Pack your bags, 2025 is going to be a great year for travel!
19 Best Places to Travel 2025 for Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
Published on Dec. 20, 2024
Thailand
Best for: Set-jetting to the scene of White Lotus III
If you’ve thought of traveling to where your favorite show is filmed, your not alone, Expedia calls this travel inspiration”Set-Jetting,” and reports that two-thirds of travelers say TV and films have influenced their travel choices. The new season of The White Lotus is coming in 2025, and I’ve got the skinny on the newest location of the uber-popular MAX series that focuses on the most beautiful resorts with the very worst guests.
For 2025, we’re whisking away to the White Lotus in Thailand. And rumor has it that the show will have Belinda, from season one of the show, running a spa in the Land of a Thousand Smiles. Although the showrunners are very hush hush about the details, news has leaked that the show will be set partially in Bangkok, Koh Sumui, and Phuket. And I have it on good authority that in addition to the Four Seasons, which has stood in for the White Lotus resorts in the past seasons, at least some of season three was filmed at some of Anantara’s plush Thailand resorts. I’ve stayed at the Anantara Layan Resort in Phuket, and I can say with complete certainty that the new Layan Life wellness spa here will make you feel like the kind of VIP that every White Lotus guest aspires to be (without any of the show’s mayhem).
London
Best for: Gameday getaways
If you’re a sports lover, especially a fan of international competition, then you’ll want to plan a trip to London, which delivers big sports thrills year-round. In fact, planning to travel for a sporting event is a 2025 travel trend Expedia calls “Gameday Getaways,” and we think it’s a great idea. So does the tour company Unforgettable Travel, which says that 20% of their UK bookings include watching a Premier League football (i.e. soccer) game in London. But that’s not all, they’ve also seen an increase in trips to Europe to watch American football games, as the NFL continues expanding its international footprint (keep an eye out for the 2025 schedule). And the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will take place from August 22 to September 27, when the world’s top female rugby teams (including U.S. Olympian Ilona Maher who will be playing for the Bristol Bears in 2025) will converge in England for a thrilling tournament with games in London.
A slew of high-end hotels will be debuting in London in 2025, too, including the luxurious Waldorf Astoria London (a Hilton property) tucked into historic Admiralty Arch with 100 rooms, a spa, and a grand restaurant overlooking Trafalgar Square, and Six Senses (an IHG hotel) will be opening its first UK property in the historic Whiteley building in Bayswater, with 109 rooms, a spa, and a location near Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.
Iceland
Best for: The Phenomena-list
Another top trend for 2025 according to Expedia: traveling to witness a natural phenomenon. Iceland delivers natural spectacle in droves, starting with breathtaking viewing of the Northern Lights, which are predicted to be even easier to spot in 2025 due to increased solar activity. Combine that with the dramatic beauty of geothermal landscapes, including spots like the newly expanded Sky Lagoon where you can soak in thermal waters right in Reykjavik while also spotting the Aurora Borealis, for the perfect cool-cation. Or head out of the city area to explore awe-inspiring glaciers or the waterfalls, cliffs, and steaming geysers of the Golden Circle (I did this on a recent trip, booking my excursions through Play airlines, which makes this trip especially affordable, too.).
Vienna, Austria
Best for: A (very classic) dance party; set-influenced-jetting
If you, like me, have watched Bridgerton and been fascinated by the dance sequences, or have always just wanted to learn to waltz, 2025 is your year to visit Vienna. That’s when the city, known as the “Queen of Music,” will celebrate the “King of the Waltz,” Johann Strauss, on what would have been his 200th birthday (in case you’re keeping track, that brings us back to the early 1800s, when Bridgerton is set.) Even if The Blue Danube doesn’t make you start swaying, you can still visit sites like the House of Music (a “sound museum”) and the newly reopened House of Strauss museum during the new Johann Strauss audio walking tour (available for free from Vienna’s tourism site, Wien.info).
