What happens to your brain on holiday (and how to replicate it at home)

From the moment you book a holiday, your brain begins to work differently. Dopamine activates the brain’s pleasure centre, triggering a temporary feeling of enjoyment.

Then, once you land, your brain starts delivering even more feel-good hormones. The sun boosts serotonin, and chatting to strangers and trying to figure out just where you are on a map of a foreign city encourages neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s capacity to adapt and rewire.