Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Spots 2025
Lonely Planet has unveiled its highly anticipated Best in Travel 2025 list, highlighting the top destinations, regions, and experiences to explore in the coming year. From bustling cities and pristine beaches to cultural hotspots and adventure destinations, this curated selection inspires travelers seeking unique and unforgettable journeys. Check the destinations below!
Grab your passport and your sunscreen, Lonely Planet has just revealed its 30 must-visit destinations for 2025 as well as a brand-new rundown of top 10 travel trends.
The travel publishing giant’s list is spread over cities, countries and regions, with Bansko in Bulgaria, Osaka in Japan and Edmonton in Canada all making the cut as urban hot spots.
Cameroon, Lithuania and Fiji got nods as country destinations and Chiriqui in Panama and Valais in Switzerland were classed as regions with rizz.
Kazakhstan
For cities, “number one on the list this year is Toulouse, France,” Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s SVP, content and executive editor, tells CNN. It’s “a perfect weekend break destination, a real labyrinth of a city with art galleries, upcycled industrial venues (and) cafes.”
It’s a perfect addition to a travel itinerary around France, says Chambers, and the Indian city of Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) is similarly an ideal add-on, being as it is an easy train journey from the better-known tourist destination of Chennai.
Puducherry is reimagining itself as “a top destination for sand and surf, with an extensive project that’s reclaiming the beaches that eroded into the sea,” says Chambers.
Local flavors and outdoor adventure
The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai weaves into Lonely Planet’s local flavors travel trend. “Whether you’re a seasoned food traveler or just curious and eager to taste, there is a culinary landscape there that is just fresh and new and exciting,” says Chambers.
The country of Vanuatu is not the first name that springs to mind when travelers think of Pacific Islands, but, says Chambers, “for us, that rawness was really key to its appeal.” The archipelago has a National Sustainable Development Plan “that is prioritizing the protection of nature and travelers can dive wrecks and watch lava spew from an active volcano, but also know that there is a huge effort underway there to protect the natural environment for future generations.”
In England, the region of East Anglia is underexplored even by domestic tourists, but Chambers says, it’s a “sampling platter of old England, with villages (and) unexpected art towns, against a coastline that’s studded with beaches and bird reserves.”
Extreme birdwatching – which Lonely Planet defines as vacations entirely planned around observing our feathered friends – is No.4 on the trends list. During the Covid-19 pandemic, people “picked up hobbies like bird watching, like hiking, that continue to this day. And I think we’re seeing it in how and where people travel,” says Chambers.
Paraguay
Regions less visited
In northern Turkey, the seaside cities of Giresun and Ordu are a “gateway to the coast and the mountains” in the lesser visited Black Sea region, says Chambers.
Finally, one of Chambers’ favorite US picks is Low Country and Coastal Georgia. It’s “so picturesque,” she enthuses, “marked by beaches and marshes and old-fashioned towns.” It’s now home to one of the nation’s best African-American museums and its unique food culture “tells a story of not just the region, and the nature and the landscape, but also its history,” says Chambers.
Osaka, Japan
Experience the world’s best destinations with our expert destination management company. Let us curate a bespoke itinerary for the top destinations of 2025. Call us today at 844-446-8687 or, check our Instagram @gotourluxe
Reference: [https://edition.cnn.com/travel/lonely-planets-top-places-to-go-in-2025/index.html]
