Most stressful travel destinations in the world — and this beloved European destination is ‘worse’ than NYC

Check out this list to avoid these shockingly stressful travel destinations.

Some cities, despite their allure and cultural riches, come with unavoidable travel tension — from the crush of crowds to high crime rates and uncomfortable weather.

New research from Ibiza Summer Villas has just dropped the definitive list of the most — and least — stressful cities to visit in 2025.

The study analyzed 51 of the world’s most visited cities, scoring each based on five key factors: tourist density, crime rates, humidity, search trends, and the frequency at which visitor reviews mentioned stress.

And New York City didn’t make it into the top 10. Surprisingly, Paris, the City of Love, tops the list.

The Big Apple, often hailed as the city that never sleeps, is even less stressful than its flashy West Coast competitor.

NYC’s spot at No. 13 — and behind LA at No. 14 — shows that NYC isn’t quite the nightmare it’s made out to be.

Paris, France

The romantic city might sound dreamy, but with 47.5 million tourists squeezed into 105 square kilometers, there’s not much room for love — or tourists.

That’s 450,664 visitors per km², which is over ten times the density of NYC.

And in just a year, search interest for Paris has shot up 24% making it even more of a hot mess.

Although Paris doesn’t lead for crime or humidity, the sheer volume of tourists means the romantic escape many envision can quickly feel overwhelming.

Hanoi, Vietnam

The heat in Hanoi will melt your resolve. With a sweat-drenching 84% humidity — the highest on the list — and an intense crime score.

It also ranks No. 4 for the percentage of tourist attraction reviews mentioning stress.

Plus, a 19% rise in search interest means more people are about to discover the misery for themselves.

With everything going on, Hanoi is a sensory and security overload for many.

Shanghai, China

Rounding out the top three is Shanghai.

China’s biggest city draws in 300 million visitors a year, making it 47,318 visitors per km².

With a staggering 64% spike in searches recently — making it one of the fastest growing destinations in the world.

But travel shouldn’t be stressful, so instead, consider booking a trip to one of the spots below.

Dubai, UAE

Dubai is the most relaxing city to visit in 2025. 

Despite being the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, the glitzy getaway has low crime, a spread-out urban setting, and a huge drop in search interest — meaning fewer crowds.

The city attracts 17.1 million tourists annually, but its expansive layout means it ranks 43rd for tourist density. It also boasts the second-lowest crime rate in the study and a mild desert humidity of 60%.

Munich, Germany

The European city you should be visiting if you want chill vibes and no chaos.

Munich provides a perfect balance of safety, mild weather, and manageable crowds. With just 8.5 million visitors and a tourist density of 27,357/km², it feels far calmer than most European capitals.

Only a sliver of reviews mention stress, and a 16% dip in search interest promises even lighter crowds ahead.

Melbourne, Australia

Spacious, laid-back, and with some of the lowest tourist density on the planet. Basically, a breath of fresh air.

Melbourne is the most spacious city on the list, with the second-lowest tourist density at just 1,265 visitors per km². The comfortable humidity and low-stress review mentions show travelers have the rare chance to unwind fully in a major city.