Whether it’s the chaos of the journey or a generally unsettling vibe once you’ve arrived, holidays can sometimes generate more stress than the intended relaxation.
If you’re looking to channel your inner zen while travelling over the coming months, Europe’s most stress-free travel destination has been crowned – so you can head on your hols without unnecessary grief.
Hailed as ‘stunning’ and ‘unparalleled’ by various Reddit threads from enthusiastic visitors, the beautiful French city of Nice can now take the crown as the least stressful travel hotspot.
The new research assessed 25 European cities across various factors, including congestion levels, the percentage of the population with convenient public transport access, the number of saunas and wellness locations, and the number of parks and nature locations.
Construction sites, beach areas and city areas were also taken into consideration, and a formula was used to calculate a final score out of 100 – with Nice racking up an impressive 75.4.
So, what makes the capital of the French Riviera so special? As per the figures, from HAYPP, a whopping 94.6% of the city’s population has convenient access to public transport, while there are 97 spas and wellness spots and 49 natural gems.
There’s also a relatively high proportion of beach to city, with 0.5km2 of golden sands.
Elsewhere, Oslo in Norway came in second place with a score of 75.2, while the Austrian capital of Vienna was recognised with 68.2.
Further down the list, Turkey’s Istanbul had the highest number of spas and wellness spots at 366, ending up with a score of 60.1.
Things to do in Nice, France
Want to get in on the action? From bougie eats to sandy beaches, there’s so much relaxation to be found in Nice.
For starters, the coast is characterised by sparkling blue waters – and there’s plenty of choice, with a few hotspots including Castel Plage, Blue Beach, and Coco Beach.
And, whether it’s a facial or a massage you’re after, there’s R&R to be found at the likes of La Parenthèse, Espace Bien-être, and Deep Nature Nice.
If you’re after a culinary experience, the likes of Le Chantecler and Bocca do just that (though they’re at the pricier end of the spectrum).
For something a little more affordable, Nice has an array of markets on offer selling fresh local produce, including the Cours Saleya Provencal Market.
With all this in mind, it goes without saying that tourists have been falling in love with Nice left, right and centre.
‘Nice is incredible,’ wrote @pie_12th in a particularly generous Reddit review of the French coastal city. ‘The beaches are perfect, the food is unparalleled, the open air market is amazing. All in all its one of the best places I’ve ever visited.’
And for @Nikiaf, their visit was the ‘highlight’ of their holiday across France a few years ago.
‘We went in early July so it was beautifully warm and the beaches were a nice spot to be, but the city itself is quite charming and the food we ate was very good without being overly expensive,’ they penned.
‘You’re also not excessively far from some other interesting places to visit, like Monaco.’
How to get to Nice, France
There are direct flights available from London to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport through Ryanair, easyJet and Air France, all taking around 2 hours and 10 minutes.
And from Manchester, easyJet offers a non-stop journey at the 2 hours and 25 minutes mark.
However, if the mere prospect of an airport increases your stress levels, it’s entirely possible to get to Nice without even stepping foot on a plane.
Naturally, it’ll take considerably longer – but it’s a viable option if you’re curious to try a slower travel approach.
The Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord takes between 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 hours and 37 minutes, offering the potential for an overnight stay or a flying visit (potentially past a boulangerie or two).
Then, there’s the high-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon directly to Nice Ville. Though the longer trains take up to 7 hours and 45 minutes, the fastest services will get you there in just 5 hours and 41 minutes – which, arguably, isn’t too bad considering Nice’s location right down in the French Riviera.
When to go to Nice, France
Nice certainly isn’t short of a few sun rays – so naturally, the best time of year to visit if you’re wanting a bit of vitamin D is the summer.
In June, the highest average temperatures dip up to around 24C, while throughout July and August, the mercury generally reaches highs of 27C.
Coming into the autumn months, September maintains a balmy 24C, and in October and November, you can expect highs of 20C and 16C respectively.
Don’t forget your sun cream!
Europe’s top 10 stress-free travel destinations, according to HAYPP
- Nice, France. Relaxation score: 75.4/100
- Oslo, Norway: 75.2/100
- Vienna, Austria: 68.2/100
- Reykjavik, Iceland: 65.7/100
- Sofia, Bulgaria/Marseille, France: 62.8/100
- Porto, Portugal: 61.9/100
- Bologna, Italy: 61.0/100
- Istanbul, Turkey: 60.1/100
- A Coruña, Spain: 59.4/100.
The top 10 European destinations closest to airports
There’s no doubt that a lengthy journey from the airport to the hotel room can add an extra layer of stress.
So, if you’re looking for relief in that area, GoEuro previously ranked the fastest transfers between European destinations and their city centres:
- Nice Côte d’Azur (five-minute transfer)
- Lanzarote (10 minutes)
- Birmingham (nine minutes)
- Málaga-Costa del Sol (12 minutes)
- Frankfurt (10 minutes)
- Nürnberg (12 minutes)
- Cologne Bonn (13 minutes)
- Prague (15 minutes)
- Leipzig-Halle (13 minutes)
- Amsterdam Schiphol (14 minutes).
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