How well does Europe sleep?
In a world that never truly sleeps, sleep has become the new luxury. It is the foundation of our well-being and a decisive factor for physical and mental health, productivity, and overall quality of life. At Coway, we believe that a healthy lifestyle starts with a healthy home – and healthy sleep is one of its pillars.
This belief led to the creation of the European Sleep Index 2026. The study shines a light on sleep quality across 25 major European cities, examining the environmental and lifestyle factors that shape how well people sleep in modern urban environments. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of good sleep and to show how city life across Europe directly affects nightly recovery.
London in a European context – a short comparison
When compared to other major European capitals, London performs significantly worse than many of its peers.
- London (20th, 36.12 points) ranks far below Amsterdam (2nd, 21.24 points) and Stockholm (3rd, 21.45 points), cities that combine lower noise exposure, cleaner air, and stronger work-life balance cultures.
- Despite facing similar challenges such as density and tourism, Paris performs better overall, indicating that city size alone does not determine sleep quality.
- London’s score places it closer to Barcelona and Warsaw, cities where noise pollution, air quality issues, and intense urban activity heavily disrupt sleep.
The comparison shows that London’s sleep challenges are not inevitable, but closely linked to infrastructure choices, environmental management, and lifestyle patterns.
Methodology
To provide a comprehensive picture of sleep quality, the European Sleep Index 2026 is based on seven key indicators. These factors cover environmental and behavioural elements that are scientifically proven to influence sleep.
Important:
Each indicator is measured using a penalty-point system, where a lower total score indicates better sleep quality.
Key indicators:
- Light pollution: Artificial night-time brightness measured using the Sky Quality Meter (Light Pollution Map).
- Air quality (PM2.5): Fine particulate matter concentration, based on ISGlobal Ranking of Cities data.
- Noise pollution: Percentage of the population exposed to harmful noise levels (ISGlobal Ranking of Cities).
- Smoking rate: Share of smokers in the population (World Population Review).
- Alcohol consumption: Average alcohol consumption per capita (World Population Review).
- Sleep duration: Average nightly sleep duration, used as a direct indicator of rest quantity.
Scoring system
All indicators were standardised on a scale from 0 to 10:
- 0 points = best-performing city
- 10 points = worst-performing city
All other cities were ranked proportionally in between.
With the seven aforementioned indicators analysed, the maximum possible penalty score is 70.
Cities included in the study
The index analyses 25 European metropolitan areas, offering a broad international comparison:
Scandinavia & Benelux:
Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Brussels
Germany:
Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart
Alpine Region:
Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Graz, Linz, Vienna
Southern Europe:
Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Madrid, Paris
Central & Eastern Europe:
Warsaw, Prague, Budapest
United Kingdom:
London
Cities with the best sleep quality
The top performers of the European Sleep Index 2026 demonstrate that excellent sleep conditions are achievable even in large cities.
1. Zurich – the sleep capital of Europe
Score: 20.11 points
Zurich ranks first overall. The city stands out for its exceptionally low light pollution (0.0 points), combined with moderate air quality levels, low alcohol consumption, and a strong health-conscious culture. These factors create near-ideal conditions for restorative sleep.
2. Amsterdam – calm within density
Score: 21.24 points
Amsterdam benefits from its cycling-focused infrastructure, which reduces both air and noise pollution. A strong work-life balance culture and the city’s canals contribute to a calmer urban atmosphere. With just 4.09 points for noise pollution, Amsterdam proves that density does not have to mean disruption.
3. Stockholm – nature integrated into city life
Score: 21.45 points
Stockholm combines urban living with natural surroundings. Spread across 14 islands and surrounded by water, the city benefits from natural noise reduction and excellent air quality. With 0.0 points for air pollution – the best result in the index – Stockholm shows how nature can significantly improve sleep in cities.
Cities with poorer sleep quality
At the other end of the ranking are cities where sleep is significantly disrupted by environmental stressors and lifestyle habits.
25. Prague
Score: 44.12 points
Prague ranks last in the index. High noise pollution (7.73 points), the highest alcohol consumption score in the entire study (10.0 points), and a high smoking rate (7.39 points) combine to severely impact sleep quality.
24. Warsaw
Score: 42.83 points
Warsaw struggles with very high air pollution (8.0 points – second worst overall) and elevated noise exposure, both of which negatively affect nightly recovery.
23. Barcelona
Score: 38.17 points
Barcelona records the highest noise pollution score in the index (9.55 points). Tourism, nightlife, dense housing, and traffic noise create persistent sleep disturbances, particularly during summer months.
20. London
Score: 36.12 points
London ranks 20th out of 25 cities, placing the UK capital firmly in the lower tier of the index and indicating below-average sleep quality.
High noise exposure from traffic, late-night activity, and constant urban movement is a major issue across many boroughs. Combined with air pollution and long commuting times, these factors significantly disrupt sleep.
London’s always-on lifestyle, while economically powerful, comes at a clear cost to proper nightly recovery and long-term well-being.
Conclusion
The European Sleep Index 2026 clearly shows that sleep quality is shaped by the environments we live in. Cities with higher noise levels, poorer air quality, and higher alcohol consumption consistently perform worse.
Two factors stand out above all others:
Noise pollution and air quality. On their own, they can dramatically influence how well an entire city sleeps.
Sleep is not a luxury – it is a basic human need. Cities that fail to protect their citizens’ sleep risk undermining long-term health, productivity, and quality of life. Those that take sleep seriously will gain a decisive advantage: healthier, more resilient, and more satisfied populations.
At Coway, we believe sleep is the foundation of a healthy life. The European Sleep Index 2026 is a first step – a tool to show where Europe’s cities stand today, and where action is most urgently needed.
