Europe’s best holiday destinations for a longevity lifestyle are not necessarily the places with the most advanced wellness clinics or expensive health treatments. According to a new ranking by villa holiday company CV Villas, some of the most appealing destinations for a healthier pace of life are places where walking, simple food, social connections and time to relax remain part of everyday life.
Valletta, the capital of Malta, ranked first in the company’s list of 20 European destinations associated with longevity-friendly lifestyles. The ranking also includes Paxos in Greece, St. Tropez in France and Eger in Hungary, highlighting destinations where visitors can combine a holiday with activities and routines linked to everyday wellbeing.
Interest in longevity has grown alongside the popularity of treatments and products such as red light therapy, peptides and supplements. However, the lifestyle principles associated with longer, healthier lives are often much simpler. Regular movement, balanced eating, meaningful social relationships and opportunities to slow down are central to the approach commonly associated with the world’s so-called Blue Zones.
Blue Zones are areas identified for their reported concentrations of people who live to an advanced age. In Europe, Sardinia in Italy and Ikaria in Greece are among the best-known examples. Their reputation has helped draw attention to how daily habits, social connections and local environments may contribute to healthy ageing. However, a destination’s inclusion in a longevity ranking does not establish that visiting it will extend a person’s life.
CV Villas assessed almost 100 destinations using a scoring system based on selected principles from Dan Buettner’s “Power 9” framework, which outlines lifestyle characteristics associated with Blue Zone communities. The company assigned each destination a score out of 100, considering factors including walkability, working hours, access to vegan-friendly restaurants, wineries, cafes and churches.
The assessment used elevation range as an indicator of walkability and average annual working hours to estimate the pace of life. It also considered the number of vegan-friendly restaurants and wineries per capita, alongside cafes and churches as indicators of opportunities for social interaction and community life.
Hannah Marshall, marketing manager at CV Villas, said the destinations offered a combination of walkability, good food, community and a slower pace of life that could make for a restful holiday. She also noted that places beyond Europe’s two recognised Blue Zones could share some of the same lifestyle characteristics.
Valletta took the top position, with the company’s assessment highlighting its walkable streets and sociable dining culture. The Maltese capital offers visitors opportunities to explore on foot and spend time in cafes and restaurants, activities that fit the everyday movement and social interaction emphasised by longevity-focused lifestyles.
Paxos, a Greek island, ranked second. Its close-knit community, relatively unhurried atmosphere and natural surroundings were among the qualities recognised in the assessment. For visitors looking to spend less time rushing between attractions and more time walking, enjoying local food and experiencing island life, Paxos offers a different kind of holiday from a tightly scheduled city break.
France’s St. Tropez placed third, followed by Eger in Hungary. Eger is known for its historic character and wine culture, with the local Bull’s Blood red wine blend playing a prominent role in its reputation. CV Villas highlighted the town’s walkability and sociable drinking culture. While moderate alcohol consumption may be part of some local traditions, wine should not be treated as a proven way to extend life, and alcohol carries recognised health risks.
Malta featured prominently throughout the ranking, with four destinations appearing in the top 20: Valletta, Mdina, St. Julian’s and Gozo. Their strong representation helped make the Mediterranean island nation a notable presence in the company’s selection.
Elsewhere, the list covers a broad range of European holiday settings. Ibiza and Taormina offer Mediterranean island and coastal experiences, while Lefkada and Paxos represent Greece. Budva in Montenegro and Ksamil in Albania add destinations along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts. Further north, Dingle in Ireland and Alesund in Norway offer different landscapes and local ways of life, while Bordeaux in France and Novi Sad in Serbia bring urban food, wine and social cultures into the mix.
The complete top 20 ranking places Valletta first, followed by Paxos, St. Tropez, Eger, Mdina, Ibiza, Taormina, Lefkada, Budva and Dingle. Nessebar in Bulgaria takes 11th place, followed by Bad Ischl in Austria, Piran in Slovenia, Alesund in Norway, St. Julian’s, Gozo, Ksamil, Levoca in Slovakia, Bordeaux and Novi Sad.
The ranking is a holiday-planning guide rather than a scientific measure of life expectancy. Its criteria reflect selected features of a destination’s environment and social life, not direct evidence that residents or visitors live longer because of them. Factors such as healthcare, income, genetics and individual health behaviours also influence longevity.
For travellers interested in wellbeing without building an entire holiday around treatments and structured wellness programmes, the list offers a practical starting point. Choosing a destination where walking is convenient, meals can be enjoyed at a relaxed pace and social life takes place beyond the hotel can create more opportunities to practise healthy everyday habits while travelling.