Truly, there’s never been a better time to book a fabulous stay in the city, and the recently opened Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel is the ideal spot to stay. The 19th century building, designed by Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen, feels like you’re spending the night in an actual palace. On a recent stay I sipped gold-flecked cocktails at the swanky Theo’s lounge bar and was delighted by the modern cuisine at Edvard restaurant (do not miss the duck on the tasting menu). And the location can’t be beat; with a coveted location on the Ringstrasse, the city’s leading museums, theaters and coffeehouses all within walking distance.
Egypt
Best for: Cruise fans
The Grand Egyptian Museum (also called the Giza Museum) just opened near the grand Giza Pyramids, and it’s the kind of big deal draw that will make you want to plan a trip to Egypt. One way to easily add the museum, and its Grand Hall with a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, to your travel itinerary is with a Nile cruise, which is rapidly gaining in popularity for cruise aficionados and newbies alike.
If you’re ready for a new kind of cruise, where you float by pyramids and ancient temples, the Nile is going to be the top of your 2025 wish list. It’s definitely at the top of mine. Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic’s new “Expeditions” cruises traverse the Nile aboard the Sun Goddess and include special after-hours access to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. And Viking just launched two new ships for their Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary on the Nile, the Viking Hathor and its sister ship, the Viking Sobek on the Nile River.
Turks & Caicos
Best for: JOMO (the joy of missing out)
Recently, my husband and I headed off on what I called a “do nothing” warm weather vacation on the white sands of Turks & Caicos where Instead of trying to fill our days with activities and social media posts, we enjoyed the low-key luxury of Wymara Resort & Villas. Our days consisted of sitting on the beach, swinging in a hammock and watching the sunset before enjoying peak-season lobster at Indigo and Blue Water Bistro (if you’re planning a 2025 visit, peak crustacean time continues until March 31).
It turns out I’m not alone in wanting this kind of beach relaxation, which is Expedia’s 2025 “JOMO” travel trend, the absolute “joy of missing out,” a stark contrast to the FOMO, or fear of missing out, of years past. Melanie Fish, the company’s spokesperson, said 62% of travelers surveyed said JOMO travel reduces stress and anxiety, and nearly half said it allowed them to better reconnect with loved ones.
Another reason to visit Turks & Caicos in 2025: Starting Feb. 15, American Airlines will offer direct flights from the U.S. to South Caicos Airport (XSC) for the first time, flying from Miami.
Washington, DC
Best for: World Pride
The nation’s capital is gearing up to host visitors from across the globe during WorldPride 2025, taking place from May 23 to June 8. It’s also the 50th anniversary of pride celebrations in Washington, DC, so there’s lots to celebrate! The international festival will include a parade, a music and dance festival, a sport tournament, and a human rights symposium, among other highlights.
Expect DC to be filled with both rainbow flags and great hotel packages, including at Hotel Zena, the official host hotel for WorldPride, and The Dupont Circle Hotel, one of my personal favorites places to stay, which is steps away from dozens of art galleries and within one of Washington’s most vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities. Stop in at the new James Baldwin exhibition focusing on his experience with homophobia and racism at the National Portrait Gallery (through July 2025). Close to Capitol Hill, Alexandria is primed to serve as a welcoming home base for visitors, who can enjoy special experiences including hotel packages from Hotel Heron and Hotel AKA and a signature event at Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Greenland
Best for: Explorers looking for the next big destination
“Greenland is incredibly off the beaten track and feels similar to Iceland and Norway, but without the tourists,” says Tamatha Frederick, a destination specialist with Audley Travel. “Think epic fjords and hiking, as well as isolated communities that are blocked off by ice most of the year.” In this frozen part of the world, It’s best to visit by expedition cruise in order to squeeze by the ice fields, says Frederick, and it’s advisable to plan your visit between June through September for hiking and getting into the communities. (September may even bring some northern lights!)
