The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2025

As we edge closer to the end of each year, we begin to look. What are the best places to go in Europe in 2025? In essence, what are the destinations we’re most looking forward to visiting (and recommending to you, our fellow travelers) for the following 12 months? We always ask our expert contributors from all four corners of the globe to nominate the spots that are on the up—the places that are on their radar thanks to a flock of hotel openings, major cultural moments, new flight routes, or concerted conservation efforts taking root. These nominations make up the Best Places to Go in 2025—the places worthy of your precious annual leave and hard-earned spending money.

This year, in addition to turning our gaze to global destinations in the Best Places to Go in the World in 2025, we’re also looking to the spots that are making waves on each continent right now. This list is an edit of Europe's countries, regions, cities, and neighborhoods that are deserving of your time and attention next year.

All 11 destinations are places we’re keeping a keen eye on right now: from new hotel openings in Marseille to celebrations of musical legends in Vienna, and Geneva taking center stage in the global sporting arena. Happy travels. —Sarah Allard and Sarah James

This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2025—find more travel inspiration here.

In July 2021, large parts of the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate were destroyed. The gently babbling Ahr turned into a raging river—with floods, flash floods, and tidal waves resulting in widespread tragedy. But now, visitors are welcome again, as demonstrated by the slogan “We AHR open”—even if the Ahr Valley is not yet fully rebuilt. The train that cut through the valley will run again at the end of 2025, connecting its villages with a 22-mile-long, picturesque red wine hiking trail. The trail leads through the most beautiful terraces and steep slopes of the wine-growing region and offers numerous places to stop for a Pinot Noir, which, together with Blanc de Noir, is the region’s speciality. Be sure to try it at the wineries of Jean Stodden, Meyer-Näkel, and the wine-growers cooperative, Mayschoss.

Numerous wine growers, restaurateurs, and hoteliers have not only taken the reconstruction of the region into their own hands but also its further development. They have seen opportunities, invested, worked tirelessly, and developed new, modern concepts. The Sustainable Tourism Concept 2025 is the joint result of all those who have already felt the effects of climate change. Most of these projects will only be initiated in 2025—after which you can watch them develop—but some of the best examples are here already. Markus Bell, who runs the Bells Genusshof restaurant, serves local produce in a space that feels like a cool concept store. In Altenahr, Andreas Carnott has expanded his Hotel Ruland to include a spectacular wellness area with a view of the slate cliffs; he is also considered one of the best chefs in the region. At Restaurant Brogsitter, Benjamin Schöneich regained his Michelin star in the spring of 2024 after starting there in the fall of last year.

Around 80% of establishments were open again in the Ahr Valley by the summer of 2024, and the number of hotels on offer are on the rise too. New openings include the lovingly designed boutique hotel Burg Adenbach & Alter Weinbau in Ahrweiler, alongside reopenings like the grande dame of Ahr, the Steigenberger Hotel in Bad Neuenahr at the beginning of June 2024. Not only did its large indoor pool and spa reopen at the end of 2024, but concerts will take place in the event rooms again; and thermal baths will follow in 2025. —Lisa Riehl

How to plan it: The Ahr Valley is beautiful throughout the whole year, but the best time to visit is late summer and fall, when the grape harvesting is at its peak and there are several wine fests to enjoy (and imbibe at). Look out for delicious food stands set up by winegrowers and restaurateurs in the villages and all along the red wine hiking trail. The best way to get here is to fly to Cologne and then take the train—or rent a car—to the Ahr Valley. —Sarah James

Once the preserve of adventurous vacationers, Albania is set to establish itself as a significant player in 2025. Despite being a little smaller than Switzerland, its appeal lies in its impressive diversity, which compactly encompasses a sweep of Alps, ancient forests, fairytale villages, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a crystalline coast to rival anything Greece can offer.

This year sees the launch of an all-new InterContinental hotel and the country’s first transatlantic flight jetting off from Tirana—the country’s capital—as well as the creation of a whole new airport in Vlora by the prettiest beaches on the Ionian sea, also known as the pearl of Albania. (This happily eliminates the chance of enduring tangled traffic jams that have previously plagued travelers coming from Tirana).

