Credit: FABIO VILHENA, Unsplash
As the capital city prepares to plunge back in to the dark depths of winter (armed with little more than a hot water bottle and a SAD lamp to see us through); I thought I’d take it upon myself to let you know that the happiest holiday destination in the world has just been revealed. And you can fly there from London for as little as £30.
These findings come courtesy of the lovely lot over at BookRetreats, who have (alongside a Harvard-affiliated psychologist) combined science and data to create a very handy Holiday Happiness Index. The study analysed 47 destinations from across the globe, taking into account five key ‘feel-good factors’ that naturally boost the body’s happy hormones (sunlight, sleep quality, healthy diet, time spent in nature, and physical exercise). All things taken into account, BookRetreats and Dr Natalie Dattilo-Ryan managed to uncover the most smile-inducing spots to head to if you’re in need of a mood-boost. And topping the chart was (drum roll, please) Lisbon.
Credit: Clifford, Unsplash Lisbon, Portugal
The Portuguese capital nabbed the crown, excelling in each of the feel-good factors. Nearly 10% of Lisbon’s restaurants are considered healthy, and nourishing food is both accessible and affordable. Lisbon was also praised for its walkability. The city is both compact and easy to navigate, making it a rather wonderful place to discover on foot (despite its notoriously hilly terrain). With its decent green space offering (roughly 49 square-miles per person), and its 2828 hours of annual sunshine; Lisbon certainly has all the ingredients to make for a very happy holiday destination indeed.
The cost of a flight from London to Lisbon is, of course, dependent on when you want to visit. But a quick rummage through the likes of Skyscanner will find you flights for as cheap as £30 in certain months. Not bad, hey?
The world’s happiest holiday destinations
You can peruse the full list of dopamine-inducing destinations here.