10 exciting travel destinations for 2025 that are (still) insider tips

You can and should travel whenever you have the opportunity. And of course there are cities and countries that you have to see once in your life. But: There are always areas of the world that are still...real insider tipsand are far less crowded with tourists than others, but are still thereworth visiting. And we have put together exactly those for you here.

It doesn’t always have to be “just” Mallorca, the Mediterranean or the North Sea. After all, the world is big and there is a lot to discover.

Sure, Bali itself is anything but an insider tip, but: Something very special has just emerged in Bali, namely Nuanu. This is a creative center in the city of Tabanan on the southwest coast of the island. Whether, nature, technology,– you can find points of contact there on many different topics. But you shouldn't imagine it as a building in which you can find information on every subject area. Nuanu is an experimental ecosystem covering a total of 44 hectares and based on a philosophy of harmony. There are accommodations there,, restaurants, workshop offerings, a beach club and much more. The whole thing looks really fantastic, like it came out of a science fiction film. This is something you should definitely check out this year.

From a tourist perspective, Morocco is closely linked to the city of Marrakech, and that is entirely understandable, because Marrakech is indeed an exciting, vibrant and exciting city. But: There is definitely an equal alternative that also passes for an insider tip: Tangier. The city in the north of the country has 1.4 million inhabitants and is also located on the coast (unlike Marrakesh). Because Tangier is located near the Strait of Gibraltar, between Europe and Africa, at the interface between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it has this very special flair because it is a melting pot of different cultures. And there is a lot to see there: the Sultan's Palace, the Kasbah Museum and the many historic buildings in the old town. We can recommend the Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay as a hotel highlight, because the guest/customer is definitely king there - at least the hotel is owned by King Mohammed VI. of Morocco, so the staff know how to make their guests feel like blue-bloods.

The Baltics as such are constantly underestimated and an insider tip for holiday destinations - especially this year. And even if you might not necessarily be heading east at the moment, you should definitely put Vilnius in Lithuania on your bucket list. The old town is an architectural work of art, there is the beautiful Gediminas Tower and museum, the exciting artist republic of Užupis and: There is incredibly good coffee in Lithuania! Don't believe it at all. Apart from that, the city is incredibly green, with more than sixty percent of the entire city area covered by green spaces - so it's no wonder that Vilnius was chosen by the EU as the Green Capital of Europe 2025 due to its commitment to sustainability.

If North America, why not Costa Rica? And if Costa Rica, then why not San José? The city is the hub of the country and has a lot to offer in every respect. What’s happening in the Escalante district is particularly exciting right now. There is a lot going on when it comes to culture, cuisine and the hotel industry. And because many of them are in restored historical buildings, the whole thing has a lot of style. In addition, both the residents and the city administration are committed to making art a central part of their everyday lives - and you can see that on literally every corner. Just take the historic Steinvorth building from the early 20th century: it was brought back to life and renovated by Julian Mora during his architecture studies - today he is one of Costa Rica's most famous artists. San José is a perfect example of how important it is to preserve the historic structures of a city and give them new functions. Therefore: really an insider tip!

If you think about city trips, you usually think of Paris, Bordeaux, Marseilles or Nice. But in Metz? No, the city with 120,000 inhabitants in the northeast of the country is not usually on your list. And it's worth it, especially this year. This has, among other things, to do with the fact that Philippe Starck's mammoth project will then be completed: the construction of thenear the amphitheater, which is scheduled to open this year. Architecture and design luminary Starck said of the project that it was “masterful architecture that stands out of the ordinary. It is a game with uprooted roots, a symbolic construction of Lorraine”. As part of this, some of Starck's works from the Center Pompidou Paris will also be exhibited at the Center Pompidou Metz, as it will soon be closed for five years for renovation work.

Although Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, hardly anyone knows the city in this country. A visit there is more than worthwhile! Guadalajara scores particularly well when it comes to culture: countless museums, galleries, design shops, but also restaurantsthere are in the city, and many of them are really great. For those who decide at short notice, February is a good time to visit, as the Art Wknd architecture and design fair takes place in the city - this is also an absolute insider tip, at least for us Europeans. But apart from that: the bar Gallo Altanero is one of the 50 best in the world, restaurants like Octo and Bruna are known beyond the city and country borders and the Plataforma, which only opened last year, has already become the leading center for contemporary art and the local creative scene developed - including the private collections of Marcela Preciado and José Noé Suro. And there is also a lot to discover near Guadalajara, including the Bosque la Primavera nature reserve, the mountain town of Mazamitla and the town of Tequila, birthplace of the spirit of the same name.

With just over 800 residents, the Norwegian town of Rosendal is more than tranquil. But what makes the town so special is its location: Rosendal is at the exit of the famousbetween the Melderskin and Malmangernuten mountains. In and around Rosendal you will find spectacular natural landscapes in the Folgefonna National Park, colorful wooden houses and lots of culture (the Baronie Rosendal museums, a shipbuilding museum, etc.). Also very special is a huge steel egg that floats in the Hardangerfjord - the so-called Salmon Eye. This is an art installation by Kvorning Design, which serves as a research center for sustainable aquaculture - and is open to the public. There is also a great restaurant inside, the Iris, which also places great emphasis on sustainability and local and maritime products.

As a travel destination, Egypt is often only associated with comparatively insignificant all-inclusive holidays. But you do the country an injustice to reduce it to that alone. This is particularly evident using the example of the 500,000-inhabitant metropolis of Luxor on the east bank of the Nile. And if you're heading there, we definitely recommend staying at the Hotel Al Moudira, a nature-friendly hotel that belongs to the Relais & Chateaux hotel chain. The hotel impresses with antique furniture and textiles, beautiful frescoes - and everything was built from locally made terracotta bricks and local sandstone, so it fits perfectly into the surroundings. And speaking of surroundings: The hotel also has a fantastic location, in close proximity to the Valley of the Kings and the-World Heritage Site of Ancient Thebes.

Anyone who wants to take a leap across the pond should know that it's not always just, Los Angeles or Miami. Richmond, the capital of the US state of Virginia, also has a lot to offer and, at least from a European perspective, is still considered an insider tip from a tourist perspective. Years ago, things weren't particularly good around Richmond; the city was on the verge of decline. But that has now changed and the city of 220,000 inhabitants has developed considerably - especially in terms of the restaurant scene with spots like Chez Lindsay, The Waterman's Arms and Antipodea. There are also great hotels in Richmond, including the boutique hotel Shenandoah Mansions in Richmond's bohemian Fan District.

A lot of people are currently looking at India again, and that's a good thing - after all, the country has changed a lot in recent years and will continue to do so. One city that particularly stands out is the megacity Jaipur, about 300 kilometers southwest of Delhi. The city is an absolute cultural center with a university, theaters, cinemas, museums, zoo and art monuments - and an impressive walled city center, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. In general, the city is architecturally amazing, because the city is basically pink. As a hotel tip, we can recommend Raffles Jaipur, which only opened last year and is part of the well-known chain. For culture lovers, we recommend a visit to the Museum of Meenakari Heritage, which is dedicated to Jaipur's Indo-Saracenic roots. A really great, vibrant city.