The World’s Most Serene Spots

Life can often be overwhelming, so many of us have relaxing places that we can retreat to at the end of the day - whether in our bedrooms where we can curl up under the covers with a book, outside at a local beauty spot where we can walk and take in the peaceful surroundings or even at a nearby spa for a more decadent way to unwind.

Holidays are often booked as a way of getting the ultimate relaxation time, with us leaving all of our worry and stress behind as soon as we step onto that plane. This led us to wonder - what are the world’s most truly relaxing places? By analysing online travel reviews, we have been able to crown the world’s most relaxing locations by counting the number of times the word is mentioned in reviews, revealing the must-visit destination in each country for when you really just need to unwind.

Top 50 Most Relaxing Locations, According to Traveller Reviews

Europe is the continent that is home to the most relaxing locations, with eight of the world’s top 20, and 18 of the top 50, scattered across the region. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon and Hungary’s Széchenyi Baths take the top spots as the two most relaxing destinations in the world, with 4,050 and 3,581 mentions of the word ‘relaxing’ in reviews for the attractions, respectively. The thermal pool trend continues to England, with Bath’s Thermae Spa ranking in third position, allowing visitors to bathe in the city’s naturally warm, mineral-rich waters, as the Celts and Romans did over 2,000 years ago. Luxembourg Gardens, found in France’s capital Paris, and Parque del Retiro in Madrid round off the top five most relaxing locations, each with more than 1,750 mentions of ‘relaxing’ - making it a clean sweep for European destinations in the top five.

The only location in Asia to feature in the top ten, the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore ranks in sixth position, with 1,138 mentions of ‘relaxing’ in online reviews. The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools in New Zealand put Oceania on the map in seventh position, while the Jardin Majorelle in Morocco follows in 9th as the top relaxing destination in Africa. Only the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in South Africa joins the Jardin Majorelle among the African destinations in the top 50, with the top Cape Town destination ranking in 47th place.

North, Central and South American destinations complete much of the top 20, with the Tabacon Hot Springs in Costa Rica (916 mentions of relaxing) sitting in 11th place, followed by the Martha Brae River in Jamaica (903 mentions of relaxing) and Vancouver’s Stanley Park in 13th position (804 mentions of relaxing).

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Continent	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Blue Lagoon	Geothermal spa	Iceland	Europe	4,050
2	Széchenyi Baths and Pool	Thermal baths	Hungary	Europe	3,581
3	Thermae Bath Spa	Thermal baths	England	Europe	3,457
4	Luxembourg Gardens	Gardens	France	Europe	1,828
5	Parque del Retiro	Public park	Spain	Europe	1,781
6	Gardens by the Bay	Gardens	Singapore	Asia	1,138
7	Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools	Hot springs	New Zealand	Oceania	1,113
8	St Stephen's Green	Public park	Ireland {Republic}	Europe	1,104
9	Jardin Majorelle	Botanical garden	Morocco	Africa	1,061
10	Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria	Botanical garden	Australia	Oceania	950
11	Tabacon Hot Springs	Spa garden	Costa Rica	North America	916
12	Martha Brae River	River	Jamaica	North America	903
13	Stanley Park	Public park	Canada	North America	804
14	English Garden	Public park	Germany	Europe	780
15	Strawberry Park Hot Springs	Hot springs	United States	North America	533
16	Lokrum Island	Island	Croatia	Europe	502
17	An Bang Beach	Beach	Vietnam	Asia	497
18	Saona Island	Island	Dominican Republic	North America	488
19	Kerala Backwaters	Lagoons and canals	India	Asia	463
20	Maya Chan Beach	Beach	Mexico	North America	439
21	Little French Key	Island	Honduras	North America	427
22	Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)	Palace and gardens	China	Asia	400
23	KLCC Park	Public park	Malaysia	Asia	400
24	Bosphorus Strait Cruise	Waterway	Turkey	Asia	375
25	Varadero Beach	Beach	Cuba	North America	374
26	Hunte's Gardens	Gardens	Barbados	North America	353
27	Blue Lagoon Island	Island	Bahamas	North America	339
28	Lake Bled	Lake	Slovenia	Europe	333
29	Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool	Hot springs	Fiji	Oceania	323
30	Nyhavn	District	Denmark	Europe	322
31	Garden of Dreams	Gardens	Nepal	Asia	322
32	Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden	National park	Japan	Asia	305
33	Dubai Creek	Waterway	United Arab Emirates	Asia	302
34	Nusa Dua Beach	Beach	Indonesia	Asia	300
35	Caye Caulker	Island	Belize	North America	296
36	Trevi Fountain	Landmark	Italy	Europe	284
37	Perissa Black Sand Beach	Beach	Greece	Europe	279
38	Maquinit Hot Spring	Hot spring	Philippines	Asia	274
39	Poca da Dona Beija	Hot spring	Portugal	Europe	272
40	Łazienki Park	Public park	Poland	Europe	268
41	Otres Beach	Beach	Cambodia	Asia	263
42	Luc Vanlaere Harpist - Mini Harp Museum	Museum	Belgium	Europe	252
43	Upper Barrakka Gardens	Gardens	Malta	Europe	236
44	Therme Bucuresti	Spa and botanical garden	Romania	Europe	224
45	Schönbrunn Palace	Palace	Austria	Europe	183
46	Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya	Gardens	Sri Lanka	Asia	173
47	Victoria & Alfred Waterfront	Harbour	South Africa	Africa	171
48	Parque Ibirapuera	Public park	Brazil	South America	159
49	Doha Corniche	Waterfront	Qatar	Asia	155
50	Beitou Hot Spring	Hot spring	Taiwan	Asia	136

