Passports at the Ready: Where to Go in 2025

The wonders of our world can inspire a lifetime of travel. There are towns and cities of boundless cultural richness to discover. Breathtakingly wild natural landscapes will rekindle your sense of wonder. We have all of these and more in our 2025 inspiration list. So where can we take you?

Red Sea islands, Saudi Arabia

On Saudi Arabia’s west coast awaits a clutch of pristine and wild islands, their charms completely unknown to most travellers – until now. Here, soft white sands meet shallows of exquisite blue, while the world's second longest coral reef lies just off-shore. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea archipelago opened to tourism for the first time in 2023, with the launch of The St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – whose sleek overwater villas and warm Saudi hospitality combine with glorious beaches, dolphin-spotting and extraordinary stargazing. Direct flights now operate to the Red Sea from Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.

Valais, Switzerland

Switzerland’s Valais has year-round appeal, not least historic, dramatically sited regional capital Sion (Photo: Getty Images)

Even before snow softly cloaks the mountains and skiers start flocking to the slopes, Switzerland’s Valais, the southwesternmost of the country’s 26 cantons (districts), beckons you to explore. Here, ancient irrigation channels known as bisses snake through pine forests between picture-postcard hamlets offering stunning vistas of the surrounding peaks. Climb onto an ebike for a burst of adrenaline or stroll along the network of pathways through vineyards and up into wildflower pastures. During the summer months, cattle graze on the slopes to produce the famed raclette cheese which you’ll feast on in chalet restaurants as you criss-cross the valley between mountain hamlets. Base yourself in regional capital Sion, an historic town with its castle perched on a rocky outcrop on the banks of the Rhone. With its alpine lodge-style lobby and buzzy energy, Moxy Sion perfectly sets the tone for your Valais adventure.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park is the place to try the immersive experience that is the walking safari (Photo: Getty Images)

Zambia is the birthplace of the walking safari – a boots-on-the-ground immersion into the bush that makes giraffes look even taller and lion tracks even more hair-raising – and South Luangwa National Park is the place to try it. Encompassing 9,050 square kilometres of rich woodland, sprawling grasslands and the perennial Luangwa River, the park is home to elusive species like wild dogs, leopards and roan antelope. South Luangwa National Park also serves as a seasonal nesting spot for carmine bee eaters, and hearing their throaty calls as they swoop to and from the river’s steep sandbanks is a treat whether on foot or by vehicle. Located a scenic two- to three-hour drive from South Luangwa National Park, Protea Hotel by Marriott Chipata enjoys a gorgeous setting, surrounded on all sides by a vista of majestic hills, and an inviting outdoor pool.

Cluj, Romania

Cluj-Napoca’s gastronomic credentials alone make Romania's second-largest city well worth a visit (Photo: Getty Images)

It’s Romania’s second-largest city and the country’s glittering tech hub, but Cluj-Napoca’s gastronomic status has flown under the radar until recently. The city’s downtown, in particular, is home to everything from craft coffee shops serving brews you’ll never forget to restaurants specialising in modern Transylvanian cuisine. That means rich, hearty stews, moreish soups with the perfect balance of sour and creamy, and the famous Romanian cabbage rolls, stuffed with cheese and spiced meat, known as sarmale. The city also offers vibrant modern culture, from the hands-on Steampunk Museum to the contemporary art collections of Galeria Quadro and the summer Transilvania International Film Festival. Stay at Courtyard Cluj-Napoca Downtown, with its sleek reimagining of 1970s interior design. It’s the perfect base to discover both this charming city and the storied Transylvania region beyond, home to fairytale castles and the forested Carpathian Mountains.

Constantine, Algeria

Few cities reward a spirit of discovery quite like beguiling Constantine (Photo: Getty Images)

Constantine, the third-largest city in Algeria, is known as the City of Bridges for good reason: structure after structure of varying architectural styles span the enormous river gorge that splits the city in two. You can spend a happy day simply exploring Constantine, crossing the dramatic Sidi M’Cid suspension bridge to reach the beautiful Ahmed Bey Palace, bedecked with stunning North African tilework and murals. You might take a trip to the Roman site of Djemila with its outstanding mosaics and beautiful ruins sprawling down the hillside – especially gorgeous in spring when it’s alive with wildflowers. Nearby you can also visit the remarkable, bright orange limestone travertines of Hammam Debagh for a dip in warm, natural spa waters, or enjoy your pampering closer to home in the relaxing Saray Spa at the Constantine Marriott Hotel.

