These Are Europe's Best Hospitals

In hospitals around the world, health care professionals are dedicated to providing quality patient care and engaging in cutting-edge research to help solve the world's most pressing medical issues.

To highlight the great work being done, Newsweek, in partnership with Statista, published its ranking of the World's Best Hospitals (WBH) 2025. The comprehensive list ranks 2,445 hospitals in 30 countries based on various local quality metrics and patient feedback.

Newsweek's ranking is based on publicly available data that compares hospitals within the same country. Included data measures the quality of care and treatments, staffing data, hygiene and safety protocols and patient satisfaction.

The depth and availability of these metrics vary greatly between countries. In Spain, Finland and the non-Flanders regions of Belgium, specific hospital quality metrics and patient satisfaction data were unavailable. Instead, the methodology relied on international recommendations, Google reviews and various national accreditation and certification programs to determine scores.

In addition to the country-specific lists, a list of the top 250 hospitals globally was also created. This list compiles hospitals from all 30 countries representing the top 10 percent of all hospitals listed, which are numerically ranked without a score.

There are 13 countries in Europe included on the ranking, and they account for a total of 945 hospitals. Most of Europe's top hospitals are university or teaching hospitals that operate within a universal public health system.

These are the top hospitals in their respective countries that also appear on the ranking's top 250 global list.

The Netherlands: Amsterdam UMC

For the fourth consecutive year, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC) is the top hospital in the Netherlands and the thirty-first hospital on the global top 250 list.

The teaching hospital has more than 16,000 staff members across two locations and is one of 35 Dutch hospitals on Newsweek's ranking. It focuses on research and the complex treatment of rare disorders, specifically in oncology and cardiology, and is the chair of two European reference networks for cardiogenic and endocrine diseases.

"As an international medical research center, a leader in health care innovation and a training institution for future professionals, we have a responsibility to help shape tomorrow's health care," CEO professor Hans van Goudoever told Newsweek in an email. "Care should be accessible to all, and good health should not depend on your socioeconomic situation or background. That's why we're deeply committed to the society we're part of, striving to enhance the health of both people and the planet."

Van Goudoever, a pediatrician, said the hospital feels an obligation to contribute to solutions to the world's most pressing health issues, like the increasing demand for care, growing health disparities, climate change and an aging population amid a tight labor market.

The hospital publishes around 6,000 articles a year, making it the second-largest producer of medical research in Europe, according to van Goudoever. Its recent work on the RSV vaccine led to "instant" changes in Dutch national guidelines.

Germany: Charité - Berlin University Medicine

The top hospital in Germany, for the sixth consecutive year, is Charité - Berlin University Medicine, which also ranked No. 7 on the global WBH list.

Germany was the most represented European country on the list and second overall, behind the United States, with 220 hospitals. Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe and is affiliated with the Free University of Berlin and Humboldt University, making it one of Berlin's largest employers.

France: AP-HP - Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital

For the sixth year in a row, Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital tops the French list. It also ranks 11th on the overall WBH list. The Parisian hospital, a part of the AP-HP Sorbonne University Hospital Group, is a teaching hospital of Sorbonne University.

Of the 2,987 hospitals in France, 150 were included in this ranking.

Italy: Niguarda Metropolitan Hospital

Up from the No. 2 spot, Niguarda Metropolitan Hospital tops the Italian WBH ranking for the first time since the list started in 2020. It ranks at No. 37 on the global 250 list.

The largest hospital in Milan is one of 140 Italian hospitals on the 2025 WBH list. The hospital boasts a multidisciplinary approach that manages the entire process of treating chronic patients outside the hospital and strives to be a hub of scientific research and the latest technology.

United Kingdom: St Thomas' Hospital

St. Thomas' Hospital maintains its top position in the United Kingdom. This teaching hospital in central London is one of the 930 hospitals owned by the National Health Service.

It is administratively part of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, along with facilities such as Guy's Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital and Evelina London Children's Hospital. There are a total of 140 U.K. hospitals on the WBH ranking, with St. Thomas' Hospital reaching No. 33 on the global 250 list.

Denmark: Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus University Hospital returned to the top spot in Denmark after being ranked No. 2 last year. It was previously ranked No. 1 in Denmark in both 2022 and 2023. Overall, AUH holds the No. 18 spot on the global ranking, which has 15 Danish hospitals.

The university hospital strives to ensure patients are "in the best hands throughout life," meaning the staff engages patients with a "whole-person approach" and the highest level of professionalism, CEO Thomas Balle Kristensen told Newsweek in an email. This approach, he added, allows AUH to offer "a cohesive and reputable service throughout life no matter the difficulty of the treatment."

Kristensen said patients are met with a more individualized and patient-friendly approach that involves them in the decision making. The hospital recently developed an app that provides patients an overview of their appointments, sends reminders, helps them navigate the hospital and allows them to interact with staff to stay organized and informed.

"The hospital's culture is shaped by Denmark's public health care system, which ensures free and equal access for all citizens," he said. "This influences the staff's approach to care, fostering a strong commitment to helping every patient in need."

Switzerland: University Hospital of Zurich

For the third consecutive year, the University Hospital of Zurich is the top hospital in Switzerland. The hospital has been the center of medical discoveries of world-renowned physicians and scientists. This facility is one of 35 Swiss hospitals on the ranking and rounds out the top 10 global hospitals on the WBH 2025 list.

