Planning on going on a much-needed vacation in 2025, but you’re yet to make up your mind on where to go?
Thanks to Skyscanner, the leading flight search engine on the web, we now know which spots are trending right now.
And I’ll tell you what, it’s all the inspo you needed.
Every year, Skyscanner releases its Travel Trend report, predicting where travelers will be heading for the year to come, and contrary to popular belief, all our tried-and-true destinations like Cancun, Paris, Barcelona, did not make the cut.
It seems going off the beaten path will remain as popular as it has been the last couple of years, as the entire top 5 is dominated by (somewhat) hidden gems yet to be spoiled by mass tourism, including a tourist-free medieval city in Europe, and even a museum-packed U.S. metropolis:
Portsmouth, Dominica
Located in Dominica, (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic), Portsmouth is a small beach town fringed by palm-lined shores and hugged by turquoise waters, where crowd-wary tourists go to escape other resort-packed Caribbean hubs.
Bordered by an expansive coral reef, natural shelters for sea turtles and other marine life, and backed by the Cabrits National Park, just north of town, where nature trails and even 18th-century fortifications built by the British await, it is perfect for soaking up both nature and some culture.
According to Skyscanner, there has been a 186% increase in searches year-on-year, potentially thanks to the island’s improved connectivity: from February 2025, United Airlines will start offering flights from Newark to Douglas-Charles Airport, only an hour from Portsmouth.
Baltimore, USA
The U.S. of A may not a country particularly celebrated for its cultural prowess––a terrible misjudgment on the entire world’s part, if you’re asking us––but a growing number of visitors are starting to come round to the idea that places like Baltimore, Maryland might have something more in store.
Not only is it the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem, it plays host to a Civil War-era warship, a star-shaped fort dating back to the 19th-century, and countless landmark museums, from Edgar Allan Poe House, where the tortured author lived, to the Matisse-dominated Baltimore Museum of Art.
The Inner Harbor is also lined with a National Aquarium and incredible seafood eateries (for the best crab shack in town, swing by Nick’s Fish House); in sum, Baltimore is not your typical cluster of skyscrapers and fast-food chains, and it’s no wonder it’s seen a 217% uptick in searches for 2025.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
The jewel in Cambodia‘s crown––and even the main feature on the country’s flag––Siem Reap is an ancient settlement best known for its affordable spa resorts, vibrant city markets serving street food for under a dollar, and temple-packed archeological site.
As for the latter, Angkor Wat is Siem Reap’s main attraction, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising numerous ornate temples, built in different periods from the 9th to 15th centuries, when the Khmer Empire, one of the most important in Southeast Asia’s History, was at its peak.
It is the main reason why tourists will be flocking to Siem Reap in the year to come, if the 241% increase in flight searches is any indication, so if you’re looking to beat the crowds, we strongly suggest you recommend you book this small-group sunrise tour… for only $15.50!
Tartu, Estonia
The second largest city in the Eastern European nation of Estonia, away from the increasingly-busy Tallinn, Tartu is a medieval treasure dotted with conical towers and church spires that wouldn’t look out of place in an illustrated storybook.
It is particularly popular for History buffs who have had it with Europe’s insane levels of crowding and are looking for a quieter, less-obvious alternative to quench their thirst for culture: you can rest assured that, in Tartu, those winding cobbled streets are not yet overrun by the masses.
But hurry! Its historic 17th-century university, stately Town Hall Square, and eerie-looking, ruined cathedral will not stay hidden for long, judging by the 294% increase in flight searches on Skyscanner for the upcoming year.
Reggio Calabria
An often-overlooked gem of the south of Italy, of the kind Amalfi-bound tourists would bypass altogether as it’s too far south for most, Reggio Calabria borders the bright-blue Mediterranean, offering curious visitors unparalleled views of the Strait of Messina––and the island of Sicily in the distance.
Its Aspromonte is one of Italy’s largest natural parks, serving as a sanctuary for wildlife, including Italy’s native Apennine wolves, whereas the historic center is dominated by manmade wonders, from a Baroque-built cathedral to a medieval Castello Aragonese.
Based on the latest trends observed by Skyscanner, Reggio Calabria is the fastest-growing destination for 2025, surpassing every other Italian, and global hotspot as a whole: it boasts an impressive 541% increase in searches.
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