Sleep tourism, the booming travel wellness trend designed to help travellers rest and recuperate, is ramping up in the colder months as more travellers seek restoration over adventure. Now, hotels around the world have started catering to this trend with dedicated sleep experiences, from pillow menus to sleep retreats. MattressNextDay analysed a range of environmental and lifestyle factors scientifically linked to sleep quality. So, Vilnius in Lithuania is the best city, that promise the perfect sleepcation in Europe.
94% of travellers in the US and Europe are now searching exclusively for wellness destinations – specifically ones that focus on promoting good sleep while providing opportunities to shut off from the world. In fact, 38% of travellers have intentionally chosen hotels or rentals based on sleep-related features, and 1 in 5 would pay more for a hotel specifically designed for better sleep.
With this in mind, the sleep experts at MattressNextDay analysed factors such as air quality, light pollution, green space, nightlife, rainfall, and nighttime temperatures for more than 300 European cities to uncover the best cities in Europe for sleepcations and restorative travel.
The Best Cities in Europe for Sleep Tourism
|
# |
Location |
Country |
Air Quality Score /1+ |
Light Pollution Score /9 |
Green Space % |
Night Life Venues per km2 |
Yearly Rainfall (mm) |
Nighttime Temperature (°C) |
Noise Score /100 |
Sleep Tourism Score /10 |
|
1 |
Vilnius |
Lithuania |
8 |
7.6 |
56% |
0.17 |
527 |
4.5 |
64.2 |
8.26 |
|
2 |
Dresden |
Germany |
31 |
7.2 |
47% |
0.29 |
631 |
6.4 |
67.5 |
8.13 |
|
3 |
Poznan |
Poland |
42 |
8.2 |
41% |
0.24 |
462 |
6.5 |
54.2 |
8.10 |
|
4 |
Warsaw |
Poland |
33 |
5.8 |
62% |
0.38 |
488 |
6.2 |
83.7 |
8.01 |
|
5 |
Riga |
Latvia |
6 |
8.3 |
52% |
0.28 |
311 |
6.1 |
75.9 |
7.99 |
|
6 |
Essen |
Germany |
22 |
7.6 |
38% |
0.36 |
1047 |
8.0 |
82.5 |
7.95 |
|
7 |
Utrecht |
Netherlands |
19 |
7.3 |
52% |
0.46 |
956 |
7.1 |
70.5 |
7.89 |
|
8 |
Helsinki |
Finland |
14 |
9 |
21% |
0.16 |
676 |
4.5 |
71.4 |
7.80 |
|
9 |
Munich |
Germany |
28 |
7.8 |
64% |
1.02 |
1001 |
6.8 |
86.4 |
7.79 |
|
10 |
Amsterdam |
Netherlands |
20 |
8.3 |
40% |
1.12 |
825 |
8.3 |
87.3 |
7.74 |
|
11 |
Oslo |
Norway |
35 |
9 |
57% |
0.16 |
912 |
4.2 |
77.1 |
7.72 |
|
12 |
Rome |
Italy |
34 |
9 |
22% |
0.30 |
847 |
11.7 |
88.6 |
7.63 |
|
13 |
Dortmund |
Germany |
33 |
7.3 |
28% |
0.26 |
856 |
6.6 |
81.0 |
7.57 |
|
14 |
Lodz |
Poland |
52 |
8.4 |
35% |
0.11 |
345 |
5.4 |
69.4 |
7.55 |
|
15 |
Bremen |
Germany |
28 |
6.8 |
42% |
0.35 |
720 |
6.4 |
80.4 |
7.46 |
- Vilnius, Lithuania
In first place, as the emerging sleep tourism capital of Europe, scoring 8.26/10 is Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. The enchanting city offers excellent air quality, scoring just 8, the second best in the study. More than half of the city is green, featuring forests, hills, lakes, and fields, which has earned the city the title of European Green Capital for 2025. Vilnius is also the fourth quietest city, scoring just 64.2/100.
This location has no shortage of luxurious amenities for travellers, including hotels such as The Grand Hotel Vilnius, which boasts an extravagant spa with calming treatments designed to help you unwind and relax, ready for a long slumber. Alongside this, rooms are designed for the perfect night’s sleep with blackout curtains, 300 thread count sheets, robes and slippers. The average night temperature in the city is a crisp 4.5°C, ensuring visitors can snuggle up without blasting the aircon.
2. Dresden, Germany
In second place, Dresden in Germany scores 8.13/10, the German city is nestled along the Elbe River. Not only does this city have magnificent Baroque architecture that rivals Rome, but it also acts as a sleep sanctuary within the hustle and bustle of the city. Rainy days give city goers a perfect opportunity to stay in and drift off to the soothing sounds of the 631mm of rainfall that greets the city every year. Low noise levels (67.5/100) and lower light pollution (7.2/9) lull the city to sleep, ensuring uninterrupted rest.
3. Poznan, Poland
Taking third place with an 8.10/10 Sleep Tourism Score, Poznan is brimming with charm, culture and comfort. The under-the-radar location is less busy than Poland’s tourist hotspots like Krakow and 4th place Warsaw, helping create an ambience perfect for sleep. The lack of crowds helps keep the city quiet, with a noise score of just 54.2/100 and only 0.24 nightlife venues per km2. Poland is known as a world-leading producer of high-quality goose down used in luxury bedding, so you know you are in for a good night’s sleep here. Poznan is Poland’s sleepy secret, as locals and tourists move at a calm cadence with a culture of quiet evenings.
4. Warsaw, Poland
Landing in fourth place with 8.01/10, Poland’s capital, Warsaw, is a surprising entry on the ranking as the most populous city in the country could be expected to be loud, polluted and fast-paced, not fitting the typical picture of rest. But among the thrum of the city, Warsaw carries pockets of calm, bursting with leafy parks, hushed hotels, spas and fresh air. Once you escape the concentrated liveliness of the city centre, you can embrace the night sky with a lack of light pollution, scoring 5.8/9 – the darkest city in the top 20. Warsaw’s percentage of green space (62%) is the second highest in the top 20 list and offers the city room to breathe, unwind and relax.
5. Riga, Latvia
Landing in fifth place, Riga in Latvia scores 7.99/10. This sleep tourism hotspot is as picturesque as they come, with a pristine natural environment. Riga offers travellers the perfect destination for restorative sleep. Riga has a low nightlife density at just 0.28 establishments per km2, as well as one of the best air quality scores in the study, scoring just 6. The night temperatures here are averaging just 6.1°C – a perfect excuse to stay home to get cosy and rest. As well as this, Riga is brimming with lush greenery and wellness spaces that can help enhance your sleep quality.