1. Blue Lagoon, Iceland - 4,050 mentions of relaxing

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is a world-famous geothermal spa located just under an hour away from the island’s capital Reykjavik. It offers geothermal waters alongside stunning natural scenery and luxurious spa facilities including saunas, steam baths and an array of spa treatments utilising the Blue Lagoon’s iconic white mud. The geothermal sea water of the pools has long been the subject of scientific research, with the algae plants and white silica-rich mud both proven to aid skin barrier function, stimulate collagen, skin renewal and deep cleansing – so make sure to take advantage of a mud mask if you do visit.

2. Széchenyi Baths and Pool, Hungary - 3,581 mentions of relaxing

One of the largest spa baths in Europe, with 15 indoor baths and three grand outdoor pools, the Széchenyi Baths are one of the top tourist attractions for those visiting Budapest. Like Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, the Széchenyi Baths are well known for the thermal springs which provide the bath’s naturally warm and mineral-rich waters. The elegant neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance architecture provides an ornate backdrop to the relaxing experience. For those who like to party as well as relax, the baths often host night-time ‘sparties’ where visitors can enjoy music and drinks in the unique evening atmosphere of the baths, as well as the warm relaxing waters.

3. Thermae Bath Spa, England - 3,456 mentions of relaxing

The Thermae Spa in Bath is the UK’s only naturally hot thermal spring, with the bathing tradition in the city tracing all the way back to the ancient Romans. The Roman Baths, which are nearby and can also be visited, were constructed in around 70AD as a place to bathe and socialise, with 1,170,000 litres of steaming water up to 46°C still filling the pools each day. The modern facilities of the Thermae spa utilise the thermal waters in luxurious surroundings more suited for the 21st Century, with both indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms, saunas, and relaxation areas, as well as a spectacular rooftop pool offering stunning views of the city’s historic skyline. A recipe for the perfect luxury spa day!

Europe’s Most Relaxing Destinations

With almost half of the world’s top 50 most relaxing destinations found in Europe, the continent has something to offer for anyone wanting to find a peaceful spot to let the stresses of life melt away. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon and Hungary’s Széchenyi Baths take the top two spots, with the Thermae Bath Spa in England completing the top three.

As with the overall top 50, the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France and Parque del Retiro in Spain’s capital city Madrid complete the top five most relaxing spots, each with more than 1,700 mentions of relaxing in their respective reviews.

Slovenia’s Lake Bled, which has become a firm favourite among those travelling through Europe thanks to its picturesque blue waters and fairytale castle, squeezes into the top ten with 333 mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews from those who have previously visited.

