No, you’re not imagining things. Going on a vacation really does make you happier—and that’s proven by science . However, according to one new analysis, some destinations could leave you happier than others, including one city in the U.S. that makes architecture lovers doubly delighted.

In September 2025, BookRetreats.com released its Holiday Happiness Index, which it created alongside Harvard-affiliated psychologist and holistic happiness expert Dr. Natalie Dattilo-Ryan. The report, the company explained, compared 47 popular travel destinations across five “science-backed factors” that are all shown to trigger the body’s happy hormones, leaving you smiling well after you leave.

“When we talk about feeling good, we’re really talking about the release of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin,” Dattilo-Ryan explained in a statement. “These chemicals influence everything from mood and sleep to energy and digestion.…