Tripadvisor Reveals 2025's Must-Visit Destinations: Top Picks From Travelers Around the World

Rhea-AI Summary

Tripadvisor has announced its 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards for Best of the Best Destinations, based on millions of traveler reviews. London has claimed the top spot globally, advancing from its previous position and dethroning Dubai, which held first place since 2022. In the U.S., New York City leads the rankings.

The awards span seven categories including two new additions: Solo Travel Destinations and Top Destinations of the Last 25 Years. Seoul ranks first for solo travelers globally, while Osaka, Japan is named the top trending destination for 2025. For food destinations, Rome takes the global crown, with New Orleans leading the U.S. rankings.

The rankings are based on review data collected between October 2023 and September 2024, reflecting real travelers' experiences and preferences across accommodations, restaurants, and activities.

Positive

• Recognition as world's largest travel guidance platform with over 1 billion reviews
• Expansion into new award categories showing market adaptability
• Global reach demonstrated through diverse destination rankings

Negative

• None.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

This annual destination ranking announcement, while valuable for Tripadvisor's brand visibility, has minimal direct financial impact on TRIP's stock performance. The real significance lies in the underlying data that signals broader travel industry trends:

Key Business Indicators:

• The report leverages data from over 1 billion reviews, demonstrating Tripadvisor's massive user engagement and market leadership in travel guidance
• Consumer survey data from 4,850 participants across 6 countries reveals continued strong interest in international travel, particularly in cultural and culinary experiences
• The expansion into new categories (Solo Travel Destinations) indicates Tripadvisor's strategic adaptation to emerging travel trends

However, the timing and nature of this announcement - being primarily a marketing piece without material financial metrics or business strategy updates - makes it more of a routine operational release than a market-moving event.

Travel Industry Expert

From a travel industry perspective, this data reveals several actionable insights about consumer behavior patterns:

• The strong showing of Asian destinations (Osaka, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur) in trending categories suggests a post-pandemic recovery in Asian tourism markets
• The emergence of secondary cities (Cleveland, Kansas City) in U.S. trending destinations indicates a shift in domestic travel patterns
• Food remains a primary driver of travel decisions, particularly in urban destinations, which could impact Tripadvisor's restaurant review and booking segments

While these trends are valuable for industry stakeholders, they represent gradual shifts in consumer behavior rather than immediate catalysts for stock movement. The data's true value lies in its potential influence on Tripadvisor's long-term product development and market positioning strategy.

London Takes The Top Spot – Plus, U.S. Favorite Places for Food, Culture, Solo Travel and More

NEEDHAM, Mass., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tripadvisor^®, the world's largest travel guidance platform, today announced its first Travelers' Choice^® Awards category for 2025: Best of the Best Destinations.

Each year, Tripadvisor pores over millions of reviews shared by a global community of travelers to uncover the most trusted recommendations, helping future explorers create unforgettable memories on their next adventure. Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations span seven categories; Top Destinations, Trending Destinations, Culture Destinations, Food Destinations, Honeymoon Destinations. This year Tripadvisor introduces two new subcategories; Solo Travel Destinations and a special sub-category in celebration of Tripadvisor's 25th anniversary honoring the Top Destinations of the Last 25 Years based on all time reviews.

The Travelers' Choice Awards celebrate destinations with the highest ratings and reviews from global travelers over the past year. The rankings shine a light on the places that have captured the hearts of real travelers who've experienced them firsthand.

"Over the last 25 years Tripadvisor has grown to become the world's leading travel guidance platform, drawing on insights from real travelers all around the world," commented Kristen Dalton, President, Tripadvisor. "Based on the more than 1 billion reviews and opinions on our site today, Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards reflect the global travel community's favorites - from destinations themselves, to everything that makes them special including restaurants, hotels and experiences."

London Takes the Crown Globally, While NYC Rules the U.S.

This year London climbed two places to be named No. 1 Top Destination in the World, taking the title from Dubai, which had proudly held onto first place since 2022. The UK capital is also recognized for its culinary scene as well as rich arts and heritage offering, coming second in the world in the best Food Destinations and third in Culture Destinations. The city was also named No. 1 in Tripadvisor's special 25th anniversary list, with London recognized as the top destination from the last 25 years of reviews on the site.

Here in the U.S., New York City tops this list, and is also featured in the states' top Food Destinations. Other fan favorite destinations include warm weather hotspots like O'ahu and the Florida Keys, hustling cities like Chicago and Las Vegas, and culturally rich locations like New Orleans and Washington D.C.

Top Destinations - World	Top Destinations – U.S.
1. London, U.K.	1. New York City, NY
2. Bali, Indonesia	2. O'ahu, HI
3. Dubai, U.A.E.	3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Sicily, Italy	4. Florida Keys, FL
5. Paris, France	5. New Orleans, LA
6. Rome, Italy	6. Nashville, TN
7. Hanoi, Vietnam	7. San Francisco, CA
8. Marrakech, Morocco	8. Chicago, IL
9. Crete, Greece	9. Charleston, SC
10. Bangkok, Thailand	10. Washington, D.C.

Trending for 2025

Osaka, Japan, is named No. 1 Trending Destination in the World for 2025, based on year-on-year growth of reviews. Known as 'the nation's kitchen', Osaka has a thriving food scene, as well as great shopping and nightlife. It is also the perfect base for exploring the Kansai region, which is home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia comes in at No. 2, followed by Argentina's capital Buenos Aires at No. 3.

