The World’s Noisiest Cities Could Ruin A Good Night’s Sleep, A New Study Says

A relaxed vacation can suddenly go awry when city noise interrupts a restful sleep. Hong Kong, according to a new study, is the most sleep-disruptive destination, largely because of high noise levels.

The study, done by Australian mattress company Onebed, determined that Hong Kong also had the highest percentage of negative online reviews concerning sleep quality at its four-star hotels. Thirty cities, including five in the United States, were analyzed in the study and were ranked based on average noise levels in decibels, negative reviews about sleep quality in four-star hotels, air quality data, tourist numbers and nightclub operating hours.

Cancun ranks as the second-most sleep disruptive destination because of high noise levels and the city’s extensive nightlife.

Ranking No. 3, Las Vegas is America’s most sleep-disruptive city, according to the study. More than 40 million annual tourists visit Las Vegas — a larger total than any of the top 10 cities on the sleep-disruptive list. Vegas also has high noise levels and nightlife until 4 a.m., the study says.

Other noisy cities rounding out the top 10 are No. 4 Shanghai, China, followed, consecutively, by Istanbul, Turkey; Marrakech, Morocco; Cairo, Egypt; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Paris, France, and Rome, Italy.

Of the other U.S. cities included in the 30-city study, New York ranks No. 13. Los Angeles No. 18, San Francisco No. 25 and Orlando No. 26.

Bali, Indonesia, ranks as the best city among the 30 analyzed to get a good night’s sleep without noise disruption. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Vienna, Austria, are also good bets for a good night’s sleep, according to the study.