From walkable European cities to tropical escapes, a new study reveals the best destinations for switching off, spending less time on your phone and reconnecting with travel in the real world.
Travel has never been more connected, but that does not necessarily mean we are experiencing more. For many of us, a holiday now involves Google Maps, restaurant apps, WhatsApp, email, Instagram, flight alerts, photos, videos and the quiet pressure to document every beautiful moment as it happens. The result is that even when we physically leave work and routine behind, our attention often comes with us.
That is why the idea of screen-free travel is gaining momentum. It does not mean throwing your phone in a hotel safe for a week or disappearing to a remote island without Wi-Fi. It is about choosing destinations where it feels natural to spend less time looking at a screen and more time actually participating in the place around you, whether that means walking for hours through a European city, swimming in the sea, hiking, lingering over lunch, visiting markets or simply being somewhere visually compelling enough that you forget to check your phone.
A recent study identifying some of the best destinations for a digital detox and screen-free holiday suggests that these places are not necessarily the most isolated. In fact, many are well-known cities and popular resort destinations. What they have in common is that they make offline experiences easy: walkable streets, abundant outdoor activities, strong food cultures, beautiful natural surroundings and enough to see and do that your phone becomes useful rather than central.
And that may be the real appeal. A digital detox holiday in 2026 is less about rejecting technology and more about reclaiming attention. Switching off notifications, leaving the phone in your room for a few hours, choosing a long lunch over scrolling, or spending a day exploring without constantly photographing it can change the way a destination feels.
From walkable European cities to tropical escapes, these 10 destinations make it surprisingly easy to spend less time online and more time immersed in the real world. For travellers looking for a screen-free holiday, digital detox destination or wellness-focused escape, they may be exactly the kind of reset modern travel is increasingly meant to provide.
1: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik offers the kind of escape where a phone can easily become an afterthought.
Taking the top spot with a screen-free escape score of 100, the Croatian city has the combination of safety, nature and walk ability needed for a proper digital detox and spend time embracing new experiences.
With a safety score of 82.2, visitors can comfortably explore the city on foot, while an estimated 38.1% of the city is covered by green space, there is plenty of opportunity to spend the day outdoors.
Dubrovnik is home to 250 outdoor attractions and 47 nature and park areas. Spend the day wandering Dubrovnik’s old town, walking along the city walls or taking in the view.
With so much to experience outdoors, the day can be centered around movement, fresh air and being present in the moment.
The summer temperatures average 31 degrees, Dubrovnik offers plenty of reason to leave the phone behind and take more time in the fresh air, movement and change of pace.
2: Budapest, Hungary
Budapest offers a chance to make a city break feel more like a reset, with walking, green spaces and time away from the constant pull of a phone. Exploring the city on foot allows visitors to experience more of what is around them rather than spending the day looking down at a screen.
Ranking second with a screen-free escape score of 96.6, almost half of the city is estimated to be green space, at 47%. Its impressive walk ability score of 98 also makes it easy to explore without constantly checking a phone for directions.
From walking along the Danube to exploring Buda Castle, there are plenty of ways to stay active while discovering the city. With 119 nature and park areas and 99 outdoor attractions, Budapest offers plenty of opportunities to spend time outside.
At around $150 a day, it is also one of the more affordable European options for a screen-free getaway.
3: Hanoi, Vietnam
For travelers who think they might be bored without their phone, Hanoi will change their mind.
The Vietnamese capital has an incredible 5,713 outdoor attractions, giving it more than ten times as many outdoor activities as any other destination option on this list. Visitors can wander through the Old Quarter,stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, or even take in the energy of Hanoi’s streets.
It also has a walk ability score of 99, which means there is plenty to discover without relying on any transport. It is estimated to have 45% green space coverage, an average summer temperature of 29 degrees and daily costs of just $63.
Hanoi is revealed as the most affordable destination within the top 5 of this list, with a screen-free escape score of 96.1. The Vietnamese capital is full of sights, sounds and outdoor experiences to do a full digital detox.
4: Rome, Italy
In Rome, a day away from the screen can be filled with history, movement and experiences that keep attention firmly on the world around it. The city offers the chance to spend hours exploring without needing digital entertainment to fill the gaps.
Rich in history and outdoor attractions, Rome has 587 attractions and 210 nature and park areas waiting to be explored. A day visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum and surrounding historic streets can easily become an experience in itself, with plenty to see without reaching for a phone.
Almost half of Rome is estimated to be green space, at 46%, while the city’s walk ability score of 99 makes exploring on foot an easy choice.
With a screen-free escape score of 88.9 and summer temperatures averaging around 32°C, Rome offers the chance to step away from the digital noise and spend the day moving, exploring and giving the mind the space it needs to recharge.
5: Split, Croatia
For a slower summer escape, Split offers a combination of warm weather and plenty of fresh air and outdoor spaces.
