Dopamine Travel Is a Hot New Trend. But What Is It?

A couple of years ago, the hot new travel trend was staycation. And not a staycation in the “get out and experience all the attractions near where you live” way, but more in the “stay in your house alone to avoid a pandemic” way.

Is your passport ready?

Now that people are traveling again, there’s a new trend popping up — dopamine travel. We’re taking a look today at what dopamine travel is, and why you might want to do it.

What is dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that — among other things — plays a role in how we experience pleasure. Some mental health disorders are linked to a person having too much or too little dopamine.

Beautiful vistas — like the Coronado Butte at Grand Canyon National Park — are considered dopamine travel destinations.

Dopamine allows humans to think, plan, and find things interesting.

So, What Is Dopamine Travel?

Dopamine Travel is travel to destinations that are colorful or otherwise visually stimulating. The theory behind it is that by surrounding yourself with beautiful views, you will feel happier.

Burrano, Italy, is one of the most colorful cities in the world.

We’re not scientists, we’re journalists, but we’ve gotta say beautiful things do bring a smile to our faces. How about you?

Why Dopamine Travel?

According to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression increased 25% globally during the pandemic.

You’ve probably heard that color can have an effect on your mood. For example, a lot of people paint their bedrooms blue because it’s supposed to be a calming color. There are theories out there that bright colors cause the release of dopamine in our bodies. So, a trip to the Greek Isle of Santorini – known for its bright blue waters and crisp white rooftops – could encourage feelings of peace within vacationers.

©Greek National Tourism Organization | Santorini

“Colour therapy and chromotherapy have long been of interest to cultures dating back to ancient Egypt and have been integrated into interior and environmental design,” Maria Costantino, a culture studies lecturer at the London College of Fashion, told The Independent.

But, we should note, there is not a lot of research to back up those theories.

Zena O’Connor, an Environment-Behavior Studies researcher at the University of Sydney, Australia, studied the sources of these theories and found that when it comes to “color psychology” in pop culture, there’s not a lot of empirical evidence that it’s a real thing.

Dopamine Travel Destinations

What destinations are part of the dopamine travel trend?

Disney World

The Most Magical Place on Earth is certainly a visually stimulating, colorful place!

“Can You Paint with ALL the Colors of the Wind?”

Many Disney World fans would attest that being at Disney World makes them feel happier.

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Cyclades

The Cyclades — a group of islands in the Aegean Sea, including the aforementioned Santorini — are often lauded as some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

©Greek National Tourism Organization | Mykonos, Greece

With the bright blue Aegean waters and white-roofed towns built into the cliffs leading to the sea, there is beauty at every angle.

Vinicunca, Peru

Adventure travelers might appreciate a trip to this gorgeous sight — Peru’s “Rainbow Mountain.”

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Vinicunca is a relatively new destination — most of the world did not know about the gorgeous scenery here until images of it became popular on the Internet in the 2010s.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

This city known as The Charming Bride is built on a mountainside, with blue hues covering most of the town.

This city is a haven for those who love hiking the mountains surrounding the town.

Those are some suggestions to get you started, but anywhere that is colorful, naturally beautiful — or just a place that makes you feel happy, is a great place to try some dopamine travel in 2023.