The best Asia-Pacific and European destinations for a peaceful getaway

Wellness tourism has boomed over the last decade, with over 800 million international and domestic trips estimated to have occurred in 2022. By 2027, this figure is expected to double, with a projected 1.6 billion wellness tourism trips expected to take place.1 

A relaxing getaway means different things to everyone. These stress-relieving trips aim to improve a person’s mental and physical health, whether that’s relaxing on the beach with a book or hiking a challenging trail for a breathtaking view. Whatever way you choose to relax, a clean, laid-back city can dramatically improve your wellness calmcation. 

That’s why the experts at Bounce.com have compiled a comprehensive list of the best relaxing getaways in Europe and Asia-Pacific. We’ve looked into noise and light pollution, cleanliness, green spaces and park quality, and population density to show how calm each city is. We’ve also looked at swimming pools, spa and wellness facilities, and rental property reviews to assess the facilities on offer in each city. 

Using these factors, we’ve revealed the best areas in APAC and Europe for peace and tranquillity.

Asia-Pacific’s best places for a relaxing getaway

1. Dunedin, New Zealand - 6.60 peaceful getaway score

Dunedin takes the top spot, with a peaceful getaway score of 6.60 out of 10. Dunedin’s scores for noise and light pollution and green spaces and parks quality were the best on our list, with 19.64 and 87.50, respectively. The high quality of rental properties and their low population density also significantly contributed to Dunedin’s first-place ranking.

Dunedin’s combination of urban charm and natural beauty exuberates relaxation, with St. Clair Beach one of many examples of golden sand and white-tipped waves. There aren’t many cities in the world where you can relax on beaches, explore iconic architecture, and meet penguins all in one day. Blue Penguins Pukekura and Sandfly Bay are two of Dunedin’s best options if you want to see some penguins.

2. Pokhara, Nepal - 6.55 peaceful getaway score

Pokhara is the best city for a relaxing getaway, with a score of 6.55 out of 10. Pokhara ranks highly for its serenity, with high scores for cleanliness, lack of noise and light pollution, and quality of parks. This city in Nepal is also a great place for spa and wellness facilities, with around one in seven (13.81%) of the properties in Nepal having access to these amenities. 

This central Nepali city is located on the shores of Phewa Lake, where you can hire a boat and appreciate the views of the Annapurna mountain range, the perfect backdrop for your tranquil trip. Visiting Phewa Lake between March and May is the ideal time to visit, with comfortably warm temperatures, vibrant blooming flowers, and clear skies in the morning. Avoid the monsoon season as heavy rainfall and high humidity can affect your experience. 

If you like to relax and reduce stress by hiking, Pokhara has a plethora of trails and walks that you can enjoy with the same harmonic views. One of the most popular day hikes is the Sarangkot hike, an 8.3-kilometre trail that can take around three hours due to its 800m incline. Its popularity is due to its viewpoint, which is known as one of the best in the area. 

3. Koh Samui, Thailand - 6.50 peaceful getaway score

Our top three is finalised by Koh Samui, with a peaceful getaway score of 6.50 out of 10. This island off the east coast of Thailand scores highly for its high quality of rental properties, with almost two-thirds (64.53%) rated eight out of 10 or higher, its low population density of 278 people per square kilometre, and its high percentage of rental properties with access to a swimming pool at almost 80%. 

Koh Samui offers a variety of activities depending on your vibe. If you’re looking for seclusion and peace, Maenam and Lipa Noi are great beaches for relaxing. If you want to explore a little, you can snorkel in Coral Cove or Silver Beach, or hike the trails of Na Mueang Waterfalls or Hin Lad Waterfall. 

For a more cultural experience, visit Koh Samui’s Big Buddha Temple and Wat Plai Laem to explore some of the most unforgettable architecture. No matter what you want out of your vacation, Koh Samui will offer breathtaking views of the natural scenery.

Europe’s best cities for a tranquil getaway

1. Utrecht, Netherlands - 7.93 peaceful getaway score

The best place for a peaceful getaway in Europe is Utrecht, with a score of 7.93 out of 10. Utrecht is a small and charming city in the Netherlands, known for its picturesque canals, historical buildings, and inviting atmosphere. Utrecht is also an excellent place for foodies, with a beloved cafe culture and exciting bar scene - some people even consider this the highlight of their trip. 

