5 Ways to Travel Yourself Happy in 2020

Some people travel to find themselves, some people travel to lose themselves, but if you wanted to travel to make yourself happy, where would you go?

You could start by asking; which country is the happiest? 

First of all, we get that ‘happiness’ is a hugely personal thing - for some people it’s fine-dining in a penthouse hotel, for others it’s a first-rate milkshake with friends! But there are 7.8 billion of us and we can’t write 7 billion articles can we?

But what we can do, is help all 7.8 billion of you to find the places that are officially classed as the happiest places on earth, and (for any Matrix fans); “where you go from there, is a choice we leave to you…” (You’re welcome!)

Y’see, the International Happiness Index - yes, there really is such a thing! - is an annual report that uses first-hand responses on the perceived happiness of a country’s citizens and their day-to-day lives, and gives each country a ranking 🏆

It all started when the United Nations noticed that Bhutan had become the first country to measure its success in Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product. Fast forward to 2012, and the UN had released the first International Happiness Index 🤗

So here we are, 8 years on, and for anyone looking to get away and rediscover the joy of the unknown and the thrill of the exotic, here’s your cheat sheet on where to go, and what to do! (Insider tip: Europe’s pretty chipper, but the Nordics are downright joyful! 💙

Crowned as the happiest country in the world three years in a row, there's no denying that Finland is the place to be for anyone yearning for a bit of escape and a breath of fresh air. The Finnish landscape is more than its famous moniker as the Land of a Thousand Lakes – sprawling forests, snowy slopes, amethyst mines, & the charming Santa Claus Village of Rovaniemi are just some of the things this magical land offers. Come winter, you won't have to worry about the freezing temperature: find a sauna, a lakeside cottage, and some good company, and you're good to go! And if you're looking for an urban getaway, the capital city of Helsinki and its spectacular Baltic sea views are just a short flight away.

Feel a part of the Danish buzz by booking yourself on to a picturesque canal tour of Copenhagen and see the best of the city with landmarks like the Copenhagen Opera House and Christiansborg Palace, then take a breather as you go exploring in the gorgeous Tivoli gardens.

When it comes to Alpine pursuits, glacial marvels, and cheese fondue, Switzerland is the place to be. From skiing down Mount Titlis to spending lazy afternoons at the charming village of Grindelwald, the Swiss territory is a land of mystifying beauty akin to that of fairytale settings.

Up north where the northern lights shine in ethereal splendour, Iceland dazzles with its array of untouched natural wonders. Featuring an assortment of glaciers, ice caves, lava fields, and geysers, the Nordic island nation stays true to its title as the Land of Ice and Fire.

Huddle around a campfire under a starry sky and listen to the legends and myths of Norway. Once ravaged by Viking battles, the Scandinavian kingdom rose up to become one of the most beautiful countries in the world, both in culture and landscape.