Paris tops list as world’s most stressful city to visit in 2025, Cape Town also ranked

Paris named the world’s most stressful city in 2025

Paris may be the City of Light, but for travellers in 2025, it seems the glow comes with a lot of grit. A new study by Ibiza Summer Villas has named the French capital the most stressful city to visit this year, with its iconic charm overshadowed by crowded streets, crime concerns and a sheer crush of visitors.

The research, which analysed crime trends, weather conditions, tourist density and attraction reviews, paints a picture of a destination under pressure. Paris attracts a staggering 47.5 million visitors annually – all squeezed into just 105 square kilometres – and ranked fifth worst for crime. For many tourists, the experience feels less like a romantic getaway and more like a high-stakes game of “dodge the pickpocket”.

Global stress hotspots – and where Cape Town fits in

Following closely behind Paris is Hanoi, Vietnam, which took the runner-up spot due to its challenging weather, topping the chart for the highest humidity at 84%. Shanghai rounded out the top three, hosting a jaw-dropping 300 million visitors annually.

South Africa’s own Cape Town didn’t escape the stress radar either, coming in 15th overall. While the Mother City’s scenery is second to none, the study ranked it second globally for crime and 13th worst for weather. Locals on social media were quick to weigh in, with one Cape Town Twitter user posting, “We may be stressful, but at least we have Table Mountain as our therapist.”

Cities where stress takes a back seat

On the flip side, the study crowned Dubai the world’s least stressful city to visit. Despite welcoming over 17 million tourists annually, its vast size and infrastructure mean it ranked just 47th for tourist density. Munich followed in second place, thanks to its manageable crowds, mild weather and low crime rate, while Melbourne’s relaxed pace and low visitor density earned it the third spot.

Why this matters for travellers

The findings highlight an important shift in travel priorities. While iconic cities like Paris and Cape Town remain bucket-list destinations, travellers are increasingly weighing the emotional cost of their trips alongside their budgets. Overcrowding, safety and climate discomfort can turn a dream holiday into an exhausting ordeal – something seasoned travellers are factoring in when planning their 2025 itineraries.

If you’re craving culture without the chaos, cities like Munich and Melbourne might just offer the best of both worlds: memorable experiences minus the stress headache.

Source:Tourism Update 

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com