21. Azores
Marooned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean some 1,500km west of Lisbon, this nine-island Portuguese archipelago is one of Europe’s most isolated destinations and is known for its steaming natural hot springs, jewel-coloured lakes and sparkling lava tubes. The Azores already boast some of the continent’s most dramatic black-sand beaches and best whale-watching opportunities, but the islands can now add another superlative to the list: Europe’s largest protected marine sanctuary.
In a groundbreaking piece of legislation approved in October 2024, the Azores’ newly designated Marine Protected Area will extend 287,000 sq km (an expanse larger than all of Great Britain) and safeguard deep-sea corals, sharks and the 28 species of whales and dolphins found here. Protecting the long-term health and biodiversity of these coral reefs will be a boon for travelers eager to participate in whale-watching and sustainable marine research expeditions in the years to come.
Elsewhere, a scenic drive from the capital of Ponta Delgada, Furnas Valley is home to two active volcanoes. Spend some time hot spring hopping your way across the bubbling geothermal valley, wander through lush botanical gardens or enjoy a leisurely stroll in Terra Nostra Park, arguably one of Europe’s most beautiful parks. Dating back to 1775, the eponymous Terra Nostra Garden Hotel is a bonafide green retreat that will offer guests 24-hour access to their newly enhanced thermal pools and jacuzzis starting in January 2025. Don’t leave without sampling the cozido das Furnas – a local meat stew buried underground and slow-cooked using the volcanic hot springs’ natural heat. Nearby, sample purple volcanic tea at Chalet da Tia Mercês, or plan a visit to the family-owned Gorreana Tea Factory, the oldest (and only) tea plantation in Europe. – Michelle Gross
22. Kansas City, Missouri, US
Kansas City, Missouri is making 2025 its glow-up year. The city heretofore known as “Paris of the Plains” is busily promoting its creative arts scene and status as one of North America’s barbeque capitals, all while launching an urban revitalization plan that includes new museums, entertainment districts and hotels.
At the heart of the rebrand is the Museum of BBQ, the world’s first museum dedicated to the art of smoked meat. Slated to open at the Crown Center shopping district in spring 2025, the immersive experience will delve into Kansas City’s deep barbeque culture, leading visitors through interactive exhibits culminating in a gift shop selling all manner of BBQ goods.
The Berkley Riverfront will continue to see new dining experiences, shops and apartment buildings among its incoming development.
The Kansas City International Airport completed significant renovations in 2023, with the $1.5bn expansion replacing outdated terminals and improving passenger flow. This year will also see upgrades to the KC Streetcar; a 3.5-mile Main Street extension expected to open this summer that will make it even easier to reach some of the city’s premier destinations, including the Union Hill shopping district and the National WWI Museum and Memorial – home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of World War One objects and documents. And when the Rock Island Bridge re-opens in spring 2025, it will become the site of a new entertainment district set 40 feet above a river. – Eva Sandoval
23. Bolivia
Even if you’ve already stargazed at the spacelike Uyuni salt flats (the world’s largest) and trekked breathlessly around the hilly capital of La Paz (the world’s highest), Bolivia is worth a visit in 2025. This August marks the country’s 200th anniversary and it’s celebrating with events and attractions throughout the year in the capitals of its nine regions.
Visit from 24 February to 5 March for the Oruro Carnival, which includes a multi-day folk-dance parade and has earned Unesco Heritage status for preserving oral tradition. In Potosí, sip a bicentennial singing (Bolivia’s answer to Peru’s pisco). This strong spirit, now a symbol of national pride, is said to have started viticulture in the region in the 1500s in what was once a booming mining town – and Potosí still has the colonial architecture to prove it.
Bolivia has the largest proportion of Indigenous people in South America, with roughly two-thirds of the population directly related to the area’s original inhabitants. Bolivia’s prettiest city, Chuquisaca (also called Sucre), where the declaration of independence was signed in 1825, is home to many Quechua peoples. While there, be sure to visit the Museo de Arte Indígena for an up-close look at the country’s ancient textile tradition. The Aymara people of the altiplano welcome visitors to the Isla del Sol (an island in the middle of Lake Titicaca) whose moonlike terrain makes for an incredible daylong hike. Elsewhere, a new network of community-based tourism brings attractions (and work opportunities) to these sometimes-remote communities, such as the Chalalan Ecolodge in the Amazon’s Madidi National Park, where capybaras, cougars and macaws make their homes. – Laura Norkin
24. Botswana
Botswana has been hailed as Africa’s leader in green safari tourism due to its expansive wildlife reserves and the government’s focus on high-income, low-impact ecotourism policies; a strategy that has traditionally meant allowing fewer tourists. But as the country ushers in a new government and continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, its tourism sector (and sustainable cache) only stands to grow in 2025, with an increased demand for sustainable and culturally immersive travel experiences. In a bid to bolster tourism and strengthen the economy, Botswana has granted visa-free entry to visitors from 104 countries in recent years – including those from the US, UK, Germany and Canada. This means more travelers can now explore Botswana’s natural beauty, including the “Elephant Capital of the World”, Chobe National Park, and the Unesco-listed Okavango Delta; a vast wetland in the Kalahari Desert that is one of the world’s last havens for cheetahs and the black rhinoceros.
The Okavango Delta will also see a number of new openings, including the 100% solar-powered Mbamba Camp in the delta’s lagoon-and-savannah-dotted north, a luxury lodge offering a blend of comfort and family-friendly wildlife adventures that’s slated to open in April 2025. Opening in May 2025 is Monachira Camp, where visitors can enjoy walking safaris, mokoro canoe rides and armchair safaris while coming face to face with elephants, lions and the Pel’s Fishing Owl.
Starting in April 2025, new Air Botswana routes will connect Gaborone to Cape Town, making it even easier for visitors to explore Botswana’s magical nature for themselves – sustainably. – Eva Sandoval
25. Oslo, Norway
“Is it even a city?” a recent viral ad for Oslo, Norway asked. The tongue-in-cheek video nodded to how overtourism has sullied other European capitals while showcasing the Norwegian capital’s extreme walkability; world-class dining; and easy access to nearby fjords, islands and serene postcard-perfect landscapes. Known for its modern architecture, sweeping waterfront and no shortage of trees (it’s one of Europe’s most-forested cities), Oslo is luring the kinds of visitors who will do their part to ensure that it remains one of the world’s most sustainable cities.
Visitors here are encouraged to refer to the Visit Oslo Responsibly guidelines and the Green Oslo Guide, which break down the concept of sustainable tourism into four categories: planet, people, prosperity and partnership. It’s not unusual for hotels in the city center to feature green roofs that produce food, reduce energy use, manage rainwater and support urban biodiversity.
Travelers can ensure their visit has a positive impact on residents and the local environment by supporting local businesses like the Norwegian Adventure Company, which offers “life-changing and sustainable experiences” from its base in Oslo, like kayaking through glacier-carved fjords, and chasing the Northern Lights. After a long day of exploring the spectacular Nordic countryside, dine at one of the city’s many farm-to-table restaurants, like the Michelin-starred Maaemo, which uses locally grown organic produce. So, is it even a city? Find out in 2025. —Lynn Brown
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