December 17, 2024, 6:51 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Overtourism is on everyone’s lips, and popular travel destinations are literally bursting at the seams. But not everywhere is crowded and noisy, there are also a number of destinations around the world where you can come to rest, slow down and relax. The platform BookRetreats.com recently published its “Global Relaxation Index”, a ranking of the world’s most relaxing travel destinations. These are the results.
Wide open spaces and not a soul to disturb the peace with annoying chatter, rustling, or any other disturbing noise. Travelers yearning for peace and quiet will likely let out a small, desperate “yes” upon envisioning such a serene scene. Especially in times when flights are cheap and popular travel destinations overrepresented on social media, therefore, consequently overpopulated. The question of where to go arises for many who are looking for peace and quiet instead of techno sounds on the beach, untouched nature instead of beaches hidden by bodies, and solitude instead of towel wars by the pool. In itself, the question of relaxing destinations is not difficult to answer: these are probably the ones that not everyone goes to. Off the beaten track. Countries that are the least visited in the world, for example (TRAVELBOOK reported).
However, according to the platform BookRetreats.com, there’s an alternative. In its “Global Relaxation Index“, it shows that even among the most popular travel destinations, you can still find relaxing spots for your vacation (presumably, if you go on holiday other times than the vacation season and away from the tourist strongholds). TRAVELBOOK took a look at the Relaxation Index.
Overview
The Ranking
“Where can travelers still find genuine peace and quiet?” – This is the key question behind the “Global Relaxation Index” from the BookRetreats platform. According to this, 76 destinations were examined for the index in terms of safety, solitude, tranquility, nature, and well-being. Data on protected areas, forest cover, population density, noise and light pollution, general tranquility, and general well-being were analyzed. The data is based on various sources, including the Global Peace Index (GPI), Numbeo, World Population Review, UN Tourism, Tripadvisor, and specially collected data from BookRetreats.com. The destinations analyzed were awarded points between 1 and a maximum of 25 for each area, with the total score (maximum 100 points) resulting in a ranking of 76 destinations.
The Most Relaxing Destination in the World, According to the Ranking, Is …
… Australia. The vast nation nestled between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific boasts a population of 26.45 million. On average, that’s just 3.4 people per one of the 7,741,000 square kilometers. In addition, there are 7.19 million visitors who travel to this huge country every year. BookRetreats compares Australia with tourist stronghold Italy (30th place) and calculates that Australia receives 50 million fewer visitors each year than the European vacation destination despite its 25 times larger area. Thus, the authors of the ranking are convinced that Australia provides “what crowded European destinations have lost: space to breathe.”
They explain: “Key to this ranking is the country’s balance of vast natural landscapes and low tourist numbers.” Not only do comparatively few people populate the country permanently or temporarily, but more than a third of Australia’s natural areas are protected, including 704 national parks. In addition, there are 4,700 wellness experiences, i.e., the number of retreats, as well as spa and wellness centers. Overall, Australia received 73.8 out of 100 points, the highest score of all the destinations analyzed.
Europe with 7 Destinations in the Top 10
Despite Europe’s growing popularity as a vacation hotspot for the masses, it surprisingly boasts numerous destinations classified as relaxing by BookRetreats.com. Seven European countries alone have made it into the top 10 of the ranking, 18 even into the top 25. It is noticeable that the north of the continent in particular offers the conditions for a relaxing vacation, above all Iceland, which – after nature giant Canada in second place – occupies the third place. This picturesque island nation is followed by Finland in fourth place and New Zealand in fifth. According to the ranking, all five have a population density of less than 20 people per square meter. At the same time, the Northern European destinations achieve “relaxation not through acres of space, but through smart green cities, slow-pace lifestyles, and rich wellness traditions”, according to BookRetreats.com.
In addition to the large number of Europeans, two African destinations have also made it into the top 25 most relaxing destinations: Botswana (11th place) and Namibia (23rd place). Both overtake classic destinations, such as Greece (32nd place), France (33rd place), and Thailand (44th place). “Both African nations offer vast open spaces averaging less than 5 people per km2,” the report states. They also rank among the 65 most peaceful countries in the Global Peace Index (GPI).
These are the 25 Most Relaxed Travel Destinations in the World in 2025*
- Australia (73.8 points)
- Canada (72.5 points)
- Iceland (71.2 points)
- Finland (71.1 points)
- New Zealand (69.3 points)
- Austria (65.2 points)
- Sweden (64.6 points)
- Estonia (64.5 points)
- Norway (62.9 points)
- Portugal (62.6 points)
- Botswana (62.3 points)
- Croatia (62.1 points)
- Germany (60.5 points)
- Montenegro (59.9 points)
- Japan (59.0 points)
- Spain (59.0 points)
- Bulgaria (58.3 points)
- Lithuania (58.3 points)
- Czech Republic (57.7 points)
- Malaysia (57.5 points)
- Switzerland (57.4 points)
- Poland (57.3 points)
- Namibia (56.1 points)
- Netherlands (56.0 points)
- Denmark (55.8 points)
*according to BookRetreats.com
BookRetreats.com summarizes: “As familiar destinations struggle with overwhelming crowds, the world’s most relaxing destinations now lie in unexpected corners of the world.” The author is certain: “Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the future of relaxation travel belongs to places that actively preserve their tranquility.” These places offer what travelers are desperately looking for in a modern world: “space to breathe, room to explore, and the chance to connect deeply with both nature and culture.”
These are the World’s Least Relaxing Destinations
Having uncovered the most relaxing vacation spots in the world, it’s natural to wonder where to avoid when seeking peace and relaxation. One possible approach is a look into the end of the “Global Relaxation Index”.
These are the last ten places in the ranking:
67. Nicaragua (34.2 points)
68. Sri Lanka (34.1 points)
69. Guatemala (32.9 points)
70. Kenya (32.8 points)
71. Egypt (32.7 points)
72. Philippines (32.3 points)
73. India (31.8 points)
74. Turkey (31.4 points)
75. Gambia (31.2 points)
76. El Salvador (26.9 points)
According to the authors of the ranking: “The ten least relaxing holiday destinations face multiple challenges: dense populations averaging over 200 people per km2, safety concerns, and limited protected places.” In addition, high levels of noise and light pollution, significant traffic congestion, and the sometimes rapid development of tourism further impede the relaxation of travelers.
According to "Time Out" The most underrated travel destinations in Europe for 2025
According to "Lonely Planet" 11 Tropical Destinations Where Vacations are still Relatively Cheap
Opening in November Greenland gets a new international airport
The Loneliest, Quietest, and Safest Destinations, According to the Ranking
In addition to the generally most relaxed and least relaxed destinations in the world, the “Global Relaxation Index” contains various sub-rankings. While Australia tops the list as the most relaxed destination, the authors note it’s not the quietest, loneliest, or safest place, nor the premier choice for nature enthusiasts.
These are the winners of the sub-categories:
- The best vacation destination for solitude: Mongolia (2.19 people per square meter)
- The best vacation destination for tranquility: Iceland (22.48 points for light and noise pollution)
- The best vacation destination for nature lovers: Brazil (29.42 percent nature reserves; 58.65 percent forest)
- The safest vacation destination: Iceland (1112 peacefulness points in the GPI)
- The best vacation destination for wellness: USA (10,537 wellness activities).