The Scottish city finished ahead of both London and Manchester becoming the happiest city to visit in the UK
Aerial view of the famous colorful Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, England, Victoria Street in the United Kingdom, Victoria Street in the old town in Edinburgh Scotland England Crowds of tourists on the Royal Mile,harry potter city
Victoria Street, a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane, is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic thoroughfares. Prior to its construction, access from the Grassmarket to the Lawnmarket was via the West Bow, a very steeply sloped and narrow lane. The new street was planned to demolish much of the old West Bow, and provide a broad sweeping link to the newly built George IV Bridge.(Image: Getty Images)
A Scottish city has been named among world’s happiest holiday destinations.
Edinburgh has been ranked one of the happiest holiday destinations in the world, earning a place in the global top five and taking the crown as the happiest city to visit in the UK. The Scottish capital finished ahead of both London and Manchester in a new international study.
The findings come from the Holiday Happiness Index, a project created by retreat specialists BookRetreats.com in collaboration with Harvard-affiliated psychologist Dr Natalie Dattilo-Ryan. The study analysed 47 destinations worldwide against five scientific factors linked to boosting the body’s “happy hormones.”
“When we talk about feeling good, we’re really talking about the release of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin,” explained Dr Dattilo-Ryan. “These chemicals influence everything from mood and sleep to energy and digestion. And many of the things that trigger them are often part of a good holiday.”
Almost half of Edinburgh is green space, giving residents 78 square metres each, nearly double that of London, according to UN-Habitat data.(Image: Getty Images)
The research measured sunshine levels, sleep quality based on light and noise pollution, access to green spaces, food quality, and walkability. Together, these factors were used to assess how well a destination can encourage the release of the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Edinburgh performed strongly across several categories, with green space emerging as one of its standout features. According to data from the UN-Habitat Urban Indicators, almost half of the city is made up of parks, gardens, and natural areas, providing around 78 square metres of green space per resident. This is nearly double the figure recorded for London.
The city’s layout also supports exploration on foot, with a walk of just over an hour linking major attractions including Edinburgh Castle and the National Museum of Scotland.
Its walkability contributed to its strong score on movement, one of the key happiness factors identified in the study.
Food was another area where Edinburgh impressed. The city scored 16 out of 20 for healthy dining, with around seven per cent of its restaurants serving dishes designed to combine nutrition with flavour.
Seasonal Scottish produce and inventive plant-based menus were highlighted as part of its appeal to travellers seeking food that promotes wellbeing.
Globally, Lisbon topped the index, with the Portuguese capital singled out for its food culture. Around 10 per cent of Lisbon’s thousands of restaurants are considered healthy, outscoring celebrated culinary cities such as Paris and Tokyo.
Its abundance of fresh seafood, including grilled sardines and bacalhau, was noted for its high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid linked to serotonin production.
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Helsinki secured second place, recognised for its vast 126 square metres of green space per person and excellent scores for low noise and light pollution.
Orlando ranked third, followed by Athens in fourth. Edinburgh completed the top five, with London placed 30th overall and Manchester just behind in 31st.
Dr Dattilo-Ryan said the results show how certain destinations can naturally encourage happier experiences.
“Many of the things that trigger happy hormones are often part of a good holiday,” she noted, pointing to the importance of nature, food, and movement in shaping positive experiences abroad.
Top 20: World’s Happiest Holiday Destinations for 2025
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Helsinki, Finland
- Orlando, US
- Athens, Greece
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Madrid, Spain
- Vienna, Austria
- Budapest, Hungary
- Oslo, Norway
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Rome, Italy
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Doha, Qatar
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sydney, Australia
- Munich, Germany
- Chicago, US