The cream of the crop. Destinations unknown to many travellers. Or tourist attractions worth (re)visiting. Each year, the renowned travel guide publisher Lonely Planet compiles a top 10 list for each category. Together, they form the “Best in Travel 2025”. A reference work and source of inspiration for enthusiasts who want to visit beautiful countries, regions and cities. And who want to experience a unique travel experience that will be etched in their memory forever. These are all destinations that everyone wants to have on their bucket list.
Best in Travel 2025 – Categories
Lonely Planet always looks at three categories for the overviews: countries, regions and cities. The publisher creates a top 10 for each category. Thus, the complete overview for 2025 consists of no less than 30 travel destinations.
Below you’ll find the complete list of Best in Travel 2025. We have already visited and described some destinations ourselves. You can click through directly to the blog about that destination. Many destinations we don’t know yet, or we visited long ago. Therefore, they are certainly on our bucket list for the coming year.
Best in Travel 2025 – Countries
The number 1 country is Cameroon. According to Lonely Planet, the pristine beaches of Kribi and the vibrant cities of Douala and Yaoundé secure this top position. Cameroon celebrates its 65th anniversary of independence in 2025, bringing long-awaited attention to all the best this African country has to offer. The Cameroonian government hopes that tourists will find their way to the country. Entry requirements for international travellers are being relaxed and infrastructure is being improved. The combination of natural beauty, adventurous activities and a distinctive cultural experience makes Cameroon an emerging destination. Especially for travellers looking for an authentic African experience.
This is the full top 10 of Best in Travel 2025 – Countries:
- Cameroon
- Lithuania
- Fiji
- Laos
- Kazakhstan
- Paraguay
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Vanuatu
- Slovakia
- Armenia
Best in Travel 2025 – Regions
The lowlands of the American states of South Carolina and Georgia form Lonely Planet’s top choice among regional destinations. This region is known for its many kilometres of beaches and marshes, and for the interesting cities of Charleston and Savannah. Here you’ll find one of the most vibrant food scenes in the USA.
The full top 10 of Best in Travel 2025 – Regions is:
- The lowlands of the American states of South Carolina and Georgia
- The Terai (lowlands in northern India and southern Nepal)
- Chiriquí in Panama
- Launceston and the Tamar Valley in Tasmania, Australia
- Valais in Switzerland
- Giresun and Ordu in Turkey
- Bavaria in Germany
- East Anglia in eastern England
- Jordan Trail in Jordan
- Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge in the American state of Oregon
Best in Travel 2025 – Cities
The top city on Lonely Planet’s list is the city of Toulouse in France. The “many art galleries in former industrial buildings, the excellent food and the picturesque river and canal banks” are the publisher’s reasons for this place of honour. Plan your visit for the reopening of the Musée des Augustins in 2025, a 14th-century monastery that has been a beacon in Toulouse’s art scene since 1795.
This is the complete list of Best in Travel 2025 – Cities:
- Toulouse in France
- Puducherry in India
- Bansko in Bulgaria
- Chiang Mai in Thailand
- Genoa in Italy
- Pittsburgh in the American state of Pennsylvania
- Osaka in Japan
- Curitiba in Brazil
- Palma de Mallorca on the Spanish island of Mallorca
- Edmonton in Canada
What’s on your bucket list for 2025?
Perhaps there are one or more destinations from this overview that you want to visit yourself in 2025. You can find more information about all the mentioned countries, regions and cities in Lonely Planet’s handy booklet Best in Travel 2025. In addition to practical tips about the highlights, the book offers a lot of background information. Fun to dream away with and an ideal gift for the holiday season!