The government planned to attract 10 million tourists by 2025, a target it smashed by 2023, so this may well be the final year it is enjoyably—and relatively—quiet. Drape yourself over a sun lounger at one of the many beach clubs or book a table at the slow-food restaurant Mullixhiu, where you can eat for $12 a head and marvel at your luck at getting to enjoy such spoils at these prices. —Rosie Conroy

How to plan it: A handful of airlines, including British Airways, offer direct flights from London airports to Albania’s capital, Tirana. And in 2025, the first transatlantic flights will connect New York City and Tirana. High season runs throughout European summer (June-August)—consider visiting in May or, for warmer sea swimming, in September to avoid the crowds. Tirana is also a great winter destination. —Sarah James

While the Portuguese coast has surged in popularity, hidden gems like Arrábida Natural Park remain. Just 40 minutes from Lisbon, tucked between Setúbal and the fishing town of Sesimbra, this stunning protected area spans 42,000 acres of dramatic coastline, limestone mountains, Mediterranean vegetation, and golden sand beaches with secluded coves. And its profile is set to rise with its recent application for UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, which aims to centerstage conservation, scientific research, and sustainable tourism.

Once here, you can scuba dive in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park, hike the Serra da Arrábida, spot bottlenose dolphins in the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, or birdwatch in Moinho de Maré da Mourisca. The name Arrábida comes from the Arabic word for "place of prayer," and the region’s rich cultural heritage is on display at the Convent of Arrábida, the neighboring Moorish castle in Sesimbra, the Oceanic Museum, and São Simão—one of the last remaining artisan tile workshops.

The larger region of Peninsula de Setubal is also renowned for its wines. Stop by notable winemakers like José Maria da Fonseca, founded in 1834, and producers of the oldest table wine brands in Portugal, Quinta de Alcube, Quinta da Bacalhôa, and Quinta do Piloto. Pair a glass of Moscatel wine with the famous local cheese, Queijo de Azeitão, or better yet, engage in cheesemaking workshops at Quinta Velha. After, make your way to O Farol to enjoy the freshest catch alongside great sea views. For accommodations, Hotel Casa Palmela, under the Small Luxury Hotels umbrella, offers a tranquil stay and is one of the few private properties within the national park, where construction has been banned since 1975. The same family has owned this 170-acre estate since 1826—it features original stone floors, 18th-century tiles, whitewashed stone walls, and a tiny chapel. —Christine Chitnis

How to plan it: Fly direct to Lisbon from countless cities around the world (London, New York, Dubai), then drive about 45 minutes out of the city to Arrábida. If you’re planning to enjoy the best of nature here, consider visiting in spring or autumn to avoid high temperatures which might make hiking more difficult. For those planning to go dolphin watching, be sure to book with a tour operator that complies with the HEPCA code of conduct—you’re more likely to spot these playful sea creatures if you take a tour in the early morning or late afternoon. —Sarah James

For all its beauty—sparkling waters dotted with kaiki boats, wild beaches, and a bougainvillea coastline that soaks up 300 days of sunshine a year—it’s shocking how under-the-radar the Athens Riviera has remained in this aesthetic-obsessed age. (On Instagram, the hashtag #athensriviera has a modest 114,000 posts; compare that with Santorini’s 8.1 million and Mykonos’s 5.6 million.)

A former holiday hotspot for stars and royalty, the area faded from popularity in the early aughts following Greece’s debt crisis and the closure of a nearby US airbase. But 2025 is the Riviera’s year of revival, with new developments set to elevate the nearly 40-mile stretch just 30 minutes from Athens’ city center.

The most Goliath of these is The Ellinikon, an ambitious $8 billion undertaking on the former Ellinikon International Airport site that will be completed in phases from 2025 onwards and is projected to create 70,000 jobs. A host of big-name residential, cultural, and hospitality projects dominate its masterplan, including a surf-inspired Kengo Kuma–designed waterfront mall, a Mandarin Oriental resort, and a Hard Rock hotel and casino due for completion in 2027. The real jewel, however, is a lushly landscaped coastal park—Europe’s largest—that will open by the end of 2025, doubling the green space in a capital notorious for its lack of it.

