Holafly ranked global cities by access to nature reserves, air quality, number of wellness centres, average sunshine hours, traffic congestion and public happiness to identify the most relaxing cities for 2025. The ranking produces a top-five list of cities that balance restorative amenities and liveability. Melbourne occupies fifth place, combining a strong foodie and cultural scene with 215 parks and nature reserves, 249 spas and wellness centres, and 2,360 annual sunshine hours. Sydney narrowly beats Melbourne to fourth. Wellness and wellbeing are growing priorities for travellers seeking health-focused urban experiences.
Picture a city - any city. For many of us, visions of high-rise buildings, honking traffic and jostling crowds spring to mind. Exciting and exhilarating, sure, but not exactly 'relaxing'. Finding those peaceful pockets of quiet in a city is always possible, from sprawling green spaces and rooftop escapes to subterranean spas, but a city has to tick off more than just a few boxes to be officially termed 'relaxing'.
International eSIM provider Holafly has released data looking into just that - which cities can truly be called relaxing. The research looks into everything from access to nature reserves, air quality, number of wellness centres, average sunshine hours (according to the World Weather & Climate), traffic congestion and general public happiness levels (according to the 2025 Happy City Index) in order to determine the full list.
This Australian city is no stranger to lists of the best cities in the world. Melbourne held the number one spot in the EIU's Global Liveability Index for five years running, and now holds firm at position four. Renowned for its foodie reputation, with world-class coffee, cute neighbourhood restaurants and a whole host of cultural hotspots, the city is a masterclass in laid-back hedonism.
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