As for who to sail with, Frederick says, “Quark Expeditions would be my go-to expedition operator as they are one of the best in the business. For the communities, the World UNESCO Heritage Site of Ilulissat, and the amazing hiking opportunities, West Greenland is great for this. I would say a place like this caters to travelers who love the outdoors, birds (not much wildlife except for tons of birds), and want to experience a place that few people go to/ feels like travel did 25 years ago (i.e. no service, no plan, just undiscovered magic).” And if you’re wondering how to get to Greenland to explore on your own, a new international airport just opened there.
Rome
Best for: Culture lovers
Why go in 2025: Italy will be celebrating its Jubilee Year, or Holy Year in the Catholic Church, throughout 2025, and travelers to the ancient city can witness religious celebrations, cultural events, concerts and exhibitions showcasing the history and art of Rome during this special period, in addition to all the usual spectacles the city holds, like the Coliseum (Gladiator II anyone?). The Holy Doors of the four Basilicas of Rome will open starting on Christmas Eve in 2024, and then stay open throughout 2025, an event that won’t happen again for a quarter of a century. According to travel company Trafalgar Tours, Rome may see as many as 20 million Catholic pilgrims visit the city next year (that’s in addition to the millions of usual travelers to Italy), so visiting with a tour company like Trafalgar, which already has its full slate of tours organized and ready to book, can help navigate the busy city.
Orlando
Best for: Theme park fanatics
It’s going to be an “Epic” year for theme park lovers with the opening of Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, an entirely new theme park, in May 2025. This will be Universal’s fourth Orlando park, and it’s going to be, well, epic, with more than 50 new, highly-themed rides and attractions across five themed worlds: Celestial Park; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic; Super Nintendo World; How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk; and Dark Universe. And anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel; the 500-room property will have views of the park and have its own dedicated entrance directly into Epic Universe for hotel guests who have theme park admission.
If you want to stay near the park, but not in it, another new hotel is opening near the Universal entrance: Villatel Orlando Resort. The property will offer a variety of unique accommodation options for groups of all sizes, including villas with nine bedrooms and can fit up to 26 guests! And the accommodations here have special perks like home movie theaters and unique arcade rooms.
Botswana, Africa
Best for: Wildlife wonders
“In the world of African safari,” says, Ali Holman, Scott Dunn’s destination manager for Africa & Wildlife, “privacy and sustainable tourism have become top priorities for travelers…New openings in Botswana have sustained the interest in this beautiful country, known as the ‘Eden of Africa’.” Holman adds, “In Botswana, it is about the phenomenal zebra migration as the beautiful animals traverse from the Okavango Delta to the Makgadikgadi Salt pans in the south, a fabulous alternative to ‘The Great Migration’ further north in Kenya/Tanzania.”
I’ve long been a fan of this peaceful, wildlife-filled corner of Southern Africa, so the opening of Natural Selection’s Mbamba, a new camp debuting in April 2025 on a vast 220,000-acre concession on the northern Okavango Delta, is truly something to applaud, both for its exceptional location and its mid-range price point, making it more accessible to travelers. The safari lodge will have 12 vintage-inspired canvas tents with plush fabrics, mahogany sideboards, and Persian rugs with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas set on raised wooden decks under the shade of leadwood trees (think “Out of Africa,” and then pump it up to 11).
Amsterdam
Best for: The biggest birthday celebration
Amsterdam will be 750 years young in October 2025, and the city will be celebrating all year with nearly 200 festivals, concerts, street parties, regattas, sports tournaments and more. There’s lots to love on the anniversary party scene, and while you’re in Amsterdam, you can also check out the thriving cocktail and evolving food scene, rent a bike to explore Vondeldam Park (the Central Park of Amsterdam) or take a boat tour of the city’s canals (many of which include Dutch food and drinks, too).
It’s easy to reach Amsterdam with new nonstop flights on Delta from Tampa and from Portland, OR, on KLM. Plus, two chic hotels recently opened in the museum district: Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel and The College Hotel Amsterdam, Autograph Collection (a great option to redeem Marriott points), which is in easy walking distance of the Museum Quarter and has the fun Mondi restaurant right on property. Plus, Rosewood Amsterdam will open in 2025 in the former Palace of Justice (since the country has put a stop to new hotel development, these properties may be the last new additions for a while).
