The travel experts at Lonely Planet have unveiled a wanderlust-inducing list of the 30 best places to visit in 2025, with East Anglia in England, the city of Pittsburgh in the USA, and Cameroon all making the cut.
The destinations are honoured in Lonely Planet’s newly released Best In Travel 2025 book, which crowns the top ten countries, regions and cities to visit next year.
The rankings have been curated by ‘Lonely Planet experts, contributors from around the world and publishing partners’, with the guide adding that the destinations have been chosen ‘for their topicality, unique experiences, wow factor and ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and diversity’.
Cameroon tops the country ranking, with Lithuania in second place and Fiji snatching the bronze medal.
Pittsburgh comes sixth in the city ranking, which is topped by Toulouse in France. East Anglia has been declared the eighth-best region in the world.
THE BEST COUNTRIES
Cameroon (above) tops the country list ‘for its pristine beaches and less crowded national parks’
Third-place Fiji ‘unfolds across over 330 palm-fringed islands, each a symphony of turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs and pearl-hued beaches’. Above is Mala Mala island in the archipelago
Lonely Planet says that the West African nation of Cameroon tops the country list ‘for its pristine beaches, less crowded national parks, and exciting nightlife in its major cities’.
The guide applauds second-place Lithuania’s ‘captivating medieval cities, pine forests, lakes and untouched Baltic sand-dune beaches’ and describes how third-place Fiji ‘unfolds across over 330 palm-fringed islands, each a symphony of turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs and pearl-hued beaches’.
In fourth is Laos, home to ‘verdant landscapes, untouched mountains and beautiful ancient towns’ linked by a new 643-mile (1,035km) high-speed rail line that ends in Yunnan in Southern China.
The rest of the top ten comprises Kazakhstan (fifth); Paraguay (sixth); Trinidad & Tobago (seventh); Vanuatu (eighth); Slovakia (ninth); and Armenia (10th).
THE BEST CITIES
Toulouse is named top city for its ‘fast-expanding art scene and carefree riverside wandering’
In second place is Puducherry in India, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, which is ‘reimagining itself as a top destination for lovers of sand and surf’
In the cities ranking, sixth-place Pittsburgh is lauded for a trendy food and drink scene and affordability
Toulouse is named top city for its ‘fast-expanding art scene and carefree riverside wandering’. In second place is Puducherry in India, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, which is ‘reimagining itself as a top destination for lovers of sand and surf’.
The Bulgarian mountain city of Bansko (third), meanwhile, 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’.
In fourth and fifth are Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Genoa, Italy, while sixth-place Pittsburgh is lauded for a trendy food and drink scene and affordability. Where to go there? Head to Kennywood amusement park and its century-old wooden roller coasters and the ‘boisterous’ Strip District – ‘an abundant mix of personalities and commerce’ that draws a ‘buoyant crowd’.
The rest of the top 10 comprises Osaka, Japan (seventh); Curitiba, Brazil (eighth); Palma de Mallorca, Spain (ninth); and Edmonton, Canada (10th).
THE BEST REGIONS
South Carolina (above), top of the regions ranking, offers places that are ‘seemingly unchanged by the passage of time’
In second place is The Terai in Nepal, a ‘ribbon of forests, grasslands and wetlands’ that’s a ‘biodiversity hotspot’
Lonely Planet describes eighth-place East Anglia (above) as an ‘enigmatic’ region that offers ‘a true taste of old England’
Launceston & the Tamar Valley in Tasmania comes fourth in the regions ranking
South Carolina’s Low Country and Coastal Georgia snares the gold medal in the regions ranking, with Lonely Planet declaring that on a road trip through the area ‘you’ll encounter golden beaches, windswept marshes and old-fashioned towns seemingly unchanged by the passage of time’.
In second place is The Terai in Nepal, a ‘ribbon of forests, grasslands and wetlands’ that’s a ‘biodiversity hotspot’.
In third place on the regions podium is Chiriqui, Panama, followed by Launceston & the Tamar Valley in Tasmania, Australia (fourth); Valais, Switzerland (fifth); Giresun & Ordu, Turkey (sixth); and Bavaria, Germany (seventh).
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 is out now
Why does East Anglia come eighth? Lonely Planet describes it as an ‘enigmatic’ region that offers ‘a true taste of old England, combined with 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.’
The rest of the regions list is rounded out by Jordan Trail (ninth) and Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge region, Oregon (10th).
Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s SVP, Content and Executive Editor, said: ‘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 travellers, 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.
‘Wherever you are in the world, we’re confident Best in Travel brings fresh inspiration for the year ahead.’
The book (RRP £14.99) can be purchased from shop.lonelyplanet.com or ‘where all good books are sold’. For more information on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 visit: lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel.
In addition to the print edition, Lonely Planet is unveiling ‘a captivating suite of digital and social media content, presented in partnership with new eSIM service Saily’. The guide adds: ‘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.’
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