A few years ago, I went through a period of intense content fatigue that led to silent commutes for two weeks. For ten work days, I drove to and from work in complete silence — an hour each way in total quietude. And I loved it.

“A few years ago, I went through a period of intense content fatigue that led to silent commutes for two weeks.”

My mind craved that much-needed break. We so often survive in a state of information overload — from the moment we check our emails and feeds in the morning, to listening to the morning news and then sitting glued to our computers all day at work, to listening to audiobooks while cooking dinner and watching Netflix until we fall asleep. Even reading before bed, while it can help you get better sleep, is a form of content consumption. All this content fatigue accounts for one of the biggest travel trends we’ve been seeing this year: Quiet travel.

“How often do you sit quietly?”

Think about it: How often do you sit quietly? Do you often drive to or from work in silence, or have your morning coffee while doing absolutely nothing else? Do you ever sit at the beach without a book, or “raw dog” a flight? These days, it’s easy to fill all gaps with content. I do it, too, listening to a podcast every time I walk to the grocery store or scrolling through my phone while I’m in line at the post office.

Quiet travel, simply put, involves prioritizing calmness and quiet while traveling. And in today’s world, with so much content constantly vying for our attention, it’s easier said than done. 

What is quiet travel?

Traveling quietly means escaping the noise of everyday life — whether that’s noise from content, work, other people, or even your own thoughts. Quiet travel involves heading to more rural, secluded locations, rather than bustling cities. And it typically means a calmer itinerary and a connection to nature.

“Traveling quietly means escaping the noise of everyday life — whether that’s noise from content, work, other people, or even your own thoughts.”

Think about a trip to bustling tourist destinations like Disney World, Venice, or Paris. Quiet travel is pretty much the opposite of that — and in looking for less trafficked destinations, you’ll take stress off the strained resources in spots struggling with over-tourism.

“In the world of Croatian yacht parties and bachelorette parties to Las Vegas, we’re more focused on pausing, savoring, and quietly enjoying what the world has to offer,” says Henah Velez, a contributor at The Good Trade and the cofounder of Departure, a quiet travel newsletter for women (which she runs with The Good Trade’s Kayti Christian!).

Pinterest’s 2024 travel report cited “quiet life travel” as one of its most popular trends. Searches for the term “quiet life” have been up 530%, while “quiet places” saw a 50% increase. Other popular terms that evoke a sense of a calmer, slower style of travel are rising, too — “cabin in the mountains,” “village vibes,” “glamping aesthetic,” and “countryside” among them. These indicators of a shift in travel mindsets prove that travelers want a break from the constant connection provided by our digital world.

“Searches for the term ‘quiet life’ have been up 530%, while ‘quiet places’ saw a 50% increase.”

For even quieter travels, you might consider traveling solo. Traveling on your own affords you complete freedom of schedule — you can spend as much time wandering around museums as you want, and you don’t have to get a group consensus before choosing where to eat dinner. You can spend all day long on a solitary hike, or working on an amateur painting you don’t want anyone to see (yet). The world is your oyster. Quiet travel doesn’t have to be a solo affair, but the solitude that comes with solo travel gives you those long stretches of silence that make quiet travel what it is.

What are the benefits of quiet travel?

“Many sought-after nature destinations offer a respite from the constant buzz of connectivity and digital distractions, providing a much-needed break,” reads the Pinterest report. “Whether basking in the tranquility of a secluded beach or meandering through serene countryside landscapes, these experiences contribute to self-care and overall well-being.”

“Silence can also help you improve your focus, reduce your cortisol, improve your sleep quality, and even potentially stimulate brain growth.”

Science supports the benefits of quietude, too. One study found that two minutes of silence after listening to a song left subjects with a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure — even if the music was relaxing. Besides its cardiovascular benefits, silence can also help you improve your focus, reduce your cortisol, improve your sleep quality, and even potentially stimulate brain growth.

Calming your mind, focusing on the present, and connecting with nature — these are the major benefits of quiet travel. And it might be worth looking into waterfront travel destinations while you’re at it. We recently covered blue mind theory, which shows that spending time in or near water can help reduce stress and improve mental health. The white noise and repetitive visuals of water give our brains a respite from the disquieting buzz of our digital world. And, it turns out, just spending time in nature generally can dramatically reduce your stress levels.

