How we score neighbourhoods

LocaleChoice helps first-time visitors find the right neighbourhood across 384 areas in 110 European cities. Each is scored 0–100 on 7 factors (walkability, food, safety, transit, family-friendliness, cost and vibe). The default ranking is tuned for first-time visitors. Travellers can refine the ranking for families, foodies or culture seekers. Data comes from OpenStreetMap, Google Places, and editorial review.

The 7 factors

FactorWhat it measuresData source
WalkPedestrian-friendliness, street density, walkable amenitiesOpenStreetMap (Overpass API)
FoodRestaurant density, quality, diversity within walking distanceGoogle Places API
SafetyStreet lighting, foot traffic, reported incidents, evening characterEditorial review, calibrated against city indices
TransitPublic transport access, metro/tram/bus densityOpenStreetMap (transit stops)
FamilyParks, playgrounds, family amenities, quiet streetsOpenStreetMap (parks, schools)
CostAffordability (higher score = more affordable)Editorial review of average accommodation and dining costs
VibeCultural energy, character, atmosphereEditorial review

The 4 personas and their weights

The same neighbourhood scores differently depending on what kind of trip you’re taking. We weight the 7 factors differently for each persona:

FactorSoloFamilyFoodieCulture
Walk 25%15%20%25%
Food 20%10%35%15%
Vibe 25%0% 20%20%
Safety 15%30%10%15%
Cost 5% 5% 5% 5%
Transit 5% 15%10%20%
Family 5% 25%0% 0%

Weights total 100%. A neighbourhood’s combined score for a persona = sum(factor_score × weight) across all 7 factors.

What’s included and what isn’t

What we cover

110 European cities. 384 neighbourhoods. 4 traveller personas. Hyper-local insights, day itineraries, recommended restaurants and cultural sites, logistics (airport transfers, getting around), and safety watch-outs.

What we don’t cover

Non-European cities, smaller towns under 100,000 residents (with selected exceptions), seasonal events, specific hotel recommendations (we link to Booking.com for that), or real-time pricing.

Known limitations

Safety scores reflect general patterns and cannot account for individual circumstances. Cost scores are relative within a city, not absolute. Editorial coverage is deeper for the 12 marquee cities than for smaller ones. The tool complements, but does not replace, local advice and official safety guidance from government travel advisories.

How often the data updates

Editorial reviews refresh quarterly. OpenStreetMap data is pulled fresh when neighbourhoods are added or significantly change. Last full refresh: May 2026.

Open data access

All neighbourhood scores are available as JSON at /api/data/{city}/{neighbourhood}. Example: /api/data/lisbon/principe-real.

AI agents and developers are welcome to consume this endpoint. Please attribute LocaleChoice in any derived work or citation.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or partnership inquiries: localechoice@gmail.com