Utrecht consistently scores high across our factors, but its first-place ranking can be attributed to its low noise and light pollution score of just 28.30, its high rental property quality, with over four-fifths (83.02%) of properties rated eight out of 10 or higher, and its cleanliness and tidiness score of 81.94. Utrecht also has the highest percentage of rental properties with access to spa and wellness facilities, at 5.66%.

2. Vilnius, Lithuania - 7.54 peaceful getaway score

Vilnius takes second place, with a peaceful getaway score of 7.54 out of 10. Vilnius ranks highly for a number of categories, including cleanliness, quality of green spaces and parks, and noise and light pollution. Vilnius also has the second highest percentage of rental properties, ranked eight out of 10 or higher, at 88.09%. 

Vilnius’ slow pace of life is perfect for those looking to relax for a week. It’s got plenty of beautiful parks and lakes, such as Pavilniai Regional Park and Vilnoja. It’s a relatively compact and uncrowded city, making it easy to explore its UNESCO-listed Old Town on foot or using public transport. Lithuania’s capital city is one of the few capitals in Europe that offers hot air balloon rides over the city, giving you the chance to view this city in one of the most unique ways possible. 

3. Vienna, Austria - 7.00 peaceful getaway score

Concluding our European top three is Vienna, with a peaceful getaway score of 7.00 out of 10. Vienna is a clean and safe city, meaning you can wander this stunning city without any extra worries. Austria’s capital is a great place for art fans, with a wide selection of incredible art museums, including Kunsthistorisches Museum, Belvedere Museum, and Albertina. Another great way to unwind and enjoy nature is at Stadtpark, the city’s first public park. 

Vienna’s low noise and light pollution score of 29.56, its quality of green spaces and parks score of 84.74, and its cleanliness and tidiness score of 85.76 significantly contributed to Vienna’s high ranking on our list. Vienna’s low population density and its high quality of rental properties also cemented the Austrian capital’s third-place ranking. 

Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce.com, comments on what calmcations are and how to enjoy them:

“Calmcations are holidays that emphasize rest and relaxation, allowing yourself to indulge in self-care and relieve yourself of stress. Everyone has a different definition of a peaceful getaway, but the overarching theme is to give yourself a holiday that isn’t scheduled to the brim. It’s about allowing yourself to relax, detox from stress, and slow life down. 

“When choosing your destination, one of the most important considerations is noise pollution. A report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggested that noise pollution was a significant cause of ill health in Western Europe.2 Reykjavik and Dunedin were Europe and APAC’s least polluted cities by noise and light, making these cities a great option for a calmcation. 

“Popular activities for people searching for a peaceful getaway include walking and hiking through nature, meditation, and lake swimming. The idea is to embrace nature, stay off your devices, and be present. Although it’s best to avoid schedules and plans, booking a yoga retreat or a massage can help you on your way to a state of relaxation.

“The rise of calmcations has redefined our expectations of a holiday. It also fits in with the societal shift towards looking after our mental health and taking action when we feel on the verge of burning out.”

Methodology

We used a variety of lists to create our European and Asian-Pacific seeding list. 

Once we had our seeding list, we used Numbeo to find the scores for noise and light pollution, clean and tidiness, and green spaces and park quality. This data was collected on 15.05.2025.

We then used Booking.com to find the total properties, the percentage of properties with a swimming pool, the percentage of properties with spa and wellness facilities, and the percentage of properties rated 8/10 or higher. 

Finally, we used City Population to find the number of people per square kilometre. 

Finally, we combined this data into a weighted table, normalising each factor with a score out of 10. We then took an average of these scores to get our peaceful getaway score for European and Asia-Pacific countries. 

All data was collected in May 2025 and is correct as of then.

Sources

1. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2024/03/25/a-decade-of-wellness-tourism-first-ever-compilation-of-10-years-of-market-data/ 
2. https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/noise#tab=tab_1