Advertisement
2025 Travel
Astrotourism, detours from busy destinations, vacations to cooler places and a keen interest in exercise will be in the picture next year.
By Ceylan Yeğinsu
In 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots likeBarcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.
Reims, France (near Paris) and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of 52 destinations this year) were among the most popular detour destinations that saw a surge in searches on Expedia. European agencies have also noticed an increase in bookings for Montserrat, another 52-seater element, an hour’s drive from Barcelona; Normandy of Paris; and Sintra de Lisboa.
After another year of record-breaking heat, the summer “cool holiday” trend continues to grow, with more travellers upgrading to warm southern European destinations such as Greece and Portugal with milder climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.
“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”
Tromsø, Norway is most sensible destination for viewing the Northern Lights, trending in Booking. com searches.
Rail shipping continues to expand as an option for air travel in Europe, especially among environmentally conscious travelers and those seeking transportation at a slower pace.
Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.
“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.
Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the top European destinations for exercise holidays this year, the organization said.
Ceylan Yeğinsu is a travel journalist for The Times who writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. Learn more about Ceylan Yeğinsu
Advertisement