25 "worth every penny" tourist destinations around the world

Volcán de Fuego (Guatemala) is one of the most active volcanoes in the world today. With an altitude of 3,763 m, this

Volcán de Fuego (Guatemala) is one of the most active volcanoes in the world today. With an altitude of 3,763 m, this "hot" mountain is a must-see destination for those who love hiking and exploring adventurous lands. Photo: Peter Fisher.

Ocala National Forest (Florida, USA) is home to manatees, black bears and rare plants,... In addition, there are 600 natural lakes and streams spread over acres. Photo: Nick Conzone.

Thailand’s capital is a beautiful blend of old and new. The city’s skyline is dominated by glistening skyscrapers, luxury shopping malls like Siam Center and high-end hotels like Innside by Meliá Sukhumvit. Yet Bangkok retains its ancient, traditional charm through art and heritage destinations like Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Photo: Ekkarat Punyatara.

Raja Ampat (Indonesia) is known as an underwater wonderland with about 500 types of coral, more than a thousand species of coral reef fish and creatures such as manta rays and dugongs,... This area is so remote that it can only be explored by boat with caravans. Photo: Jonathan Irish.

Jalisco (Mexico) is a destination for those who are passionate about Mariachi music - an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This is expected to be an interesting experience for tourists in 2025. Photo: Alejandro Cegarra.

Exploring the Cenobitic Monasteries in Italy is an experience worth trying in 2025. Here you can participate in interesting experiences such as listening to Gregorian chants, admiring sacred objects and Renaissance artworks or meditating in a peaceful natural setting. Photo: Andrea Frazzetta.

Coming to Crenshaw Boulevard (Los Angeles, California, USA) in 2025, visitors can also admire more than 100 works by black artists. Photo: Dareon Grace, Destination Crenshaw.

Deep in the Arctic ice, Greenland is difficult to reach, but a new international airport in the capital Nuuk and flights to North America have opened up the opportunity for visitors to explore this frozen land. Adventures in Greenland can include seeing the giant icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord or experiencing indigenous Inuit culture in Kulusuk. Photo: Kiliii Yuyan.

Just a two-hour train ride from Kyoto, the ancient city of Kanazawa in Japan is home to a geisha district with many wooden teahouses. It also has great attractions such as Kenroku-en, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens, and an Edo-era samurai district that looks exactly like the Shogun. Photo: Ben Richards (left) and Kin Coedel (right).

After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Eastern & Oriental Express, operated by luxury train company Belmond, is back in action in 2024 with a glamorous new look. The trip will visit Taman Negara National Park (Pahang, Malaysia), where guests can learn about the endangered Malayan tiger and take a wildlife photography class. Photo: Nicolas Quiniou, Belmond.

Hiking and admiring Brasov - one of the most beautiful and famous cities in Romania, located in the heart of the mystical Transylvania region. Photo: Matthieu Paley.

The vast Cerrado grasslands of Brazil are home to 850 bird species and 12,000 plant species.

Brazil's vast Cerrado grasslands are home to 850 bird species and 12,000 plant species. "The Cerrado is an amazing, underappreciated place that is disappearing before our eyes due to the large-scale cattle industry," said National Geographic photographer Katie Orlinsky. By 2025, visitors will be able to experience unique activities such as bird watching and tracking maned wolves across the grasslands. Photo: Tui De Roy.

See rare wildlife at Northland Marine Reserve (New Zealand) such as: black spotted grouper, mosaic moray eel and Lord Howe coral fish,... Photo: Crispin Middleton.

Enjoy a West African culinary journey in Senegal and Take a cooking class or street food tour in Dakar. Photo: Cem Ozdel (left) and Melissa Alcena (right).

Take in the views of Haida Gwaii, home to the indigenous Haida people and home to some 150 misty islands, along the coast of British Columbia. Experiences include exploring Naikoon Park, spotting humpback whales and dolphins on whale-watching cruises, and meeting Haida artists at Old Massett Village. Photo: Ben Giesbrecht.

Visit the Barbados Heritage Site to discover a new perspective on the history of the slave trade. Photo: Marc Guitard.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks in northern Ladakh, the Suru Valley (India) is an alpine paradise with granite boulders for all skill levels. Photo: Sayandeep Roy.

One of the world's largest Basque cultural celebrations will return to Boise, Idaho, in July 2025 after years of disruption due to the pandemic. Photo: Visit Boise.

In 2025, the Louvre Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) is expected to be completed and become a tourist attraction attracting visitors from all over the world. Photo: Amr Alfiky.

Cruise the Murray River, the

Cruise the Murray River, the heart of Australia's agricultural industry and the third longest river in the world, after the Amazon and the Nile. Photo: Alana Holmberg.

Explore the Babanango Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa), which has successfully reintroduced elephants, lions, rare antelopes such as the oribi and klipspringer, and the endangered black rhino. Photo: Andrew Baxter.

Hike this vast new trail in the Stockholm Archipelago (Sweden). Photo: Martin Edström.

Immerse yourself in a music festival in Cork, Ireland. Photo: Cian Wong.

Explore the ancient archipelago along the Hebridean Way, with Neolithic sites like the 5,000-year-old Calanais Standing Stones in Scotland. Photo: Jim Richardson.