Tulum, Mexico
Best for: An all-inclusive getaway
Want a one-click-and-done vacay? Then all-inclusive resorts are your ticket to a stress-free getaway. Cancun and the surrounding areas of the Riviera Maya are popular Mexican resort areas that offer lots of great options, but with the addition of a new international airport in 2024, and new routes on the way, the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport now makes it super easy to visit the lauded beaches and storied Mayan temples of Tulum without the long car ride from Cancun. Plus, there are fabulous, new all-inclusive options here, including the family friendly Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, one of the biggest properties on the coast, which has included kids clubs and a Family Zone pool area, all set right on the white sand beach, and the soon-to-open all-inclusive luxury villas at TROBBU Boutique Collection, nestled in a serene jungle setting, perfect for couples and adults.
Be sure to take a resort break to visit the Jaguar National Park of Tulum, which is slated to open in February. The park will contain protected natural areas such as beaches and forests, plus the Tulum Archaeological Zone and the Tulum National Park and will be home to more than 900 species of flora and fauna, including several endemic species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
San Diego
Why go: For a hotel restaurant renaissance
In early 2025, the iconic Hotel del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark that was established in 1888, will unveil the hotel’s extensive restoration of its iconic red-turreted–roofed Victorian building (if you ever watched the classic movie Some Like it Hot you’ve seen the beloved local institution usually just called “The Del”). Not only is the famed hotel nestled right on the shores of Coronado Beach, one of California’s best spots for sand and surf, but the property is expanding its culinary experiences in 2025 including the addition of famed Nobu restaurant, making it one of Expedia Group’s 2025 travel trend “hotel restaurant renaissance.” According to Expedia, more than a third of travelers say room service from a famous restaurant in the hotel would make them more likely to book, and they feel the same way about restaurant tables reserved for guests. If you’re similarly hungry for a foodie stay, then San Diego’s iconic Hotel del Coronado should go to the top of your “must dine” as well as must stay list for next year.
And if you’re flying to San Diego, a new terminal at San Diego International Airport is scheduled to open in late summer 2025 and will offer 19 gates, a parking plaza, outdoor check-in pavilions among other time-saving perks.
Osaka, Japan
Best for: The World Expo
Just when you thought the desire to visit Japan and see their unique culture couldn’t get any greater, a major international event is set to start in the Land of the Rising Sun that’s sure to draw crowds in 2025. Starting in April, The World Expo 2025, which is held every five years (the last one was in Dubai), will launch on a man-made island in Osaka Harbor and continue for six months, showcasing exhibits from 161 countries and spotlighting innovations and cultural highlights from around Japan. The theme of this Expo is “Designing Future Society for Our Live,” with a focus on sustainability. And I’m already calling it: Myaku-Myaku, the water-like, shapeshifting mascot of the Expo will be the “must have” merch of the year!
Not surprisingly, a number of new hotels are opening their doors in Osaka ahead of the Expo. The Four Seasons is getting lots of buzz for their recent debut that includes traditional ryokan-style (a traditional hot spring resort with tatami mat rooms) accommodations, a large pool and soaking tubs, and modern amenities. The new Doubletree Osaka has a prime location on the waterfront, across from Osaka Castle and the recently opened Hotel Osaka Station, Autograph Collection, provides easy access to trains and transportation.
Nashville
Best for: Live music and country music fans
Hold on to your cowboy hats! The Grand Ole Opry turns 100 in 2025, and if you’re a country music fan, Music City is where you’re going to want to come next year. And honestly, even if you’re not a fan, the Opry puts on the kind of iconic live music show that will entertain you no matter what your usual playlist is, and the special concerts planned for their centennial will be pulling out all the stops.
Speaking of other types of music, Rock Nashville is set to debut in Fall 2025 — a 55-acre Nashville entertainment rehearsal and production campus that will welcome local bands to A-list artists and The Pinnacle is also coming to Nashville Yards as a brand-new concert hall music venue. And new on the Nashville hotel scene, check out the Printing House Hotel Downtown Nashville, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which is an easy walk to the honky tonks of Broadway and the nightlife of Printers Alley.
