Where’s The World’s Happiest Vacay? A New Study Breaks Down Top Spots

Due to its number of “feel-good factors,” a popular European destination was just named the world’s happiest destination for a vacation.

BookRetreats is a Berkeley, California-based travel booking platform that specializes in offering retreats worldwide. In its Holiday Happiness Index, published this month, the company shared top destinations for boosting “the body’s happy hormones.” The study was done in collaboration with clinical psychologist and holistic happiness expert, Dr. Natalie Dattilo-Ryan.

Out of the 47 destinations analyzed, Lisbon, Portugal, was crowned the “world’s happiest holiday destination.” The Portuguese capital ranked on top due to its walkability and nearly 3,000 hours of annual sunshine. The study also highlighted Lisbon’s abundance of healthy restaurants and green space per person.

What Were The World’s Happiest Destinations With The Highest “Feel-Good Factor?”

BookRetreats and Dattilo-Ryan analyzed the destinations based on various factors. They included each place’s annual amount of sunlight, its green area, and walkability. The number of healthy restaurants and levels of noise and light pollution were also considered. BookRetreats noted that the latter two can particularly impact one’s sleep and overall well-being in a destination.

Other destinations with reportedly high feel-good factors include Helsinki, Finland; Orlando, Florida, USA; Athens, Greece; and Edinburgh, Scotland.

“The data presented in this study are estimates and are by no means absolute,” detailed BookRetreats. “The happiness experienced in a destination depends above all on individual preferences. Nevertheless, the methodology we have used has enabled us to get as close to a conclusive ranking for all the cities for which we have been able to obtain sufficient data.”

“When we talk about feeling good, we’re really talking about the release of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin,” said Dattilo-Ryan. “These chemicals influence everything from mood and sleep to energy and digestion. And many of the things that trigger them, like sunlight, movement, food, and quality rest, are often part of a good holiday, if you choose the right destination.”

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