, Dubliners by Paris and Glaswegians will be charmed by Lisbon. Some will be so taken that they'll go home, hand in their notice and embark on a new life in a new city.

For many, though, it will go disastrously wrong as they confuse a fun city with a livable one. South Africa's Cape Town is nice to look at, but not brilliant for personal security.

Miami has fine property developments and its art fair, but many say it lacks a sense of community. Many journalists and contractors make plenty of money in Baghdad at the moment, but they're not there for the ease of daily life.

The results of a Monocle magazine global quality-of-life survey show that those frustrated by Shanghai, Hong Kong or London should move to Munich.

Roll your eyes, but having surveyed 40 cities and judged them on everything from public transport to environmental initiatives, to the number of long-haul flight connections to the ability to get a drink into the wee hours, Munich came tops.

Admittedly, it was a tight finish (Copenhagen and Zurich were close), but Munich won because of what it's achieved and what it's implementing for its residents.

There's an efficient public transport system of subways, trams and buses with an elaborate bicycle network with a well-stocked bike-borrowing scheme.

In the Isar river, traders from HypoVereinsbank cool off during lunch and entertain clients in shaded beer gardens in the evening - it's quite easy to get a drink at 3am.

The crime rate is low, independent retail has not been snuffed out by massive chains and the Alps and Italy are within striking distance.

Add to this a location at the heart of Europe and it's easy to see why the local government and private sector are working hard to raise the bar.

While this wasn't a global fun index, you can have a nice evening out on the tiles, you can strip right down in the park if you like that sort of thing and you can find a better selection of bars than in most international cities.

Source: China Daily/Agencies