Last Updated on December 10, 2024
It’s always fun watching the travel predictions and hot destinations being spotlighted for the New Year. I admit that as a lifelong traveler, watching these travel trends only lights my fire and desire for new adventures and new places to explore.
Hot of the heels of its NowNext’24 Report, Omio, representing more than 1,000 transportation providers across trains, buses, flights, ferries, cars and airport transfers used data points from 900 million travelers using both Omio and Rome2Rio, along with industry knowledge to make its 2025 travel trend predictions.
2025 Travel Trends
All Aboard the Night Train
If the night train’s a rocking, do come a knocking. In 2025, savvy travelers will rave about getting to their destination after dark. With the cost of living still high, travelers are finding smarter ways to stretch their money and one of the ways is to travel after dark.
In 2025, off-peak travel will be hotter than Berlin’s Berghain’s guest list. With Instagrammable views, wearing pajamas in public and saving on hotel stays, travelers won’t be sleeping on night trains.
Luxe Locomotion
In 2025, trains are getting a glow-up. Luxury travel is back with new high-end routes launching in England and Italy.
If you’ve read Agatha Christie, you know all about the iconic Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul. Once a nostalgic throwback, glamorous train experiences are making quite a grand return.
In 2025, luxury sleeper trains will launch in England and Italy, with more on the way. High-end train travel is back—just without the murder.
Big Cities, Small Neighborhoods
Travelers still can’t get enough of their favorite capital cities, but in 2025 they’ll expand their horizons and add smaller destinations to their big city adventures.
The NowNext ‘24 Report showed a continued love for these capital cities. However, it predicts that in 2025, travelers will go beyond the typical weekend city break. They’ll come for the capital but stay longer for smaller nearby destinations.
Borderless Journeys
Why visit just one country when another is a train ride away? In 2025, travelers will embrace cross-border routes to get more from their trips.
With more cross-border train routes than ever, including Renfe’s launch of its high-speed connection between Barcelona and Toulouse and Eurostar’s direct Amsterdam to London route, it’s easier than ever for travelers to pop across the border.
The Swinging Seasons
Extreme weather will see travelers shift from visiting Mediterranean destinations in summer to exploring them during the cooler shoulder seasons.
With wildfires, floods and scorching temperatures, 2024 was tough for many Mediterranean countries. As a result of the weather unpredictability, we expect travelers will choose to visit hot destinations in the milder shoulder seasons. During summer, cooler regions like the Nordics will continue to grow in popularity.
Noodle Nation Vacations
Cultural events draw in the crowds, as seen with the Paris Olympics. This trend is set to continue with the Jubilee in Italy and the World Expo in Japan. Both of these pasta/ noodle- loving nations are dream destinations for many.
Trendy Travel Destinations for 2025
- Brighton, UK: Where seaside charm meets a vibrant social scene. Brighton never gets old. Just an hour by train from London, it’s the perfect escape from the big city.
- Tromsø, Norway: Move over, Iceland – Tromsø is now the top spot to see the Northern Lights. A two-hour flight from Oslo brings Aurora lovers to this Arctic gateway.
- Villajoyosa, Spain: Colorful houses, golden beaches and a surprising chocolate heritage make this Costa Brava gem a must-visit. Travelers can reach “La Vila” by bus from Alicante in less than an hour.
- Varenna, Italy: This timeless, storybook village near Lake Como comes into its own in off-peak seasons. Sweeping lake views and historic charm are just an hour’s train away from Milan.
- Nova Gorica, Slovenia: Split twin towns Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy) will unite as Europe’s Capital of Culture 2025, celebrating borderless culture. Get there by train from Venice in two hours.
- Folegandros, Greece: A lesser-known Greek island, Folegandros offers rugged beauty, winding stone paths and dramatic cliffs. A ferry from Athens will get you there in under five hours.
- Tirana, Albania: Once under the radar, Tirana is now a trending hotspot. The capital is the ideal starting point for exploring the Albanian Riviera or the Alps. Fly in from several European cities or take a ferry and flight from Bari, Italy.
- Ahr Valley, Germany: Destroyed by a flash flood in summer 2021, Ahr Valley has not yet fully recovered, but is ready to embrace visitors with open arms again. The region, famous for its Pinot Noir, is easily reachable by regional trains from Cologne.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US: An industrial powerhouse turned cultural hub and thriving tech city, this unexpected urban gem shouldn’t be missed. Get there with a nine-hour train or eight-hour bus ride from New York.
- Santa Barbara, California, US: Dubbed ‘The American Riviera’, expect world-class wineries, laid-back vibes and golden beaches. Reach this coastal paradise in just two and a half hours by train from Los Angeles.
Other 2025 Travel Trends
1. Travel with a Capital C: Remote locations have grown in popularity over the last years, but city escapes are on the up with 60 percent of travelers planning to visit major cities in 2025.
2. Boy Wander: We’ll soon see a surge in solo male voyagers with 30 percent of men compared to 23 percent of women planning a solo trip in 2025.
3. Lost in Translation: Travelers cite language barriers and navigating unfamiliar transport networks as the biggest sources of stress. In 2025, travelers will increasingly lean on technology to navigate the complexities of international travel.
4. Summer Suntrap: Travelers just can’t resist peak summer travel (and for families with children, it is an ideal time to vacation). In 2024, 74 percent of travelers believed that June, July and August were the best times to get away. In 2025, it’s set to be a similar story.
5. The New Travel AI-gents: Travelers are increasingly using AI and social media with 45 percent of travelers getting their travel inspiration from social media in 2024. However, as a travel journalist and frequent wanderluster, I would highly advise travelers to rely on the services of a knowledgeable travel agency or do their homework extensively. As we know, AI and social media aren’t always correct.
6. TLC (Travel Loving Care): Over half of travelers (58 percent) are more likely to travel to places that incentivize sustainable travel and 44 percent say supporting local businesses and restaurants is a key part of their travel plans.
Wherever your travel plans take you, enjoy, immerse and celebrate this big beautiful world we live in.
