For most, trips away provide the opportunity to relax and escape, with 93 pc of people saying that being on holiday improves their wellbeing and mental health -according to ABTA With wellbeing at the forefront of people’s minds for travel, and ‘closer-to-home’ European countries proving to be the destinations of choice for 2023, Comparethemarket reveals the first edition of its European wellness hotspots index on which Budapest obtained a top spot.
The index highlights European locations travellers should consider going to when looking for a relaxing break based on different factors, including; amount of green space, air and noise pollution levels and the number of spas and yoga studios. Prague came in first place across Europe whereas Budapest ranks 35th out of the 50 cities on the list, comparethemarket.com wrote.
The Gellért Thermal Bath in Budapest:
Gellért Thermal Bath (Photo: www.facebook.com/spiceofeurope)
The top 10 European wellness locations:
|
Rank |
City |
|
1 |
Prague |
|
2 |
Berlin |
|
3 |
Helsinki |
|
4 |
Sheffield |
|
5 |
Munich |
|
6 |
Barcelona |
|
7 |
Hamburg |
|
8 |
Leipzig |
|
9 |
Paris |
|
10 |
Frankfurt |
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, takes the top wellness destination spot within Europe. With an abundance of green space (40%) and over two-hundred spas to choose from, the aptly nicknamed ‘City of a Hundred Spires’ is the perfect place to relax. With low levels of noise pollution and a huge 336 spas to choose from, Berlin takes second place in the ranking. The city is an ideal wellness destination choice and is also an ideal place to visit for any yoga enthusiasts, with 21 studios to choose from. Helsinki, Sheffield, and Munich are the remaining cities that make up the top five wellness destinations. Helsinki offers ample amounts of green space (43%), while Sheffield has the highest healthcare score (83). Coming fifth in the ranking is Munich, mainly due to low noise pollution levels (21%).
The Széchenyi Bath in Budapest:
Széchenyi Baths
Photo: Wikicommon by Marc Ryckaert
For those after a wellness retreat closer to home, Liverpool, Leicester, and Bristol all feature in the index, showing that UK cities really can be a place to relax and unwind.
Commenting on the research, Anna McEntee, director at Comparethemarket, says: “If you’re looking for a wellness holiday – either in the UK or abroad – it’s important to check you have the correct level of travel insurance in place. This is even more important if you’re planning any activities such as yoga or any other sports.
A typical sports travel insurance policy should cover unforeseen circumstances, such as medical expenses, emergency transportation and stolen or damaged baggage, but it’s always important to check what the policy covers, as this differs between providers.”
To find out more about Europe’s top wellness destinations please visit THIS website.
Source: comparethemarket.com
