Top 25 Most Relaxing Destinations To Visit Globally

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Top 25 Most Relaxing Destinations To Visit Globally

SpaSeekers.com used online travel reviews to look for the most relaxing destinations to visit globally. They looked at the most relaxing location in every country and then ranked them globally and regionally to reveal the most relaxing spots around the world.

The number one most relaxing destination in the world is Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, which has 4,050 mentions of the word ‘relaxing’ in its online reviews. The Blue Lagoon is the world-famous geothermal spa located in Iceland. The destination offers visitors geothermal waters, stunning natural scenery, and a wide range of spa facilities and amenities including saunas, steam baths, and various skin treatments using the lagoon’s natural resource – making it the perfect destination for anyone looking to unwind.

Thermal pools continued to dominate the most relaxing places around the world, with Hungary’s Széchenyi Baths and Pool, England’s Thermae Bath Spa, and the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools in New Zealand all ranking in the top ten, each with over 1,000 relaxing reviews each.

Green spaces also featured heavily in the top 25, with France’s Luxembourg Gardens, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Australia all having over 950 relaxing reviews each. From botanical gardens to public parks, the green spaces ranking highly on the list offer both locals and tourists a peaceful retreat into nature, to sit or stroll around and soak up the beautiful wildlife, water features and greenery each park has to offer.

The data reveals that Europe is the most relaxing continent, with six of the world’s top ten, and eight of the top 25 scattered across the region. North America follows with eight relaxing destinations in the top 25, including Costa Rica’s Tabacon Hot Springs and Canada’s Stanley Park. Tabacon Hot Springs is a luxurious and famous natural hot springs resort located in Costa Rica, near the Arenal Volcano in the town of La Fortuna. It is known for its rejuvenating thermal waters, and lush tropical surroundings, while Canada’s Stanley Park also offers visitors breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant wildlife. Stanley Park is surrounded by the waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay, and the park is encircled by the famous Seawall – a paved pathway which offers views of the ocean, city skyline, and mountains – the perfect place to relax.

Six Asian relaxing destinations featured in the top list, including Vietnam’s An Bang Beach, India’s Kerala Backwaters and China’s Summer Palace. Vietnam’s An Bang Beach is a popular coastal destination located in Hoi An and is renowned for its golden sandy shores, clear blue waters, and relaxed atmosphere – making it no surprise that it’s ranked as one of the top tranquil destinations to escape to. The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals that stretch along the southwestern coast of India. The waterway system is known for its serene and idyllic landscapes – making it the perfect place for a relaxing cultural experience. Finally, China’s Summer Palace ranked in 22^nd place as one of the most relaxing destinations in China. The exquisite imperial garden can be found in Beijing and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is steeped in history and architectural beauty, offering locals and tourists a tranquil place to immerse themselves in a world of times gone before.

Finally, New Zealand’s Hanmer Springs Pools and Australia’s Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria represented Oceania, while one African relaxing hotspot made the list (Morocco’s Jardin Majorelle – also known as the Majorelle Garden, which contains pools, fountains and exotic flora).

Rank	Most Relaxing Place	Description	Country	Mentions of ‘relaxing’ in reviews
1	Blue Lagoon	Hot springs	Iceland	4,050
2	Széchenyi Baths and Pool	Hot springs	Hungary	3,581
3	Thermae Bath Spa	Hot springs	England	3,457
4	Luxembourg Gardens	Garden	France	1,828
5	Parque del Retiro	Public park	Spain	1,781
6	Gardens by the Bay	Garden	Singapore	1,138
7	Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools	Hot springs	New Zealand	1,113
8	St Stephen’s Green	Public park	Ireland	1,104
9	Jardin Majorelle	Garden	Morocco	1,061
10	Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria	Garden	Australia	950
11	Tabacon Hot Springs	Hot springs	Costa Rica	916
12	Martha Brae River	Body of water	Jamaica	903
13	Stanley Park	Public park	Canada	804
14	English Garden	Public park	Germany	780
15	Strawberry Park Hot Springs	Hot springs	United States	533
16	Lokrum Island	Island	Croatia	502
17	An Bang Beach	Beach	Vietnam	497
18	Saona Island	Island	Dominican Republic	488
19	Kerala Backwaters	Body of water	India	463
20	Maya Chan Beach	Beach	Mexico	439
21	Little French Key	Island	Honduras	427
22	Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)	Palace	China	400
23	KLCC Park	Public park	Malaysia	400
24	Bosphorus Strait Cruise	Body of water	Turkey	375
25	Varadero Beach	Beach	Cuba	374

Jason Goldberg, director at SpaSeekers.com comments: “When the stress of everyday life gets on top of you, booking a holiday to a different country can be the perfect way to unwind and relax. While all holiday destinations can provide an escape from stress, we wanted to dig a little deeper to reveal some of the most relaxing spots in every country – from natural baths to botanical gardens.

Some of the world’s most relaxing destinations are so serene because of their peaceful natural surroundings, while some simply provide a bolthole for people to have quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

If you’re considering visiting one of these relaxing hotspots, you can make your experience even more calming by visiting key tourist attractions at quieter times and ensuring that you organise your trip in advance to avoid any last-minute stress.”

To view the full list of world’s most relaxing destinations, please visit: https://www.spaseekers.com/spa-insider/inspiration/serene-spots/.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.