A country getaway may be just the ticket and those special retreats come in all shapes and sizes, depending on where that country getaway is located. According to Skyscanner, the majority of Americans are opting to prioritize holidays that allow them to unwind and connect with nature this year. In light of this, Icelandair has conducted a study to uncover the best country getaways and rural retreats just outside of the most popular European cities: London, Reykjavík, Rome, Dublin, and Barcelona.
Country Getaway from London
Oxford ranks as the best rural retreat just outside of London with an index score of 25 out of 35 (see methodology below), making it an excellent choice for those looking for a bit of everything when if comes to what a country getaway can bring. Scoring high for beauty (4.8 million Instagram hashtags), dining options (4.3 average restaurant rating), and outdoor activities (136), this university town offers plenty to explore. Being only a 52-minute commute from London, Oxford is ideal for a short break from the city.
Cambridge follows in second place with a score of 24 out of 35. From the impressive campus of Cambridge University to the serene River Cam, there’s plenty to see! With 241 outdoor activities, including 138 hiking routes, you can also enjoy lots of time in the great outdoors.
Lewes takes third place with a score of 22 out of 35 for a country getaway destination. It’s a great place to finishing the day by stopping off at a country pub, sitting down by a fireplace (unless it’s summertime, at which point you can enjoy the beer garden) and having a Sunday roast, a truly British tradition.
Country Getaway from Reykjavik
Reykjavik, with a score of 25 out of 35, is the best rural retreat just outside of Iceland’s capital. Boasting 351,042 Instagram hashtags, the seafront village has the highest activity and beauty score and it’s not hard to see why. Recommended: Checking out the stunning view over the town, black beach, and Reynisdrangar rock formations from the hilltop church area. And at the black beach, watch for puffins in the summer.
Hveragerði and Geysir are joint second for country getaway choices, scoring 22 out of 35. Both geothermal areas are renowned for their beauty and have high average restaurant ratings of 4.4 and 4.3, respectively. The pair are followed by Snæfellsnes in third place with an index score of 21 out of 35.
Country Getaway from Rome
The top rural retreat, Tivoli, has an index score of 27 out of 35. It is the most accessible countryside destination from Rome, being under a 50-minute drive from the capital. It claims the highest score for beauty on this index (1.3 million Instagram hashtags), thanks to its pretty old town and UNESCO-listed sites like Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este.
Grottaferrata ranks second (24 out of 35). An elegant little town just 12 miles from the center of Rome. It is the most public transport-friendly place on the list and has the highest number of outdoor activities, with just under 50 hiking routes to consider.
Bracciano ranks third for a country getaway spot, with a score of 22 out of 35. Recommended: Enjoy Italy in the “Do as the Italians do” tradition. Embrace cornetto (pastry) for breakfast, dress for the weather, and always have a glass of local wine. As the area with the second-highest restaurant ratings on our list (4.5), Bracciano is a perfect place to eat and drink like a local
Country Getaway from Dublin
Malahide is the best country getaway just outside of Dublin, with an index score of 27 out of 35. Recommended: Malahide offers the perfect balance of the historic charm of the Malahide Castle, the relaxed atmosphere of the beach, and the relaxing walks through the Malahide Demesne. It’s the perfect getaway from the bustling streets of Dublin, says one writer on the destintion.
Howth comes in second place with a score of 24 out of 35. With a high beauty score (438,383 Instagram hashtags) and a good average restaurant rating of 4.31, there’s plenty to see and do here for a whole day. But if you’re short on time, Howth is also a great afternoon getaway since it’s only 11 miles from Dublin.
Wicklow and Skerries come in joint third place with an index score of 20 out of 35.
Country Getaway from Barcelona
Set against the Parc Natural del Garraf, Sitges ranks as the best rural escape near Barcelona with an average index score of 31 out of 35. With top scores for beauty (1.6 million Instagram hashtags) and restaurant ratings (4.4), this vibrant town has plenty going on and is only a 35-minute commute from central Barcelona.
Tossa de Mar takes the second spot with an index score of 20 out of 35. 
Montseny and Montserrat come in joint third place with an index score of 19 out of 35, for well-recommended country getaway options in this aspirational destination.
Methodology:
Using online travel resources, Icelandair compiled a list of seven rural and suburban destinations accessible from five major European cities: London, Dublin, Rome, Barcelona, and Reykjavík. For each location, internal experts assessed its beauty score by analyzing the number of Instagram hashtags for relevant keywords, assigning higher points to places with more hashtags. Travel accessibility was determined by extracting data from Google Maps, considering the time (in minutes) required to travel from each major city to the rural location by both car and public transport. A consistent starting time of 11:30 am was maintained for each journey to avoid rush-hour bias. Locations with the shortest travel time received the highest accessibility scores. Additionally, Google Maps was utilized for the restaurant score, filtering for restaurants in each area and collecting the Google rating out of 5 for the first 10 results. The average rating for each area was calculated, and locations with the highest average restaurant reviews were awarded the top scores.
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