The most relaxing place for a city break is a beautiful European city with 'stunning sights'

Mountains and city in Reykjavik

Reykjavik was voted the most relaxing place to visit

GETTY
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 25/02/2024

- 08:31

Britons looking for holiday inspiration can look to one of the most relaxing places for a city break

Cities in Europe dominated the list of the best places to go for a relaxing city break.

A beautiful destination in Iceland took the number one spot.


Reykjavik ranked at the top of the list in the MoneySuperMarket Serene Cities Index.

The report stated: "When it comes to a relaxing city break, Reykjavik in Iceland topped the list thanks to its high air quality, abundance of green space, low pollution levels, happy population and low traffic.

Reykjavik Iceland

It is a beautiful part of the world where Britons can catch the Northern Lights

PA

"Full of rich cultural heritage, the modestly sized city is home to a range of attractions, including stunning sights across the nearby Golden Circle, whale watching, and the ability to experience the Northern Lights.

"Scoring an impressive 85.5 out of a possible 100, the capital city performed strongly in every ranking factor in our index.

"However, its perks don’t come cheap, especially for those looking to sample Iceland’s nightlife where alcohol prices are some of the highest in Europe."

While beautiful, Iceland has recently been hit by a series of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes so Britons should check the latest travel advice before visiting.

Reykjavik was followed by Tallinn in Estonia and Bergen in Norway, which ranked second and third respectively.

The research considered factors including air pollution, light pollution, tidiness and noise pollution.

The amount of green space, hours lost to traffic congestion and hours of sunshine were also considered to give the Serenity Index Score (SIS).

Building in Vienna

Vienna also made the top 10 list

PA

Top 10 cities for a relaxing city break (SIS)

1. Reykjavik, Iceland - 85.5

2. Tallinn, Estonia - 82.3

3. Bergen, Norway - 80.8

4. Vienna, Austria - 80.6

5. Stockholm, Sweden - 79.4

6. Vilnius, Lithuania - 78.6

7. Ljubljana, Slovenia - 78.3

8. Munich, Germany - 77.3

9. Zurich, Switzerland - 76.6

10. Dubrovnik, Croatia - 76.5

The research also revealed the most stressful cities for holidaymakers to travel to.

New York City in the United States was found to be the most stressful city break, with a low SIS of 47.4.

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