( CNN ) -- A recent study on global wellbeing showed the Danes to be the happiest people on the planet and with about a fifth of them living in their capital it stands to reason that Copenhagen must be a little bit special . The Amalienborg palaces are the royal family 's winter residence . So what are they so happy about ? Well , lifestyle magazine Monocle recently named Copenhagen as being the world 's most livable city , highlighting the quality of its infrastructure , transport system and contemporary buildings . It 's true that the city is well planned and well managed ; it boasts a new metro system , the main arteries in the centre are pedestrianized and the other streets are filled with cyclists rather than exhaust fumes . But Copenhagen is not some soulless exercise in sterile urban planning . There are the winding medieval streets of Indre By and the Latin Quarter , the picture-postcard houses of Nyhavn , the canals of Christanshavn , and the palaces and parks of Fredericksstaden and Rosenborg . The city is , simply , charming . If you spend some time in Copenhagen you 'll quickly come to understand the Danish concept of `` hygge '' , a word with multiple meanings that is best translated as something between `` cozy '' and `` relaxed '' . But if that suggests a city of bygone cuteness it does n't take into account the sleek modernism of Danish design . Arne Jacobsen 's legacy can be seen throughout the city ( check out the Radisson SAS Royal and Café Stelling ) but no less visionary are recent structures such as Henning Larsen 's futuristic Opera House or the dramatic new Royal Library , known as the `` Black Diamond '' . The clean lines and minimalism that characterize Danish design are evident in the interiors of the city 's stylish bars , restaurants and hotels and perhaps their influence can even be detected in the trend away from bland , stodgy cooking to a cleaner , healthier style that is earning the city 's restaurants acclaim and Michelin stars . The alternative side of Copenhagen can be seen in places like Christiania , the 'free city ' founded in 1971 by a collection of dropouts , hippies and social visionaries . The fact that this semi-autonomous experiment in communal living has survived for so long is testament to the open-mindedness of the Danish ; but the very existence of Christiania has always been controversial and government plans to 'normalize ' the area suggest it may not be 'free ' much longer . Like any city of its size , Copenhagen has its share of social problems . Nørrebro has been the scene of a riots in recent years , with some commentators blaming social deprivation and others blaming boredom among young people . But it is working class areas like Nørrebro and Vesterbro , away from the tourist trail , that are the beating heart of the city . They are home to many of Copenhagen 's trendiest bars and clubs and they have a sense of community that is difficult to convey ; it is something Danes might describe as `` hygge '' . So why are the Danish so happy ? Go to Copenhagen and you 'll understand .
Copenhagen has been described as the world 's most livable city . Comment: Sleek Danish design is evident everywhere and gives the city a modern edge . The 'free city ' of Christiania is testimony to Danish open-mindedness .