2025 travel trends according to industry experts

"For some time, travellers have been heading to cooler climates to avoid crowded hotspots suffering from overtourism and too-hot-to-breathe temperatures as a result of climate change – coldcations, if you will. But coldcations are their own breed: they are about actively seeking out cold places to relish the chill, feel that crisp air on your face, pack your cosiest clothes, and eat winter-warming food. It’s about embracing the season you’re in, instead of escaping the weather. Think snowy European ski resorts for winter walks, spring escapes, and fondue any time, even if you’re a non-skier or boarder; heading to the beautiful UK coast or national parks in the darker months for early starts, uncrowded hikes and pub dinners, or even heading to famously warm, even tropical, destinations when the weather isn’t quite as balmy (even if it’s not exactly cold) and experiencing it in a different way."

Fourth or fifth cities

Gurdeep Loyal, trends expert and olive trends columnist

"There is a big trend for travelling to the lesser-known fourth or fifth cities in European countries – not the capital or tourist hotspots, but cities that have a more localised, relaxed and lived-in atmosphere. Many of these are cultural hotspots themselves, as well as exciting culinary destinations – where the future great chefs, that eventually move to the capital cities, get started. They’re the incubator cities for future culinary talent in many ways, and where some of the most pioneering restaurants can now be found. Great examples are cities like Utrecht in the Netherlands, hailed as the cooler, calmer and more foodie Amsterdam; Turin in Italy, which has a rich history and food culture; and Salamanca in Spain, known for its cuisine utilising the best Iberico ham."

Luxury train travel

Jules Pearson, founder of lifestyle website London On The Inside, Sausage Press guides, and VP of food and beverage development at Ennismore

"Luxury train travel is coming in hot next year. I’m most excited about the new Belmond Brittanic Explorer, which is going to take just 36 guests at a time on three- or six-night journeys across Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District. It looks ridiculously luxurious, with grand hotel-style rooms, a suite with personal butler service and food by Simon Rogan. It starts at £11,000 a ticket though, so this will probably remain on the fantasy bucket list for quite some time. Other huge luxury train news for 2025 includes Accor bringing back the original Orient Express train, which it has refurbished to an incredible level."

Rewilded locations

Liz Simpson, co-founder of Kip Hideaways

"Our biggest trend is staying in places that have been rewilded. A couple of years ago this just meant farmers letting a couple of fields go to pasture so that nature corridors could independently return. But now landowners are letting entire reserves and swathes of UK rainforests re-establish their natural ecosystems – and building a couple of eco cabins in among it all so that guests can immerse themselves in nature and watch it flourish. Two inspiring examples of this are Wildscapes (below) in Norfolk – a 2,000-acre nature reserve now home to 70+ bird species, wild orchid meadows and busy wetlands; a total return to the natural world – and Borradill, home to one of the UK's last true wildernesses, with some of Europe's most-intact tracts of Atlantic rainforest on your doorstep."

Travelling for unique experiences

Jo Yee, food and travel photographer

"Increasingly I think travellers will seek out unique or luxurious (or both!) stays to lead them to a destination, instead of the other way around. For example, the Open Book Airbnb in Wigtown is fully booked until the end of October 2026. Their unique offering is to have guests run the town bookshop during their stay. One can assume those who are on the two-year waitlist are interested in the experience of running a bookshop in a quaint town rather than just visiting Wigtown as a destination."

Sleep tourism

Mark Smith, freelance spa and wellness writer and deputy editor of European Spa magazine

"Sleep is the holy grail for most people and a growing number of us are spending our hard-earned cash on travel that promotes a good night’s rest. The growth of sleep tourism is set to boom in 2025 and it’s been earmarked by a number of major hotel groups as the next big thing. They are investing heavily in sleep apps, meditation classes and high-tech mattresses and pillows. Smaller operators often have the edge as they are generally off the beaten track and tap into nature at the same time. Think pristine lakes and mountains, a touch of forest bathing and maybe a dip in the sea or a sauna session. But its not all escapism, some smaller city breaks can also bring the right combination of culture, activities and sense of place to give you the best of both worlds. To make the most of any sleep-focused break, leave the phone behind (or at your hotel) and immerse yourself in the moment, avoid caffeine and eat light, protein-rich meals."

Exploring destinations less travelled

Hazel McGuire, UK director for Intrepid Travel

"Overtourism is changing the way people travel, and that's something we expect to see more of heading into 2025. As more destinations grapple with the impact of visitors on communities and the environment, travellers are seeking under-the-radar destinations away from crowds, and want to explore countries and towns less travelled. This isn’t just about far-flung destinations, but instead considering alternative destinations in Europe, like Albania instead of Croatia, or Scandinavia instead of Southern Europe. At Intrepid, we’ve seen summer bookings to Scandinavian countries increase by 26%.

As a tour operator, we know we play an important role in ensuring tourism brings value both to travellers and locals. We’re designing more itineraries that spread the benefits of tourism to new areas, investing in alternative destinations and continuing to support locals through our supply chain. We also release our annual “Not Hot List”, which spotlights underrated destinations ready to welcome visitors, such as Greenland or Ghana."

Domestic and local travel

Camille Kenny-Ryder, founder of Weekend Journals

"Domestic travel, local travel, travel by train. Easy travel is the new luxury travel – no risk of lost baggage or cancelled flights. I’m embracing UK road trips and loving getting to know this country better. I usually pick a destination restaurant or bakery I’m keen to visit and base a trip around that venue, whether it’s Mabel Bakery in remote Norfolk or Mýse restaurant in Yorkshire."

Travelling for hyper-local drinks

Emma Sleight, head of content at The World's 50 Best

"You can’t ignore the explosion of appreciation for agave-based spirits around the world. Mezcal, tequila and now more localised native Mexican spirits like raicilla are everywhere, from London (you only have to look at the success of Viajante 87, a cocktail bar which debuted in the extended 51-100 list of The World’s Best Bars this year) to Singapore, with Cat Bite Club, and Hong Kong, with Coa. Otherwise, it has to be hyper-local distillates cropping up in bars around the world, meaning you have to travel to sample them – like Bar Cham or Zest in Seoul, with their emphasis on Korean-made spirits like makgeolli.