20 Destinations Proven To Boost Your Mood and Well-Being

Image: Split, Croatia (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:25 PM ET, Thu January 2, 2025

Vacationing somewhere new has been shown to have myriad benefits including reducing stress, boosting one’s creativity, and even providing anti-aging benefits.

And that’s not all.

A new study has identified 20 destinations globally that are most likely to trigger release of the ‘feel-good’ hormone dopamine.

Produced in collaboration with clinical psychologist Gurpreet Kaur, Scenic Cruises recently released a study identifying the top destinations around the world that they say have been scientifically proven to boost mood and well-being.

To come up with the so-called Dopamine Destination Ranking, Kaur looked at five prominent factors when it comes to triggering dopamine release: Annual days of sunshine, cuisine, step count, air quality and quality of green spaces.

These factors (which account for 20% each of a destination's total dopamine score) contribute to one's overall dopamine levels in some way. Sunshine, for instance, “is a natural dopamine provider because it helps balance hormones through the Vitamin D we receive and helps connect us with nature,” Kaur explains in the study.

Cuisine plays a role also when it comes to dopamine levels, Kaur explains: “Good quality foods provide essential nutrients and vitamins which are essential for dopamine regulation, however eating food we enjoy also gives us pleasure, which in turn provides a dopamine hit.”

Based on these and the other identified dopamine factors, the number one destination globally to cure your doldrums and experience a dopamine boost? Split, Croatia.

Earning a dopamine score of 100 out of a possible 100, Split averages 2,631 days of sunshine annually. The sun's rays provide visitors with a much needed dose of Vitamin D, which in turn helps fuel production of the feel-good dopamine. 

When it comes to green spaces, meanwhile, Split is known for Marjan Park, a 79 square kilometre nature reserve that also happens to be home to Telegrin Peak (585 ft). where visitors can look out over the Split skyline, as well as the Adriatic Sea.

Marjan Park, referred to as the ‘lungs of the city’ could also be a contributing factor to Split’s admirable air quality score, says the study. And with the city's many tree-lined paths, Split is considered a highly walkable place to visit as well.

Read on for the full list of destinations that deliver a dopamine hit.