There’s something about being away from everything and enjoying the sound of silence. While locations can vary quite a bit, some people just want to relax as much as possible.
Most of the time, the quiet places are also going to be in remote areas of the world. It makes sense because humans make a lot of noise. Even if they are not talking or technically making a lot of noise at the time, they make products that create sound. The more people around, the more unnatural sound sources around.
Need a place to escape? Here are some of the quiet places in the world, and what to expect when arriving. Some people will actively seek out these areas of the world to get away from the hustle and bustle of a typical life.
The list is a mix of truly quiet places, as well as a pair of cities that stand out for their low noise levels.
1. Tak Be Ha Cenote, Mexico
Exploring the caves of the Yucatán Peninsula is a great, peaceful way to see a different part of the country. Many people have no idea that these underwater caves that look like cathedrals even exist. There are thousands and thousands of caves, but in particular, the Tak Be Ha Cenote is one of the best and quietest.
Other than other humans walking around occasionally, the only other sounds come from water dripping at certain times. It is very quiet and climate-controlled at all times of the year, so it’s a perfect place to escape.
Take in a number of the caves in the system for a nice, relaxing sightseeing day. There is plenty to see in this area of Mexico, and for normal noise levels, there are tourist areas above ground to check out as well.
2. Antarctica
It’s pretty general to call an entire continent one of the quietest places on earth, but with a year-round population of just around 1000, there are plenty of remote locations on the continent to get away from all the noise. Of course, getting there and surviving is a whole different thing, and certainly not for those who don’t know how to handle themselves in the cold.
Most of the people who live in Antarctica are part of research stations on the continent, sent there by different countries. The population swells to a few thousand people in the summer, but when it is at its coldest, there might be only a few hundred people around the millions of squared miles on the entire continent.
With so many remote locations, part of the issue is finding areas to move around. For those who are looking to travel to Antarctica for fun and enjoyment, expect to spend a decent amount of money.
Flights on average cost a few thousand dollars, and the living conditions are usually less than ideal. Sharing cabins and making the most of a very limited area isn’t for everyone, so don’t plan a trip without having some things mapped out.
There are cruises also available to Antarctica, which might be a cheaper way to go. Of course, a cruise will make things a little noisier than some people would like.
3. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
This is yet another very remote area of the world, but almost completely different from Antarctica. In Botswana, right in the middle of a very dry desert sits the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Because of the extreme temperature and the overall remoteness of the area, it is hard for even wildlife to live there consistently. Only certain times of the year is it recommended for people to visit if they want to, but it certainly is extremely quiet.
The only plants that survive out there are blue and green algae. To visit, people are recommended to bring a lot of food and drink with them so that they don’t feel overwhelmed.
Exploring remote parts of the desert won’t be intriguing to everyone, but it’s an area that many don’t consider going on a typical trip. These parts of the world are so unique to everything else, and the quietness is a bonus.
4. Zürich, Switzerland
What’s a big city doing on a list like this? While Zürich isn’t going to be the quietest place on earth, it is very quiet relative to other major cities around the world. In fact, it is often recognized as the quietest large city in the world. There are a lot of places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing people to relax and take in some silence once in a while.
Part of the reason is that the city is very green overall. A lot of people like to ride their bikes or walk to work, and that keeps louder transportation off the roads. The city is large, but it still has a very small city type of feel to it in a lot of ways as well.
The city has always been very dedicated to offering green spaces right in the heart of downtown. This means that just a few blocks away from a very busy intersection can be a pretty quiet area to relax on a nice day. There are too many cities that are building on every green space possible, which only pushes city dwellers further out to experience some true quiet time.
It seems like Zürich is a city that takes pride in having this recognition as one of the quietest places on earth for major cities. They strongly believe that reducing noise pollution makes for happier citizens overall. It is a major selling point for anyone who feels like they must live in a big city, but they don’t have the tolerance for constant noise at all hours of the day.
It’s just one of several reasons why the city consistently ranks as one of the most desirable to live in. For now, most just have the opportunity to visit, and they should absolutely take advantage of that.
