Outdoor activities, dreamlike architecture, a great food scene, quality public transport, and multidisciplinary cultural offerings... 

After an exhaustive international comparative study, the British newspaper The Telegraph awarded its annual prize for the 'Best City On Earth' to live in to Barcelona, dedicating an extensive report to list the attractions of this outstanding Spanish city on the shores of the Mediterranean. 

"Barcelona combines all the appeal of Mediterranean cities: a relaxed lifestyle and pace, months of sunshine, excellent and unbeatable cuisine, with the cultural and design influence of almost any city in the cold north," concludes the report published by The Telegraph, which did the same for 50 cities around the world.

The Catalan capital scored 588 out of a possible 810 points, 32 points ahead of Sydney, Australia in second place. In third place in the ranking was Cape Town, South Africa, in fourth Lisbon, Portugal, and in fifth, Venice.

"There is no other place like it," concludes The Telegraph in reference to Barcelona, and stresses that it combines "everything that has more charm of a Mediterranean city."

Food, culture, outdoor activities and public transport are key parts that put Barcelona in first place, according to the report published in The Telegraph Travel.  

The report also highlights the Catalan capital's "green spaces, its UNESCO World Heritage sites, its many pedestrian streets and its low-emission zone." It also highlighted "its LGBTQ-friendliness, its architecture from across the centuries, its perfect climate, its miles of beaches and its bold art scene."

"We could talk for hours about the wonders of Barcelona, but the figures speak for themselves," summarizes the magazine, also praising the works of Antoni Gaudí and the historic site of Sant Pau, the restaurant scene that have garnered 19 Michelin stars and the 39 five-star hotels in the city. 

Charming neighborhoods

According to The Telegraph, Barcelona is "a gateway to deeper exploration, a glimpse of new experiences to be enjoyed through the seasons and its less-frequented neighborhoods." The report highlights some of its most charismatic neighborhoods, such as Barri Gòtic, "a network of medieval alleyways stretching from the cathedral;" Gràcia, "a neighborhood of low-rise apartment blocks and bustling squares, beloved by families, students and lovers of spoken poetry;" and the more trendy Poblenou, a suburban district "where designers living in lofts rub shoulders with fintech entrepreneurs."

 The top 10 of the ranking prepared by The Telegraph was rounded out by Los Angeles, Dubai, London, Vancouver and Florence.