Discover the World: Unveiling 2023’s Must-Visit Gems from Greenland to Kyrgyzstan and Beyond!

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It’s already a few weeks into the year, and we’re mapping out the places we want to visit next. Lale engages in conversation with her well-traveled colleagues Megan Spurrell and Arati Menon regarding the most remarkable destinations to explore in 2025—spanning from Greenland and Alaska to India and Uganda—and gathers insights on how to accomplish some of those ambitious (and more feasible) adventures.

Lale Arikoglu: Hello everyone, I’m Lale Arikoglu, and on today’s Women Who Travel, I’m joined in the studio by two editors and writers from Condé Nast Traveler who I know exceptionally well.

Megan Spurrell: I think when we discuss this vast, beautiful world, it encapsulates what we’re all passionate about.

LA: We have Megan Spurrell, Associate Articles Director, who has appeared on the show multiple times. She recently shared her experiences from reporting in Tahiti on Olympic surfers, where you expressed your fondness for raw fish, along with other topics.

MS: I’m thrilled to be recognized for that, with the audience here.

LA: It can be said that’s part of your brand. Also joining me today is Arati Menon, our Global Digital Director.

Arati Menon: Excited to be here in this inviting, comfortable studio.

LA: It is indeed inviting and comfortable, I must say.

Each year we compile our best places to visit. This list is published on our US website and across various editions of Condé Nast Traveler. It serves as a guide for anyone curious about the globe, which I imagine is everyone tuning into this podcast at this moment. This list is intended for dreaming just as much as for planning. There are locations that might seem unreachable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t consider the possibility. And while some of the hotels and experiences may be on the pricier side, there is also an abundance of budget-friendly options available. I would also like to emphasize that this serves as a source of inspiration for potential travels. It’s an invitation to explore. You don’t have to experience every notable item on this list. Use it as a reference.

Last year featured 24 places to explore in 2024. This year presents 25 in 2025. That is straightforward, but how does this year stand out?

MS: What’s exciting is that for every year we release this list, we’ve been expanding it, so we now present our main compilation of the 25 best destinations in 2025, but we also create a list for each continent afterward. We have introduced some new elements this year. Arati, would you like to elaborate on that?

AM: Absolutely, as we always say, more is more, so there are definitely more lists, more places to explore. The world is such a vast, magnificent place, so we can’t be faulted. Yes, we have an exciting addition this year. Considering that food has become a remarkable lens through which we all, you, me, Megan, explore destinations and comprehend cultures and communities, we decided-