This Is the No. 1 Vacation Spot in the World for Peace and Quiet — and It Has Black Sand Beaches, Hot Springs, and Ethereal Volcanic Landscapes

If you really, really, (third time for emphasis) really need to relax, then odds are you’re on the hunt for a vacation that will take you away from it all — thankfully, online retreat booking site BookRetreats has a few data-based suggestions.

Online retreat booking site released its Holiday Relaxation Report, which ranked the best destinations in the world for peace and quiet. In its analysis, the company evaluated 76 destinations by nine data points, including the percentage of protected areas in each country, forest coverage, crowd density, noise, and light pollution, and the number of wellness experiences available locally. BookRetreats then gave each destination a score out of 100 to determine its top picks. After looking at all its data, it named Iceland its top destination for a quiet vacation.

“Iceland is the best place for quiet holidays,” BookRetreats said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. “The country is home to only one city, scoring top marks for low noise and light pollution, as well as traffic congestion.” 

It also noted that outside of Reykjavík, the nation “opens into vast stretches of untamed terrain” with towering glaciers, hot springs, and black sand beaches to explore. “This environment blended with mindful modern living provides genuine opportunities for stillness that few other destinations can match,” BookRetreats reported.

Moreover, BookRetreats also ranked Iceland as Europe’s overall most relaxing holiday destination thanks to its sleepy small towns, wide open spaces, and ethereal natural landscapes.

“Not only does the island have the highest Global Peace Index score, but it also leads all destinations for the serenity category in our report, recording the best score for noise and light pollution,” BookRetreats reported. ” … pristine dark skies make it one of the best places to witness the spectacular northern lights.”

As for other destinations that ranked highly on the quiet list, the team named Montenegro the second-best choice, followed by Botswana, Estonia, and Finland. No matter where you choose to go, there are plenty of global options to find that silence you’re craving.