- A recent study set out to find and rank the most mindful and relaxing destinations for 2025.
- Lake Bled, Slovenia, topped the list in Europe and ranked second globally—the lake is known for its serene alpine setting, still waters, and fairytale-like scenery.
- Sedona, Arizona, came in first on the list globally, while England’s Lake District came in third.
Taking a vacation is good for you—it can help reduce stress and help increase your general outlook on life. But, if you really want to double down on those excellent vibes, you should head off to the most mindful and wellness-focused place in Europe. And the relaxation-focused brand Blakk Smoke knows exactly where that is.
In June, the brand released the findings of a study it conducted in order to identify the most mindful travel destinations of 2025, or “places where stress melts away” if “disconnection is the goal.”
To find these laidback spots around the globe, the team parsed thousands of TripAdvisor reviews from the last three years using natural language processing and emotional sentiment analysis to determine the frequency of keywords such as “relaxing,” “peaceful,” “mindful,” and “calm.” Then, it analyzed the tone of each post, as well as the number of mentions of retreats, meditation centers, spas, and nature-based attractions each location had.
The company noted that only recent reviews were included to “reflect today’s traveler needs—think post-pandemic priorities, burnout recovery, and a growing desire to actually rest on holiday.” After doing all that digging, it gave each place a “mindfulness score,” based on its analysis.
And Lake Bled, Slovenia, came out on top as the most mindful destination in Europe and the second most relaxing destination in the world with a score of 89. And really, its ranking comes as little surprise when you consider the beautiful scenery there.
Lake Bled, located in the Julian Alps, is as fairytale-like a destination as they come, with what the study called “mirror-still water” that pairs beautifully with fresh mountain air and a view of the Church of the Assumption located in the center of the lake.
The only place to outrank Lake Bled was Sedona, Arizona, which scored a whopping 92 out of 100, thanks to its “energy vortexes, red rock formations, and strong spiritual community.”
Lake Bled and Sedona were followed by the Lake District, England, at No. 3, which earned a score of 87 thanks to its “rolling hills, peaceful lakes, and literary inspiration.”
Rounding out the top 10 most mindful travel destinations in the world are Big Sur, California (No. 4); Santorini, Greece (No. 5); the Scottish Highlands, Scotland (No. 6); Asheville, North Carolina (No. 7); the Amalfi Coast, Italy (No. 8); Cornwall, England (No. 8); and Kyoto, Japan (No. 10).
But if these somehow aren’t enough options for you, you can always check out this list of the most relaxing destinations in Europe. Then, once you pick a spot, tell your boss you’re going on vacation and put on that out-of-office notice for the sake of good health.
