Here’s what you need to know
Planning a 2025 vacation but stuck on where to go? Well, there are some fabulous must-see destinations out there all waiting to be explored, anywhere from scenic medieval cities to cool blue islands. Not packed yet?
Click through this list of the best places to go according to National Geographic, and start organizing your trip.
Deciding where to go on vacation takes quite a bit of preplanning. Besides the travel involved getting to a destination in the first place, it makes sense to undertake a little research beforehand in order to create an itinerary of sorts. After all, you don't want to miss out on any 'must-see' sights, nor those lesser-known places that only seasoned globe-trotters in the know talk about.
Adopting a step-by-step approach works well when organizing a holiday. First, tick off the usual suspects: make sure your passport is valid and whether any visas are required, decide on your destination, and then do your research.
Remember to set your budget. Then choose travel dates. Next and very important, organize travel insurance. Ah, and find out what vaccinations you might need. All set now, but having second thoughts about your 2025 destination choice? No problem: check out the following options!
Bosnia and Herzegovina's historic capital is one of a few major European cities to have a mosque, Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and synagogue within the same neighborhood. Yep, Sarajevo is full of history and very picturesque. And did you know that more than a dozen bridges span the Miljacka River, including the Ottoman-era Latin Bridge?
Exploring Tunisia is to discover some of the finest Roman archaeological ruins in the region. A standout site is Dougga, one of the best-preserved Roman towns in North Africa. Upstaging everything is the ancient theater, which was built in 168 or 169 CE.
Kanazawa is a wonderfully well-preserved castle city that offers visitors a truly authentic taste of traditional Japan. Don't-miss attractions include the colorful and fragrant Kenroku-en, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens, and the fascinating Edo-era samurai district.
Neolithic monuments like the 5,000-year-old Calanais Standing Stones are one reason to visit the remote Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Following the Hebridean Way some 200 miles (321 km) across 10 breathtaking islands is another.
The second-largest city in Ireland, scenic Cork never disappoints. A joy to visit year round, arriving here in September 2025 will be especially rewarding, given it's the month when the city hosts the Sounds from a Safe Harbour, a biennial festival of music, dance, and more.
No less than 30,000 islands and islets make up Sweden's Stockholm Archipelago. A haven for an astonishing variety of seabirds, the destination can be explored in part on foot by following the 168-mile (270-km) Stockholm Archipelago Trail, which traverses 21 of the islands and is served along the way by several delightfully cozy inns.
Bright, bold, and brash, Abu Dhabi is the opulent and ultramodern capital of the United Arab Emirates. And it's about to possess even more pizzazz. In 2025, Saadiyat Island, the city's brand-new cultural playground, will open. Meanwhile, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by celebrated architect Frank Gehry, is already drawing in the crowds.
KwaZulu-Natal is welcoming nature lovers to Babanango Game Reserve, South Africa's big new game park. Once virtually devoid of wildlife after decades of cattle grazing and unrestrained hunting, Babanango is now home to lions, elephants, rare antelope, and equally scarce black rhinos, among other amazing beasts.
The Murray River is Australia's longest waterway and the third-longest navigable river in the world after the Amazon and Nile. The Murray snakes some 1,500 miles (2,414 km) through the nation's heartland. The most rewarding way to discover this meandering natural wonder is by paddle steamer.
The Cerrado is a vast ecoregion of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil, and supports 850 bird species and 12,000 plant species. But despite much of the region falling in protected areas, its conservation status is vulnerable. Industrial agriculture and large-scale cattle ranching has decimated huge swathes of habitat, threatening the fragile ecosystem. Now's definitely the time to visit.
In July 2025, Boise will celebrate the return after a 10-year hiatus of Jaialdi, one of the world's largest celebrations of Basque culture. The capital of Idaho, Boise boasts the highest concentration of Basque people in the United States.
India's remote Suru Valley in the northern Ladakh region is famed for a giant Maitreya rock carving at Karpokhar near Kartse. Maitreya is a bodhisattva who is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in all schools of Buddhism. Recently the mountainous landscape surrounding the valley has attracted climbers and those into bouldering.
