Stress and burnout can really wear you down, making it super important to take proper breaks—not just quick pauses, but real getaways where you can truly unwind. And the best way to do that? By visiting one of the most peaceful places on Earth.
Back in early December, the retreat booking site BookRetreats released its Holiday Relaxation Report, listing the best destinations for travelers looking for total peace and quiet. To figure out the most relaxing spots, the team studied 76 different locations, judging them on nine key factors: the amount of protected natural areas, forest coverage, how crowded they are, noise levels, light pollution, overall peacefulness, and the number of wellness experiences available. Each place was given a score out of 100, and after looking at all the data, Iceland was named Europe’s most relaxing holiday destination.
The report explained why Iceland stands out: “Not only does Iceland have the best peacefulness score in the world, but it also takes the top spot for serenity in our study,” BookRetreats said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “With its huge open landscapes, Iceland has just one major city and a few small, quiet towns, which means very little noise or light pollution. Thanks to these perfectly dark skies, it’s also one of the best places to see the stunning northern lights.”
Another big plus? Iceland has very few people compared to its vast size, so you’ll always find plenty of space to relax—even on the roads. “Icelanders spend only about 21.35 minutes in traffic one way, while in a place like Costa Rica, it’s nearly an hour (59.99 minutes),” the report added.
And if that wasn’t enough, Iceland is packed with amazing wellness spots to help you de-stress even more, like the world-famous Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon, both just a short trip from Reykjavík.
But Iceland isn’t the only great place to unwind. The report also named Australia as the most relaxing destination in the world, thanks to its breathtaking natural beauty and low population density. Canada came in second, with Iceland, Finland, and New Zealand completing the top five.