What Are The Most Exciting Places to Travel to in 2025?

Are you looking for the best Places To Travel To in 2025 for an unforgettable adventure? SIXT.VN offers expert travel planning services to help you discover the most exciting destinations across the globe, from bustling cities to serene natural landscapes. Whether you’re seeking cultural immersion, adventurous escapades, or tranquil beach getaways, we provide tailored services including airport transfers, hotel bookings, and curated tour packages. Explore new travel destinations with confidence, supported by SIXT.VN’s commitment to convenience and reliability, and create lasting travel memories.

1. Big City Thrills

Experience the vibrant energy and endless possibilities of the world’s most exciting urban centers.

1.1. Detroit

Detroit is making a comeback with new developments breathing life into its neighborhoods. Mayor Mike Duggan says it’s a magical time in Detroit, inviting people to see it for themselves. The Book Tower has a Roost hotel, Basque tapas bar, and high-end restaurants. According to Dan Gilbert, Detroit is growing faster than ever with creativity, talent, innovation, and opportunity. General Motors is investing in Hudson’s, a mixed-use development that will house the automaker’s global HQ and an Edition hotel. Ford has revived Michigan Central campus, turning it into an innovation hub in Corktown.

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1.2. Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China

Travelers are returning to Hong Kong and exploring new cultural attractions, luxury hotels, and infrastructure. The West Kowloon Cultural District features Art Park, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and M+ contemporary gallery. The K11 Musea houses the Rosewood Hong Kong, and the Regent Hong Kong has been newly refurbished. Hong Kong Island will welcome the Hopewell and the Southside by Ovolo in 2025. High-speed trains connect to Shanghai and Beijing. According to Discover Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a modern metropolis known for its beaches and mountain views.

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1.3. Marrakesh

United Airlines has a new nonstop flight between Newark, New Jersey, and Marrakesh. Stefanie Schmudde, a senior vice president at Abercrombie & Kent, says this route will make access much easier. New hotels include a Park Hyatt and a refurbished Four Seasons Resort. Other options include the Oberoi, Rosemary riad, and Nobu Hotel Marrakech Riad. The Selman Marrakech was voted the No. 5 hotel in the world by T+L readers.

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1.4. Portland

Portland has over 250 public parks, the Willamette River, and multiuse trails. According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation, biking has increased by 5 percent since 2022. New attractions include Cascada, Portland’s first underground thermal springs spa and eco-hotel, and a $111 million renovation of the Portland Art Museum. The Portland International Airport has a new, nature-inspired main terminal.

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1.5. Rome

The Jubilee, occurring every 25 years, will be on the Catholic calendar for 2025. Andrea Grisdale, founder of IC Bellagio and a member of T+L’s A-List, says Rome will welcome pilgrims worldwide, especially around major religious sites in the Vatican, including St. Peter’s Basilica. New hotels include the Palazzo Talìa, Romeo Roma, and Casa Monti. Slated to open in 2025 and 2026 are the Corinthia Rome, Mandarin Oriental, Rome, and the Rosewood Rome. La Minerva, part of Orient Express, is expected to reopen in 2025.

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1.6. Sacramento, California

Sacramento International Airport’s $1.3 billion renovation is set to be completed in 2025. According to Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit Sacramento, Sacramento’s transformation as a food destination and music festival mecca has flown somewhat under the radar. Sacramento is home to 15 Michelin-recognized restaurants. The Oakland Athletics will relocate to Sutter Health Park for the 2025–2027 Major League Baseball seasons.

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2. Cultural Immersion

Delve into the rich histories and traditions of these culturally significant destinations.

2.1. Budapest, Hungary

In 2023, the W Budapest opened in the Drechsler Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. New luxury hotels include the Kimpton BEM Budapest and the Dorothea Hotel. According to Gwen Kozlowski, of Exeter International, time and investment have turned Budapest into a very exciting city. Városliget, or City Park, is undergoing a $1 billion restoration.

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2.2. Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Bukhara will host its first-ever Bukhara Biennial in 2025. Artistic director Diana Campbell is the curator. The inaugural show aims to shine a light on Bukhara, whose crafts and folk art traditions have gained recognition on the international stage. According to UNESCO, Bukhara’s crafts and folk art traditions have gained recognition on the international stage.

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2.3. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is T+L readers’ favorite city in the U.S. The International African American Museum opened last summer, and the inaugural Food & Wine Classic in Charleston brought together renowned chefs. The Beemok Hospitality Collection will open The Cooper, the Holy City’s first five-star hotel. According to the Beemok Hospitality Collection, the Charleston Place hotel will unveil its completed renovations in 2025, and the new American Gardens park will make its debut in late 2025.

