What’s Changing in Travel Trends in 2025

Travel trends are a reflection of how you want to experience the world. Some of these trends are driven by global events—uncertainty in the economy, political changes, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have made people rethink how and why they travel. Others come from a growing desire to break away from the usual routines and find experiences that feel personal. Ultimately, people want to connect, unplug, and immerse themselves in something real. So, what’s actually shaping the way we travel in 2025? Let’s break it down.

What Travel Trends Reveal About How We Want to Explore the World

Every year, new travel trends emerge based on how people’s priorities shift. These trends serve as a kind of roadmap for where travel is heading. Some of them tap into our desire for connection and adventure, while others reflect broader cultural changes, like the push for sustainability or the growing preference for experiences over material things.

A lot of travelers don’t necessarily follow trends consciously, but they do gravitate toward the experiences that feel right for the moment. In 2025, we’re seeing a strong pull toward authenticity—people want to feel like their trips mean something. Whether it’s a digital detox in the mountains, stargazing in remote locations, or even just a quick weekend getaway that doesn’t require a passport, the focus is on making travel feel less like a checklist and more like an experience worth remembering.

Holiday Romances

One thing we can say with certainty about online dating is that it is exhausting. Swiping left and right might be convenient, but it’s also left a lot of people feeling disconnected. That’s why holiday romances are making a big comeback, but not in the fleeting, summer-fling kind of way. Travelers are looking for deeper connections.

Instead of forced speed-dating events, these connections happen naturally—through group adventure tours, cooking classes, or cultural experiences where people bond over something real. Some travel companies are even leaning into this trend, crafting itineraries that encourage interaction while keeping things organic. It turns out, that meeting someone in the middle of a new experience is a lot more exciting than responding to yet another dating app message.

Literary Festivals

Not everyone travels for beaches or nightlife. Book lovers are increasingly shaping their trips around literary festivals, planning vacations that let them meet authors, attend discussions, and soak in the local literary scene. Cities like Jaipur, Wales, and Paraty have turned their book festivals into major cultural events, attracting travelers who want more than just sightseeing.

What makes this trend interesting is that it taps into a different kind of wanderlust—the urge to connect with stories, history, and the creative energy of a place. Instead of breezing through touristy landmarks, literary travelers are finding cozy bookstores, attending readings, and diving into the cultural pulse of a destination. It’s travel with a purpose, and for a lot of people, it beats the usual tourist traps.

Unplugged Travel

Constant notifications, endless scrolling, and the pressure to document every moment—no wonder so many people are looking for a break from their screens. Digital detox travel is becoming a major trend, with travelers actively choosing places where Wi-Fi is limited, or better yet, non-existent.

People are drawn to remote cabins, off-the-grid lodges, and destinations where nature takes center stage. The appeal, besides escaping technology, is more about being fully present. 

Astro-Tourism

For many people, the best travel memories aren’t about packed itineraries or famous sights—they’re about simply looking up. Astro-tourism is drawing travelers to some of the darkest, clearest skies on Earth, where they can experience the night sky in all its glory.

Destinations like the Atacama Desert in Chile, Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and New Zealand’s Dark Sky Reserves are becoming hotspots for stargazers. Some lodges and tour operators are even offering guided astronomy experiences, complete with telescopes and expert-led stargazing sessions. It’s a chance to feel small in the best possible way, connecting with something far bigger than yourself.

Culinary Trails

Food has always been a major part of travel, but 2025 is seeing a shift from casual dining to structured culinary experiences. Travelers are designing entire trips around food trails, visiting regions known for their iconic dishes and culinary traditions.

Whether it’s truffle hunting in Italy, sake tasting in Japan, or exploring the spice markets of Morocco, the focus is on hands-on experiences. Cooking classes, farm-to-table dining, and visits to local food producers are making trips more immersive. 

Sustainable and Regenerative Travel

Sustainability in travel isn’t new, but 2025 is pushing it further. More travelers are choosing destinations, hotels, and tour companies that prioritize eco-conscious practices. Travelers aren’t just looking to reduce their impact—they want to give back.

That’s where regenerative travel comes in. Instead of just minimizing their impact, travelers are looking for ways to contribute—whether that’s through conservation programs, community-based tourism, or staying at places that invest in the local environment. The idea is simple: leave a destination better than you found it.

Set-Jetting

Thanks to streaming platforms, people are getting more travel inspiration from their screens than ever before. Set-jetting, or traveling to real-life locations from TV shows and movies, is on the rise.

Whether it’s visiting the Scottish Highlands from Outlander, the neon-lit streets of Tokyo from Lost in Translation, or the dramatic landscapes of Iceland from Game of Thrones, pop culture is shaping travel choices in a big way. Tour companies are capitalizing on this by offering location-specific experiences, from guided film tours to stays in places that once served as movie sets.

Micro-Cations

Many of us don’t have the luxury of long vacations, which is why micro-cations—trips lasting four days or less—are becoming the go-to travel style. The idea is to maximize a short break without feeling rushed.

Instead of sprawling, multi-city trips, people are choosing focused experiences: a weekend at a wellness retreat, a quick culinary escape, or a short nature getaway. The rise of flexible work schedules has also made it easier to squeeze in these trips which makes them an appealing option for travelers who don’t want to wait for a big vacation to take a break.