The University Hospital treats around 42,000 inpatients and has over 600,000 outpatient visits every year. It has more than 40 specialized departments and a robust research program.

Sweden: Karolinska University Hospital

The Karolinska University Hospital is a teaching hospital associated with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The facility tops the list for Swedish hospitals for the second year and landed at the No. 5 spot overall on the WBH list. Nineteen other Swedish hospitals were included on the WBH list this year.

"More than 10 years ago the entire staff were involved in setting our values which have since played an important part in shaping who we are: responsibility, compassion and holistic perspective," CEO Dr. Christophe Pedroletti told Newsweek in an email. "Personally, I always like to think that it is our job to provide health care, research and education of the highest quality within given constraints and to create a workplace to long for."

Pedroletti said the hospital excels in precision medicine and cutting-edge cancer treatment, thoracic surgery and traumatology, with specialties in advanced cancer surgery, gene and cell therapy, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, interventional radiology, neurology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, trauma, orthopedics and pediatrics.

The hospital has improved efficiency and optimized treatment by integrating clinical pathways, multidisciplinary teams and data-driven decision making, Pedroletti said. Karolinska also recruited 400 new nurses, doctors and other health care professionals in 2024.

"It is important to cultivate an open environment where questions are encouraged and discussion is the norm in order to attract top talent—something we actively prioritize," Pedroletti said. "Another key feature that makes Karolinska University Hospital attractive to top talent is our decentralized leadership philosophy that fosters creativity and promotes greater collaboration within the organization. Our recruitment strategy has been highly effective, allowing us to avoid the staff shortages that many hospitals worldwide are facing."

Austria: Vienna General Hospital - Medical University Campus

Austria's top hospital is the medical university campus at Vienna General Hospital, which has held the top spot since Austria was included on the WBH list in 2021 and was ranked at No. 27 on the global top 250 this year.

The Medical University Campus at Vienna General Hospital is a teaching hospital with a "triple-track strategy" focus on research, education and treatment for its nearly 8,600 students and more than 6,500 employees. It is also one of Europe's leading biomedical research facilities and has the Josephinum medical history museum.

Norway: Oslo University Hospital

Oslo University Hospital, the top hospital in Norway for the sixth consecutive year, is one of 15 Norwegian hospitals on the WBH ranking, landing at the No. 28 spot on the global top 250.

Belgium: UZ Leuven

UZ Leuven has maintained the top spot among Belgium hospitals since it was first included on the list in 2021. This year, it landed at the No. 40 spot on the global top 250. The university hospital in Leuven is an academic hospital associated with KU Leuven, a Catholic research university with three campuses.

The hospital's vision to "push boundaries together" is accomplished by consulting with patients, training future health care workers and creating a collaborative workplace environment.

The academic hospital has a renowned pediatric division and specializes in rare diseases, organ transplantation, end-stage organ failure, cancer, genetics, fetal surgery and robotic surgery.

Improving patient experience has been a focus of the hospital, CEO and professor Dr. Paul Herijgers told Newsweek in an email, with the inclusion of bedside audiovisual systems, a greater presence of close relatives when needed and health apps for displaying records, results, appointments and invoices.

UZ Leuven is tackling the health care workforce shortage by optimizing care and improving recruitment and retention strategies. According to Herijgers, leadership aims to identify top talent early in their careers through interactions with educational programs. Increasing efficiency is a major goal for the hospital, as it delegates tasks to ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined within the strategic vision.

Looking ahead, the hospital is also focused on energy sustainability, partnering with nonprofit organizations and expanding care across other regions.

Spain: La Paz University Hospital

La Paz University Hospital is the top hospital in Spain for the fourth consecutive year. This teaching hospital in the La Paz neighborhood of Madrid is affiliated with the Madrid Regional Health Care System. It is the 49th hospital on the top 250 global list.

It is known for its work in cardiovascular disease, hematology, general and digestive surgery, neonatology and organ transplants. The hospital also coordinates the European Reference Network for Pediatric Transplantation, which is funded by the European Union.

"We aim to be a national and international reference for excellence in health care, teaching and research for all interested parties," Medical Director Dr. Francisco García Río told Newsweek, as translated by Statista. "We strive to improve health care through innovation and technological transformation while ensuring the sustainability of the system. We also foster the growth of our professionals, seeking loyalty and commitment to our project."

García Río said teamwork and continuous improvement are encouraged among staff, as they deliver ethical, equitable and high-quality care. Maintaining transparency and trust within the community is also important at La Paz.

The hospital involved patients in the design of new clinical areas, created focus groups and increased patient engagement in their own health care and health management.

"The culture at Hospital Universitario La Paz directly influences patient care by promoting an assistance model based on excellence, innovation and humanity," García Río said. "Our commitment to continuous training and research ensures that professionals provide advanced and personalized treatments. Empathy, respect and effective communication are essential values guiding every interaction, creating an environment of trust and security."

Finland: Helsinki University Hospital

Helsinki University Hospital remains the top hospital in Finland and is number 43 on the overall top 250 global list. Finland's largest health care provider and second-largest employer had 27,500 employees and treated nearly 700,000 patients in 2023. In 2024, a total of 91,572 surgeries were performed, up four percent from the previous year, according to a recent press release from the hospital.