An Aussie city that can lay claim to the nation’s food and festival capital can now add another feather to its cap.
It’s been called the world’s most stress-free city.
A quirky award from an even quirkier source – Love2Laundry – a professional dry cleaning and laundry service in the UK.
The new index recognises that beach breaks, spa holidays and green retreats are most people’s idea of a relaxing trip away but set out to see if cities could still offer a chilled-out break.
“Most people see city breaks as a contrast to beach holidays,” says Love2Laundry.
“On the beach is where we are our most relaxed, we have nothing to do and no problems to bother us; in the city, stress levels are higher as we struggle to fit everything in, wade through the crowds and deal with the sounds. But do city holidays need to be stressful?”
Read more: Why Adelaide is truly Australia’s foodie capital
The index ranked cities across the world by how tranquil they are based on friendliness, transport, spas, nature and parks, cost of a meal for two, average sunlight hours, air quality, and population density.
Once all these factors were considered, Adelaide came out on top.
The other cities listed in the top 10 were Vancouver, coming in second, Honolulu was third, followed by Chiang Mai, Tokyo, Taipei, Madrid, Singapore, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
While it’s a nice award for the mayor’s mantle, naming Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney in the top 10 most stress-free cities may flash a red flag or 10 – depending on your definition of stress, of course.
Read more: Tourism Australia’s ultimate bucket list: Food and wine must-dos
“Everyone perceives stress differently, especially on holiday, but we decided to rank cities on widely regarded activities/amenities, which lend to a more peaceful experience,” says Love2Laundry.
“Our intention was to identify environmental and social factors, which would help travellers feel more relaxed during their stay.”
While international borders are closed at the moment and for the foreseeable future, the index offers a unique virtual experience for each town, which you can check out below:
Adelaide: Adelaide Zoo Live Cams
Vancouver: Cherry Blossom Tour
Honolulu: Iolani Palace Tour
Chiang Mai: City Live Stream
Tokyo: Hitachi Seaside Park
Taipei: Palace Museum Virtual Galleries
Madrid: Reina Sofia Museum Virtual Galleries
Singapore: Singapore River Walk
Sydney: Sydney Opera House Tour
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Museum Galleries
Read more: Visit Eastern Slovenia for a dream wellness vacation
Which do you think is the world’s most stress-free city? Do you agree that Adelaide is Australia’s least stressed city? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
If you enjoy our content, don’t keep it to yourself. Share our free eNews with your friends and encourage them to sign up.