The Trending Destinations in the U.S. included a mix of sun and snow, from coastal getaways like West Palm Beach and Santa Barbara, to the mountain views of Denver and Park City. The Midwest is having a moment, with Cleveland and Kansas City nearing the top of the list, while destinations adjacent to big cities, like Memphis and Brooklyn, are also rising the ranks.

Trending Destinations - World	Trending Destinations – U.S.
1. Osaka, Japan	1. West Palm Beach, FL
2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	2. Santa Barbara, CA
3. Buenos Aires, Argentina	3. Cleveland, OH
4. Manama, Bahrain	4. Kansas City, MO
5. Lima, Peru	5. Memphis, TN
6. Medellin, Colombia	6. Park City, UT
7. Auckland, New Zealand	7. Juneau, AK
8. Kyoto, Japan	8. Denver, CO
9. Seoul, South Korea	9. Brooklyn, NY
10. Casablanca, Morocco	10. Hilton Head, SC

New for 2025

As Tripadvisor celebrates a quarter of a century this year, the 25th Anniversary Destinations list pays homage to reviewers' favorite destinations since the launch of the site. London also tops this category, followed by New York at No. 2 and Rome at No. 3.

25th Anniversary Destinations

1. London, U.K.

2. New York City, U.S.

3. Rome, Italy

4. Paris, France

5. Bali, Indonesia

6. Barcelona, Spain

7. Dubai , U.A.E.

8. Crete, Greece

9. Lisbon, Portugal

10. Bangkok, Thailand

This year also sees the launch of another new category, Solo Travel Destinations. This list features many major global cities, with South Korean capital, Seoul taking the top spot. These destinations are loved by solo travelers and perfect for anyone heading out on an adventure alone.

Solo Travel Destinations - World

1. Seoul, South Korea

2. Kathmandu, Nepal

3. Cusco, Peru

4. Bangkok, Thailand

5. Osaka, Japan

6. Dubai, U.A.E.

7. Kyoto, Japan

8. Chiang Mai, Thailand

9. Reykjavik, Iceland

10. Melbourne, Australia

Best of the Rest

With travelers across the world most excited about food on their upcoming trips, according to Tripadvisor's latest Seasonal Travel Index, best Food Destinations is the ultimate guide to where to find the best culinary experiences.

Food Destinations - World	Food Destinations – U.S.
1. Rome, Italy	1. New Orleans, LA
2. London, U.K.	2. Charleston, SC
3. Marrakech, Morocco	3. New York City, NY
4. Paris, France	4. Savannah, GA
5. Naples, Italy	5. Asheville, NC
6. Barcelona, Spain	6. Boston, MA
7. Lima, Peru	7. Nashville, TN
8. New Orleans, U.S.	8. Portland, ME
9. Buenos Aires, Argentina	9. San Diego, CA
10. Athens, Greece	10. San Francisco, CA

The best Culture Destinations celebrate the destinations bursting with vibrant arts scenes and rich in heritage that are inspiring travelers across the world. Rich in culture and traditions, Bali takes the No. 1 spot, followed by Hanoi, Vietnam at No. 2 and London at No. 3.

Culture Destinations - World

1. Bali, Indonesia

2. Hanoi, Vietnam

3. London, U.K.

4. Marrakech, Morocco

5. Rome, Italy

6. Cusco, Peru

7. Kathmandu, Nepal

8. New Delhi, India

9. Crete, Greece

10. Siem Reap, Cambodia

For couples looking to celebrate one of their most special trips, best Honeymoon Destinations showcases the most romantic places on earth, from private beaches to intimate dinners, these are travelers' favorites to set the mood for two.

Honeymoon Destinations - World

1. Mauritius

2. Bali, Indonesia

3. Maldives

4. Hoi An, Vietnam

5. Phuket, Thailand

6. Santorini, Greece

7. Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

8. Florence, Italy

9. La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

10. St. Lucia

Methodologies

Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Destinations
The 2025 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Destinations are calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews, specific to each award subcategory, for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations from travelers globally on Tripadvisor between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Tripadvisor Seasonal Travel Index
The data cited in this release was gathered and analyzed from two key sources:

• A Tripadvisor Consumer Sentiment Survey, based on data drawn from an online survey of over 4,850 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, conducted between September 6 - October 3, 2024 across six countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Singapore, U.K. & U.S.
• Site behavioral data sourced from first party traffic data on the Tripadvisor platform for searches made by travelers in the U.S., U.K. and Japan between August 1 - October 20, 2024 for travel between November 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025.

About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use Tripadvisor's website and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps.

* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, Jan 2025
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files

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SOURCE Tripadvisor

FAQ

What is the #1 destination in Tripadvisor's 2025 global rankings for TRIP?

London is ranked as the #1 destination globally in Tripadvisor's 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards, moving up two positions and replacing Dubai, which held the top spot since 2022.

Which city leads Tripadvisor's 2025 U.S. destinations ranking?

New York City leads Tripadvisor's 2025 U.S. destinations ranking, followed by O'ahu, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

What is the top trending destination for 2025 according to Tripadvisor (TRIP)?

Osaka, Japan is named the #1 Trending Destination in the World for 2025, based on year-over-year growth of reviews.

Which city tops Tripadvisor's new Solo Travel Destinations category for 2025?

Seoul, South Korea tops Tripadvisor's new Solo Travel Destinations category for 2025, followed by Kathmandu, Nepal, and Cusco, Peru.

What is the #1 Food Destination in the U.S. according to Tripadvisor's 2025 rankings?

New Orleans, Louisiana is ranked as the #1 Food Destination in the U.S. for 2025, followed by Charleston, SC, and New York City.