Destinations that will set the trend in 2025: classics with powerful agendas, the little-known ones and the most convenient for Argentines

Because they inaugurate new services, routes or flights; because they offer a highly attractive cultural or sports agenda; because they are celebrating a birthday or special celebration; because they are opening up to tourism after many years “off the radar”, or because they are becoming fashionable.

For various reasons, each year there are certain destinations that gain prominence over others on the travel horizon, and attract visitors from all over the world. Last year, for example, Mar del Plata celebrated 150 years; Paris hosted the Olympic Games; and Valencia was the “Green Capital” of Europe.

Here is a selection of some destinations around the world that, for one reason or another, are expected to be trending in 2025 , from South America to Europe or Asia. And those that stand out in our country. Ticket in hand, passport up to date, and off you go!

The numbers for 2024 are already surprising, and 2025 is expected to surpass them: last year more than 1.5 million Argentines crossed into Chile , and in January of this year the “invasion” of the beaches and shopping centers of the neighboring country continued to increase: it is estimated that almost 518 thousand people crossed the mountain range in the first month of the year, which represents 140% more than in January 2024.

And with the dollar “flattened”, the neighboring country will be more and more convenient for Argentines to go and buy clothes, appliances, tires, supplies...

The capital, Santiago , is the main destination for “shoppers”, and its connectivity is a strong point: there are an average of 20 daily flights from Aeroparque and Ezeiza alone, to which are added others from Córdoba, Mendoza or Bariloche.

The other great attraction is the beaches of Viña del Mar and its surroundings in summer, and in winter the ski resorts , several of which are just a couple of hours from the centre of Santiago.

Without a doubt, with this outlook, Chile will be one of the main destinations for Argentines to travel abroad in 2025.

The city needs no introduction and is always attractive, but in 2025 it celebrates its 400th anniversary , and in this framework it has planned a special gift for art lovers: four reopenings of important museums , highlights The New York Times.

One of them will be the Frick Collection , facing Central Park on East 70th Street, which after a five-year renovation will return in April with restored spaces on the first floor (in June there will be an exhibition called “Love Letters from Vermeer”) and galleries on the second floor, which for a long time was private.

About 10 blocks north, the Metropolitan Museum of Art 's renovated Michael D. Rockefeller Wing on Fifth Avenue is set to open in May with more than 1,800 works from Africa, Oceania and the ancient Americas.

Downtown, the contemporary-focused New Museum will be on-trend with its new 5,500-square-meter extension designed by OMA, which will double its exhibition space.

And from the end of March, the extensive collection of works by black artists at the Studio Museum in Harlem , closed since 2018 and now housed in a new 7,600 m2 building, will once again be open to visitors.

Better air connectivity and new luxury hotels are some of the arguments that are further boosting this Caribbean destination.

As for the first point, the Dominican Republic is one of the best connected in the Caribbean to South America, and in particular to Argentina: in 2023, Arajet inaugurated the Buenos Aires-Santo Domingo route, which it later transformed into a direct flight to Punta Cana . And to its Buenos Aires flights, Aerolíneas Argentinas added others from Tucumán and Rosario, and expanded frequencies from Córdoba.

The results were seen quickly: from January to November 2024, 272,000 Argentines arrived in the Caribbean country and it is expected that this year the flow will continue to grow until reaching 350,000 Argentines.

The second point is no less important, as it includes new investments in luxury resorts and boutique accommodations . Such as the opening, in December 2024, of Viva Resorts by Wyndham, an all-inclusive located in Miches, very close to Playa Esmeralda, considered a “hidden treasure” of the Caribbean.

The beaches , of course, are the country's main attraction, in places like Punta Cana , Miches , Samaná or Bayahíbe , with their paradisiacal settings of white sand with palm trees and crystal-clear waters.

Last October, after more than 10 years of work, the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum opened in Cairo - very close to the famous pyramids - with the largest collection of Egyptian relics in the world: more than 100,000 pieces; among them, the tomb of Tutankhamun , one of the most important archaeological discoveries in history.

However, the opening was partial: from that day on, visitors can visit 12 spectacular rooms, which deal with themes related to society, religion and doctrine in ancient Egypt, and are classified by dynasties and in historical order. The full opening is estimated to take place on a yet-to-be-defined date in 2025 .

But with just these 12 rooms, this fantastic museum has already started on the path to becoming another must-see in Egypt , just like the pyramids themselves, the temple of Luxor or the Nile River. Now we will have to stay tuned for the inauguration of the rest of the complex.

Although the “eternal city” needs no excuse to visit, this year it has a very good one, because the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee in 2025 , a holy year that the Pope has periodically convened since 1300.

For this celebration, which will last all year, Rome has devised the Caput Mundi programme , with more than 300 actions to restore historic sites and monuments, along with road and transport works.

Throughout the city there will be special rates for numerous activities, more parking and permanent cultural events , from concerts to exhibitions such as “Chagall in Rome,” which will display Marc Chagall’s masterpiece “White Crucifixion” at the Palazzo Cipolla.

