While 2025’s calendar will be full of big events and noteworthy openings in alpha cities, Forbes Travel Guide is seeing travelers gravitate to more remote locales and a continued focus on wellness getaways.
These trends reflect a growing desire for unique, enriching travel experiences that prioritize personal well-being and connection with nature. From the tranquil beaches of the Maldives to the vibrant cultural landscape of Bhutan, these destinations offer a diverse range of experiences that go beyond a typical vacation.
Yet, no matter your travel motivation—from Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans to Amsterdam’s 750th birthday—you will find a place to visit on Forbes Travel Guide’s list of the top destinations for 2025. Start planning your next adventure:
Amsterdam
When the Netherlands’ capital reaches its 750th anniversary on October 27, it will kick off a year of parties, festivals, concerts and art exhibits. One of Amsterdam’s largest events is Sail in August, when crowds watch hundreds of ships sail into the city center and partake in maritime-themed activities. Prepare for a big celebration on June 21, when the A10 road that encircles the city will close to traffic to allow for a nine-mile parade with music, dance and theater.
In addition, Rosewood will debut its first hotel in the country in the historic Palace of Justice building along the scenic Prinsengracht (“Prince’s Canal”), and Mandarin Oriental plans to take over the contemporary Four-Star Conservatorium in the Museum Quarter and give it a makeover.
New Orleans
As the city gears up to host February’s Super Bowl LIX, the Superdome (which marks its 50th anniversary in 2025) was updated and Caesars New Orleans (a $435 million renovation transformed the former Harrah’s casino complex and brought a Nobu restaurant and hotel) and a new Four Seasons (a contemporary respite with standout restaurants) opened across the street just a few years ago. Plus, the storied Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter was recently renovated and The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
After the game, stay for the rich food scene. While classics like Commander’s Palace and Antoine’s are enduring favorites, newer additions like Acamaya (Mexican seafood), Dakar NOLA (Senegalese-Creole) and 34 Restaurant and Bar (Emeril Lagasse and his son E.J.’s ode to their Portuguese roots) add even more flavor to one of the country’s best culinary cities.
Bhutan
This South Asian country may be tiny—it’s a little larger than Maryland—but it’s making big strides in wellness and conservation. The tiny kingdom, which sits in the eastern Himalayas, prioritizes gross domestic happiness over gross domestic product as a matter of government policy—it’s the world’s first carbon-negative country, its constitution requires at least 60% of forest cover in the country and it’s building a “mindfulness city.”
So Bhutan is just the place for eco-conscious travelers who want to explore natural mountainous wonders and a vibrant culture. For example, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge opened in 2023 with luxury tents; hiking, biking and whitewater rafting adventures; and excursions to sacred sites such as Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.
Monaco
Monaco may be known for its glamorous casino and exhilarating Grand Prix, but the world’s second-smallest country (after Vatican City) offers other reasons to visit. It’s home to one of the world’s oldest aquariums, an annual jazz festival and a glamorous beach scene. The principality also is a culinary destination with restaurants from legendary chefs, including Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV and Yannick Alléno’s Pavyllon Monte-Carlo. One of the hottest dining spots is newcomer Amazónico, whose rooftop overlooks the casino.
If you do want to catch the prestigious F1 race, try it aboard Explora II—the luxury ship will dock less than 500 feet from the track.
Athens Riviera, Greece
Travel has been booming among the Greek Islands, where crowds flock to both the well- (Santorini and Mykonos) and lesser-known (Naxos and Ios) spots. The next big Greek beach haven lies just 10 miles south of Athens. In its 1950s heyday, the Athens Riviera drew illustrious names like Frank Sinatra and Jackie Onassis to its famed beach clubs and sun-splashed shores.
Today, the area is poised for a resurgence among a new generation as luxurious properties like Five-Star Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (the brand’s first in Greece) and One&Only Aesthesis (complete with bungalows and three pools) have opened there.
