A trend travel guide from the “Lonely Planet” brand once again recommends dozens of destinations for 2025. This time, they include a German federal state, a Swiss canton and other highlights in Europe.
Why wander far afield when good things are so close? You only need your mobile device to open up NationalCasino India. But when it comes to traveling, Bavaria is one of the world-famous travel guide “Lonely Planet’s” top ten travel destinations for the coming year. In the new book “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025”, the southern German state is listed in the “Top 10 regions” category. With Valais in Switzerland and East Anglia in England, two other European regions have also made it onto the list.
Cities and countries selected alongside regions
The top ten cities include Toulouse (“Paris in miniature”), Genoa (“could lose its powerful charisma if it becomes too well-known”) and Palma de Mallorca.
The country list includes Lithuania (Vilnius is the European Green Capital 2025) and Slovakia (“focus on outdoor adventures, ecotourism and numerous ongoing restoration projects in the capital and beyond.”)
In the general category “Travel Trends”, the book published in New York lists cities with spectacular drag shows. Among the cities mentioned are Bangkok, Sydney and Berlin: “Unconventional kings, queens and in-between performers in Berlin’s queer nightlife: In November, they will compete in the Mx. kotti contest, a cross-border version of the beauty pageant.”
Why Lonely Planet chose Bavaria
“Lonely Planet” writes about Bavaria. Which is ranked seventh in the regions. ”Hip modernity and cherished traditions, mathematical perfection and beer tent battles. The Free State has a distinctive but often contradictory character.”
Highlights include the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II (1845-1886) and the beer gardens (“Spend an evening in a beer garden. For example at the Chinese Tower in Munich”). Bavaria can rely on one thing. “That its beer will (not only) continue to be among the best in the world in 2025 (even if the Czechs and Belgians may see it differently)”.
Of course, the Oktoberfest and Munich’s Allianz Arena, which is planned to host the Champions League final on May 31, 2025, are also mentioned. “The stadium, whose façade – soccer fans know this of course – can change color depending on who is playing in the arena. It is considered one of the most spectacular in the world”).
The book also says: “Take an electric boat across the Königssee in Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria’s most beautiful Alpine corner (with a dark Nazi past).” Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitze and the impressively narrow Partnach Gorge, is also an important location for mountain adventurers.
Praise for the Valais and Palma de Mallorca
Another highly praised region in 2025 is the (partly German-speaking) Valais. The Swiss canton with the glamorous resorts of Verbier and Zermatt and, of course, the Matterhorn, is praised for its efforts to “electrify in the truest sense of the word” in 2025. At the World Cycling Championships – the UCI World Championships in the region – e-mountain biking will be added as a new, seventh discipline. “No wonder, after all, mountain biking with an electric drive is the fastest-growing market (not only) in the Alps.”
The Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca, which is already popular with Germans, is praised for its capital. “With its thriving gastronomic scene, its bubbling creative energy and first-class art collections, Palma is redefining the Balearic vacation. As a stylish, culturally diverse destination all year round. By 2025, Mallorca’s Mediterranean capital promises to open its long-awaited, traffic-reduced waterfront promenade. Which you can explore on foot or by bike.”
About Lonely Planet
The trend travel guide “Best in Travel 2025” is published by MairDumont. The largest German travel publishing group based in Ostfildern near Stuttgart. Germany has already featured several times in previous editions of the “Best in Travel” series. Dresden, for example, was listed for 2023. In 2019, Germany was ranked second among the countries. Primarily due to the Bauhaus anniversary, and Germany was also ranked second in 2010. Bavaria had already been listed as a top region in 2016.
The Lonely Planet brand, which was founded in 1973, claims to have printed more than 150 million travel guides in recent decades. The brand can also be found on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and X – and in 14 languages, as it says.
Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2025” at a glance
Top 10 countries: Cameroon, Lithuania, Fiji, Laos, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu, Slovakia and Armenia.
Top 10 cities: Toulouse (France), Puducherry (India), Bansko (Bulgaria), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Genoa (Italy), Pittsburgh (USA), Osaka (Japan), Curitiba (Brazil), Palma (Spain) and Edmonton (Canada).
Top 10 regions: South Carolina Lowcountry & Coast of Georgia, USA; the Terai, Nepal; Chiriquí, Panama; Launceston & the Tamar Valley, Australia; Wallis, Switzerland; Giresun & Ordu, Turkey; Bavaria, Germany; East Anglia, England; Jordan Trail, Jordan; Mount Hood & Columbia River Gorge, USA.
