23 Oct 2024
London, Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - Today, Lonely Planet, the global travel authority, reveals its top destinations to visit next year with the release of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025. The hotlist of trending destinations, which is also available in a best-selling book, features 30 must-visit destinations from around the globe.
In addition to the print edition, Lonely Planet will unveil a captivating suite of digital and social media content, presented in partnership with new eSIM service Saily. Travelers can stay connected and secure while in destination with Saily, with mobile data coverage in nearly all locations on Lonely Planet's winning list.
For the 15th edition, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025, Lonely Planet experts, contributors from around the world, and publishing partners curated the 30 must-see global destinations across three categories: cities, countries and regions. Each category features 10 destinations, with fresh takes on popular destinations and unearths some lesser-known gems chosen for their topicality, unique experiences, 'wow factor,' and ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and diversity. All destinations offer amazing experiences all-year round and Lonely Planet encourages travellers to seek out ways to ensure the most positive impact on the local community, for example by considering visiting outside of peak season.
Lonely Planet's picks for 2025 include Toulouse, named top city for its fast-expanding art scene and carefree riverside wandering. The Bulgarian mountain city of Bansko, known as one of the best value ski destinations in Europe, has been recognised for its perfectly preserved UNESCO old town and offers a wide variety of cultural experiences all year round.
The West African nation Cameroon tops the country list for its pristine beaches, less crowded national parks, and exciting nightlife in its major cities. The great value and culturally rich Lithuania, where tradition, a love of nature and a spirited counterculture live in harmony has been highlighted thanks to its captivating medieval cities, pine forests, lakes and untouched Baltic sand dune beaches. In addition, the capital Vilnius will be the European Green Capital in 2025, recognised for its approach to sustainable living.
The enigmatic UK region of East Anglia, comprising of the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, has been celebrated for offering a true taste of old England, combined with beautiful nature reserves perfect for birding such as Minsmere and Cley Marshes, lively coastal beach towns and picturesque inland waterways.
VisitBritain/Visit England Chief Executive Patricia Yates said: “It is fantastic to see East Anglia take its place on the global stage as one of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 top regions. And it's no surprise with the area boasting an outstanding coastline, fabulous seaside towns, historic attractions, waterways and breathtaking countryside. This accolade will encourage domestic and international visitors to explore more of the region and discover the warm welcome that awaits them.”
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 - Complete list
Top 10 Best Cities
- Toulouse, France
- Pondicherry, India
- Bansko, Bulgaria
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Genoa, Italy
- Pittsburgh, USA
- Osaka, Japan
- Curitiba, Brazil
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Edmonton, Canada
Top 10 Best Countries
- Cameroon
- Lithuania
- Fiji
- Laos
- Kazakhstan
- Paraguay
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Vanuatu
- Slovakia
- Armenia
Top 10 Regions
- South Carolina's Low Country and Coastal Georgia, USA
- The Terai, Nepal
- Chiriqui, Panama
- Launceston & the Tamar Valley, Australia
- Valais, Switzerland
- Giresun & Ordu, Turkiye
- Bavaria, Germany
- East Anglia, England
- Jordan Trail
- Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge region, Oregon, USA
“Best in Travel 2025 is the latest edition of Lonely Planet's annual love letter to the world. While mindful of our responsibilities and impact as travelers, we're proud of the destinations, journeys and experiences featured here and are excited to share the local expertise and insight at the heart of these recommendations,” said Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet's SVP, Content and Executive Editor. “Wherever you are in the world, we're confident Best in Travel brings fresh inspiration for the year ahead.”
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 hardback book features stunning photography, local advice and essential experiences for each of the destinations on this year's list. To accompany the print edition, travelers can head to Lonely Planet's website and social media channels to explore interactive digital content on each of this year's selections and immersive videos showcasing the beauty of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Genoa, Vanuatu and Armenia.
The book can be purchased from shop.lonelyplanet.com or where all good books are sold. RRP £14.99. For more information on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 visit: lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel
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Media enquires please contact LonelyPlanet@goshpr.co.uk
Notes to Media:
- Tom Hall, Head of Lonely Planet UK is available for interview
- A digital copy of the book, front cover and internal destination images and the Lonely Planet logo are available on request
- Extracts and images are available on request
- Social media: @lonelyplanet #BestinTravel25
ABOUT LONELY PLANET: Lonely Planet has been guiding travel for 50 years with a core belief that travel is for everyone. A trusted voice in travel guidance, Lonely Planet is part of the Red Ventures portfolio, and has been dedicated to providing actionable inspiration for every kind of traveler since 1973, Lonely Planet's mission is to help more people from more backgrounds experience the joy of going places. Over the past 50 years, Lonely Planet has printed over 150 million guidebooks covering 221 countries as well as countless other titles showcasing the wonders of the world for travelers of all types. Lonely Planet reaches millions of travelers each year online and across social channels helping them unlock amazing experiences. Lonely Planet can be found on lonelyplanet.com, mobile, video, social media, and in 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks and more. Join Lonely Planet online at lonelyplanet.com/newsletter as well on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
ABOUT SAILY: Saily is an affordable, user-friendly, and sustainable eSIM service that helps people to manage mobile and internet connections from anywhere in the world. Saily is available in 160+ countries and offers 24/7 instant customer support, flexible plans, and global coverage. Saily was created by the experts behind NordVPN — the advanced security and privacy app. For more information: saily.com.
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP: Lonely Planet has partnered with Saily as its exclusive eSIM service, supporting travelers with greater utility and education as they plan their next trip. Many travelers still choose to connect to public Wi-Fi, which can be a security issue. Through new connectivity content narratives and Saily integrations across Lonely Planet's digital experience, travelers will receive destination information, guidance, and an opportunity to purchase their eSIM in one seamless experience