In anticipation of a tourism boom, a clutch of new hotels is gathering in the Riviera—the first time that major brands have set up here since Four Seasons Astir Palace’s 2019 opening. In July 2024, One&Only launched its first Greece outpost in the Glyfada suburb, the ultra-swish One&Only Aesthesis, where outsize bungalows and suites hug the shore and sprawl amidst olive trees. Close by, at the 120-room coastal-cool Ace Hotel & Swim Club, travelers can stay for a night or just a dip (day passes are available for the club’s two pools). Even more restoration awaits at 91 Athens Riviera in the Voula district, a fresh wellness haven where 28 chic glamping tents surround a spa, gym, and tennis and beach clubs. Supporting these are more direct flights to Athens than ever, including first-time connections to Shanghai, Sharjah, and Brest from 2024. —Audrey Phoon

How to plan it: The Riviera is 35 miles long and the balmy climate here means you can swim in the sea from spring until autumn, or even into the winter at Lake Vouliagmeni, which is fed by thermal springs (entrance costs under $20) and keeps a steady temperature of 70-84 degrees Fahrenheit. Getting from the Athens Riviera to the city center is easy and affordable. Ask your concierge to arrange a taxi or hail a cab via a rideshare service like FreeNow. Depending on traffic, it can take 25 to 40 minutes. —Sarah James

Long seen as the home of traditional Irish music, County Clare is quietly becoming the hub of a grassroots revival of other skills and an inspiring example of ecotourism along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. The most recent key player is the Common Knowledge Centre, an incubator for sustainable living set on 50 acres of native forests and regenerative farmland, where guests learn the lost arts of dry-stone wall building and willow weaving, alongside practical skills such as DIY and furniture making, while being fed organic menus by the Ottolenghi-trained chef and sourdough from local bakery Hugo’s. Also plugging into the idea of tourism as education, marine biologist Cormac McGinley runs leave-no-trace fossil discovery walks and tours of the Burren’s lunar-like landscape, which take in sea caves, ancient middens, and color-popping anemones. Another champion of the bounty of this rugged coast is Homestead Cottage in Doolin, where locavore Michelin-star dining is served within rustic 200-year-old walls. Breezy surf-style escape Armada Hotel, set on a cliff above Spanish Point, was the first hotel in Ireland given B Corp status for its environmental efforts, and luxury eco hideaway Gregans Country Castle (J.R.R. Tolkien, the king of fantasy, was once a guest) donated a plot of land near its vegetable garden to the Burren Pine Project, to help restore a lost tree species to Ireland’s native flora. All this and you’re still never far from a toe-tapping céilí and the craic. —Gráinne McBride

How to plan it: Ennis, the capital of County Clare, is connected via railway to Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Limerick, or fly to Shannon Airport from Manchester, Birmingham, London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow in the UK, or from US travel hubs such as New York, Chicago, and Houston. The Wild Atlantic Way stretches for more than 1,600 miles and passes through multiple Irish counties including Donegal, Mayo, and Galway. If following the route in Clare, you’ll visit the ruggedly handsome Cliffs of Moher, which are known for their fabulous birdlife. Among the 20 species of nesting birds, keep an eye out for puffins. —Sarah James

Furrowed brows and quizzical looks usually follow any mention of the Faroe Islands. A tiny island nation between Iceland and Norway, and home to more sheep than people, it’s precisely the far-flung, cold-weather locale that in-the-know travelers crave. But go quick; people are starting to catch on. Icelandair has begun direct flights from Reykjavik to Vágar five to six times weekly. Once you do touch down, visiting one of the country’s more remote 18 islands via a new subsea tunnel is more straightforward than pronouncing its name. Sandoyartunnilin connects the main island with Sandoy through a six-and-a-half-mile stretch decorated with Viking-inspired art by local artist Edward Fuglø and a soundtrack you can dial into on your car radio. Other new openings include the BISK Hotel, an upcoming waterside hotel in the northern town of Klaksvik. The island’s airport hotel, Hotel Vágar, has also reopened—ideal for situating yourself before those early-morning flights. When you need a massage after chasing waterfalls and hiking cliffs, new wellness offerings range from the outdoor spa and café, Ress, at four-star Hotel Føroyar, to Havdypp, a beachside sauna and spa in nearby Leynar that also offers multiday wellness retreats. —Katie Lockhart

How to plan it: You can fly directly from London, Manchester, and Glasgow to Reykjavik, as well as from US hubs such as New York City, Boston, and Seattle. From there, flights connect to Vágar six times a week. It’s best to visit during summer when there are more daylight hours for exploring—in June, thanks to the Islands’ position just south of the Arctic Circle, there are almost a whopping 20 hours of daylight, compared to just 5 hours 20 minutes in December. The Havdypp spa, mentioned above, closes for the winter and reopens in 2025 in March (bookings re-open on January 15, so you can book ahead). —Sarah James

At first glance, the world capital of peace and goodwill seems odd as the backdrop for a schedule of hotly contested rivalries and competitions. And yet, this sporting outlier will take center stage in July 2025 when the UEFA Women’s EURO comes to Switzerland, with Stade de Genève hosting several group games and elimination matches.

