World’s Happiest Cities Ranked For 2025: Lisbon Leads, Helsinki Ranks 2nd; Full List Inside

Forget the usual bucket-list race of monuments and museums! Travel in 2025, it seems, is about something quieter and far more personal: how a place makes you feel. A new study, the “Holiday Happiness Index,” has mapped out the cities most likely to leave travellers glowing with serotonin and sunshine long after they unpack.

Holiday Happiness Index 2025 Redefines The Way We Choose Destinations

At the very top sits Lisbon, Portugal’s breezy capital, where salty Atlantic air, tiled alleyways, and endless sunshine scored it the No. 1 spot. Close behind, on rank no. 2, is Helsinki, where green parks weave into the city like veins, offering a rare balance of Nordic feels and urban vibes. And then comes Orlando, Florida, a surprise entry at third place, where roller coasters, panoramic lakes, and year-round sun tipped the scales in its favour.

The index, built by BookRetreats alongside Harvard psychologist Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, scored 47 global cities on five elements of well-being: sunlight, sleep quality, healthy food, green spaces, and walkability. The science is surprisingly simple. “When we talk about feeling good, we actually mean the brain chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin,” Dattilo-Ryan explained. “The triggers: sunlight, movement, nourishing food, deep rest are exactly what a smart holiday should deliver.”

Also Read: 10 Happiest Cities In The World To Visit In 2025

World’s Happiest Cities For Travellers

After Lisbon, Helsinki, and Orlando, Athens claimed fourth, where ancient ruins bask under a forgiving Mediterranean sky. Fifth went to Edinburgh, a city that is as much about history as it is about leafy parks and winding, walkable streets. Madrid, Vienna, Budapest, and Oslo followed, with Vilnius, Lithuania’s cobblestoned capital, rounding out the ten.

Notably, Doha cracked the top 15, spotlighting the Gulf’s growing investment in wellness-driven travel. Sydney and Chicago also broke into the top 20, reminding travellers that happiness isn’t confined to Europe.

The report suggests a pivot in what drives us to pack our bags. Beyond Instagrammable landmarks, today’s travellers are looking for something subtler: the afterglow. Did the trip restore you? Did you breathe differently, eat better, walk more, sleep deeper?

Rome, which landed 12th, is a case in point. It is praised not just for its ruins, but for the everyday joy of strolling piazzas with gelato in hand.

Also Read: People Below 30 Are Happiest In These Countries…

Here’s The Top 20 Ranking Of The World’s Happiest Cities For Travellers

1. Lisbon (Portugal)
2. Helsinki (Finland)
3. Orlando (USA)
4. Athens (Greece)
5. Edinburgh (Scotland)
6. Madrid (Spain)
7. Vienna (Austria)
8. Budapest (Hungary)
9. Oslo (Norway)
10. Vilnius (Lithuania)
11. Copenhagen (Denmark)
12. Rome (Italy)
13. Zurich (Switzerland)
14. Zagreb (Croatia)
15. Doha (Qatar)
16. Stockholm (Sweden)
17. Amsterdam (Netherlands)
18. Sydney (Australia)
19. Munich (Germany)
20. Chicago (USA)

Cities that invest in livability like bike paths, leafy boulevards, food markets that nourish rather than just feed, may find themselves climbing the happiness ladder in years to come. If the 2025 list proves anything, it’s that the happiest trips are not always about escape. Sometimes, it’s about finding a city where life feels just a little easier, and carrying that ease home.

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