People travel for different reasons. It could be for business, for emergencies, for family get-togethers, you name it.
Sometimes – typically on vacations – people travel specifically to get away and relax. But, as you probably know, not all vacations are made for relaxing.
Take a visit to Walt Disney World, for example. It’s exciting. Fun. Super expensive. But relaxing? Not one bit. Even the most diehard Disney fan will tell you that after a visit to WDW, they have to take a vacation to get over their vacation.
New York City is another popular vacation spot. It’s exciting for some. Maybe a little scary for others. There’s Broadway and museums and history, you name it. But is NYC relaxing? Nope. Not at all.
eSIM provider Holafly, decided to find out what cities around the world were the most relaxing. They drew on data from sources such as TripAdvisor and Numbeo. The study considered factors including the number of parks and nature reserves, spas and wellness centers, traffic congestion, air quality, average annual hours of sunshine, and overall happiness levels from the 2025 Happy City Index. Each metric was normalized on a scale of 1 to 100, and final scores were calculated as the average of all measures, with higher scores indicating a more-relaxed city.
Their key takeaways
From Holafly:
- San Diego tops the list as the most relaxing city to visit, with a relaxation score of 68.7/100
- Barcelona stands out as a top destination for wellness, boasting the highest number of spas and wellness centers (725) among the cities listed
- Helsinki, Finland, leads with the lowest air quality score (12.5), indicating exceptionally clean air
- With an average of 3,054.6 hours of sunlight per year, San Diego enjoys the sunniest climate among the cities listed
- Vienna, Austria, boasts the shortest average traffic time, at just 21.5 minutes.
- Singapore ranks the highest when it comes to happiness, reflecting a good quality of life among its residents
The Top 5
1. San Diego, California (U.S.A.)
San Diego turned out to be the #1 spot for relaxation. You probably know that it’s known for its laid-back atmosphere and stunning coastline. But the southern California city boasts 266 parks and nature reserves, which was the most of any city in the study. It also has 359 spas and wellness centers. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, San Diego also offers one of the sunniest climates on the list, which makes it easy to spend time outdoors.
2. Singapore, Singapore
Singapore landed in the #2 spot in their study and was praised for its blend of modern city living and green space initiatives. Although very densely populated, the city-state features 242 parks and nature areas, 698 spas and wellness centers, and relatively strong air quality. Average traffic congestion times hover at about 40 minutes, but Singapore scored highest for happiness, which is reflected in its residents’ satisfaction with their lifestyle.
3. Vienna, Austria
Vienna claimed third place, thanks in part to its excellent air quality, which is among the best in Europe. And having over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year also helps. The Austrian capital has 91 parks and nature reserves and 137 spas, and they offer a mix of traditional and modern wellness options. Vienna also boasts minimal traffic congestion and a walkable layout, which helped to boost its relaxation ranking.
4. Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia, grabbed the #4 spot, providing what the study described as the “perfect balance” between urban energy and peaceful surroundings. Known, of course, for its iconic beaches and outdoor lifestyle, Sydney offers 2,468 hours of sunshine every year, along with 239 parks, and 368 spas and wellness centers. It has a reputation for relaxed living and easy access to natural beauty, which also helped it rank so high in the study.
5. Melbourne, Australia
Australia made the top 5 again, with Melbourne. The city offers 215 parks and nature reserves, along with 249 spas and wellness centers. With over 2,360 hours of sunshine per year and high air quality, Melbourne is a great place for travelers seeking a sense of calm in a big city.
The rest of the top 12
Holafly also mentioned the rest of the Top 12 relaxing cities in the world:
6. Berlin, Germany
7. Auckland, New Zealand
8. Portland, Oregon (U.S.A.)
9. Rome, Italy
10. Helsinki, Finland
11. Madrid, Spain
12. Barcelona, Spain
More info
Go to this page of Holafly’s website for more info.
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