Hans Christian Andersen is one of the world’s greatest writers of plays, novels and poems. He was a prolific traveler, often on adventures throughout Europe and beyond.

His life’s experiences inspired him, so often that he would note details from his surroundings and later wove it into his stories. Yes, the same ones that inspired us as a child and motivated us as adults.

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float. To gain all while you give. To roam the roads of lands remote. To travel is to live,” he said.

The science behind traveling

In a 2014 research by INSEAD associate professor of organizational behavior William Maddux, students who were immersed in different cultures for a study program were found to have “an easier time holding multiple, conflicting viewpoints in mind.”

Simply put, their interactions with other cultures gifted them a breadth of knowledge they didn’t have before.

According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, immersing yourself in a different culture can increase your cognitive flexibility which is a crucial component of intelligence and problem-solving.

For example, when you travel, language acquisition happens. You try to speak a few phrases: Gonghang-eun eoneu jjog-ingayo? (Which way is the airport?), Domo arigato (thank you) or où puis-je acheter une baguette (where can I buy a baguette)?

Travel doesn’t just affect our cognitive intelligence, it also enhances our emotional capacity and social skills. When you travel, you’ll encounter people with different backgrounds, thus you’ll likely adapt to their perspectives and emotions.

Challenges such as navigating the city and figuring out its transportation also affect our problem-solving skills. A research from the University of California, Berkeley states, “The more you practice problem-solving, the better you get at it.”

In addition, a study from the American Psychological Association found that travel significantly reduces stress levels, which, in turn, can improve our brain’s overall wellness.

Does traveling make us smarter? The answer is yes.

Travel does bring a traveler a wide range of benefits. It makes us resourceful. Travel brings change and change makes us even smarter. So, take this as a sign to book that flight.