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The Danish capital was awarded top spot for its quality of life and status as a cutting-edge design centre, said the authors of the report, which looked at factors from the ease of buying a good glass of wine at 1am to the quality of architecture and the number of cinema screens.
Researchers at the London-based lifestyle magazine Monocle praised the city's compact planning, its "frictionless" transport system and infrastructure, as well as its contemporary buildings, top-notch restaurants and renewed focus on environmental issues. The last characteristic was crucial in Copenhagen's promotion from second place in last year's standings to first place in 2008, they said.
"As the planet becomes an increasingly urban place, delivering these life-improving essentials to cities big and small is proving more than a challenge. Radical environmental initiatives that pull cars off streets can do wonders, but can also kill off passing trade," said Tyler Brule, Monocle's editor-in-chief.
In a further accolade, Copenhagen was proclaimed the design capital of the world, with researchers hailing the return of a buzzing scene which had not seen such creativity since its heyday in the 1950s and 60s.
Paris won the award for best global city, crediting its maverick mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, with having ushered in a new era of free-thinking in the form of innovative initiatives such as the bike-sharing Vélib scheme. President Nicolas Sarkozy was also praised for having revived the city's reputation as an international political centre.
Researchers advised the more artistic traveller, meanwhile, to head to Berlin, which they labelled the world's best for culture.

The winners: Best cities for quality of life
1 Copenhagen
2 Munich
3 Tokyo
4 Zürich
5 Helsinki
6 Vienna
7 Stockholm
8 Vancouver
9 Melbourne
10 Paris
11 Sydney
12 Honolulu
13 Madrid
14 Berlin
15 Barcelona
16 Montreal
17 Fukuoka
18 Amsterdam
19 Minneapolis
20 Kyoto

# Best global city : Paris
# Best business city: Madrid
# Best cultural city: Berlin
# Best design city: Copenhagen
# Best retail city: Fukuoka