There’s little that lifts spirits more than taking a vacation — and one study showed that some destinations do it better than others.
BookRetreats.com recently released its Holiday Happiness Index, which combined science and data to find the holiday destinations that make people feel their best.
Research shows that people are no longer traveling just for landmarks and sightseeing — they’re prioritizing the “feel-good factor” when choosing where to travel.
A 2024 UK-based study found that relaxation is the number one reason for vacation for 73% of travelers, while 50% take trips to prioritize their mental health and well-being.
The Holiday Happiness Index analyzed 47 destinations for five key feel-good factors with guidance from Harvard-affiliated clinical psychologist and holistic happiness expert, Dr. Natalie Dattilo-Ryan.
The report revealed that Orlando, Florida, was the No. 1 U.S. destination on the list — and No. 3 worldwide.
The five feel-good factors looked at included natural sunlight, quality sleep, healthy diet, time in nature and physical exercise.
“When we talk about feeling good, we’re really talking about the release of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin,” Dattilo-Ryan said in a statement.
“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.”
Orlando received high acclaim for its green space and sunshine, ranking among the greenest in the United States with 258 square meters of green space per person — more than ten times that of Los Angeles — and 2,930 hours of sunshine a year.
“The theme park capital of the world, Orlando proves that a holiday destination built for fun can also boost your mood,” the report said.
The city scored lower for healthy eating options and quality sleep compared to other destinations, but it “more than makes up for it” with the sunshine, outdoor space and “atmosphere built to lift spirits.”
Chicago, Illinois, was the only other U.S. city to make the list, coming in as the No. 20 happiest city in the world.
The Windy City came in second place for greenest cities, just behind Orlando, with 180 square meters per person. The study noted that Lake Michigan’s shoreline parks “are as much a part of the city as its skyline.”
The No. 1 happiest city in the world went to Lisbon, Portugal, followed by Helsinki, Finland in second place.
Here are the top 10 world’s happiest holiday destinations:
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Helsinki, Finland
- Orlando, USA
- Athens, Greece
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Madrid, Spain
- Vienna, Austria
- Budapest, Hungary
- Oslo, Norway
- Vilnius, Lithuania
