Time Out editors on where you should travel this year

Best for: starry skies and summer coolcations

With the sun reaching its solar maximum in 2025, offering a ‘once-in-a-decade’ chance to see the Northern Lights, it’s going to be a massive year for ‘noctourism’ – aka travelling in search of starry nighttime skies and after-dark experiences. The polar nights in Northern Norway make for prime conditions for seeing the aurora borealis, and come summer, this wild, beautiful region makes for the perfect coolcation to escape the blazing heat of southern Europe. If you’re after a city break, Tromsø – the world’s northernmost city – is an unexpected cultural hub. Or you could pop down to Oslo: Norway’s capital made our list of Europe’s best cities to visit this year thanks to its sauna boats, ambitious exhibitions and pioneering Nordic cuisine.

Best for: the ultimate outdoorsy summer holiday 

We get it: you’ve done the city breaks ten times over, and you’re now in the market for a proper summer holiday, with all the frills. Enter Cape Town, a city we will not stop shouting about until everyone hears us. This is your blow-out destination: endless sunbathing, hidden tidal pools, hikes to Table Mountain and armies of waddling penguins at your feet on Boulders Beach. But in recent years, Cape Town has taken on a new name as a proper foodie destination worth travelling for. We opened a Time Out Market there in 2023, serving up the best of the city’s food and drink on the V&A waterfront. And, of course, there’s the fantastic local wine. This year, there’s even a brand-new wine safari through the Durbanville Wine Valley, stopping at the best vineyards in the business. There’s never been a better time to visit Cape Town than now. Don’t believe us? We’ve just named it the best city in the entire world for 2025. And we mean it!

Best for: stellar food and stunning cycling routes

Catalonia has been named the World Gastronomy Region for 2025, the first region in Europe to be awarded this title, recognising its innovative and regenerative tourism model and gastronomic revolution. We’re big fans of Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital, but if you’ve already been or just fancy a smaller city, Girona punches well above its weight. It’s known for its medieval architecture (the city was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones) and fantastic restaurants (El Cellar de Can Roca has twice been named the best restaurant in the world, but if your budget doesn’t stretch to a three Michelin star dining experience, the team behind it have recently opened Vii, a wine and tapas bar). Plus, the region is a cycling hotspot – a major 2025 travel trend – with routes taking you through medieval villages and along the stunning Costa Brava, with its sandy beaches tucked between craggy outcrops.

Best for: unbeatable surf and a growing food scene

This teardrop-shaped island in the Philippines has always been on the surfing community’s radar thanks to the spectacular surf breaks at Cloud 9. Now, with increased flights from Manila and Cebu, it’s high time for you to get your own taste of this surfing capital’s unspoiled charm. When you’re not riding the baby breaks at Jacking Horse, hop on a tuk-tuk or rent a scooter to scope out waterfalls, rock pools and Siargao’s pristine northern beaches. Some development has touched the island, but that’s not always a bad thing. There are skateboarding classes led by local youth at Cloud 9 Skatepark, Siargao’s first free skatepark, and fantastic new restaurants on Tourism Road, offering vegan Filipino eats, Spanish fusion fare, and delicious wine and tapas.

Check out more places to visit in Asia in 2025.

Best for: brand-new cultural festivals and scenic luxury train routes

Got the itch to visit a brand-new destination? So do 48 percent of us, according to ABTA. Underrated Uzbekistan, recently crowned this year’s most desirable emerging destination, is a great place to start. The country is launching the brand-new Bukhara Biennial from September to November, its first-ever major event of this kind, which is free to attend. Works from the likes of British sculptor Antony Gormley and Egyptian-American culinary artist Laila Gohar will be showcased among Bukkara’s historical buildings and traditional Islamic architecture. Exploring the Silk Road region has become a whole lot easier recently, with the launch of two regional airlines, Silk Avia and Air Samarkand – or opt for a romantic rail journey on board the Silk Road railway tour.

Best for: medieval cities and epic hikes 

From the 128 years since Dracula was first published to this year’s release of Nosferatu, Transylvania’s gothic character continues to enchant artists, writers and travellers alike – and for good reason. Brașov, one of the many medieval towns within the Romanian region, is packed with old-world charm and surrounded by the towering Carpathian Mountains. And in 2025, it’s easier than ever to enjoy those sweet, sweet mountain views. For hikers and bikers, the 1,400km volunteer-run Via Transilvanica trail is a new journey that weaves together 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Throw in grand castles, hidden haunts and medieval spires stretching out for miles, and you have every reason to visit one of Europe’s most magical regions.

