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The most relaxing places you'll ever go are not just pretty backdrops for photos, but destinations where time slows down and you save every grain of sand beneath your toes and emerge from an amazing experience that gives you real, deep perspective. From Arctic skies to quiet Italian lakes, there are many places that will ensure that you step out of your routine and time slows down to a softer rhythm of life. Here's a little list of calm and composing destinations offering more than a semblance of serenity.
Tromsø, Norway
It is one of those rare places where the landscape does most of the work for you. Nestled between fjords and mountains dusted with snow, the city feels small enough to be cozy but large enough to have an amazing array of cafés, saunas, and waterfront walks.
During the winter, the Northern Lights ripple across the sky, and in the summer, the midnight sun hangs low, meaning there's something for everyone. To make your visit truly stress-free, you can start by dropping your bags at one of the many luggage storage Tromsø providers so you can walk along the harbor, pop on a fjord cruise, or take a cable car without dragging a suitcase around.
Maldives
If the whole idea of relaxation could be summarized in one image, no doubt it's a Maldivian lagoon. Your day could start with the sound of water lapping gently at your overwater villa and the sight of fish drifting below your deck before moving slowly from bed to balcony to sea, barefoot, with no need for clocks.
Most resorts are set on private islands, which means zero traffic and almost zero people. On many islands, there are spa pavilions right above the ocean so you can listen to waves during a relaxing massage and step right into a warm lagoon when you're done. Even physical activities like snorkeling and paddleboarding can almost feel meditative because of how calm the underwater world is.
Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como is an elegant escape where your existence slows. The lake itself is framed by steep, forested mountains and pastel villas. Small towns like Bellagio and Menaggio are stitched together by ferry rides where you can just sit on deck, breathe the cool air, and watch all the houses shrink into tiny colored dots along the shore.
The devil, of course, is always in the details, particularly when it comes to relaxation. It's all about slow walks, relaxing espressos in a lakeside café, or an evening stroll along the promenade as the lights of the villas twinkle.
Landmannalaugar, Iceland
If you are looking for a more rugged type of relaxation, the rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar glow in bands of orange, red, and green, while the black lava fields and steaming vents remind you of how alive the Earth truly is.
The real magic comes at the end of the day when you sink into a naturally heated hot spring surrounded by open sky and raw landscape. You'll feel your muscles relax after a long day's hiking, and you will see the night sky turn into a dome of stars. Your mind truly has the room to stretch out and unwind.
Get inspired and get going. If you need to unwind, you could do far worse than these amazing locations.