Seeking Peace And Quiet In The Holidays? Here Are The Top Destinations

It has once again been a crazy year for travel, with overtourism often in the headlines and protesters in the streets of popular destinations. Due to this, many travelers are seeking peace and quiet over the holidays. Read on to learn the best destinations for travelers to enjoy a quiet time over Christmas.

Top destinations for peace & quiet in the holidays

According to UN tourism figures, popular locations like France, Italy, Spain and Turkey each saw more than 55 million visitors in 2024. On top of this, global travel reached 98 percent of pre-COVID levels from January through September 2024. With numbers like this, travelers might find it hard to find peace and quiet during the holidays.

However, BookRetreats.com has recently revealed its Holiday Relaxation Report, which focused on one popular question: Where can travelers enjoy true peace and quiet during the holidays and experience what they label “Silent retreats.” Researchers from the website analyzed 76 locations worldwide, based on factors like safety, serenity, solitude, nature and wellness.

Moreover, BookRetreats used these results to develop a ranking based on nine specific data points as follows:

Percentage of protected area

• Forest coverage
• Crowd density
• Noise
• Light pollution
• Global peacefulness
• Total wellness experiences

Based on the above factors, each country in the ranking received a score between 1 and 100. The final report offers a Global Relaxation Index, or what BookRetreats officially reveals “the 25 most relaxing holiday places to visit in 2025.”

Which country came in at No. 1?

Australia came in the top spot, offering “more calm and fewer crowds” with only 3.4 people per kilometer. To get an idea relating to popular tourist hotspots like Italy and Mauritius have population densities of 198.3 and 626 people per country.

The BookRetreats report reads:

As the most relaxing vacation spot for 2025, Australia offers what crowded European destinations have lost: space to breathe.

Meanwhile, Canada came in second place for relaxation and the report offers a full list of top-ranked countries for solitude revealing that travelers will need to head up north, or south, to find what they are looking for. The report says:

The best places to go to relax aren’t where you might expect. As mass tourism transforms popular European destinations, our Global Relaxation Index reveals…the most relaxing vacations now require heading south, or far north.

List of the top most relaxing and quiet places to visit for the holidays

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Iceland
4. Finland
5. New Zealand
6. Austria
7. Sweden
8. Estonia
9. Norway
10. Portugal

Least relaxing places to visit

Meanwhile, the countries that do not prioritize escape and relaxation include countries like India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Turkey, which ranked among the lowest on the Global Relaxation Index.

Moreover, the 10 least relaxing destinations face multiple challenges, including populations averaging more than 200 per square kilometer, limited protected places and safety concerns. Also, high noise levels and light pollution, heavy levels of traffic congestion and a one-way commute averaging 49.5, together with rapid tourism development further impact travelers’ ability to relax.

Sean Kelly, co-founder of BookRetreats said:

The most peaceful escapes now lie in vast wilderness destinations like Australia and Canada, or in Northern European nations that combine safe environments with naturally calm city life. As we look to 2025 and beyond, destinations that protect their serenity—whether through untouched wilderness or mindful urban living – will become the new standard for relaxation travel.