The Most Tranquil Cities For A Peaceful Break

By Travelbag

Shutterstock / soft_light © Woman traveling by boat at sunset among the islands

Pic: Shutterstock

A new study from Travelbag has uncovered the best holiday destinations if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.

Our day-to-day lives can be stressful, but even when we go on holiday we often feel the need to squeeze as much culture into our trip as possible.

But with the slow travel trend – which sees holidaymakers valuing quality over quantity – gaining traction lately, which cities are best to visit if you’re seeking tranquillity?

A new study from Travelbag analysed over 80 of the world’s most popular cities to find the answer, taking into account metrics including population density, average number of tourist arrivals, air quality, noise and light pollution levels, and the number of walking trails available.

Wellington's famous cable car in New Zealand Pic: Rex/Shutterstock

Wellington’s famous cable car in New Zealand Pic: Shutterstock

And the winners are…

Stockholm takes the top spot for the most tranquil city, followed by Copenhagen and Wellington
Juneau, Alaska is the best US destination for peace and quiet, with the best air quality and lowest noise and light pollution levels
To avoid tourists, head to Perth which has the fewest tourist arrivals per year (30,516)

Stockholm ranks as the world’s most tranquil holiday destination, followed by Copenhagen.

Scenic summer aerial panoramic view of Gamla Stan in the Old Town in Stockholm, capital of Sweden;

Stockholm Old Town. Pic: Shutterstock

Boasting fantastic air quality, serene scenery and one of the best happiness scores, Stockholm ranks as the number one most tranquil city in the world.

While Stockholm does have a bustling city centre, it also possesses many quieter spots – including lakes, walking trails and smaller neighbourhoods to stroll around. Nacka is a great example; the island is just a stone’s throw away from the capital and offers a stunning array of 12 different nature reserves for visitors to relax in.

Copenhagen ranks in second place, followed by New Zealand’s capital city Wellington.

Old Town, Copenhagen. Pic: Shutterstock

Rank	City	Population per km2	Average number of tourist arrivals	Avg cost of a hotel per night	Walking trails	Air quality (out of 100)	Noise & Light pollution (out of 100)
1	Stockholm	5,200	2,604,600	£161.03	734	84.33	27.99
2	Copenhagen	4,418	3,069,700	£120.70	85	81.9	32.55
3	Wellington	1,900	761,203	£169.83	389	91.18	37.9
4	Auckland	2,400	2,798,900	£145.00	692	79.3	42.37
5	Perth	342	30,516	£136.90	242	79.45	36.46
6	Melbourne	492	2,889,000	£126.87	525	78.3	39.95
8	Edinburgh	1,828	1,660,000	£111.20	174	74.63	36.29
7	Atlanta	1,423	1,020,000	£164.57	61	59.57	41.89
9	Sydney	433	4,090,600	£164.17	683	74.72	40.1
10	Phuket	6,600	900,000	£50.87	271	70.69	46.59

The darkest, quietest city

Alaska’s capital boasts the lowest noise and light pollution levels of all cities, making it the most tranquil US holiday destination

If you’re looking for a truly peaceful and quiet holiday, Juneau may be the place for you. Alaska’s capital city has a population density of just five people per km², as well as the lowest noise and light pollution of all cities with a score of just 16.67 out of 100.

Juneau, Alaska. City surrounded by forested hills and wide river

Peaceful Juneau. Pic: Shutterstock

The American travel experts from Travelbag say, “Juneau is a great destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, as it’s one of the best places to spot humpback and orca whales. The area also boasts an impressive population of brown bears, with expert tours available to see them in their natural habitat.”

Cities with low levels of noise and light pollution are a great indication of peaceful and quiet destinations. What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life than in cities where low levels of light pollution mean you can experience beautiful starry nights. Take a look at the top five cities below:

Rank	City	Noise & Light pollution (out of 100)
1	Juneau	16.67
2	Stockholm	27.99
3	Copenhagen	32.55
4	Zhuhai	35
5	Edinburgh	36.29

Manila and Mumbai among worst destinations for a tranquil holiday

Among the worst-ranking cities for a tranquil holiday are Manila, Mumbai, Cairo and Lima – which are unlikely to come as a surprise. Manila and Mumbai have the highest population density of all cities with 44,000 and 21,000 people respectively per km².

aerial view of Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. Beauty skyscrapers along river light smooth down urban development in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh – noisy, but great value. Pic: Shutterstock

In addition to a high population density, Mumbai also ranks second for the highest noise and light pollution levels, following closely behind Lima in first.

And while the Vietnamese city Ho Chi Minh also ranks poorly for a quiet holiday, it does benefit from affordable accommodation at just under £40 per night (the fourth lowest of all cities).

You can find the full study here.