When Europe gets it right
As a series of crises puts Europe under strain, some cities are fighting back with innovative solutions
How a small Turkish city successfully absorbed half a million migrants
Gaziantep has grown by 30% due to newcomers fleeing the crisis across the border in Syria, but remains a model of tolerance and pragmatism
Unwelcome guests: moped riders protest as Amsterdam drives them from bike lanes
Dutch capital steps its pro-cycling reputation up a gear with new regulations – and not everyone is happy
'It’s a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness
Finland is the only EU country where homelessness is falling. Its secret? Giving people homes as soon as they need them – unconditionally
‘People aren’t disabled, their city is’: inside Europe’s most accessible city
From flattened cobbles to threshold ramps, the Dutch city of Breda has much to teach its neighbours
From no recycling to zero waste: how Ljubljana rethought its rubbish
Fifteen years ago, all the Slovenian capital’s waste went to landfill, but by 2025, at least 75% of its rubbish will be recycled. How did the city turn itself around?
How Stockholm became the city of work-life balance
With flexible hours the norm, and almost two years’ parental leave for every child, Sweden’s capital boasts a happy and efficient workforce. What can other cities learn?
From bleak to bustling: how one French town solved its high street crisis
Mulhouse has turned around its image and now boasts more shops opening than closing, thanks to smart planning, investment and community efforts
City with a female face: how modern Vienna was shaped by women
The Austrian capital has been pioneering ‘gender mainstreaming’ for nearly 30 years. How did the city come to be so far ahead – and could its gains be lost?
How the 'Las Vegas of Italy' is kicking its slot machine addiction
Once compared to Oxford, the university city of Pavia is now better known for gambling. These activists are fighting to change that
Reversing the brain drain: how Plovdiv lures young Bulgarians home
The city’s affordability, relaxed pace and expanding IT sector is tempting back young emigrants facing uncertainty abroad due to issues such as Brexit
'Hate is always local': the Swedish city that said no to neo-Nazis
After a 14-year-old was murdered by neo-Nazis in 1995, Kungälv launched a pioneering project that has changed how people think about tackling racism
Sinking city: how Venice is managing Europe's worst tourism crisis
Venice’s booming tourism industry is threatening the city’s very survival. But grassroots initiatives are making a difference – and may even help other cities
Are the hyper-specialist shops of Berlin the future of retail?
One shop sells nothing but buttons, another sells only liquorice, and another is ‘the world’s first textile butcher shop’. In the age of Amazon, it seems the way to thrive is to specialise
