Ready to relax? We’ve put together a blissful playlist that’s designed to let you truly feel at rest. Whether you’re planning a self-care session or simply need a break after a long week, put on these relaxing songs and let the everyday melt away.
We all know the uplifting power of music when it comes to exercise. Music can also be an excellent aid for relaxation, triggering feel-good calming sensations that can last for hours.
Our relaxation playlist spans a range of genres, from peaceful classical to laidback jazz. We’ve also included a track that is (allegedly) the world’s most relaxing song.
Check out the track list below, or jump straight to the Spotify playlist to hear them all.
Songs on our relaxing playlist
Beautiful Day – Etana
Upbeat yet laidback, with uplifting lyrics.
May It Be – Enya
Ease into relaxation with some haunting loveliness from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.
Romance: Larghetto – Chopin
A dreamy piano concerto to help you drift away.
Nuvole Bianche – Einaudi
This minimalist solo piano piece, meaning ‘white clouds’, is a thing of beauty.
Pink + White – Frank Ocean
Melancholic and melodic, this track is the perfect backdrop to quiet contemplation.
The Well-Tempered Clavier – Bach
Famously tricky to play, this piano piece is effortless to listen to.
Morning Matters – Yazmin Lacey
A jazz-inflected gem with mood-boosting lyrics – can be enjoyed at any time of day.
Kingston – Faye Webster
Indie combines with alternative country to delightfully laidback effect.
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major – Bach
One of the best known pieces of cello music, this takes you away from the everyday.
B Minor Waltz – Bill Evans
Jazz meets classical in this silkily sophisticated piece.
Portrait Gallery – Luke Howard
Feel stress melt away courtesy of this delicately lovely contemporary classic.
thank u, next – Vitamin String Quartet
Who knew an Ariana Grande track could be so relaxing? It is when it gets the Vitamin String Quartet treatment.
Les Nuits – Nightmare on Wax
A ’90s post-club classic that stands the test of time.
Weightless – Marconi Union
This is supposed to be the world’s most relaxing song, apparently reducing anxiety by 65%. Let’s put that to the test.
Clair de Lune – Debussy
Chances are you’ll recognise this bewitching piece as soon it starts playing – it’s a piano favourite for good reason.
Music for Airports – Brian Eno
An ambient masterpiece that’s a massage for the brain.
This Is Not a Love Song – Nouvelle Vague
A bossa nova version of a punk classic? Sounds unlikely, but it’s actually chill-out brilliance.
Starry Starry Night – Lianna La Havas
Sink into this velvety smooth version of the Don McClean classic.
Open Strings – Kaiser Quartett
A typically beautiful composition from this contemporary string quartet.
Sunday Vibes – Medasin & Masego
This upbeat yet ultimately laidback track is the perfect antidote to the Sunday scaries – or at any other time you need a mood boost.
ily – Surf Mesa, Emilee
Recently ranked among Spotify’s most relaxing songs, it’s a relatively pacey track but with pleasingly beachside vibes.
Violin Concerto II – Philip Glass
A modern masterpiece that builds, ebbs and flows like waves.
A Little Rain – Chris Mercer
Simple and soothing, the perfect pick for a cosy day indoors during inclement weather.
Sea of Love – Cat Power
Short but very sweet, this is a mesmeric modern cover of a romantic ’50s classic.
Over Our Heads – Zero 7 & Mozez
Like a lullaby for adults, this combines a gentle beat and a supremely soothing vocal.
Teardrop – Massive Attack
That iconic heartbeat-mimicking beat infuses this trip-hop classic with warmth.
Drowndeep: Hula – Maxwell
Alternative soul at its finest, this is a dreamlike track.
When Our Wings Are Cut, Can We Still Fly? – Kronos Quartet
Bliss out to a backdrop of delicately pretty strings.
Blue in Green – Miles Davis
From arguably the ultimate jazz maestro, a supremely sophisticated way to relax.
Balcony Scene (Rome & Juliet) – Craig Armstrong
Composed for the Baz Luhrmann film, this is an unforgettable marriage between piano and strings.
Arrival of the Birds – Cinematic Orchestra
End your relaxation playlist on a high with a soaring nu-jazz track.
Listen to the relaxing playlist
Our relaxing playlist is the perfect backdrop to a gentle yoga practice – try these yoga poses that reduce stress and improve flexibility.
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