You’ve booked the flights, arranged the hotels, and made a list of your must-see tourist spots. Now, it’s time for the ultimate decision—are you packing your workout gear?

Ah, the age-old dilemma: to work out on vacation or to forgo your training for some extra R&R. Whether you’re city-hopping in Europe or hanging out by a pool, it can be tricky to decide if you want to keep up with your fitness routine or to let it all go for a week or two.

We sat down with two fitness experts to get the lowdown on how taking a break impacts your fitness progress and the benefits of simply chilling out. 
 

Should you workout on vacation?

The short answer? It depends on what your body is craving.

“The most important thing to do is listen to what you need,” says Ariel Swan, co-founder of the Vancouver and Toronto-based pilates studio Jaybird. “Sometimes that means rest and relaxation; sometimes that means movement.”

It’s less about what you think you should be doing and more about what you need. If your travels already involve hiking through mountains or walking for hours across a city, your body simply might not want more exercise. 

“If the goal of your vacation is to come back feeling refreshed, there’s a benefit to engaging in more restorative activities,” agrees Victoria Nigro, the manager of fitness training and performance at Sweat & Tonic in Toronto. 

Stretching or gentle yoga can be a great option to relax your muscles after a long day of adventuring. 

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If you’re in the mood to move, there are certainly benefits to staying active while on vacation. Exercise improves digestion, boosts your energy (hello, endorphins!), keeps you mobile, and counteracts muscle stiffness you might encounter from long flights or road trips. 

That said, taking a break from your regular routine—whether that’s training for a marathon or your daily HIIT class—won’t halt your fitness journey.

“If you’ve been consistent for a long time, you have muscle memory,” says Nigro. “If you take a week off, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost all your progress.” 

On the other hand, if you’re in the middle of building those habits, it’s not a bad idea to keep up with some form of a workout routine. Go for a gentle jog or do a 20-minute virtual pilates class. 

“If you’re a parent on a hectic vacation with kids, getting out and going for a quick walk on the beach by yourself can boost those endorphins,” says Swan. Taking care of yourself in the way you need will make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

The best vacation workouts 

Travelling is also a great time to branch out and try movement-based activities that you wouldn’t typically have access to at home. Think surfing in Hawaii, hiking in Peru, or a new fitness studio you’ve seen on social media.

“Going to different gyms can lead to meeting other like-minded people and getting to know the locals,” says Nigro. “It goes beyond just moving because you also get that social aspect.”

At the end of the day, vacation is the time to indulge in the things that make you feel good.

“Do the things that you love,” says Swan. “If running is what you love, do it. If yoga is what you love, do it. Ultimately, it’s your vacation.”
 

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