It’s not the only fixture to have spied opportunity amid Geneva’s knockout mountains and lake. Not to be outdone, the first-ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix will be held on the blue-green waters of Lake Geneva in September. Two differing world views will collide here: the world’s best sailors on high-speed catamarans and ultra-elite watchmakers, who take decades to perfect their complicated timepieces. Their victories are measured in years, not seconds.

In Geneva, the United Nations’ new Portail des Nations will sail between individual reflection and multilateralism. Set to open in the summer of 2025, the bold pitch is an interactive multimedia center that aims to foster greater collaboration, teasing out more productive conversations with visitors. Plans from Jumeirah, the Emirati state-owned luxury hotelier, to make the city the setting for its first hotel in Switzerland is further evidence of Geneva’s international appeal. Once owned by Rocco Forte and the Dorchester Collection, Le Richemond will soon see the good times roll again. —Mike MacEacheran

How to plan it: The UEFA Women’s Euros will take place between July 2 and 27, 2025, in eight stadiums across Switzerland. In addition to Geneva, you can catch games in Basel, Zurich, and more. Tickets are available now and cost between $22 and $80 USD, depending on the game. Ticket holders will benefit from free public transport on game days. The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix occurs later in the year, between September 21-25. —Sarah James

This year will bring the first opening for the Ruby Hotels group in France, and the team has chosen Marseille. It’s not hard to see why, with its packed cultural calendar and a more affordable price point than other southern French seaside spots. It’s a combination that’s been slowly attracting a buzzy young crowd who jet in to visit some of the city’s best bars, clubs, and restaurants (see: Livingston with its cutting-edge chef residency program; Twerkistan’s DJ collective, which hosts nights in incredible locations; and hip natural wine bar Planète Livre Marseille la Passerelle) and then head out to its surrounding small towns for some R&R. In the charming town of Aix-en-Provence, head to Gallifet, an 18th-century Provençal mansion that houses an art gallery, garden restaurant, and design store. Similar laidback vibes can be found at Tuba Club, a stylish, pocket-sized hotel and restaurant in the Marseille neighborhood of Les Goudes, which has created a loyal following of creatives with its sleepy fishing port atmosphere and produce-led restaurant on a rocky outcrop that drops off into the sea (perfect for post-prandial dips).

The considerable investment made in preparation for the Olympics and Marseille’s earlier stint as the City of Culture has transformed the city's infrastructure, and this will be the first year to fully appreciate the benefits without the crowds. If events are your thing, though, Marseille is expecting a bumper line-up of musicians in 2025, ranging from Ed Sheeran to Bruce Springsteen. —Rosie Conroy

How to plan it: Summer in the South of France is known for lots of tourists and high temperatures, so shoulder season might be a more pleasant time to visit. Much of life in these parts revolves around being outside—at beach clubs, festivals, and terraces—and in winter, the Mistral wind can be bitter and much of the tourist industry shutters. —Sarah James

Once upon a time, there was a place guarded by majestic mountains and embraced by forests of pines and olive trees. It was where life had its own rhythm, in harmony with nature and the seasons. Here, the soundtrack was provided by crickets, owls, the wind, and the whisper of the river. At night, the brilliance of the stars captivated all eyes, with no obstacle daring to come between the boundaries of the human and the divine.

This is not the beginning of a fairy tale. This place is real and set in the Spanish province of Teruel. Its mystery has been gradually unveiled, though, partly through word of mouth and the initiatives of locals and entrepreneurs who have settled in the area (artists, premium oil producers, expert astronomers, writers, and the like).

The Matarraña River gives its name to the territory, dotted with waterfalls, natural pools, hiking and cycling routes, fields of crops that sustain the local kitchens, and picturesque villages. Valderrobres, the capital; La Fresneda with its ancient castle; Beceite, the gateway to Parrizal and its wooden walkways over turquoise waters—all have something to offer.