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Blue Lagoon	Geothermal spa	Iceland	4,050
2	Széchenyi Baths and Pool	Thermal baths	Hungary	3,581
3	Thermae Bath Spa	Thermal baths	England	3,457
4	Luxembourg Gardens	Gardens	France	1,828
5	Parque del Retiro	Public park	Spain	1,781
6	St Stephen's Green	Public park	Ireland {Republic}	1,104
7	English Garden	Public park	Germany	780
8	Lokrum Island	Island	Croatia	502
9	Lake Bled	Lake	Slovenia	333
10	Nyhavn	District	Denmark	322
11	Trevi Fountain	Landmark	Italy	284
12	Perissa Black Sand Beach	Beach	Greece	279
13	Poca da Dona Beija	Hot spring	Portugal	272
14	Łazienki Park	Public park	Poland	268
15	Luc Vanlaere Harpist - Mini Harp Museum	Museum	Belgium	252
16	Upper Barrakka Gardens	Gardens	Malta	236
17	Therme Bucuresti	Spa and botanical garden	Romania	224
18	Schönbrunn Palace	Palace	Austria	183
19	Sea Fortress Suomenlinna	Fortress	Finland	134
20	Bute Park	Public park	Wales	116
21	The Belgrade Fortress	Fortress	Serbia	101
22	Caldea Spa	Thermal spa	Andorra	86
23	Lake Lugano	Lake	Switzerland	86
24	Oslofjord	Waterway	Norway	83
25	Stockholm Canals	Waterway	Sweden	75

 

Asia’s Most Relaxing Destinations

The Gardens by the Bay in Singapore top the list as the most relaxing destination in Asia, as well as the sixth in the world, with 1,138 mentions of ‘relaxing’ found in reviews of the site. The gardens offer a green oasis within the bustling city, with visitors able to experience the Supertree Grove and OCBC Skyway, Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, and outdoor gardens as well as the world-famous Garden Rhapsody light show which takes place each evening from 7:45pm.

An Bang Beach in Vietnam follows as the second most relaxing spot in the region, with the white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and laid-back atmosphere making this Hoi An spot a true picture of paradise. Though perhaps not a location that everyone may have heard of, the Kerala Backwaters in India complete Asia’s top three most relaxing destinations, with the network of lagoons, lakes, and canals renowned for its serenity and tranquillity which can be experienced by floating along the waterways on a boat tour.

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Gardens by the Bay	Gardens	Singapore	1,138
2	An Bang Beach	Beach	Vietnam	497
3	Kerala Backwaters	Lagoons and canals	India	463
4	Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)	Palace and gardens	China	400
5	KLCC Park	Public park	Malaysia	400
6	Bosphorus Strait Cruise	Waterway	Turkey	375
7	Garden of Dreams	Gardens	Nepal	322
8	Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden	National park	Japan	305
9	Dubai Creek	Waterway	United Arab Emirates	302
10	Nusa Dua Beach	Beach	Indonesia	300
11	Maquinit Hot Spring	Hot spring	Philippines	274
12	Otres Beach	Beach	Cambodia	263
13	Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya	Gardens	Sri Lanka	173
14	Doha Corniche	Waterfront	Qatar	155
15	Beitou Hot Spring	Hot spring	Taiwan	136
16	Dolphin Reef Beach	Beach	Israel	117
17	Pai Hot Springs	Hot spring	Thailand	105
18	Zaitunay Bay	Waterfront	Lebanon	103
19	Ngapali Beach	Beach	Myanmar, {Burma}	71
20	Haeundae Beach	Beach	South Korea	71
21	Baku Boulevard	Promenade	Azerbaijan	66
22	Finikoudes Beach	Beach	Cyprus	63
23	Pak Ou Caves	Caves	Laos	57
24	Berenice Beach Club	Beach club	Jordan	51
25	Corniche (Al Kohbar)	Promenade	Saudi Arabia	41

North, Central and South America’s Most Relaxing Destinations

Ranking as the 11th most relaxing destination in the world, the Tabacon Hot Springs in Costa Rica is crowned the most relaxing place in North, Central and South America, with 916 mentions of ‘relaxing’ in online reviews for the location. Set among lush tropical gardens, the springs offer a real taste of jungle paradise for anyone who settles into the hot geothermal waters. It is said that the mineral-rich waters have therapeutic properties, leading many tourists to the site in search of relaxation and stress relief.

Jamaica’s Martha Brae River follows in second position, offering visitors the opportunity to bamboo raft along its calm waters, and truly immerse themselves in their surroundings. Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada completes the top three destinations for the region, with the 405-hectare park a very popular location with both locals and tourists alike. With the Seawall offering a path suitable for a range of activities including walking, jogging, cycling, and rollerblading to the backdrop of the ocean, mountains, and city skyline, visitors can relax and unwind in any way they like.