In addition, the Vatican Museums , made up of 12 museums, five galleries and 1,400 rooms, have extended visiting hours and are introducing new features such as the exhibition of icons from the permanent collection, with works of incalculable value due to their rarity.

It is recommended to purchase the Pilgrim Card online, which is necessary to participate in the Jubilee events and to be able to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica until January 6, 2026 (you must register on the Jubilee website).

A recommendation from The New York Times, and not so much to tour the amazing city of Taipei and its Taipei 101 tower, but especially because this year you can get to know the enchanting misty mountain forest of Alishan , with its giant trees and its sunrises above the clouds.

Last year, the 112-year-old Alishan Forest Railway was put back into operation after being stopped for 15 years, making a 70km journey from Chiayi City to the highlands.

The narrow-gauge train leaves twice a day on a five-hour journey, stopping halfway in Fenqihu, a mountain village known for its bento box meals and delicacies such as aiyu jelly , made from a variety of figs.

The best time to visit Alishan Forest and walk its tree-lined trails is from November to April , when there is less rain.

Nova Gorica , Slovenia 's youngest city, and its Italian neighbour Gorizia are actually one, with an imaginary line marking the border. And this year they are particularly close, as they are both European Capitals of Culture 2025.

Throughout the year, there will be festivals of contemporary art and cinema, dance, concerts and conferences on technology and innovation, among other activities, under the motto “Events without borders”.

The other European Capital of Culture this year is Chemnitz , in Saxony (Germany), together with 38 associated municipalities under the motto “Making hidden treasures visible and bringing to light the little-known”.

Visitors to Chemnitz will find, in addition to its history and beauty, museum nights , youth and adult fairs , wine festivals , beer markets , jazz, indie and dance festivals , as well as street art , classic car exhibitions and the European Peace Cycle March. In total there will be more than a thousand events throughout the year .

A vibrant nightlife, lush landscapes, dream beaches and thousands of temples are the classics that attract visitors to Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket.

But the latest season of HBO's hit show " The White Lotus " is expected to take tourists elsewhere. The series was largely filmed on Ko Samui , an island in the Gulf of Thailand with long beaches, crystal-clear waters and a jungle setting.

The country expects this outreach to help it reach its goal of 40 million international tourists . To facilitate visits, the government expanded visa-free entry to more than 90 countries (Argentines can enter without a visa), granted permission for travelers to stay for 60 days, and created a five-year visa for digital nomads.

In addition, several airlines, including Hong Kong Airlines, ITA Airways and British Airways, are increasing their flight frequencies to Thailand.

Spain is always a country of good food, but the best table this year will be on the Costa Blanca, because Alicante is the Capital of Spanish Gastronomy 2025.

The great emblem of its gastronomy is rice , a symbol of identity and quality, along with fish and seafood , but there is much more in its varied offering, from historic markets such as the Mercat Central to more than 700 renowned establishments, with Michelin stars and Repsol suns.

Fairs and competitions such as the National Potato Omelette Championship and the International Award for High Pastry to Paco Torreblanca reinforce its position as a culinary destination, with a rich gastronomic tradition and constant evolution.

The inaugural Bukhara Biennial - free admission - will be held from 5 September to 20 November, showcasing works by international artists, and will be a great excuse to visit a stunning city, part of the legendary Silk Road , whose historic centre has been declared a World Heritage Site.

Famous in ancient times for its craftsmen, poets and Sufi Muslims, Bukhara - 270 km from the mythical Samarkand - boasts a unique historic district, with ancient caravanserais transformed into elegant inns , as well as religious schools and other centuries-old jewels of centuries-old Islamic architecture.

In addition, travelling to the country is now easier , because two new national airlines, Silk Avia and Air Samarkand, connect the interior and its capital, Tashkent, with destinations such as Istanbul, Sharm El Sheik (Egypt) or Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), among others.

It may seem contradictory that a city that seeks to combat mass tourism should invite people to visit it, but in 2025 Amsterdam will celebrate its 750th anniversary with hundreds of events throughout the city.

From June, the Amsterdam Expo will present, among other things, a giant model of the city, and on June 21, the A10 ring road will be transformed into a giant street party .

August will see the celebration of nautical history and culture at a five-day gathering of tall ships and crews from around the world : SAIL 2025.

There will also be two museum openings for art and history lovers: the Suriname Museum , dedicated to the former Dutch colony in South America, and the Drift Museum , which will display large-scale works, such as floating concrete blocks, in a restored 19th-century factory.

In our country there are always new destinations to discover, and in 2025 the four towns that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) included in its list of Best Tourist Towns 2024 stand out, which highlights the value of small tourist villages and promotes sustainable rural destinations.

Among 55 towns awarded for their combination of natural beauty, sustainability and promotion of their cultural identity, in Argentina UN Tourism chose Caviahue-Copahue (Neuquén), Gaiman and Trevelin (both in Chubut) and Villa Tulumba (Córdoba). In addition, Campo Ramón (Misiones) was selected for the Upgrade Program, and will be able to participate in future editions.

Catamarca is now on the list, a destination that is already growing strongly . It is a province that is still relatively unknown to the general public, but less so: it was one of the most popular destinations during the last winter holidays, and the trend continues.