Choosing your next holiday destination can be a complicated decision, given the sheer number of options available. If happiness is your main criterion, then Lisbon is the place to be.
According to the Holiday Happiness Index ranking from BookRetreats, the Portuguese capital is the happiest destination in the world.
The platform notes that recent studies show that the sense of wellbeing is increasingly a priority when people decide where to travel.
The study looked at 47 destinations across the globe, assessing factors such as exposure to sunlight, how easy it is to get around on foot and the exercise visitors do as a result, the amount of green space, the availability of healthy food and sleep quality, factors which, according to the study, are essential to wellbeing and are known to naturally stimulate the production of hormones associated with happiness in the body.
The assessment was carried out under the guidance of Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, an affiliated clinical psychologist at Harvard and a specialist in holistic happiness.
According to the analysis, a number of factors make Lisbon stand out, with food emerging as one of the main ones.
Food, green spaces and sunlight: The ingredients of happiness
“Almost 10% of Lisbon’s restaurants are classed as healthy, the second-highest share in our index, putting the city ahead of global food hubs such as Paris, Tokyo and New York,” the conclusions state, also stressing the variety of cuisine on offer and prices in the Portuguese capital.
“From fresh seafood to traditional taverns, eating well in the city is affordable and within most people’s budget,” the study adds.
The study also highlights how easy it is to get around Lisbon on foot, “despite the uneven terrain”.
“The city is compact and easy to explore on foot, offering panoramic viewpoints that reward those who prefer a more relaxed pace,” the conclusions note.
On top of this comes the abundance of green spaces, with the city offering “49 m² of green space per resident – almost four times more than Madrid”, as well as its proximity to nature, in particular the coastline, with the beaches of Cascais and Costa da Caparica less than an hour away by public transport.
Walking, enjoying viewpoints, beaches and parks is only really possible with good weather. The study underlines the “2,828 hours of sunshine a year” in the Portuguese capital as a factor of happiness. “It is easy to understand the city’s power to lift our mood.”
“Lisbon is different from all other destinations, and that is exactly what the Lisbon Tourism Association values in its strategy. The ability to offer different ways of experiencing and discovering Lisbon, while preserving what sets the destination apart and creates value for those who visit and those who live here,” said António Valle, Director-General of the Lisbon Tourism Association, in a statement.
Ranking dominated by European cities
Lisbon is followed by Helsinki. As the capital of the country named the happiest in the world, it is no surprise to see it among the frontrunners in this ranking. The study highlights the presence of nature in the Finnish city, described as “a central element of Helsinki’s welcoming environment”.
“Lush parks and tree-lined boulevards blend seamlessly into forest trails, providing residents and visitors with around 126 m² of green space per person – more than twice the Austrian average and more than 50 times the proportion in Hong Kong.”
Peace and ease of getting around on foot are also highly valued, as are the city’s “safe streets, efficient transport and a culture based on trust”, which, according to the study, “create an environment where visitors can really switch off and recharge”.
Rounding out the top three is the US city of Orlando. Known “for its thrilling attractions”, particularly the vast Disney and Universal Studios theme parks, the city is highlighted here for its green spaces, lakes and hours of daylight. “Orlando also enjoys 2,930 hours of sunshine a year, creating ideal conditions for outdoor activities,” the ranking notes.
With the exception of Orlando, all of the world’s happiest destinations are in Europe: from fourth place onwards, they are Athens, Edinburgh, Madrid, Vienna, Budapest, Oslo and Vilnius, which completes the top 10.