5. Olympic National Park
In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, everyone tries to make it to Olympic National Park at some point. It is located in the Hoh Rainforest area, and this natural location is a great place to take in some silence and relax in general.
With so many square miles the cover, even on busy days, it is very quiet for people to explore. The way the park is set up allows for some natural noise control as well. Noises don’t carry like in some other areas, so even louder sounds are muffled a bit.
The great news is that Washington State and the United States are very focused on keeping Olympic National Park the treasure that it is. It is one of the most ecologically diverse environments in the United States, and they want to keep it that way for years to come.
A lot of people love coming to the Pacific Northwest for not only this park but similar ones in Oregon and Washington. As fast as other parts of the United States are growing, this is one area people can count on for peace and quiet (and some amazing views).
6. Kelso Dunes in the Mojave desert
Braving the Mojave desert is not for those who struggle with extreme temperatures. That is why during the summer months, it is one of the best locations in the world for some to take in complete silence. It still stays very quiet during the colder days, but just be aware that it has more visitors.
There won’t be any planes or cars out in the Kelso Dunes, nor much wildlife for that matter. If a person wants to check out a place where they can gather their thoughts and not worry about artificial sounds, this is closer than a lot of people think. Located in the United States, compared to other deserts, it’s not a huge hassle to get to.
One of the hardest things is driving and traveling on foot to the area. There are no direct flights, so a person does have to put in some work to get to this remote location. Most people are willing to do what it takes to enjoy a unique area of the world like this.
Other locations in Mojave desert will provide a solid amount of silence, but Kelso Dunes is one location to keep an eye out for. Not only that, but it has beautiful scenery as well, making for some great opportunity for photos.
7. Myers, England
In many ways, this is the quintessential location in England for some peace and quiet. The weather is usually not the best, and the blanket bog is going to kill a lot of sounds as well. Not only have people documented that this is a very quiet place in the United Kingdom, but it’s proven as well.
There are no roads nearby for any type of noise pollution, and planes don’t come anywhere near on their flight path.
The only downfall to this location is that not everyone is a fan of the scenery. If a person is looking for some quiet because they are feeling depressed, this location might not exactly provide help with that.
8. Portland, Oregon
When looking at the quiet cities in the world, almost all of them are located in Europe. It makes sense since some of the major cities are very focused on staying green and cutting down on all types of pollution. Cities in Europe, generally speaking, are ahead of the rest of the world in understanding noise pollution and how to control it.
In the United States, Portland, Oregon is doing a very good job of keeping things quiet in general. The city is growing at a fairly fast rate, but with so many people trying to be green, the sound isn’t as loud as most other cities their size or bigger.
Part of it is due to location. A lot of people living in Portland love the quietness that surrounds the Pacific Northwest. As the city continues to grow, countless people are doing what they can to control noise as much as possible.
Sure, there are some very loud places in the city. Every major city is going to have some issues like that. There are a lot of green spaces as well though, and the city is laid out in a way that doesn’t make it too loud compared to other options around the United States.
People love the weirdness of Portland, and part of that weird is staying eerily quiet in certain pockets. If development gets in the way of natural beauty in Portland, there is bound to be more than a few people opposing it.
Finding Quiet Spaces Anywhere
No matter where a person lives, there are quiet spaces available to relax and clear the mind a bit. Even in huge metropolitan areas like New York City in Tokyo, there are areas to escape two that are relatively remote. It won’t be as quiet as these locations above, but everything is relative. Sometimes, even getting sound levels at or below 20 decibels is an accomplishment.
Many people need a balance in their life so that they can appreciate the constant buzz of the city, and the general quietness of a more remote location. Being stuck in the city with a lot of noise is not healthy in the long term, even if people get used to it. It’s also something that can lead to a ton of anxiety, which builds up and makes life difficult for people without them realizing it.
Take time to seek out a few quiet areas and see what a difference it makes. If one of these locations is somewhat close by, it’s worth taking a visit and experiencing something new and exciting.
These might not be typical tourist destinations, but it brings out a different type of person who wants to experience all parts of the world. Most of the quiet places are heavy on visual stimulation, which is also something everyone needs more of.