Leise auf Reise: Was Stille im Urlaub mit uns macht

A cozy log cabin nestled in Swedish forests is fully equipped with a kitchen, bedroom, and a generous terrace, and it also boasts a decibel meter. Is it enough for longer stays to exceed 45 decibels? Residents are forced to leave. Who would be willing to participate in such an experience? Surprisingly, many people do: over 200 applicants applied for three free, four-day stays in a cabin deep in nature during a marketing campaign last fall, organized by the tourism organization of southern Sweden's Skåne region under the premise of the quiet life.

The 45 decibels is equivalent to the constant humming of a modern refrigerator, light rain, or quiet whisper. It's hard to imagine such tranquility in the permanent background noise of everyday life. Yet, it's understandable that people long for it. It's also a business - there are silence retreats in wellness hotels and weeks of silence in monasteries.

Some see "silent travel" as a trend, but really, the desire for peace has always been among many travelers. Today, in the digitally-driven era, it may be even more so. Psychologist sees a vacation as "a good framework" And indeed, a quiet environment can be helpful in recovering. "It can be very relieving," says Christina Miro, a psychologist from Lower Saxony's Berne who specializes in the connections between travel and mental health.

Vacation can also be a good framework to test silence, "because you're no longer exposed to daily obligations and physically and mentally distance yourself from everyday life." Gradually approaching tranquility The expert advises against abruptly immersing oneself in days of silence in a remote cottage. Before embarking on a highly regimented silence trip, one should first take small steps: go out to eat alone or take a solo outing and remain silent.

Then, step by step. Not everyone can handle prolonged quietness. "When we speak less, look less at our phones, and generally have less around us, our attention turns to our thoughts and feelings," says Miro. This can be positive, but also burdensome if negative emotions intensify without much chance of distraction. "We should be prepared for this and know how to handle it," advises the psychologist.

No one broke the noise limit In the southern Sweden campaign, ultimately twins and two couples participated for four days in the cabin. No one had to return early due to too much noise, writes Tobias Nydesjö from the tourism organization Visit Skåne, which conceived the idea. However, a few warnings about the noise level had to be issued.

Short videos on Instagram shared participants' experiences. Staying silent can be exhausting, Pea from Britain said. "Without screens, one can also feel lonely." But one can also learn to find a kind of inner peace, reported the woman from Bristol, who went on the vacation experiment with her husband. While the campaign was not meant to be entirely serious, its underlying concern was still there, as the Swedish tourist operators write: they wanted to draw attention to the increasing noise pollution in everyday life and the value of natural rest.

The response was positive, and this autumn, it will go on a second round. The location this time will be a beachhouse on the Baltic Sea. A decibel meter will be part of the equipment, reacting at 45 decibels. Interest in the free stay with a noise limit grew compared to last year, Nydesjö says. Nearly 500 applications were received.