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Tabacon Hot Springs	Spa garden	Costa Rica	916
2	Martha Brae River	River	Jamaica	903
3	Stanley Park	Public park	Canada	804
4	Strawberry Park Hot Springs	Hot springs	United States	533
5	Saona Island	Island	Dominican Republic	488
6	Maya Chan Beach	Beach	Mexico	439
7	Little French Key	Island	Honduras	427
8	Varadero Beach	Beach	Cuba	374
9	Hunte's Gardens	Gardens	Barbados	353
10	Blue Lagoon Island	Island	Bahamas	339
11	Caye Caulker	Island	Belize	296
12	Parque Ibirapuera	Public park	Brazil	159
13	Ojo de Agua	Natural spring	Nicaragua	121
14	Maracas Beach	Beach	Trinidad & Tobago	118
15	Jardin Japones	Gardens	Argentina	111
16	Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens	Gardens	St Lucia	104
17	Miraflores Boardwalk	Waterfront	Peru	103
18	Jardín Botánico de Medellín	Gardens	Colombia	87
19	Grand Anse Beach	Beach	Grenada	87
20	Termas Geometricas	Outdoor bath	Chile	68
21	Amador Causeway	Road	Panama	67
22	Rambla de Montevideo	Promenade	Uruguay	54
23	Promenade Gardens	Public park	Guyana	10
24	Hacienda La Trinidad Parque Cultural	Public park	Venezuela	7
25	Palmtree Garden (Palmentuin)	Botanical garden	Suriname	6

Oceania’s Most Relaxing Destinations

The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools in New Zealand is the most relaxing place to head to in Oceania, if a bit of ‘me-time’ is in order. As well as the geothermal pools and spa treatments on offer, the complex also includes water slides to keep the kids entertained, with the alpine village of Hanmer Springs also providing the opportunity for hiking and mountain biking to make the most of the beautiful scenery for those who prefer to unwind in a more active way, as well as accommodation to create a longer spa break.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) in Melbourne, Australia is made up of two separate sites, Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens, and ranks as the second most relaxing site on the continent with 950 mentions of ‘relaxing’ in online reviews. Wandering around these vast gardens and immersing yourself in the diverse collection of plants from Australia and around the world would be the perfect way to relax on a weekend after a busy week in the city.

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools	Hot springs	New Zealand	1,113
2	Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria	Botanical garden	Australia	950
3	Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool	Hot springs	Fiji	323
4	Mele Cascades	Waterfalls	Vanuatu	72
5	To Sua Ocean Trench	Lake	Samoa	58
6	Port Moresby Nature Park	Nature reserve	Papua New Guinea	14
7	Ha'atafu Beach	Beach	Tonga	9
8	Fenua-ura	Island	Kiribati	3
9	Kennedy Island	Island	Solomon Islands	3
10	Truk Lagoon	Atoll/island	Micronesia	2

Africa’s Most Relaxing Destinations

Only two of the destinations analysed in our study were based in Africa, with these being the Jardin Majorelle in Morocco, and South Africa’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Of the two, the Jardin Majorelle has significantly more mentions of ‘relaxing’ in its reviews, making it by far and away the most relaxing spot according to our research. The garden was designed by the French painter Jacques Majorelle in the early 20th century and is characterised by vibrant blue buildings along with a blend of Islamic and Art Deco architecture. Offering an oasis and serene escape from the bustling city, the garden offers the perfect respite from the sensory overload of Marrakech.

Rank	Most relaxing place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Jardin Majorelle	Botanical garden	Morocco	1,061
2	Victoria & Alfred Waterfront	Harbour	South Africa	171

Methodology

SpaSeekers.com used online travel reviews to look for the most relaxing location in every country, using the number of times the word ‘relaxing’ was mentioned in reviews. The result with the most mentions of ‘relaxing’ was selected as the top location for each country - excluding purpose-built wellness facilities such as hotels and spas (though those incorporating natural thermal pools were included).

The locations were then ranked globally, and regionally, based on the number of mentions of ‘relaxing’ in their reviews, to reveal the most relaxing spots around the world.

All data correct as of August 2023.