How to travel quietly

Quiet travel has some overlap with “slow travel,” which prioritizes longer trips to fewer destinations, and really connecting with a place’s culture rather than trying to see everything. At its core, slow travel means staying for longer periods in one place — it aims to be a more environmentally friendly way to travel, and it aligns with quiet travel’s ethos, too, taking some of the intensity out of traveling.

“Quiet travel has some overlap with “slow travel,” which prioritizes longer trips to fewer destinations, and really connecting with a place’s culture rather than trying to see everything.”

Quiet travel can be as structured or as spontaneous as you like. Maybe you’re looking for the intensive self-reflection of silent meditation retreats, which are usually spiritual in nature. Or maybe you’d prefer a getaway to a bucolic destination with next to nothing on the itinerary. Both are forms of quiet travel.

And quiet travel can look like whatever you want it to. It’s typically about avoiding cites, sure, but you can even make city getaways quieter by spending time in parks, museums, and restaurants that are off the beaten path. According to Pinterest’s report, trending quiet locations include Okinawa, Japan and the English countryside.

Getaway cabins, which our editor reviewed earlier this year, pretty much exemplify quiet travel. They put you in a tiny cabin an hour or two away from the nearest city, and they don’t even have WiFi. The whole idea is to avoid screens and connect more with yourself, your travel partner, and nature.

Quiet Parks is dedicated to providing a less stimulating experience, too — the nonprofit aims to “save quiet,” partnering with organizations like nature reserves. They offer quiet experiences throughout the world, like forest bathing in Portugal or a tea ceremony in Boulder, and they can help you find a quiet place near you.

Tips for embracing quiet travel on your next getaway

1. Prioritize time in nature.

Connect with nature while quiet-traveling as much as possible. Maybe that’s a five-hour silent hike/forest bathing excursion, or maybe it’s spending some quiet time in a park. And, if possible head to the water for even more stress relief — just being near water can be beneficial to your mental health.

2. Ditch technology.

You might not be able to completely shut off your phone for your whole trip. But reducing your screen usage is essential to that quietude you’re looking to achieve — so avoid social media scrolling or television streaming. Read a book for entertainment, and bonus points if you’re staying somewhere that doesn’t even have WiFi.

3. Avoid crowds.

With crowds comes noise — so when you’re planning your quiet getaway, stay off the beaten path as much as possible. Try to avoid the most popular or centrally located restaurants, and consider visiting destinations in the off-season. Head to a beach town in the early spring, or a winter sports hot spot in the fall before the snow comes.

4. Don’t craft an itinerary.

Leave room for spontaneity — lots of it. In fact, try to avoid having much of a schedule at all. Less is more here, so try to only plan one or two activities in one day, if that. Book yourself even more time in between activities than you think you’ll want, and plan mostly for quiet activities, like yoga, hiking, kayaking, or a spa visit.

5. Take the more relaxing transportation.

If possible, take the train to your destination instead of flying. Or even try driving — which will afford you better views than a plane. And if you have to fly, avoid long layovers. Trust us, it’s usually worth the extra few bucks.

6. Plan a staycation, or add more quietude to your daily life.

Take the travel out of quiet travel! If a getaway isn’t in the cards for you right now, plan a relaxing staycation full of quiet activities: park or beach visits, yoga or meditation classes, a trip to the spa, or a podcast-free hike. And try adding a little solitude into your daily life, too — even if it’s just commuting to and from work silently every so often. ✨

“Taking some quiet time for yourself is an essential part of reducing the stress that comes with everyday life.”

Taking some quiet time for yourself is an essential part of reducing the stress that comes with everyday life. Even if you can’t plan a trip away, prioritizing quiet moments can have a profound impact on your mind, lessening anxiety and increasing mental clarity — among a whole list of other benefits.

Next time you’re planning some time away, think about the decibel level of your destination. You just might find yourself choosing the countryside over a cityscape.

Natalie Gale is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!