10 Best Places To Travel in 2025, According to Our Editors

It’s nearly the end of 2024, which means it’s time to start planning your 2025 travel itinerary in earnest. And while you might not need anyone’s help to put places like Paris or Tokyo on your radar, other cities and countries that are well worth visiting require a bit more thought. Luckily, in the upcoming year, once difficult-to-reach destinations are becoming easier to visit, others are marking the occasion with exciting new attractions, and a select few remain relatively untouristed gems — for now. Here are our picks for the 10 best places to go in 2025.

Greenland

If you think the world’s biggest island is simply too hard to get to, think again. Greenland has three new airports in development, the first of which is set to open soon in the capital of Nuuk. This means that in 2025, direct flights will finally be offered from Greenland to the United States and Europe for the first time. 

United is the first U.S. airline to introduce service, with flights from Newark/New York commencing on June 14. The nonstop flight will take just over four hours, making it a convenient getaway from the East Coast. Despite Greenland’s own tourism website featuring a page called “Why Greenland May Not Be For You,” adventurous travelers will find a lot to love in this autonomous territory of Denmark. There’s epic whale watching, the midnight sun, dog sledding, and a chance to truly get away from it all in an unspoiled natural paradise — complete with spotty cell service.

Marrakech, Morocco

Speaking of first-ever direct flights from the U.S., now’s your chance to fly to Marrakech, Morocco, without an overseas connection. In October, United launched nonstop flights from Newark that will operate three times a week, becoming the first U.S. carrier to serve the North African city. 

One of Morocco’s four imperial cities alongside Fez, Meknes, and Rabat — all of which have been its capital at one point in time — Marrakech (also spelled Marrakesh) is famous for its red walls and historic Medina. Walking through the old city, you can still feel Marrakech’s centuries of history — it’s nearly a millennium old, in fact — as well as its importance to Morocco itself, which derives its name from the Spanish and Portuguese names for Marrakech. 

Kanazawa, Japan

Though there’s certainly no bad time to visit Japan, with its cherry-blossom springs and snow-capped winters, 2025 is an especially good time. The exchange rate has been highly favorable for U.S. travelers as of late, even in the three most popular cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. For something a bit off most tourists’ radars, though, try Kanazawa. (And score a free domestic flight from Japan Airlines while you’re at it.) 

At the top of any itinerary to the city of half a million would have to be Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, which dates back to the 17th century and has nearly 9,000 trees to its name. There’s also a castle that has burned down and been rebuilt several times, an incredible selection of museums, and one of the country’s best day trips: Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Quebec City, Canada

There’s no Canada like French Canada, especially Quebec City. Being there feels like being in Europe — without a transatlantic flight — and it’s about to be even more of an essential stop for foodies when Michelin releases its first-ever guide to Quebec in 2025. 

The city’s ramparts, which surround Old Quebec and were built in 1690, are the only fortified city walls in North America north of Mexico that still stand — part of the reason the area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The city is so lovely in such a distinct way that you won’t want to leave, but it’s still nice to know that the 3-mile wall has many exits for when you do have to head home.

Curaçao

Currency enthusiasts, get thee to Curaçao. Along with neighboring Sint Maarten, the island nation is launching the world’s newest currency, the Caribbean guilder, next year. Tourism has been booming in the Dutch Caribbean this year, with 2025 looking to be even busier — but not so much that you’ll feel crowded. New hotels, colorful architecture in the capital city of Willemstad, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site are just a few of the reasons to visit the small-but-gorgeous island. Another is so you can say you did so before everyone else realized what a singular destination it is.

Seoul, South Korea

While it’s theoretically possible that another city has better fried chicken than Seoul, it seems unlikely — and there’s certainly no better place to eat Korean barbecue. South Korea’s capital is among the world’s premier food cities, with tucked-away restaurants on nearly every block enticing passersby with appetizing scents and flavorful dishes. 

Then, there’s everything else about the city that earns it a spot on our list of best places to go in 2025 — from the youthful nightlife of Hongdae and the glorious views from Bukhansan National Park to the many palaces and even a “Gangnam Style” statue (yes, really). K-pop, Squid Game, Parasite, and other cultural exports have made South Korea more relevant than ever, but Seoul’s appeal feels timeless.

Patagonia, Chile

If you’ve been holding off on visiting this famously beautiful region because it didn’t feature the world’s southernmost hotel, you’re officially out of excuses. Silversea Cruises is building a new 150-room luxury hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, to accommodate guests about to board one of the company’s cruises to Antarctica. 

While that’s certainly a bucket list voyage for many travelers, there are plenty of reasons to stay on land. Chilean Patagonia stretches more than 1,000 miles from north to south and is an absolute haven for outdoors-inclined travelers, with spots like Torres del Paine and the country’s many fjords and glaciers deserving a place at the top of your 2025 travel list.

Tucson, Arizona

You might not think of Arizona’s second-largest city as having a rich food history, but UNESCO, at least, disagrees. The organization named Tucson a City of Gastronomy in recognition of its culinary heritage, which dates back 4,000 years and is based on both Native American and Mexican traditions. No other U.S. city has received that distinction. 

Plus, there’s the fact that Tucson is simply a wonderful place to visit, especially during the cooler winter months. Make sure to stop by the stunning San Xavier del Bac mission, which was founded in 1692, as well as Saguaro National Park, where a 78-foot-tall cactus once grew.

Helsinki, Finland

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country an amazing seven years in a row. Why not visit its capital city in 2025 and find out why? Perhaps it’s the unusually large concentration of heavy metal bands, the ever-serene “Chapel of Silence,” or the adorable (and highly efficient) tram system? Well, that and the health care and education systems, most likely. 

Though former Prime Minister Sanna Marin acknowledged earlier this year that Finns “are not perhaps the most cheerful people in the globe,” they have “a good nation and we have a good society.” Juhana Vartiainen, Helsinki’s mayor, agreed, adding that the Nordic countries are happier in general because they “combine material wealth with a social consciousness.” Perhaps a visit to the city should include a pen and paper to take notes on which aspects of Finnish culture the rest of us should be emulating.

Bhutan

Bhutan has only been open to foreign visitors for 50 years, making the South Asian country, in its own way, one of the world’s most exclusive destinations. And while tourism is still regulated in keeping with its “high value, low volume” philosophy, a trip to the Thunder Dragon Kingdom (its actual nickname) is well worth it — especially since it’s gotten cheaper. The country charges a daily tourism fee that goes toward sustainable development, but it’s been cut in half from $200 USD to $100 USD through 2027.

It’s still a pricey place to visit, but there’s simply no other place like Bhutan, which stands as the only country on the planet with an actual Gross National Happiness index, the only Buddhist monarchy, and the only country contained entirely within the Himalayas. If you’re an eco-minded tourist, you’ll appreciate that Bhutan is the world’s first carbon-negative country, too.