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2.4. Inverness and the Flow Country, Scotland

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands. According to Chris Taylor, the destination development director for VisitScotland, Inverness is the perfect base from which to explore the stunning Highland scenery, iconic castles, majestic mountains, and unique wildlife. The Flow Country was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in July. The Inverness Castle Experience will transform the city’s prison and courts into a venue for history, music, storytelling, and regional cuisine.

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2.5. Lisbon and the Algarve, Portugal

Lisbon is a city marked by yellow trams, historic neighborhoods, and fado music. According to Sheree M. Mitchell, a T+L A-List advisor and founder of Immersa Global, Lisbon is unlike any other European capital, with an unbelievable amount of soul. New luxury stays include Six Senses Lisbon, Nobu Hotel Lisbon, The Standard, Lisbon, Kimpton Lisbon, and several Hilton properties. The Algarve region is home to some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches and charming towns.

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2.6. Luxor, Egypt

Luxor is famed for its ancient temples, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. A new nonstop EasyJet flight from London will improve access to the city. According to T+L vice president and editor in chief Jacqui Gifford, Luxor is amazing! Recently, two vibey hotels opened: Al Moudira and Beit Sabée. Nour El Nil operates a fleet of chic dahabeahs, including the newest, Poppee.

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2.7. Thailand

Thailand offers white-sand beaches, delicious street food, and ancient temples. New hotels in Bangkok include the Aman Nai Lert Bangkok and The Ritz-Carlton. According to Grant Ekelund, a Thailand specialist at InsideAsia Tours and a member of T+L’s A-List, Kanchanaburi has everything you want: beautiful scenery, cool places to stay, fascinating history. Season three of The White Lotus is set in Thailand and slated for early 2025.

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3. Adventurous Travelers

For those seeking adrenaline-pumping experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

3.1. The Caucasus

The small countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia will get fresh attention. Atlas Obscura and Intrepid have teamed up to create a two-week swing through cities including Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan. According to the Atlas Obscura, you can see these still-emerging destinations without having to tackle all the logistics independently. These trips will open doors to wineries, bakeries, and crafts ateliers, and will also visit historical sites, mosques, and churches such as Gergeti Trinity.

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3.2. Greenland

According to NASA, Greenland is losing about 270 billion tons of ice mass each year. At the same time, cruise arrivals were up 74 percent in 2023 compared with the year prior, and overall numbers were up more than 30 percent. Greenland’s first-of-its-kind international airport is slated to open in late 2024 in Nuuk, the capital.

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3.3. Kumaon, India

Shakti plans to open Shakti Prana, a seven-cabin retreat, in October. According to founder Jamshyd Sethna, you don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy the tranquility of these Himalayan hideaways. The new property will be the latest in a string of mountain lodges from the brand.

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3.4. Madagascar

Madagascar is now on the cusp of transformation. According to Samantha Gordon, Red Savannah’s Africa specialist and a member of the T+L A-List, travelers want to see things their friends have not. New hospitality offerings are popping up.

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3.5. Nicaragua

Nicaragua feels like a well-kept secret among surfers and nature lovers. According to Luke Maish, CEO of Rancho Santana, the Costanera Highway is one of the most significant projects in Central America in recent decades. Airlines have noticed the momentum.

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3.6. The Philippines

These treasures of the Philippines deserve a fresh look from travelers, particularly given the destination’s on-going affordability. According to Tesa Totengco, a member of T+L’s Travel Advisory Board, this archipelago of 7,641 islands has a lot to offer if one is willing to go deeper. A dozen hotels have opened over the past few years in Manila alone.

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3.7. Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort’s massive expansion will add Universal Epic Universe in 2025. According to Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Epic Universe marks a huge transformational moment for Universal Orlando Resort. This will be the exciting culmination of our amazing growth over the past 30-plus years and will transform Universal Orlando into a weeklong vacation destination filled with the most thrilling experiences imaginable. Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, will join the theme park resort’s top-tier Signature Collection of on-property stays.

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4. For The Food and Drinks

Indulge your palate in these culinary hotspots and wine regions around the world.

4.1. Colorado’s Western Slope

Colorado’s Western Slope has a growing reputation for Rieslings and other cool-climate grapes. According to Ray Isle, executive wine editor of Food & Wine, there’s definitely something there. The area is centered around the town of Grand Junction, with upstarts like Carlson Vineyards, The Storm Cellar, and Sauvage Spectrum.

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4.2. Crete, Greece

Crete is poised for its moment in the sun. The new InterContinental Crete opened in the summer of 2024, and JW Marriott will unveil its first Greece property in 2025. According to the JW Marriott, the low-slung contemporary resort will be arranged over 100 coastal acres, with chic, neutral-toned rooms looking out onto private pools, lush gardens, and the Sea of Crete beyond.