Santo Antão & São Vicente, Cape Verde

Mountainous Santo Antão is a jewel in the crown of Cape Verde (Photo: Getty Images)

With its vibrant music scene and pastel streetscapes, São Vicente’s bustling port Mindelo has long been a draw for visitors to the Cape Verde archipelago. The island nation’s cultural capital has recently gained even more traction, however, with a brightly revamped art and design museum and a spirit of creative reinvention on display across countless new cafés, restaurants and live venues. A short ferry ride away, on mountainous Santo Antão, staggeringly beautiful peaks and wild coastal paths are dotted with picture-perfect hamlets. However far into the clouds your hike takes you, you'll receive a warm welcome from locals – and perhaps some flash-grilled fish alongside a glass of the rum-like grouge, Cape Verde’s national drink.

Skopje, North Macedonia

Skopje, the sophisticated capital of North Macedonia, sits under the gaze of Mount Vodno (Photo: Getty Images)

Be it a cute bar serving locally produced wines in the trendy Debar Maalo quarter or an artisan bakery filled with tempting Balkan breads and pastries, Skopje adds more reasons to visit with each passing year. Sitting under the gaze of Mount Vodno and divided by the fast-flowing Vardar River, the sophisticated capital of North Macedonia is a city of two halves, which makes for thrillingly diverse exploration. The north bank is home to Skopje’s largest mosque and bustling Old Bazaar, while the south side brims with brutalist buildings, colossal statues and a rich mix of architectural styles. At the centre of it all is the baroque-style Skopje Marriott Hotel, whose historic architecture is another dimension of the city’s heritage to discover.

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve will fire your imagination (Photo: Getty Images)

Botswana’s spectacular Okavango Delta hosts a remarkable array of mammals, reptiles and birds throughout its shifting landscape of seasonal waterways. In the Moremi Game Reserve, the oldest protected area of the Okavango Delta, elephants lumber alongside giraffes, zebras, lechwe and spiral-horned kudu. Lions, too, are plentiful, often found lounging in the shade of a mopane or sausage tree until there’s good reason to stir. Beyond biodiversity and natural beauty, the Moremi Game Reserve is noteworthy as home to its indigenous people, the Batawana, who have safeguarded this land for centuries and still have influence over its use today. It’s here that conservation and community combine to create an unforgettable safari experience.

Aarhus, Denmark

Colourful Aarhus has the knack for making people happy (Photo: Getty Images)

Denmark's second-largest city, Aarhus, is making a strong case for travellers' attention right now. Last year, the beachfront metropolis was named the happiest city in the world. Locals say the city's size is the secret: it's possible to be on the beach, in a forest, and then sipping a cocktail in a waterfront bar within a half hour's cycle. This compactness means Aarhusians and visitors alike have plenty of time for enjoyment, for which opportunities are plentiful. You might swim in the world's largest harbour baths, grab a drink in the hip Latin Quarter, go up a new observation tower or mooch around the Gender Museum, a symbol of the city's progressive values – no wonder Aarhus gets called the City of Smiles.

Murcia, Spain

Murcia's peach blossoms have to be seen to be believed (Photo: Getty Images)

Founded in 825 AD in southeast Spain, Murcia is celebrating its 1200th birthday in 2025 with a year of events and exhibitions. To mark the big occasion, the city has carefully restored the intricate facade of its 13th-century cathedral, while the new interactive Madina Muriya Centre will bring to life the stories of the medieval fortifications that once protected this important metropolis. Add in a fantastic food culture, from seafood stews to spiced Arabic puff pastries, and smoky monastrell wines from surrounding vineyards – not to mention the stunning annual display of peach blossoms that adorns the surrounding countryside – and you have a truly in-the-know city break in prospect. You won’t go wrong by booking AC Hotel Murcia, near the city centre, with its serene outdoor pool and local cuisine at the AC Lounge.

Dijon, France

Burgundy capital Dijon is an engaging mix of the ancient and modern (Photo: Getty Images)

Dijon, the lively capital of Burgundy, is a delightful mix of medieval half-timbered architecture, elegant palaces and quite exceptional restaurants – and since being named one of France’s four ‘cities of gastronomy’, it has become even more appetising. The striking new Cité de la Gastronomie et du Vin complex explores all aspects of French dining culture, while the Vallée de la Gastronomie, a self-guided route from Dijon to the Med, champions local producers. Plans to create a Côtes de Dijon wine label promise further indulgence. Vertigo Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels™, and Aloft Dijon, within the historic Hôtel des Postes, make smart bases for gastronomic discovery.

Published: December 03, 2024

Last Updated: February 07, 2025