What do you want to experience in 2025? The world is bursting with possibilities and fresh opportunities for you to explore deeper. You might combine whale spotting and wine tasting in South Africa, connect with the local culture through meaningful Māori experiences in New Zealand, or enjoy some rest and relaxation in milky hot springs on a trip to Japan’s rural north. Here are ten destinations that are particularly calling out to us.
Best vacation destinations in 2025
See a short video on Audley's best vacation destinations for 2025.
Pick your destination:
1. Italy
Jubilee in Rome or opera in Verona?
Though Italy is perennially popular, Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 to be a Jubilee Year and the city of Rome will be unusually busy. If you want to join in the celebrations, make plans as soon as possible.
If you’d rather avoid the crowds, we suggest a trip that includes Verona. The ancient arena there hosts an internationally renowned opera festival each year — while you're there, you can opt for a pre-show backstage tour to soak up the rising tensions before the curtain lifts.
You can also extend your trip with a visit to Puglia and Matera, for a chance to slow the pace.
Our recommended trips to Italy
2. Japan
Rest in the rural north
From Tokyo’s smoky ramen shops to Kyoto’s blossom-lined streets, Japan remains one of our most popular destinations. To stray away from the crowds in 2025, consider Tohoku. This northern area houses many of the best hot springs in the country, including Nyuto Onsen, known for its soothing, opaque waters. You could also include a visit to Matsushima, a bay of 260 pine tree-studded islets (and considered one of the top three views in the country), as part of a broader Japan trip.
Our recommended trips to Japan
3. Thailand
Island escapes & rainforest adventures
The third season of White Lotus will be set in Thailand’s Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in 2025. We expect the palm-shaded island to appear on many more travel lists in the coming months, much like Maui and Sicily did after the first two seasons. If you plan early, you might be able to stay in the hotel’s quiet coconut grove yourself. You could also taste your way through Bangkok’s best eateries or spot monkeys on rainforest walks in Khao Sok National Park.
Our recommended trips to Thailand
4. Peru
A city in the clouds
The mysterious stone-topped terraces of Machu Picchu, framed by the towering peak of Huayna Picchu in the distance, is a view many visitors to Peru aspire to see. To protect this sacred city, there are limited tickets available per day — and there are even fewer private guides who’ll help steer you away from the crowds, so early planning is a must. For a longer trip, you could also include a cruise to the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands.
Our recommended trips to Peru
5. New Zealand
Meaningful Māori experiences
We’ve long known that it’s the authentic, local experiences that really allow you to get to know a place. So, for 2025, our New Zealand specialists are well prepared to help you respectfully integrate Indigenous culture into your travels. You might take a boat trip to Lake Taupo’s intricate rock carvings, visit history-rich Kāpiti Island to look for kiwis in its Māori-protected nature reserve, or go behind the scenes at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum with a Māori guide.
Our recommended trips to New Zealand
- Cultural New Zealand self-drive tour
- New Zealand's South Island self-drive tour
- View all New Zealand tours
6. South Africa
Wine, wildlife & waterfalls
What sets South Africa apart from many other countries in the region is its versatility, from city sights and coastal drives to wine tasting and whale spotting. Your trip here doesn’t have to revolve around safari, if you don’t want it to. In the Cape region, you can hike up Table Mountain, take a private tour of the Winelands with a local expert, and spy penguins and whales off the coast. Plus, the thundering Victoria Falls are an easy flight away.
Our recommended trips to South Africa
7. Morocco
A window into traditional life
We’ve noticed more and more travelers wanting to fully wrap themselves in local culture, and Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains are among our favorite places to do so. Amazigh people have lived here for millennia, so we’ll connect you with a family who’ll welcome you into their home, guide you through their favorite recipes, and share stories over mint tea. For another perspective on traditional life in Morocco, you could visit a nomadic community during a stay in the Erg Chebbi desert.
Our recommended trips to Morocco
8. France
See the newly reopened Notre Dame
France’s capital was polished to a gleam for last summer’s Olympic Games, while Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen in December of 2024, making 2025 a great time to visit Paris. You’ll get to see the grand landmark with creamy-white stone walls, scrubbed clean of centuries of grime, as well as restored stained glass windows and the newly gilded wings of the angel statue that shattered when they fell in the 2019 fire. For a wider look at the country, you might include time in Normandy to visit the storied beaches of World War II.
Our recommended trips to France
9. Ireland
New ways to experience Ireland
From foraging on the Kinsale coast to fly fishing with a ghillie in Connemara, we’ve uncovered a slate of new experiences to let you dig a little deeper on your trip to Ireland.
You might take a guided horseback ride along the Tullan Strand, a stretch of gold-sand beach that’s part of the Wild Atlantic Way in County Donegal. With the Sligo-Leitrim mountains in the background, you’ll have ample time to soak up the beauty of the Irish coastline.
Our recommended trips to Ireland
10. China
Return to the Middle Kingdom
Walking the Great Wall. Sampling dumplings at a Shanghai street market.. Glimpsing giant pandas... We’re thrilled to announce that once again, we’re planning trips to this ancient and complex country. If you’re new to the Middle Kingdom, we can plan a trip that takes in highlights like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Terracotta Warriors. Seasoned China travelers might take inspiration from our more niche suggestions, like a guided cycling tour through Shanghai’s former French Concession.