From Greenland’s northern lights and Chiang Mai’s food festival, to the Kumbh Mela in India, 2025 promises a diverse range of travel experiences
It’s that time again. Travel companies and magazines, websites and tour operators are unveiling their lists of places to visit in the coming year. Some are old favourites with something new to offer, others are appearing for the first time. A few appear in more than one list, which means you’ll need to get there before everyone else does.
Greenland has a shiny new international airport linking the capital, Nuuk, with North America. Previously, direct flights were available only to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Reykjavik, Iceland. The world’s largest and least densely populated island is promoted as a year-round destination. In winter, visitors come to witness the ethereal beauty of the northern lights, while summer sightseers enjoy never-ending days – the sun doesn’t set from May 25 to July 25.
Travel publisher Condé Nast urges adventurous tourists to experience Greenland’s jaw-dropping fjords, formidable glaciers and pristine wilderness. Meanwhile, National Geographic Best of the World 2025 highlights the Danish dependent territory’s new flights (Iqaluit, Canada, and Newark, the United States) and encourages visitors to learn about indigenous Inuit culture. International media brand Travel + Leisure recommends wildlife-watching tours – excursions through Greenland’s iceberg-laden waters provide an opportunity to observe polar bears, whales and walruses at close quarters.
In its Best in Travel 2025 list, publisher Lonely Planet named Chiang Mai as one of its Top Cities, highlighting the importance of food in Thai culture. Each January, the city hosts a gourmet festival, but there are plenty of other activities to keep visitors busy at this time of year. In the first week of February, the city celebrates its annual flower festival, which culminates in a huge floral parade. Then, when you’ve had your fill of temples, trekking and tasty Lanna (northern Thai) cuisine, book an overnight sleeper to Bangkok (“Train-hopping” is top of Lonely Planet’s Travel Trends 2025 category).
National Geographic Magazine includes the Thai capital in its 25 best places in the world to travel to in 2025, describing it as “an intoxicating blend of old and new”. When you’ve finished shopping for silks, boating along the canals and marking Bangkok’s rooftop bars out of 10, fly back to Hong Kong from the Thai capital rather than returning via Chiang Mai.
Both The Sydney Morning Herald (The 18 countries to put on your must-visit list for 2025) and high-end tour operator Insight Vacations give Turkey the nod for next year. Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is brimming with history and mystery. While sightseers could easily spend their entire stay in the scenic Sultanahmet district, marvelling at its magnificent mosques and rich collection of Ottoman and Byzantine architectural landmarks, be sure to stroll across the illustrious Galata Bridge to the medieval Galata Tower, where panoramic vistas of Istanbul await.
Then, journey south to explore the Roman ruins of Ephesus and Troy, as well as the beaches along the Turquoise Coast. Another remarkable attraction is the desert region of Cappadocia, famed for its otherworldly rock formations. The surreal landscapes and breathtaking aerial views are best appreciated from a hot-air balloon.
According to Skyscanner’s 2025 Trending Destinations, Reggio Calabria has seen a 541 per cent increase in searches over the past 12 months. The historic city, birthplace of designer Gianni Versace, is located on the “toe of Italy” and is renowned for Lungomare Falcomatà, a picturesque waterfront promenade. The “most beautiful kilometre in Italy” offers enticing vistas of Sicily across the shimmering Strait of Messina.
Talking of which, luxury travel adviser Ovation Network includes Sicily in its 25 Top Places to Travel in 2025 list. A 20-minute ferry ride from Calabria, the Pearl of the Mediterranean’s eastern coast is a treasure trove of wonders, from the baroque elegance of Catania and the ancient ruins in Syracuse to the Greek Theatre in Taormina, which boasts panoramic views of the temperamental Mount Etna volcano.
In addition to receiving multiple endorsements for 2025, some places are featured in recommendation lists because they’re hosting anniversary celebrations or festivals. Forbes magazine’s 5 Nostalgic Trends Dominating Travel in 2025 suggests getting your kicks on the US’ Route 66 – the Mother Road is in the run-up to its 100th anniversary, in 2026. To fully capture the spirit of the journey, book overnight stays at that icon of mid-century Americana, the roadside motel.
Condé Nast reckons Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is the place to be, especially in April, when the city formerly known as Saigon commemorates 50 years since the end of the Vietnam war and the country’s reunification.
The global media company also thinks we would be mad to miss the Kumbh Mela, which takes place in Prayagraj, India. Regarded as one of the world’s most important religious pilgrimages, the Hindu festival is the largest human gathering in the world, attracting more than 100 million worshippers. The Mela is held every 12 years and the next one begins on January 13.
Another trend for 2025 involves visiting places we might struggle to find on a world map. Ovation Network believes the Faroe Islands are on the cusp of discovery – new flights from Reykjavik with Icelandair make for a tempting two-centre holiday.
