The puffer jackets have come out to play, which means winter in Australia is well and truly here. Even though we’ve still got a week before the frosty season officially kicks off, many Aussies are already dreaming of warmer climates where ten degrees feels like a long-lost friend. So, where are Aussies fleeing to this winter? Expedia has just released its 2025 Winter Travel Outlook, revealing the top ten trending international hotspots – and we’re already searching for the cheapest flights before you beat us to it.
Malta has long lived in the shadows of Italy and Greece, but this dreamy European island nation has seen the biggest spike in popularity among Aussie travellers since last winter – with searches on Expedia increasing by 80 per cent. Plonked in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, this ancient archipelago is one of the sunniest places in Europe, boasting around 300 days of rays each year. From sunbathing to sea diving, there is a plethora of top-tier beaches where you can soak it all up, along with history-packed temples for when you need to cool down.
Next up on the list was Milos in Greece, which has seen a 70 per cent spike in searches from Aussie travellers for winter. This Aegean jewel is an island-hopper’s paradise, sitting pretty among Greece’s 6,000-odd islands. Just a ferry or flight away, Athens also earned a spot on the list, coming in as the seventh most trending winter destination with a 40 per cent increase in searches.
Australia’s obsession with Japan is only growing stronger, with Osaka ranking fourth (up 55 per cent) and Tokyo ranking eighth (up 35 per cent). You can score cheap flights to both cities (look out for Jetstar sales), and if you go, be sure to eat your way through Time Out Market Osaka – our first-ever food market in Asia.
Other Asian cities to crack the list include Seoul in third place, Vietnam’s Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in fifth and ninth, and Bangkok in tenth. Check out the full list below, then meet us by the pool for a Mekhong Mule!
Here are the 10 trending international winter destinations for Australians:
- Malta
- Milos, Greece
- Seoul, South Korea
- Osaka, Japan
- Da Nang, Vietnam
- Nice, France
- Athens, Greece
- Tokyo, Japan
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Bangkok, Thailand