The Croatian city ranks fifth on the list with a screen-free score of 88.5, an estimated 35.2% green space coverage and a walk ability score of 92. Visitors can choose from 283 outdoor attractions and 42 nature and park areas, making it easy to fill the day without your screen.
Visitors can spend the day exploring the historic centre before heading towards Marjan for a walk through its green surroundings and views across the city and nearby islands.
With temperatures averaging 30 degrees and a daily cost of just $186, Split is another destination where visitors can slow down, enjoy the sun and let the digital detox happen naturally.
6: Florence, Italy
Florence proves that a wellness journey does not have to take travelers far from the city. With its walk able streets, green spaces and outdoor attractions, the city allows visitors to step away from the screen, reconnect with their surroundings and make wellness part of the journey.
Ranking sixth on the list with a screen-free score of 83.4, Florence has a perfect walk ability score of 100, making it the most walk able destination in the ranking. Around 44% of the city is also estimated to be green space, creating plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors.
With 238 outdoor attractions and 52 nature and park areas, there is plenty to explore. Visitors can stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, wander through the historic centre or escape into the Boboli Gardens for time surrounded by nature.
With summer temperatures averaging 33°C, visitors can spend their days exploring the city on foot, enjoying its outdoor spaces and making wellness part of the travel experience.
7: Madrid, Spain
Sometimes the best way to reset is to spend a day doing something simple, such as walking, getting outside and enjoying a city without feeling the need to document every moment. Madrid makes that easy, offering a mix of green spaces, open-air activities and walk able streets that encourage visitors to put their phone away and focus on the experience itself.
Ranking seventh with a screen-free escape score of 82.2, the Spanish capital has a perfect walk ability score of 100 and a safety score of 71. While its estimated green space coverage is lower than some of the destinations above it at 29%, Madrid still has 136 nature and park areas alongside 112 outdoor attractions.
El Retiro Park provides an ideal place to spend an afternoon away from the digital world, whether that means wandering through its gardens, taking a boat across the lake or simply enjoying some time outdoors. A walk through the historic Plaza Mayor can add even more movement and exploration to the day.
With summer temperatures averaging 34°C, Madrid offers plenty of opportunities to get outside, be active and enjoy the kind of everyday experiences that are easy to miss when attention is fixed on a screen.
8: Palermo, Italy
When everyday life feels dominated by notifications, scrolling and screens, a digital detox can be as simple as becoming immersed in a new place. Palermo offers the chance to replace digital distractions with real experiences, from wandering through lively markets to exploring historic streets and enjoying the city on foot.
Ranking eighth with a screen-free escape score of 79.2, Palermo has an estimated 40% green space coverage and a walk ability score of 98, making it easy to explore without constantly checking a phone. With 53 nature and park areas, there are also plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors.
At an average daily cost of around $146, Palermo is one of the more budget-friendly European destinations on the list, giving visitors the chance to fill their days with movement, food, culture and experiences happening in real time.
Number 9: Bali, Indonesia
Bali offers a different kind of escape, where the sheer variety of experiences can make a phone feel almost unnecessary. Ranking ninth with a screen-free escape score of 79.1, it is the second destination outside Europe to make the top 10.
While its estimated green space coverage is 18.5%, the island stands out for its 3,602 outdoor attractions and 718 nature and park areas. From relaxing on the beach to wandering through rice terraces, there are plenty of ways to spend the day away from a screen and immersed in the experience.
At around $89 a day, Bali also offers an affordable option for travelers wanting to break from digital routines and make more space for experiences beyond the phone.
Number 10: Yerevan, Armenia
Rounding out the list is Yerevan, Armenia, with a Screen-Free Escape Score of 77.5. For travelers wanting a break from the constant pull of notifications and scrolling, the city offers plenty of opportunities to replace screen time with experiences that give the mind a chance to switch off.
Yerevan has one of the highest safety scores in the ranking at 78, alongside a walk ability score of 97. With 224 outdoor attractions and 39 nature and park areas, visitors can spend their time exploring, sitting outdoors or discovering the city’s architecture without needing to rely on a phone for entertainment.
With summer temperatures averaging 35°C, Yerevan is the warmest destination in the top ten, while an average daily cost of around $118 makes it an accessible choice for travelers looking to create more space for rest, exploration and personal well being.
Time to Switch Off?
With so many destinations offering the chance to explore outdoors, the next holiday could be an opportunity to step away from the screen, reset the mind and make more time for rest, connection and well being.
Gidon Sadovsky, CEO of Overnight Glasses, commented on the study:
“The best summer break is a break from screens. When we spend hours staring at phones and laptops, our eyes pay the price. Dryness, strain, fatigue. The cure is not eye drops. It is looking at something far away, preferably green and outdoors. Look for walk able cities with safe streets and plenty of parks. Look for places where the view is worth more than the notification on your phone. Your eyes are craving distance, green space, and natural light. So that’s what your vacation should look like.”
CREDIT: https://www.overnightglasses.com
