Forget Parisian chic and London's old-school glamour. A definitive new study has crowned a different European city as the continent's undisputed capital of posh. The winner, with a staggering Posh Index of 98.3, is Geneva, Switzerland.
The Posh Index Explained
The title was awarded following an in-depth analysis by Private Upgrades, which scrutinised data from Booking, Michelin, and golf courses across 94 European cities. The research aimed to pinpoint which urban centres offer the finest access to luxury, culminating in a final Posh Index score for each.
Geneva, a global hub for business and diplomacy, is renowned for its high cost of living, and the data confirms its elite status. The city boasts an impressive density of 18.20 five-star hotels per 100 km², surpassing London's 16.58. For visitors, this luxury comes at a price. A beer can set you back up to 10CHF (£9.40), while an average inexpensive restaurant meal costs 26CHF (£24.50).
How Other European Cities Ranked
The study revealed a surprising leaderboard of European luxury. Securing second place was the French Riviera's Nice, with a Posh Index of 93.1. The Netherlands' Amsterdam rounded out the top three.
Meanwhile, the UK's capital, London, found itself in a more modest 10th place, achieving a Posh Index of 74.3. Despite this ranking, London still holds significant luxury credentials. It possesses the highest number of five-star hotels in Europe (288) and the second-highest number of Michelin Guide restaurants (345). The city also remains a pinnacle of British fashion, home to at least 61 luxury boutiques and bespoke tailors.
Completing the top five were Zurich in fourth place and Florence in fifth, cementing Switzerland's strong showing in the luxury travel market.
