After a life in London that felt like a never-ending hustle, Chiara Zucchelli, a 27-year-old dual British and Italian citizen, packed her bags for Copenhagen. Since moving, she claims to have recaptured a whopping 10 hours of her life every week, all thanks to a drastically shorter commute time.
Chiara originally arrived in London from Italy at the tender age of six, growing up in a city that’s been glamorized but is often criticized for its relentless pace. After years of rising rents and a challenging work-life balance, she decided two years ago it was time for a change. “Living in London was a constant drain on my time, both in my job and personal life,” Chiara said. “With work often taking me an hour to get to, any social activity across town could double that. London became unbearable for me.”
At the start of 2023, she and her Portuguese partner began exploring options in Europe. It was a nudge from a friend—who crafts wigs for the Copenhagen Opera House—that led them to visit, and they quickly fell for the charming city. After a few trips, they were convinced that Copenhagen was well-suited for them.
In a recent ranking, Copenhagen emerged in first place on the 2025 Global Liveability Index which assesses cities based on stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and quality of the environment. Cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh actually dropped in the list, landing in ranks 54, 52, and 64 respectively this year.
“What blew me away was the city’s facilities and overall focus on health. You find random trampolines in parks, great bike lanes everywhere, and even swimming in the harbor! Plus, they provide really cool incentives for recycling like discounts at supermarkets. It all just feels so relaxed, and I’ve noticed the people seem a lot less stressed,” she recalls.
Since making the big move, Chiara insists she just knows she made the right choice. “I’ve definitely gotten back around 10 hours of free time each week since settling in here,” she said.
Now living in a spacious apartment within walking distance of the city center, she’s happier for what she’s paying—$600 for a place that’s larger than her former residence in London.
Chiara loves that Copenhagen has a much more tight-knit community, comparing its smaller size and higher taxes favorably with London. “In London, I never really felt like anyone was looking out for me,” she admitted. “In Copenhagen, I can literally book a doctor’s appointment for the same day right through an app, no waiting on hold like before.”
At her new job, she’s found that everyone is really inclusive and friendly. “People here have been super welcoming, especially as I work on picking up the language,” adds Chiara. “There’s this stereotype about Danish people being standoffish, but I haven’t experienced that in the slightest.”
In fact, she recalls a lovely couple nearing her parents’ age who invited her over and even cooked her meals—a really sweet gesture!
Chiara has also made plenty of local friends through communal dining experiences at community centers, where people come together to enjoy traditional Danish meals at long tables for just about $10, enjoying conversations along the way.
The only major difference she’s run into compared to the bureaucratic side of living in the UK was adjusting to the Civil Personal Registration number (CPR)—a unique coding system that Danish residents need not just for healthcare, but also for setting up bank accounts and internet service. Until she and her partner acquired theirs last week, they were stuck relying on mobile data for online access. “It’s honestly just a minor bump in the road,” she noted.
However, Chiara doesn’t hide her awareness of her privilege in relocating. Being a fair-skinned European, she recognizes integration can be harder for others who may struggle with their backgrounds or physical appearances in such a homogenous society. “But for me right now, Copenhagen feels like home,” she concluded. “This city lets me truly live my life; I can finally breathe.”