Best for: an unsung Amsterdam alternative

Swerving the obvious destinations and visiting lesser-known alternatives is a big trend in travel at the moment – and can honestly make for a much more soulful, less crowded break. So why not skip that Amsterdam trip you were planning, and divert instead to Antwerp? Belgium’s second city, right on the Dutch border, is an underrated fashion and culture destination with a centuries-long history as one of Europe’s most important ports. Although a relatively small city, it punches well above its weight when it comes to restaurants and art. And with its offbeat cafés, historic bakeries and strong cycling culture, it’s a worthy dupe for the ’Dam – minus the cannabis and canals.

Best for: a mountain escape just outside the Big Apple

This mountainous region two hours north of New York City has been slower to develop as a vacation hotspot than the picturesque (and overrun) towns along the nearby Hudson River. That’s all changed with a wave of stunning new resorts including Hotel Lilien and The Henson joining establishment destinations like Scribner’s, Deer Mountain Inn and Eastwind. The elevated offerings, along with a completely overhauled food and beverage program at Windham Mountain Club, mean there’s never been a better time to explore this iconic American landscape. The breathtaking waterfalls, mountains and gorges have inspired painters and artists for generations, from the first truly American art movement, The Hudson River School, to Washington Irving’s classic Rip Van Winkle. Now, you draw inspiration of your own from such iconic sights as Kaaterskill Falls and the old Catskill Mountain House (one of the most stunning views in the Eastern US) – while also knowing you’re never more than 20 minutes from a solid craft cocktail.

Best for: an underrated, culture-packed UK city break

Love all things art, history and nature? You’ll adore Stoke-on-Trent. Surrounded by some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes (the Peak District and Manifold Valley, to name just two), this West Midlands city is quietly one of the most culture-packed pockets of the UK. I’ve got family from Stoke and I’ve been coming here for years, and I’m always amazed it doesn’t get more visitors. Awarded Global Craft City status in 2024, Stoke is so renowned for ceramics it’s nicknamed the Potteries, crammed full of museums, workshops, outlet shops and gorgeous red-brick industrial architecture. In 2025 Stoke will celebrate 100 years of city status, and with a schedule of celebrations to boot, there’ll be no better time to visit. 

Best for: the ultimate set-jetting trip

Despite being famously easily spooked ​by horror films, I stared Wolf Man​​ right i​n its hairy face without so much as twitching. But while the latest Universal Monster movie​ is short on big frights, i​t’s a pretty great enticement to visit New Zealand's North Island. The film i​s set in the wilds of Oregon, where its young family are tormented by a savage man-beast, ​but filmed a few dozen miles from the NZ city of Wellington, in the crisp pine forests and panoramic river valleys near Mangaroa​. And as Lord of the Rings fans will tell you, this was also Rivendell in Peter Jackson's epic fantasy trilogy – the perfect set-jetting destination for a big film nerd like me, in other words. Now I just need to find a zillion air miles, and some werewolf repellent.

Best for: a new tropical experience in a familiar place

A slew of new daily and direct flights to Barbados have launched from various airports throughout North America, so there’s no better time to explore this beautiful West Indian nation. You can drive around the entire island in just 3 hours, but make sure to slow down and take it all in (you’re on island time, after all). My top tip? Give the east coast a try. A stark contrast to the soft breezes, still waters and luxury resorts of the Caribbean side, the eastern edge of Barbados is shaped by Atlantic winds and rocky shores. Here, you’ll find legendary dramatic surf in Bathsheba and some of the island’s bucket-list restaurants.

Best for: a Cancún dupe without the Cancún crowds

Once Mexico’s first-ever tourist hotspot and a playground for the jet set back in the ’50s and ’60s, Acapulco is making a serious comeback. Think grand hotels (like those from Mundo Imperial, a key player in rebuilding after Hurricane John hit in October 2024) and hidden gems that are finally getting their moment in the spotlight. We’re talking about the jaw-dropping cliff divers of La Quebrada, the lush Tres Palos Lagoon (a haven for birdwatching, kite surfing, and jet skiing), and the beach town of Zihuatanejo – the very same one from The Shawshank Redemption.