Anchored in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, Barbados remains a favorite year-round vacation destination. In 2025, the new Barbados Heritage District will be inaugurated. It's designed to highlight the role the island played in the story of slavery in the Americas.
Visually dramatic and stark in its natural beauty, Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada, is the ancestral home of the Indigenous Haida people. The region comprises some 150 mist-shrouded islands and encompasses Naikoon Provincial Park, famed for its whale and dolphin populations.
Northland in New Zealand is little visited, even by locals. Those in the know, however, head for this remote region for the excellent diving its offers. The Poor Knights Marine Reserve is often the destination of choice. A full ban on fishing in the vicinity has allowed species such as the spotted black groper, mosaic moray, and Lord Howe coralfish to flourish.
Enchanting Brasov remains caught in a medieval time warp. A beautiful city of churches, cathedrals, and watch towers, Brasov serves as the gateway to Romania's historic Transylvania region.
Few place Greenland at the top of their 'must-see' list. And, indeed, it is a difficult destination to reach. But making an effort to visit the world's largest island, much of it set within the Arctic Circle, brings with it a unique visual experience of colossal icebergs and glittering glaciers, and a fascinating introduction to Indigenous Inuit culture.
It's impossible to get bored in the entertainment capital of the world, especially if you're a culture vulture! The city's Crenshaw Boulevard is currently wooing visitors with a landscaped exhibition featuring over 100 commissioned works by black artists. Meanwhile, the engaging Los Angeles County Museum of Art continues to draw crowds.
Italy is blessed with a collection of some 200 Cenobitic monasteries dating back to the Middle Ages. Cenobitic monasticism is a monastic tradition that stresses community life, and the monks who lived in these secluded sanctuaries regularly provided beds for foot-sore travelers. The tradition is still followed today. Visitors can bed down in places such as the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, near Siena, and the clifftop La Verna (pictured), set two hours east of Florence.
The capital of the state of Jalisco, Guadalajara is where to enjoy the music of mariachi, Mexico's traditional soundtrack. Mariachi originated in Jalisco in the 19th century, and has been added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For two weeks every August and September, Guadalajara hosts the foot-tapping, hand-clapping International Mariachi and Charrería Festival.
The Raja Ampa is an archipelago of some 1,500 islands, cays, and shoals set off the coast of Papua province in Indonesia. Resembling scattered emeralds, the islands serves as a marine paradise for some 500 types of corals and more than a thousand species of reef fish. This remote reserve can only be explored by ship.
Bangkok, the dazzling capital of Thailand, is a perennial favorite with travelers. But just outside the city is one of the country's most important monuments: Wat Chaiwatthanaram. This 17th-century Buddhist temple features some impressive stonework, delicately carved masonry that is currently undergoing restoration work.
The southernmost national forest in the continental United States, Ocala is one of Florida's best-kept secrets. A world away from the theme parks, beaches, and golf courses more often associated with the Sunshine State, Ocala is home to manatees, black bears, and rare flora. Its 600 or so lakes are connected by a network of waterways just waiting to be explored by canoe.
Senegal is another hot destination for 2025. The country borders the Atlantic Ocean, so fish is a ubiquitous ingredient in Senegalese cuisine. Dakar, the capital, overflows with seafood restaurants, and the best way to get a taste of what's on offer is to join a street food tour.
If you're craving a walk on the wild side, summiting Acatenango Volcano, nearby Antigua, Guatemala, by foot is rewarded with jaw-dropping views of neighboring Volcán de Fuego, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
One of the most luxurious train journeys operating today, the Eastern & Oriental Express takes passengers from Singapore to Malaysia, conveyed in wood-paneled carriages finished in velvet and silk. An especially appealing itinerary is the "Wild Malaysia" trip. Designed in collaboration with the conservation group Save Wild Tigers, guests visit Taman Negara National Park as part of the journey.
Sources. (National Geographic) (UNESCO)
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LIFESTYLE Destinations
Planning a 2025 vacation but stuck on where to go? Well, there are some fabulous must-see destinations out there all waiting to be explored, anywhere from scenic medieval cities to cool blue islands. Not packed yet?
Click through this list of the best places to go according to National Geographic, and start organizing your trip.