From the thrill of landing in a new destination to enjoying a beach day, there are plenty of opportunities that can deliver happiness on a vacation. And a new report revealed some destinations make it easier to smile than others.
The city of Lisbon, Portugal, ranked as the happiest destination in the world for travelers, according to a study from BookRetreats, which offers packaged wellness vacations. That was thanks to its more than 2,800 hours of annual sunshine, expansive green spaces, and healthy restaurants throughout.
“Walkability is another of Lisbon’s mood-boosters,” company wrote in its study. “The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with panoramic viewpoints that reward slow exploration.”
Lisbon is no stranger to ranking at the top of travelers’ lists. In fact, the city was one of Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite cities in Europe for 2025.
The happiness study was based on a quantitative ranking of “feel-good factors,” including annual sunlight, walkability, public green space per capita, public perception of noise and light pollution, and restaurants classified as “healthy.”
Beyond Lisbon, the Finnish city of Helsinki ranked second after receiving the top score for low noise and light pollution. It’s no wonder when Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for eight consecutive years, in part due to its citizens’ commitment to volunteering, donating, and helping others.
Known as the theme park capital of the world, Orlando, Florida, came in third on the list. Home to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and more, the report found Orlando was also one of the greenest cities with more than 2,000 square feet of green space per person (the most of any other city on the list).
“This greenery stretches across more than 148 parks, gardens, and recreation areas,” the report noted. “Visitors can kayak through the city’s chain of lakes, wander trails in protected wetlands, or unwind in botanical gardens.”
The European cities of Athens and Edinburgh rounded out the top five, lauded for their walkability, culture, and history.
“The psychology of travel is changing,” BookRetreats.com co-founder Sean Kelly said in a statement. “It’s less about asking ‘Where should I go?’ and more about ‘How do I want to feel when I get there?”
Kelly added: “As more people put mental health and balance at the heart of their holidays, demand will only grow for destinations that deliver on that promise.”
