5 Places You Need to Visit in 2025
Make 2025 the year you start tackling your travel bucket list.
After the first of the year, everyone is ready to travel—whether it’s creating a list of destinations to space out throughout the next 365 days or itching to escape from the post-holiday winter blah feeling, you can practically hear your suitcase yelling at you to start packing for your next big trip.
But if you’re wondering where you should travel to in 2025, we’ve curated the perfect list with the help of Viator. And thanks to the student discount available at Student Beans, you’ll get a sweet discount with any excursions you book through them.
Ready to go? Here are the top five travel destinations to check out for the new year.
London
Why: London is a cultural epicenter for just about everything—dining, fashion, history, museums, and so much more. There’s an endless list of things to do in London, regardless of what you want your itinerary to look like. And the surrounding countryside is easily accessible for day tours, too!
What to Do: When planning your London adventures, be sure to set aside some time to check out Westminster Abbey. Aside from the stunning architecture on the outside, the inside of the cathedral boasts beautiful artwork and hundreds of years of history. They offer services open to the public which are definitely worth attending.
Where to Eat: Borough Market is overflowing with some of the best foods in the city. Hundreds of vendors have shops inside the market, so be sure to arrive hungry. Oh, and world-famous chefs like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay regularly swing by, so you know it’s going to be delicious.
Excursion to Book: Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham
Tokyo
Why: Tokyo is the most populated city in the world, with 37.1 million people residing there. Nowhere on Earth blends tradition and green space with futuristic technology as seamlessly as Tokyo. There’s an endless list of things to do and explore within the city—exploring the packed, bright neon streets of Akihabara; eating your way around Asakusa Temple; or wandering the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
What to Do: Meiji Shrine is situated smack in the middle of downtown Tokyo, but you’d never know it. Despite the busy streets being just a few feet away, you’re suddenly transported into another world while walking around in what feels like a forest. Be sure to see the Meiji Memorial Hall, which has more than 80 murals on display.
Where to Eat: It feels impossible to recommend one place to eat while in Tokyo, so we’ll opt for a what to eat instead. Taiyaki, curry rice, melon bread and egg salad sandwiches from 7/11 or Lawson’s, yakiniku, okonomiyaki, and ramen, to name a few.
Excursion to Book: Mt. Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour
Paris
Why: Do we really need to explain why going to Paris should be on your travel list? Just in case you were on the fence, we’ll go ahead and sell you on it. Museums (the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, to name a few), the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, and the food. French cuisine isn’t world-famous for nothing, and that’s not including the cheese and bakeries.
What to Do: Aside from the obvious, you absolutely have to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. It recently reopened to the public after construction from the fire in 2019, making it a must-see. Beautiful Gothic architecture pair with stained glass windows for a breathtaking scene.
Where to Eat: Similar to Tokyo, recommending one place in Paris to eat is a fool’s errand. Be sure to stop at a boulangerie for baguette sandwiches; try all the cheese, croissants, and onion soup you can get your hands on; and of course crepes, macarons, and quiche Lorraine.
Excursion to Book: Paris in a Day with Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame & Cruise
New York City
Why: You could spend ages in New York and still find new things in the city regularly. It’s no wonder nearly 9 million people have decided to call it home. Do you hit up the countless museums? Or maybe check out the green spaces nestled within the skyscrapers? Oh, and there’s also the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Wherever you start your NYC adventure, you know it’s going to be just that—an adventure.
What to Do: Okay, we’ll skip over some of the super touristy stuff because we know it’s already on your list, but the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the city. It’s worth your time to visit and pay your respects.
Where to Eat: I mean, New York is synonymous with pizza, right? Every New Yorker has their own take on which pizza is best in the city, but everyone agrees you’re never far from a delicious slice. And we’d be remiss not to mention Katz’s Delicatessen, which is the oldest in the city.
Excursion to Book: New York Helicopter Tour: City Lights Skyline Experience
Rome
Why: The saying goes that Rome wasn’t built in a day, which is why you need plenty of time to explore the city. Ancient ruins, more art than you can imagine, and a robust dining and nightlife scene round out just a few of the things you need to do when visiting. There’s a reason the city is still standing after millennia!
What to Do: The Colosseum. Obviously, the Colosseum! It’s been standing since 80 AD, and even though part of the facade has been stolen to create other landmarks like St. Peter’s Basilica (ironic, right?), it’s still remarkably intact.
Where to Eat: It’s true that the pasta in Italy is different because of the wheat and water, so check out Untitled 53 for a more upscale experience or Quel che c’è laboratorio Di Cucina for a fast-casual (but still incredible) meal. And pizza, but that goes without saying, right?
Excursion to Book: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Save 10% on your travel plans with Viator when you use Student Beans
This is a sponsored post in partnership with Viator.
