For many of us, most days in Sydney are dominated by commutes and office hours – not necessarily activities that are known for their relaxing qualities. But look outside the 9-to-5, and you’ll find a whole lot of ways to relax in the Harbour City. In fact, new research has identified Sydney as one of the most relaxing cities to visit in the world.
To determine the most relaxing cities in the world, international eSIM provider Holafly assessed a number of factors that make for a chilled-out day: everything from average sunshine hours to traffic congestion, and access to wellness centres and nature reserves. As experts on things to do in Sydney, we’re kind of unsurprised. Every week we share stories about magical nature-immersion experiences and dreamy bathhouses from all across Sydney, and it seems like our city’s focus on experiences that foster a sense of zen is only on the up. As for traffic...no comment. All that’s to say, Sydney is a much more relaxing place to be than most metropolitan hubs around the world. If you were looking for an excuse for a spa day, this might just be it.
According to the data, Sydney ranked as the fourth most relaxing city in the world to visit, and the most relaxing in Oceania. Our city’s (mostly) sunny weather played a major part in scoring us fourth position, with Holafly recording 2,468 yearly hours of sunshine. Those sunny days mean people in Sydney spend more time outdoors than most city dwellers, boosting relaxation levels. And our abundance of beautiful outdoor spaces also boosted us up the rankings, with Sydney home to an amazing 239 parks and gardens. For a dose of relaxation on a rainy day, Sydney is home to a staggering 368 spas and wellness centres (you’ll find our pick of the best in the city over here).
The only other Aussie city to make the list was Melbourne, coming in at fifth place. Our friends down south see a little less sunshine than us on average (2,360 hours of sunshine each year) and are home to fewer parks (215 compared with Sydney’s 239) and fewer spas (249 compared with Sydney’s 368).
These are the most relaxing cities in the world for 2025
- San Diego, US
- Singapore
- Vienna, Austria
- Sydney, Australia
- Melbourne, Australia
Keen to cash in on our ultra-relaxing city with a staycation? These are the best hotels in Sydney right now.
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