Asheville, North Carolina
Hurricane Helene battered North Carolina in September, causing at least $53 billion in damages. It will take years for the state to recover, but tourists can help the efforts.
Most of downtown Asheville is open for business, including shops, restaurants, galleries and art studios. Tourists can also enjoy the mountain town’s bountiful breweries, including Highland Brewing Company and Archetype Brewing. Ashville’s most famous attraction, the 8,000-acre, castle-like Biltmore Estate, and its Four-Star inn are welcoming visitors.
Those who want to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway’s picturesque nature by car, hiking or biking, should note that access has been restored, but double-check what’s open.
Longboat Key, Florida
Unless you are a local, you might not know about this tranquil barrier island off the coast of Sarasota. Here, visitors will discover 12 miles of soft white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and nature preserves. But the secret is out with the opening of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, the only hotel from the brand to debut in the U.S. in 2024 and the largest development on the island in 50 years.
The beachfront hotel features more than a half dozen restaurants, a 20,000-square-foot spa and a 500,000-gallon lagoon for snorkelers with 40 rays and 2,800 local reef fish.
Morocco
As Morocco prepares for the FIFA World Cup in 2030, the North African nation is experiencing a hotel growth spurt.
The opulent Five-Star Royal Mansour Marrakech expanded and added properties in Casablanca and Tamuda Bay in 2024. Other recent openings include The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam and Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr both in the capital city, Park Hyatt Marrakech and The St. Regis La Bahia Blanca Resort, Tamuda Bay. And more luxury properties are coming in 2025: Waldorf Astoria will land in Rabat, and an LXR Hotels & Resorts property will arrive in Casablanca.
Santa Monica, California
This SoCal beach town is enjoying its moment in the sun. Santa Monica may be most known for its pier and Ferris wheel (the world’s first to be powered by solar energy), but as the city reaches its 150th anniversary in 2025, it’s experiencing another renaissance.
The luxurious Regent Santa Monica Beach recently debuted with chef Michael Mina’s Egyptian-Mediterranean restaurant Orla and Guerlain’s first West Coast spa. The new Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection brings chic design from architect Gulla Jónsdóttir and complimentary ceramics classes. And downtown Santa Monica now has its first tasting room, the family-owned AJA Vineyards with a winery along the Malibu Coast.
Sumba, Indonesia
The search for wellness continues to motivate people to travel. According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism grows 16.6% annually. One place to find it is Sumba, an Indonesian island that’s a 50-minute flight from Bali but feels worlds apart with untouched land and no crowds.
NIHI Sumba uses the backdrop of savannahs, limestone hills, rice paddies and jungle for its new Wild Wellness program that connects guests with the surrounding nature. The boutique hotel uses its herd of horses (that famously swims with guests in the ocean) for equine therapy and a Spa Safari that includes a hike to a clifftop bale for indulgent treatments while overlooking the water.
The Maldives
An archipelago with 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives makes for the ultimate faraway dream vacation with overwater villas, crystalline waters and remote locales. It will be easier to make the long trek once Velana International Airport in Malé, the gateway to paradise, completes a much-needed renovation in 2025 that will include a new passenger terminal, runway and seaplane terminal.
The Maldives is another wellness tourism hot spot. Five-Star Joali Being is a leader in transformative getaways with an all-encompassing program that covers everything from meals to sleep. Five-Star Velaa Private Island recently unveiled the Velaa Wellbeing Village, which has a center for ayurvedic, osteopathy and medical services; a Pilates and yoga studio; and a healthy restaurant.
Brisbane, Australia
Australia’s third-largest city checks the boxes for travelers seeking a destination with burgeoning cultural and culinary scenes. But Queensland’s capital also serves as the country’s sports capital, and it will play host to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
While you can catch rugby and cricket games and other sporting events here, the subtropical climate and natural beauty make Brisbane a great place to partake in your own outdoor adventures. See the city skyline while kayaking down the Brisbane River. Hike through D’Aguilar National Park’s rainforest. Or rappel down 20-million-year-old cliffs in Kangaroo Point.