Hamburg, Germany
Best for: The newest immersive art ready to fill your IG feed
If you’re not familiar with Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, you will be after 2025 when social media feeds will fill with spectacular selfies from major immersive art museums opening there soon. The year starts with Port de Lumieres opening its doors, where floor-to-ceiling projections set to music fill the warehouse-like space (the opening exhibit is Gustav Klimt’s “Gold in Motion”). There’s a special kids section here, too. Then the “Glitter” exhibit rolls out at the Museum of Industry and Technology to add extra bling to visitors’ IG selfies. That’s all a lead up to the big event: The opening of teamlab Borderless at the end of the 2025, which will be the largest digital art museum in Europe (and is sure to have similar buzz, lines and accolades as the incredibly popular teamLab spaces in Tokyo).
Book a stay at The Fontenay, the perfect urban retreat for culture and design lovers, which provides even more IG fodder with stellar views of Lake Alster and Hamburg’s historical skyline. Come summer, the swanky new Conrad Hamburg (the debut of Hilton’s luxury Conrad brand in Germany) moves into the historic Levantehaus building on one of Europe’s most popular shopping streets.
Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Best for: Set-Jetting for Twilight fans
“The Olympic Peninsula is having a moment, and Forks, Washington, is at the center of it all,” says Tripadvisor contributor Laura Begley Bloom. In 2025, Forks will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire Twilight novel—a milestone sure to attract even more attention to one of the wettest places in the United States, says Bloom. (We say, Twilight is one of those teen movies you can love at any age.)
The film’s fans and other visitors will want to explore iconic locations like dramatic La Push Beach and the misty Hoh Rainforest (where it feels like a vampire might be lurking behind every moss-covered tree). Check out tons of movie costumes and props at the Forever Twilight in Forks Collection, a museum dedicated to everything Twilight. Stay at the Miller Tree Inn (nicknamed the “Cullen House”), where the foggy mornings often cast a bluish hue reminiscent of the movies, says Bloom.
A Twilight odyssey is also a great excuse to explore the Olympic Peninsula. The historic Quinault Lake Lodge is a perfect base for rainforest hikes and lounging by its massive stone fireplace. The maritime town of Port Townsend has been transformed into an artsy enclave that attracts weekenders from Seattle. Foodies will also love the exciting culinary scene, from the farm-to-table dining at Port Ludlow Resort to little gems like the Hama Hama Oyster Saloon, where you can sip Washington wines and slurp oysters by a bonfire.
Madagascar
Best for: Eco-friendly adventures
Traveling to Madagascar has long been a bucket list travel destination for me, but getting there has been so complicated that I had put the island, located off the coast of Eastern Africa, where ring-tailed lemurs are endemic off my radar. But, the addition of four new Emirates flights a week will suddenly make the world’s fourth-largest island much more accessible in 2025.
Madagascar is perfect for those who wish to explore the orchid-draped rainforests, watch the unique wildlife—nine tenths of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth—or retreat to the tranquility of the beach, says luxury tour operator Red Savannah. New eco-lodges around the coast have opened, they add, including Masoala, with access to extensive wildlife, and new luxury safari camp, Namoroka Tsingy Camp, set in 135 miles of unspoiled national park with six ecosystems.
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this story on the where to go in 2025, Melissa Klurman tapped her longtime experience as a travel writer and an avid traveler. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Melanie Fish, Expedia Brands (Expedia, Vrbo, Hotels.com) travel expert and spokesperson.
- Tamatha Frederick, destination specialist with Audley
- Unforgettable Travel Company books trips for clients from offices in London, New York, Split, Athens, and Cape Town
- Ali Holman, destination manager for Africa & Wildlife, Scott Dunn’s
- Trafalgar
- Laura Begley Bloom, founder of Begley Bloom Media, a content-strategy agency focused on travel, and an editorial contributor at Tripadvisor.
- Red Savannah
