Where to travel in 2025

Are you a fly-and-flopper, an intrepid culture-seeker, a family-fun planner – or a bit of all three? No matter what your holiday style is, it’s time to fill this year’s diary with new adventures, whether you’re discovering far-off lands or taking a fresh look at familiar favourites.
 
As a travel journalist, it’s my job to seek out the hottest getaway trends and the most exciting new flights, trains, trips and destinations. And this is shaping up to be a bumper year: read on for my top tips on where to travel in 2025, and what to see and do on your holiday.

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A quest for the unexpected

Many of Europe’s most popular spots – including Barcelona, Venice and Spain’s Balearic islands – campaigned against over-tourism last summer. So, this year, why not look elsewhere?

In its 2025 travel trends, Holiday Extras recommends the little-known sandy beaches on Albania’s Adriatic Riviera, Bulgaria’s great-value skiing, and an Italian city break exploring Trieste’s Renaissance architecture and café-lined Grand Canal. Elsewhere, in May, Jet2 will launch new flights to Jerez in southern Spain (from Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds): a charming alternative to Seville, with delicious local sherry.

Discover gorgeous Georgia

Marvel in awe at the Caucasus mountains/Credit: Getty Images

In the spirit of exploring lesser-known destinations, Georgia – at the crossroads of Europe and Asia – is an underrated joy. Its Caucasus mountains (pictured) are catnip for hikers, while Kakheti’s vineyards and the Black Sea beaches are glorious from June to September. In March, British Airways will launch direct flights between Heathrow and Tbilisi, though I recommend waiting a few months for balmier weather. Budget-conscious travellers will love the fact that Georgia’s cost of living is lower than most ‘mainstream’ European destinations, too.

Simple summertime joys

This summer will be all about nostalgia, says travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender: a return to the simple pleasures of 1980s and ’90s family getaways. It reckons we’re hankering for the halcyon days of sandcastles, bike rides and phone-free fun – and it’s not wrong! What better excuse to book a multi-generation Eurocamp break, for an active adventure of swimming pools, splash parks, kids’ activities and more? Founded in 1973, it has campsites in 150 destinations across Europe – all packed with good, old-fashioned fun in the sun.

Look out for the Northern Lights

Catch a glimpse of the stunning Northern Lights – if you're lucky!/Credit: Getty Images

Catching the Northern Lights always requires lots of luck, but we’re in the middle of a ‘solar maximum’ – the period of greatest solar activity in an 11-year solar cycle – which will boost your chances in 2025. Take your pick from cruises and escorted tours of Finland, Norway or Sweden, or simply retreat to a light-pollution-free spot like this cosy Icelandic guesthouse. If you’re planning ahead, Travelsphere’s five-day Huskies and Northern Lights tour of Norway will launch next January, featuring husky rides, reindeer sledding and lights-spotting from the top of Mount Storsteinen.

Great-value winter sun

With its long golden beaches, December weather in the mid-20s and top-value holiday packages, Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates is my favourite spot for winter sun. It’s opening several new coastal hotels this year, and the healthy competition – plus plentiful flights to Dubai Airport, a 60-minute transfer away – keeps prices low and standards high. For example, Barrhead Travel offers seven nights at Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island from £1,209pp, including flights, breakfast and transfers. The emirate’s mountains are spectacular, too, so I recommend hiring a car to explore: Holiday Autos has options from £11 per day.

Solo South African safaris

Spot wildlife during a solo safari tour/Credit: Getty Images

No travel buddy? No problem. The rise of solo holidays shows no sign of slowing: in a recent study by Hilton, 34% of respondents said they plan to travel alone this year, with almost a quarter (21%) hoping to make new friends while they’re away. Solo specialist Just You has a great reputation and a huge range of trips, such as its new-for-2025 Royal Morubisi Safari Adventure: ten days of game drives, wildlife cruises and nature walks in a premium South African reserve. You’ll be staying at Royal Morubisi River Lodge, where elephants and giraffes often stroll right up to its viewing deck.

Paris, Berlin – or both?

With a new high-speed rail connection between Paris and Berlin, you can squeeze two cities into your next minibreak while keeping your carbon footprint to a minimum. The direct bullet train service launched in December, and whizzes through northern France, Belgium and Germany in just eight hours, with the option to hop off in Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Strasbourg. In each direction, it arrives in the early evening, just in time for supper. Take your pick from hundreds of hotels in Paris and Berlin at lastminute.com.

A greener way to visit France

Relax and travel in comfort by ferry/Credit: Getty Images

There’s more great news for flight-free holidays: Brittany Ferries will launch two new boats this year, powered by a combination of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and electric propulsion. They’ll feature lower emissions during voyages, and will operate on battery power alone while in port. Saint-Malo, which debuted in February, will sail between Portsmouth and St Malo, while Guillaume de Normandie will serve Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) from April. Look out for their roomier cabins and upgraded pet-friendly facilities, too.

Feasting on foodie hotels

“When choosing hotels, travellers aren’t just booking rooms – they’re booking tables,” says Hotels.com’s 2025 trends report. We have a huge appetite for great hotel restaurants, so who are this year’s foodie stars? In Argentina’s Mendoza region, Hotels.com recommends Susana Balbo Winemaker's House for chimichurri-slathered steaks paired with rich, smoky Malbec, and Italy’s ROMEO Napoli for its Alain Ducasse-designed fine dining. My vote goes to St Helier’s Club Hotel and Spa: it’s home to Jersey’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, which champions local ingredients – from cream-topped milk to Royal Bay oysters and crab.

Canada just got closer

Take a hike to see spectacular scenery/Credit: Getty Images

If Canada’s Rocky Mountains, glacier lakes and gorgeous vineyards are on your wish-list, this is the year to head west. Two major airlines will launch new direct flights between Heathrow and Canada this March: Virgin Atlantic to Toronto and Air Canada to Ottawa. Canada is huge, so expert travel advice pays off: Canadian Sky’s eight-night Best of Eastern Canada tour departs from Toronto to Kingston’s islands, cosmopolitan Montréal and Quebec’s Unesco-listed Old Town. You can also tick Niagara Falls off your bucket list, with an invigorating cruise on the Hornblower – umbrellas at the ready!

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