Lisbon named world's happiest travel destination for 2026

Lisbon has been named the world’s happiest travel destination for 2026 by the US-based retreat booking platform BookRetreats. The city secured the top spot in the Holiday Happiness Index, which evaluated 47 international cities based on five wellbeing factors: sunlight, sleep quality, healthy food, physical exercise, and access to nature.

Key contributors to Lisbon’s ranking include its high annual sunshine—approximately 2,828 hours—and significant green space, providing 49 square metres per resident. The city also scored well for its walkability and food options, with nearly 10% of its restaurants classified as healthy, the second-highest proportion in the study. Additionally, proximity to beaches in Cascais and Costa da Caparica enhances its connection to nature.

The top five destinations in the index are Lisbon, Helsinki, Orlando, Athens, and Edinburgh. While Helsinki scored highly on sleep quality and nature, and Orlando ranked as the only non-European city in the top ten, Lisbon’s combination of environmental and lifestyle factors placed it first.