Global travel authority Lonely Planet has unveiled its top destinations to visit next year with the release of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025.

Highlighting Lonely Planet's expert predictions for the coming year, this best-selling book and online and social editions feature 30 must-visit destinations from all around the globe and is Lonely Planet's 15th publication of their annual collection.

This year, the guide includes the Top 10 Countries, Top 10 Cities, Top 10 Regions and Top 10 Emerging Travel Trends.

Ranked as #4 in the prestigious Top 10 Regions in the world, Launceston and the Tamar Valley show off the happy marriage of nature and nurture: from the craggy Cataract Gorge and local natural experiences to some of Australia's most impressive wineries, artisanal producers and dining. 

"This region is one of Australia's most blessed with a distinct mix of stunning natural attractions and some of the best wineries and restaurants.  It's title as Australia's second UNSECO City of Gastronomy and inclusion as one of the Top Regions for 2025, are well deserved.  There's a wealth of gastronomic temptations to discover like Stillwater restaurant, Josef Chromy Wines and the famous Harvest outdoor market in Launnie (as locals love to call Launceston).”

“The region also offers travellers an array of amazing outdoor experiences. From mountain biking to skiing, camping and trekking in the famous Ben Lomond National Park.” shares Chris Zeiher, Lonely Planet's Senior Director of Trade Sales and Marketing.

As always Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 unearths some lesser-known gems like Genoa in Italy, Switzerland's Valais region and Lithuania. England's East Anglia,   Pittsburgh in the United States, and Edmonton in Canada offer other fresh takes for travellers.

Joining the list, Australia's' tropical neighbour Vanuatu is ranked as #8 Country to visit in 2025, boasting a wild and rugged 83-island archipelago and deep local culture. Fiji is also celebrated as the #2 Country.

For the coming year, this must-have travel guide also features the top ten emerging travel trends highlighting some notable Australian and NZ inclusions. 

• Top 10 Best Beaches - #1 Whitehaven Beach, Qld and #2 Squeaky Beach, Vic
• Top 10 Places to Relax- #2 The Indian Pacific Railway Journey
• Top 10 Avian Species to Look Out For- #1 the Cassowary, #8 Takahe, NZ
• Top 10 Best Tree Tourism Destinations-#2 Mountain Ash, Australia, #3 Kauri, NZ
• Top 10 Most Spectacular Drag Shows- #7Sydney, Australia
• Top 10 Best Venues-#8 Melbourne Forum, Vic
• Top 10 Best Markets- #8 Farm Gate Market, Hobart
• Top 10 Best Food Experiences -#10 Lamingtons, Australia
• Top 10 Most Underrated National Parks- #10 Great Sandy National Park, Qld

How were the 50 Best in Travel destinations selected? Each year, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel starts with nominations from Lonely Planet's vast community of staff, contributors from around the world, publishing partners and more. This year, our panel of experts curated 30 must-see places across countries, cities and regions - and included ten travel trends we're excited about.  Each inclusion is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences, 'wow' factor and its ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and diversity.

“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.” 

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. Travellers can stay connected and secure while in destination with Saily, with mobile data coverage in nearly all locations on Lonely Planet's winning list.

Best in Travel 2025 is the essential gift-giving for the traveller in your life. $32.99 RRP AU, $34.99 NZ. Contact www.shop.lonelyplanet.com

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 - Complete list

Images and videos can be downloaded for press use here

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Notes to Media:

• Website Link: com/best-in-travel

• Images: Images for all destinations available on request
• Interviews: Melbourne based Chris Zeiher, Senior Director of Global Trade Sales & Marketing Lonely Planet, available for interviews
• Hashtag: #BestinTravel

ABOUT LONELY PLANET

Lonely Planet has been guiding travel for over 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 traveller 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 travellers of all types.

Lonely Planet reaches hundreds of millions of travellers 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 (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet), Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet), TikTok (@lonelyplanet), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/lonelyplanet).

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.