Lisbon named the happiest travel destination in the world

The ranking is framed around tourism, but the reasons behind it say just as much about everyday life in the city as they do about a week's stay.

The study assessed 47 destinations worldwide, weighing factors such as sunlight exposure, walkability, access to green space, availability of healthy food and sleep quality, all of which are linked to the hormones associated with happiness. The assessment was overseen by Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, a clinical psychologist affiliated with Harvard and a specialist in holistic wellbeing.

Food emerged as one of the strongest factors in Lisbon's favour. Almost 10% of the city's restaurants are classed as healthy, the second-highest share in the index and ahead of Paris, Tokyo and New York. The study also points to the affordability of eating well in the city, from fresh seafood to traditional taverns.

Green space is another pillar of the ranking. Lisbon offers 49 square metres of green space per resident, almost four times the figure for Madrid. That is combined with easy access to nature beyond the city itself, with the beaches of Cascais and Costa da Caparica under an hour away by public transport.

Walkability plays a part too. Despite its hills, the study describes Lisbon as compact and easy to explore on foot, with viewpoints that reward a slower pace of life. Add to that 2,828 hours of sunshine a year, and the ingredients for day-to-day wellbeing start to add up.

António Valle, Director-General of the Lisbon Tourism Association, said the city's strength lies in offering different ways of experiencing it while preserving what makes it distinctive, both for visitors and for those who call it home.

Lisbon topped a list dominated by European cities. Helsinki came second, credited with around 126 square metres of green space per resident and a culture built on safety and trust. Orlando, in third, was the only non-European city in the top ten, followed by Athens, Edinburgh, Madrid, Vienna, Budapest, Oslo and Vilnius.

For anyone weighing up a longer-term move rather than a holiday, the same factors behind Lisbon's ranking, walkability, green space, food, and climate, are the sort of everyday details that shape quality of life over years, not just over a week's stay.

"What this study captures is something we hear constantly from clients moving to Lisbon," said Paul Stannard, chairman and founder of Portugal Pathways and the Portugal Investment Owners Club. "It's rarely the big headline reasons that make people stay. It's the daily rhythm, being able to walk to the market, eat well without spending a fortune, and get outside in the sunshine three hundred days a year."

‍

About Portugal Pathways

‍‍Portugal Pathways has supported hundreds of Golden Visa residency-by-investment applications and provides expert guidance through its professional supply chain network on estate planning, wealth management, Golden Visa and tax optimisation, including post-NHR / IFICI tax regime planning, as well as private healthcare, money transfers and bespoke relocation and luxury real estate solutions to enhance life and investment in Portugal

‍

Disclaimer: The information on the Portugal Pathways and Portugal Investment Owners Club (PIO Club for short) websites and in email communications is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or financial advice. You should consult and check with a qualified professional advisor before relying on any information provided on this website or in email communications. As it relates to investments in Golden Visas or other wealth management solutions offered by regulated and professional advisors, it is important to note that past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Private equities can be highly illiquid and come with risk and should always be under professional independent advice. Golden Visa investments need to be held for 6 to 7 years to allow for permanent citizenship/passport in the EU.

‍