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4.3. Osaka, Japan

Osaka is fast becoming a must-visit for anyone heading to Japan. Expo 2025 will run from April through October. The new Four Seasons opened in 2024. Opening in the spring, right next to Osaka Castle, is the first Japan property from luxury hospitality chain Patina Hotels & Resorts.

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4.4. Priorat, Spain

Priorat has gorgeous landscapes, ancient villages, and cutting-edge approaches to vineyard tourism. According to Marco Palermo of Authentic Explorations, Priorat is one of Spain’s hidden gems, but 2025 is the perfect year to discover it before it truly explodes on the travel scene. Wineries including Perinet and Clos de l’Obac are turning out world-class reds.

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4.5. San Antonio, Texas

There’s perhaps no better place to dive in than San Antonio, which has for years been on the cutting edge of culinary innovation. According to CEO Kevin Fink, Our market highlights the difference and value of truly fresh and truly local. San Antonio also has some worthwhile new places to stay, including Kimpton Santo.

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4.6. San Diego

San Diego is getting even more exciting these days, as new openings further bolster San Diego’s global culinary cred. According to Tara Monsod, executive chef of Animae and the first San Diego chef to be a James Beard Award finalist, there’s an undeniable energy here — creativity and passion are coming from all the chefs. New projects are on the way: Travis Swikard plans to open Fleurette in La Jolla next year, while chef Elijah Arizmendi is slated to debut Lucien in 2025.

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4.7. Slovenia

Slovenia has beautiful scenery and a dynamic wine and culinary scene. A luxury travel company will introduce for 2025 some new experiences in Slovenia. Meanwhile, on the restaurant front, Slovenia has impressed the Michelin inspectors, with 63 restaurants earning recognition in 2024.

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4.8. Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico

The vast majority of wine made in Mexico comes from Valle de Guadalupe. According to Peter Hechler, a senior vice president at Banyan Group, Valle de Guadalupe is having a moment, boasting an incredibly diverse array of wineries and a culinary destination in its own league. Banyan Group entered the scene this year with the opening of Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe.

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5. Moments on the Water

Explore stunning coastlines, tranquil lakes, and vibrant marine life in these aquatic paradises.

5.1. Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

These Lake Superior islands are seeing their status as a spiritual and commercial hub for the Ojibwe come toward center stage. The institution is in the midst of a transformation, as artifacts are coming out of their cases and being incorporated into more contemporary exhibits. According to Mike Wiggins Jr., the new director of the Madeline Island Museum, We will seek to partner proactively with Ojibwe tribes, artists, historians, and knowledge keepers to keep Ojibwe worldview perspectives centered in a meaningful way.

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5.2. Barbados

Barbados is the birthplace of rum and Rihanna. According to Kim Clarke, a manager at The Sandpiper, this island promises an unforgettable experience. Barbados is also more accessible than ever, thanks to new daily American Airlines flights from New York and new once-weekly service from Philadelphia.

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5.3. The French Riviera

Some may say that this golden stretch of coast between Nice and St.-Tropez has reached touristic saturation. This year, a clutch of chic hotels has reinvigorated the region, proving that when it comes to the Côte d’Azur, fashion may change, but style endures. Hotêl du Couvent is set in a 17th-century monastery overlooking the city of Nice.

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5.4. Iceland, by cruise ship

Iceland has welcomed more than 2 million international visitors between July 2023 and June 2024. The smart money is on visiting Iceland by ship: on a cruise, passengers can see the rarely visited northern reaches of the island. According to Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, the country’s Minister of Culture and Business Affairs, cruises are very welcome in Iceland.

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5.5. Nova Scotia, Canada

Nova Scotia, one of the country’s Maritime Provinces, is just as deserving of fame. American Airlines has launched daily service from New York’s La Guardia Airport to Halifax, the capital. The 109-room Muir Halifax is an ideal home base. A four-hour drive from Halifax is Cape Breton Island, which T+L readers voted the No. 2 island in Canada.

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5.6. Tasmania, Australia

This island state has long been considered one of Australia’s most rugged. On Board Tasmanian Expedition Cruises launched its route around the state in the spring of 2024. According to Justin Meneguzzi, traveling by boat means you can follow the coast and sample different parts of what makes the island so special.

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5.7. Trieste, Italy

According to Joyce Falcone, the founder of the Italian Concierge, Italians have a saying about Trieste: I have a cousin there. He’s a harbormaster who works at its historically vital port, and his first stop for visiting friends and family is always the iconic Viennese-style Caffè degli Specchi in Piazza Unità d’Italia. Trieste has become an alternative destination for cruise ships, many of which are now barred from docking in the historic parts of Venice.

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