30 must-visit destinations in 2025

Cameroon is the number one country tourists must visit in 2025, and if they want to go to any city, Toulouse, France is the first suggestion.

In the book Best In Travel 2025 Recently released, the Lonely Planet world travel guide lists 30 destinations that travelers must visit next year, divided into three categories: countries, regions, cities. Senior manager Nitya Chambers said Best in Travel 2025 is the latest edition of Lonely Planet's annual "love letter" to the world.

The rankings are compiled by the guide’s leading experts, from around the world, who are experts in their field and have in-depth knowledge of each locality. The criteria for selecting destinations are based on topicality, unique experiences, impressive factors and the destination’s commitment to sustainability, community development and diversity.

Wildlife at Waza National Park, Cameroon. Photo: Pilot guides

In top 10 countries must-visit in 2025, Lonely Planet rates Cameroon highly and ranks it at the top of the list. This West African country impresses with its pristine beaches, uncrowded national parks and vibrant nightlife in major cities.

Lithuania came in second place thanks to its charming medieval cities, lush pine forests, lakes and pristine beaches. Fiji came in third thanks to its more than 300 palm-fringed islands, each a symphony of turquoise waters, coral reefs and white sand beaches. Laos came in fourth thanks to its lush landscapes, little-explored mountains and quaint towns, all connected by a new high-speed rail line that will stretch over 1,000km and end in Yunnan, China.

STT	Nation	City	Area
1	Cameroon	Toulouse, France	Lowcountry & Coastal Georgia, USA
2	Lithuania	Puducherry, India	Terai, Nepal
3	Fiji	Bansko, Bulgaria	Chiriqui, Panama
4	Laos	Chiang Mai, Thailand	Launceston & the Tamar Valley, Australia
5	Kazakhstan	Genoa, Italy	Valais, Switzerland
6	Paraguay	Pittsburgh, USA	Giresun & Ordu, Türkiye
7	Trinidad & Tobago	Osaka, Japan	Bavaria, Germany
8	Vanuatu	Curitiba, Brazil	East Anglia, England
9	Slovakia	Palma de Mallorca, Spain	Jordan Trail Area, Jordan
10	Armenia	Edmonton, Canada	Columbia River and Mount Hood area, USA

Toulouse ranked first in top 10 cities thanks to its "burgeoning arts scene and easy access to riverside walks." Second place went to Puducherry, a city overlooking the Bay of Bengal in India, which experts say is a top destination for sand and surf lovers. The Bulgarian mountain town of Bansko, which came in third, is renowned as one of Europe's top ski destinations and has a UNESCO-listed old town that's been largely preserved. The top four and five were taken by Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, and Genoa, Italy.

A street corner in Toulouse, France. Photo: Fance adventurer

In the top 10 regions of the world to visit in 2025, the Low Country & Coastal Georgia region of South Carolina, USA, ranked highest. When traveling through this region, visitors will encounter golden beaches, windy marshes and ancient towns that "seem unchanged by time". Coming in second is the Terai region of Nepal, with its deep green forests, grasslands and wetlands - a biodiversity hotspot. The top 3 is the Chiriqui region of Panama, followed by the city of Launceston & Tamar Valley in Tasmania, Australia and Valais, Switzerland.

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