The ‘unparalleled’ city is the most stress-free travel destination in Europe

Whether it’s the chaos of the journey or the general unsettling vibe once you’ve arrived, vacations can sometimes generate more stress than intended relaxation.

If you want to channel your inner zen while traveling for months, the most stress-free travel destinations in Europe have been crowned – so you can hit the hols without unnecessary stress.

Hailed as ‘stunning’ and ‘unparalleled’ by various Reddit threads from enthusiastic visitors, the French city is so beautiful. splendid can now take the crown as the least stressful travel hotspot.

The new study evaluated 25 European cities on various factors, including the level of congestion, the percentage of the population with convenient access to public transport, the number of saunas and wellness locations, and the number of parks and nature locations.

Construction sites, beach areas and urban areas were also taken into consideration, and this formula was used to calculate the final score out of 100 – with Nice racking up an impressive 75.4.

So what makes the French Riviera capital so special? According to figures from HAYPP, 94.6% of the city’s population has convenient access to public transportation, while there are 97 spas and health centers and 49 natural gems.

There is also a relatively high proportion of beaches for the city, with 0.5km2 of golden sand.

Elsewhere, Oslo in Norway was in second place with a score of 75.2, while the Austrian capital Vienna was recognized with a score of 68.2.

Further on the list, Istanbul in Turkey has the highest number of spas and wellness places at 366, with a score of 60.1.

What to do in NiceFrance

Want to get in on the action? From bougie food to sandy beaches, there’s plenty of relaxation to be found in Nice.

For starters, the beaches are characterized by clear blue waters – and plenty of choice, with some hot spots 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 La Parenthèse, Espace Bien-être, and Deep Nature Nice.

If you want a culinary experience, the likes of Le Chantecler and Bocca do that (albeit on the lower end of the spectrum).

For something more affordable, Nice has a variety of markets selling fresh local produce, including the Cours Saleya Provencal Market.

With all this in mind, it goes without saying that tourists have fallen in love with Nice left, right and center.

‘Nice is amazing,’ wrote @pie_12^Th in Reddit reviews especially generous French coastal cities. ‘Perfect beaches, incomparable food, fantastic air markets. All in all it is one of the best places I have ever visited.’

And for @Nikiaf, the visit was the ‘highlight’ of a holiday in France a few years ago.

“We went at the beginning of July so it was beautiful and the beach was a beautiful place, but the city was quite charming and the food was very good without being too expensive,” he said.

‘It’s also not too far from some other interesting places to visit, like Monaco.’

How to get to NiceFrance

There are direct flights from London to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport via Ryanair, easyJet and Air France, all taking around 2 hours 10 minutes.

And from Manchester, easyJet offers a non-stop journey of 2 hours 25 minutes.

However, if the prospect of an airport only increases your stress level, you can get to Nice without even stepping on a plane.

Of course, it takes longer – but it’s a great option if you want to try a slower approach to travel.

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 (potential through a boulangerie or two).

Then, there is the high-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon directly to Nice Ville. Although the longer trains take up to 7 hours 45 minutes, the fastest service will get you there in just 5 hours 41 minutes – which, perhaps, isn’t too bad given Nice’s location on the French Riviera.

When going to NiceFrance

Nice is definitely not short of some sunshine – so naturally, the best time to visit if you want some vitamin D is summer.

In June, the average temperature tops out at around 24C, while in July and August, the mercury generally reaches 27C.

In the autumn months, September maintains 24C, and in October and November, you can expect highs of 20C and 16C.

Don’t forget the sun cream!

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