Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Shutterstock The new ranking, the Holiday Happiness Index, examined 47 destinations worldwide to identify which ones contribute most to travelers' happiness and well-being.
Developed in collaboration with a clinical psychologist from Harvard University, the index examined five factors: the amount of sunlight, the quality of sleep, the availability of healthy food, the amount of time spent in nature, and how walkable the city is. Each factor was given equal weight, and destinations received an overall score out of 100.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, ranked first. Almost 10% of the city's restaurants are classified as healthy, the second-highest rate in the ranking, along with about 2,828 hours of sunshine per year. Although the city is known for its steep streets, its historic center is compact and relatively easy to walk, and there are also beautiful beaches nearby.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Photo: ShuttestockHelsinki ranked second, followed by Orlando in the United States, which enjoys particularly large natural areas and almost 2,930 hours of sunshine per year.
Fourth place is taken by Athens, which was chosen as the most walkable city of all the destinations examined, along with a high rate of healthy restaurants.
Edinburgh rounds out the top five, and in places 6-10 are Madrid, Vienna, Budapest, Oslo, and Vilnius.
The full ranking
Athens. Photo: Shutterstock