The 10 best places to travel in 2025

It’s taken a while to get there, but it finally feels like Romania is finally stepping out of the shadow of its tumultuous 20th-century history. It’s one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, its gastronomic and cultural scenes are thriving, and it’s that rare country that truly has it all – from the buzzing arts scene in Cluj-Napoca to awe-inspiring hikes in the Carpathian Mountains, from Black Sea beaches on its eastern coast to the world-class museums of its capital, Bucharest. (Personally, I’m particularly desperate to go after recently watching Robert Eggers’s spine-chilling new adaptation of Nosferatu.)

All of which is to say, there’s never been a better moment to visit – and with the arrival of the Corinthia Bucharest in 2025, there’ll be a dazzling new five-star stay to serve as your launchpad for exploring this most underrated of European countries. Make sure to carve out the time to visit Transylvania too – and not just for those Dracula-worthy medieval castles. There’s a whole world of luxurious (and well-priced) outdoor and wellness-oriented stays to explore, from long-time favourite Bethlen Estates to newcomer Matca, which offers everything from beekeeping lessons to hay bathing rituals. Just don’t ask for a vampire facial. - Liam Hess

Call it the Yellowstone effect – as the buzz around the Montana-set television series hits a fever pitch, interest around Bozeman and its ski area 45 minutes to the south, Big Sky, does too. This year will see the arrival of the five-star One & Only Midnight Basin, set right upon the ski slopes. Meanwhile, local Lone Mountain Ranch – a 1915 homestead turned hotel – just opened a smartly-designed members’ only restaurant, the Auric Room. The city of Bozeman – home to Montana State University – is also fast becoming a culinary powerhouse: in 2024, local eatery Shan received a James Beard Award nomination for best new restaurant, and chef Charley Graham of Little Star Diner was a semi-finalist for best chef in the mountain region of the United States. Lastly, I-Ho Pomeroy, of I-Ho's Korean Grill, was a semi-finalist for best restaurateur.

The only thing better than the restaurants, perhaps, is the nature: the Gallatin River and the Bridger Mountains are all within reach, as is Yellowstone National Park. Great food and the great outdoors? Sign us up. - Elise Taylor

Coming from most corners of the world, traveling to Australia already feels like an adventure in and of itself – even its most popular urban centres are a long-haul flight away from, well, anywhere. So to then head onto the island of Tasmania (which, unless you’re flying from New Zealand, will inevitably involve another domestic connection) may feel ambitious. But intrepid travellers will find this underrated gem more than worth the effort.

There are a number of stunning hotels here – Saffire Freycinet, which has its own Tasmanian Devil sanctuary is a stand-out, as is King Island’s sleek, stylish Kittawa Lodge – but another option is to explore the region and its many islands via boat. (Local company On Board, which recently launched a new sustainably-minded luxury vessel and route, is worth checking out.) Throw in a thriving contemporary art scene – the architect-designed MONA is regularly listed as one of the best museums in the world – and some of the most ambitious and inventive restaurants in all of Australia, and you’ll find this is the kind of destination that checks every box. - LH

Sure, Kyoto isn’t the most original proposition – it’s high up on just about every traveller’s bucket-list of destinations, thanks to its picture-postcard old town streets, dazzling temples, and delicious kaiseki dinners. But thanks to a new wave of five-star stays, there’s never been a better time to explore this urban wonder of the world (even if you do have to head off the beaten path a little while exploring the city to avoid the crowds). The nine-suite, Tadao Ando-designed The Shinmonzen hotel in the heart of the city’s geisha district may have opened during the pandemic, but has already staked its claim as one of the world’s greatest new boutique hotels, while more recent openings from brands like Banyan Tree and Six Senses are melding world-class hospitality with authentic local experiences. The next arrival? The beloved Capella hotel group will be setting up shop in a prime position near the Kenninji temple, with a Kengo Kuma-designed architectural wonder that will include omakase-style dining, an expansive spa, and zen gardens scattered throughout. Expect it to be the city’s buzziest new stay. LH

How do you know a place is about to be an “it” destination? It has drawn the eye of LVMH. The luxury fashion and liquor conglomerate purchased a hotel on Islay, near its Ardbeg Scotch whisky distillery, and is in the process of transforming it into a moody seaside retreat. The 2025 property is designed by Russell Sage Studio – who also did The Fife Arms over in the Cairngorms – and includes guest rooms, a new restaurant, and a statement bar that will serve high-end whisky and then some. ET

The Siwa Oasis – located in Egypt’s northwestern corner, just 50 kilometres from the Libyan border – has long been every intrepid traveller’s best-kept secret, thanks to the natural wonders of its freshwater springs and palm trees, the beauty of its rambling ancient towns, and the presence of cult stays like the Adrére Amellal, where you can live out all your luxe Berber fantasies. But word is quickly spreading, and the impending (if currently only rumoured) arrival of a handful of new luxury boutiques in the next year or two is set to place it on the wider map. Our advice? Get there before the crowds do. LH

The once under-the-radar town of Melides, Portugal, is very much on the radar thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have reportedly bought a home in the idyllic region. (Other residents? Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.) The sleepy, artistic village – 30 minutes from the more sceney Comporta – is known for its laid-back charm. Modern houses are nestled amid its rolling olive groves. Within the small, white-washed town are artisanal shops and a fresh fish market. Then, there’s the unspoiled beach and its crystalline waters – some in the States have even taken to calling the region from Comporta to Melides the “Hamptons of Portugal”. ET

With its fairytale villages, endless swathes of evergreen woodland, and mountain valleys dotted with timber cottages, there are few corners of the world quite as magical as Germany’s Black Forest. Yet the region also has its grown-up side too: most notably in the chi-chi spa town of Baden-Baden, known for its flash casinos, refined restaurants, and boutique luxury shopping. Its crown jewel hotel, the Oetker Collection-owned Brenners Park, is set to enter a new era in 2025 after undergoing a top-to-toe refurbishment, making it the perfect spot for some opulent R&R come the new year. As temperatures in southern Europe’s beachside destinations continue to rise each year – and the interest in higher-altitude summer “coolcations” rises alongside it – expect the Black Forest to garner a new wave of interest. LH

Sure, we might already have cited one Japan spot to visit on this list already, but given the country’s post-pandemic tourism boom, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we’d want to mention it twice. For those willing to head off the beaten track – and seeking to avoid the tourist-thronged streets of Tokyo and Kyoto – there’s no better place to explore than the under-the-radar string of islands that extends down through the South China Sea to Taiwan: the Ryukyu Islands. On the the largest island, Okinawa, you’ll find plenty of resorts offering a slice of paradise with soft white sand beaches to rival the Caribbean and the opportunity to snorkel with whales depending on the time of year you visit. (If you’re looking for a base, the Ritz-Carlton is the place to start.) And in 2025, a Piet Boon-designed Rosewood hotel will open on the small island of Miyakojima, offering everything from blissful spa treatments to calligraphy lessons with a local artist to encounters with sea turtles via their conservation programme. If you’re looking for an alternative tropical escape next year, you know where to go. LH

Patmos, Greece, is difficult to get to – with no airport, one must take an eight-hour ferry from Athens, or fly from Athens to the island of Kos to take a three-hour ferry. But that’s part of the charm: while other Greek islands can feel overcrowded in the summer months, those who journey to Patmos commit to stay awhile. It’s slow tourism at its finest: enjoy a long lunch at one of the many family-owned tavernas, or go out to sea on a Kaiki boat. Dinner at Benetos, with its views of the Aegean Sea, is a must. (And if you feel like sailing on to other Greek islands, Sifnos, which made our list last year, continues to be worth the stop.) ET