Amsterdam may be best known for its bicycles and canal waterways, but it is also one of the greenest cities in Europe, where supposedly trees outnumber the city’s residents.
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After the seasonal festivities wind down, January can often feel like a very grey month. A vacation can be the perfect mood booster, but which destinations in Europe have the highest feel-good factor?
Travel experts at Scenic Cruises have collaborated with psychologist Dr Gurpreet Kaur to compile a ranking of dopamine port destinations where travelers can squeeze as much joy and happiness out of their trips as possible.
The ranking was based on five prominent factors when it comes to dopamine release whilst traveling. A high number of hours of sunshine was key as it is a natural dopamine provider helping balance hormones through the vitamin D it provides. Cuisine was another factor, prioritizing good quality foods that provide essential nutrients and vitamins for dopamine regulation.
The ranking also looked at step count as walking reduces the stress hormone cortisol, and air quality as poor measures can impact mood, reducing oxygen levels and therefore impacting brain function. The final factor was green spaces as nature can have a healing effect. Being mindful in nature naturally increases dopamine production with forest bathing studies showing an increase in serotonin and dopamine.
Scoring highly in the ranking as a walkable city, Split has plenty of tree-lined paths as well as a well-known coastal trail with views of the sea.
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The most dopamine-inducing destination in the ranking is Split, in Croatia. With 2,631 daylight hours a year, travelers get a much-needed dose of vitamin D to help fuel the production of the feel-good chemical.
When it comes to green space, the city is home to Marjan Park, a 79 square kilometer nature reserve with panoramic views from Telegrin Peak where you can look out over the Split skyline as well as the Adriatic Sea. This park, known as the ‘lungs of the city’, could also be a contributing factor to Split’s postive air quality score.
Scoring highly in the ranking as a walkable city, Split has plenty of tree-lined paths as well as a well-known coastal trail with views of the sea. The city also offers daily walking tours for those who want to make the most of the sights on foot.
Amsterdam is the ideal destination to explore on foot with flat terrain and canal-side streets.
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Amsterdam may be best known for its bicycles and canal waterways, but it is also one of the greenest cities in Europe, where trees reportedly outnumber the city’s residents. There’s an almost overwhelming choice of parks in the city, but arguably the most famous, and oldest, is Vondelpark—120-acres of manicured lawns, footbridges and ponds that dates back to 1865.
If the way to your heart (and happiness) is through food, Amsterdam ranks highly with an average restaurant rating of 4.6 out of 5. Home to 23 Michelin-starred restaurants as of October 2024, the city is known for delicacies including stroopwafles, stamppot, bitterballen and panenkoeken.
When it comes time to walk it off, Amsterdam is the ideal destination to explore on foot. With its flat terrain and many of its sights located within a small radius, the city’s canal-side pedestrian-friendly streets are a delight to stroll while taking in the city’s unique architecture.
Tallinn was the European Commission’s European Green Capital for 2023.
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Rounding out the top three dopamine-inducing destinations is Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and its old town is a UNESCO-designated world heritage site.
Scoring the highest out of all the cities for its clean air quality, it’s unsurprising that Tallinn is also home to dozens of parks and green spaces. In fact, the city’s green credentials led to it winning the European Commission’s European Green Capital Award for 2023. Travelers can choose from dozens of green spaces including the Botanic Garden, the Japanese Gardens or the 172-acre Kadriorg Park and Gardens.
Tallinn is home to a creative cuisine that is closely linked to its Baltic heritage, with restaurants earning a 4.6 out of 5-star rating on average. Local delicacies include rye bread, sprat sandwiches, the Estonian pastry Pirukad, Mulgipuder which is a porridge of mashed potatoes and barley and Kohuke, a sweet cheese curd and chocolate snack.
