Asheville Takes Center Stage: NYT’s Must-Visit Travel Gem for 2025!

Asheville, North Carolina has been listed among the top 20 in a selection of 52 travel locations for 2025 by the New York Times.

The city, which earned the No. 16 slot on the list, is included with global locations like the Galápagos Islands; Sydney, Australia; among others. Additionally, other renowned U.S. spots like the museums of New York City are featured on the list.

In spite of the devastation inflicted on the Western N.C. area by Tropical Storm Helene, which was reported on by NYT, writer Shayla Martin illustrated how the Asheville community united to recover.

This is what else the NYT list indicated regarding why Asheville should be visited in 2025, along with other places that made the top 20.

What transpired in Asheville, NC?

The NYT list entry did not hesitate to address the substantial destruction instigated by Helene. Specifically, Martin highlighted the extensive flooding that affected “major economic centers,” particularly the River Arts District and Biltmore Village.

However, the narrative also discussed community initiatives to gather and distribute resources to those impacted by the storm, mentioning Hood Huggers International as an example of a local organization that provided assistance. Currently, Martin encourages travelers to heed the city’s call to “consider planning a return visit with heart.”

Activities to enjoy in Asheville post-Helene

A variety of recommendations for tourists to Asheville were featured in the NYT report, focusing on reopened sites post-Helene. Suggested attractions included:

Notable 20 travel locations in 2025

Asheville was recognized as one of the top 20 in a roster of 52, positioning itself at No. 16. For the complete list, please visit the NYT webpage. Here’s the complete top 20 listing:

1. Jane Austen’s England
2. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
3. New York City Museums
4. Assam, India
5. ‘White Lotus’ Thailand
6. Greenland
7. Aix-en-Provence, France
8. Sun Valley, Idaho
9. Lumbini, Nepal
10. Sydney, Australia
11. Coimbra, Portugal
12. Angola
13. Hamburg, Germany
14. Nicaragua
15. Dolomite Mountains, Italy
16. Asheville, N.C.
17. Magdalena River, Colombia
18. Los Cabos, Mexico
19. Alishan, Taiwan
20. Flow Country, Scotland

More: As 12,000 remain displaced from Helene, campers become homes. The problem is keeping them warm

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.