There are no conventional hotels here. Accommodations—such as Torre del Marqués and El Convent 1613—are impressive farmhouses, charming little villas, and convents converted into hideaways. But in 2025, Matarraña will continue promoting active tourism and culture with writing, painting, and craft workshops, theatre performances, and concerts. But a special emphasis will be on stargazing: Torre del Visco and Mas de la Costa, Starlight-certified accommodations, are readying their telescopes and filling their programs with workshops and events that promise to get you closer to the skies. —María Casbas

How to plan it: The best time to visit Matarraña is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and the landscape vibrant. Spring features blooming almond trees, while autumn offers colorful foliage and a tranquil atmosphere, perfect for exploring picturesque villages and hiking trails. To reach Matarraña from outside Spain, fly into Barcelona or Valencia, the nearest major airports, and then rent a car for a scenic drive. —Sarah James

Like a certain ’90s rock band, East and West Sussex have been battling it out ever since splitting up more than five centuries ago. Well, not actually tussling in a War of the Roses way; more an amiable tug-of-war on the village green before bonding over a few local ales. East Sussex has the salty attitude, of course, with Brighton its seaside star, where the Regency-style No. 124 Brighton opened in autumn 2024—the latest from the family-owned GuestHouse group—while in nearby Rottingdean, the clifftop White Horses saddled up over the summer. But it also has a reclusive side, with quiet South Downs villages such as the one that gives The Alfriston its name; the fourth in the Signet Collection (The Mitre, Retreat at Elcot Park) lands in March, complete with a bistro and spa. West Sussex, on the other hand, is a little more artful, with brilliant shows guaranteed at Petworth’s Newlands House Gallery. You can explore its coastline on the recently opened King Charles III England Coast Path from Shoreham-by-Sea to Eastbourne, but it’s inland where the action is. This autumn, the Swann Inn reopens in Fittleworth after being lovingly restored by Angus Davies, formerly of The Hollist Arms in Petworth. With 12 bedrooms and a dining room (girolles on toast, Sutton Hoo chicken, local fizz from the Ambriel estate), along with gardens by House & Garden rising star Elizabeth Tyler, it’s set to be as fashionable in 2025 as it was in its 19th-century heyday when Turner and Constable were regulars. “The area is a hotbed of creatives, with designer Martin Brudnizki, florist Millie Proust, and Mumford & Sons’ Ted Dwane all living nearby,” says an insider. Could West Sussex take the 2025 title of the new Cotswolds? “You never know—we’ve certainly got plenty more vineyards.” —Rick Jordan

How to plan it: When completed, the King Charles III England Coast Path will become the longest managed coastal path in the world. The trail is designed to be as accessible as possible for everyone, with minimal use of stiles—though the natural composition of the trail means some parts remain difficult to access for those with reduced mobility or using a wheelchair, local authorities can provide advice on how best to tackle your route. Getting to Sussex from major international transport hubs like London is easy: Thameslink trains depart from London Bridge to Brighton, and trains serving West Sussex depart from Victoria. Plan for at least a long weekend if you plan to explore just East or West Sussex respectively, and closer to a week if you’re visiting in tandem. —Sarah James

Hear that? That’s the sound of classical music fans rejoicing as Vienna announces that 2025 will be dedicated to championing 200 years of the waltzes and polkas of its native son Johann Strauss. For many, a premiere every week will be the main event, and orchestras and quartets will appear at the Musikverein, Konzerthaus and State Opera but also play peekaboo in unexpected places, such as the Central Cemetery and the middle of the mighty Danube on Donsauinsel.

Often regarded as the world’s most livable city, Vienna’s optimism is hard to eclipse. That’s visible in the new builds and hotels that continue to blur its history, like the Mandarin Oriental Vienna, which takes up residence inside a century-old former courthouse arising out of an in-the-thick-of-it location in the First District. Another is the recently opened Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, on the Schottenring and inside a palace first built for the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873. Then there’s the Wilhelminian-style new arrival Das Kronenhaus, named after the Apotheke zur Kaiserkrone, the original pharmacy to the Imperial Crown.

To discover why everyone in Vienna is so happy, the Michelin Guide Austria will be a great yardstick when it is relaunched in January 2025. Three-star Amador in the Hajszan Neumann wine estate will remain the gold standard, followed by fashionable Mraz & Sohn, orchestrated by Markus Mraz and his sons Lukas and Manuel. Even with the city’s inexhaustible supply of kaffee und kuchen, you’ll surely roll your eyes in appreciation. —Mike MacEacheran

How to plan it: Many of the destinations in this list are at their best in summer—but Vienna bucks the trend, showing off its full potential in winter. In the run-up to Christmas, dozens of Advent markets take over the city—visit in December to experience a true festive getaway, like the one at Schönbrunn Palace (where there are also concerts in the summer). If visiting in winter, try your hand at ice skating in the Town Hall Square, complete with DJs and live music, or warm up with a hot chocolate at Cafe Schwarzenberg. —Sarah James

Looking for more inspiration? Read last year’s list of the Best Places to Go in Europe in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller UK.