The chill US city that's been crowned the 'world's most relaxing' place for a holiday
When you're deciding on a holiday destination, one of the main criteria many are looking out for is that it's relaxing.
No one wants to stress on holiday - your dream location should have good weather, minimal traffic, plenty of access to nature and an overall chill vibe.
And one US city fits the bill perfectly.
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San Diego is the most relaxing place to visit. Getty Images/iStockphoto
According to a study conducted by eSIM provider Holafly, San Diego is the most relaxing city in the world to visit.
The coastal city, just two hours south of Los Angeles, is a vibrant spot for holidaymakers seeking something a little more laidback.
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I visited San Diego in 2022, for a concert date of my boyfriend's favourite band after a holiday we took to Mexico.
It was a short trip - just three nights - but the days were filled with hikes, shopping, beaches, golf (for my boyfriend and his friend), and plenty of good food.
When mornings look like this, life's good. Supplied
Holafly's ranking states that San Diego "offers a perfect blend of nature and wellness", with an impressive 266 parks and nature reserves, and plenty of spas and wellness centres if you want to indulge.
The city has sun and mild temperatures year-round, making it even easier to enjoy the beaches and the mountains surrounding the city.
There are endless things to do if you like being outside - I took a little day trip up to La Jolla one afternoon while I was there, to hike along dramatic cliffs and enjoy a sandwich by the beach.
We drove over the bridge to Coronado Island, where the boys played golf and I got an iced coffee and rented a bike to explore the waterfront, before we had lunch at the iconic Hotel del Coronado.
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Coronado Island is fun to explore by bike. Getty
The food in San Diego is great, too. We had a particularly memorable dinner in Little Italy, giant burgers and beers in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and dirty diner food at 1am after a night out.
I highly recommend spending a morning at the beach and stopping at Woody's for breakfast - it's a local institution.
Being right near the border, San Diego also has stellar Mexican food.
If you want a relaxing holiday, this is it. Just fly into LA, rent a car, and head down the coast.
La Jolla is a short drive away. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Also on Holafly's list of relaxing cities is Singapore, coming in second. Despite being a very densely populated city, Singapore has a focus on wellness and green space. It's sunny and warm, with relatively good traffic and friendly locals.
Vienna, Austria, came in third, with some of the cleanest air in Europe and an impressive number of yearly sunlight hours (over 2000).
Sydney ranks fourth on Holafly's list, with Melbourne in fifth.
Sydney is the world's fourth-most relaxing city. Getty
The world's most relaxing cities
- San Diego
- Singapore
- Vienna
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Berlin
- Auckland
- Portland
- Rome
- Helsinki
- Madrid
- Barcelona
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