Ever feel like travel bucket lists are just getting... predictable? You see the same sparkly Amalfi Coast shots and the same "secret" spots in Bali that everyone else already knows about. But when the NYT 52 Places 2025 list dropped, things felt a bit different. It wasn’t just about where to take a photo. It was about where the world is actually moving.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. The 2025 selection, curated under the direction of New York Times editor Stephen Hiltner, moves away from the usual "over-touristed" traps. Instead, it leans into recovery, literary nostalgia, and some seriously weird (in a good way) geography. We’re talking about bogs in Scotland and "White Lotus" filming locations in Thailand. It's a mix that basically says: "Stop going where everyone else goes. Go where something is actually happening."
What Most People Get Wrong About the NYT 52 Places 2025
A lot of people think these lists are just a ranking of the "best" beaches or the "hottest" new hotels. Nope. That's not how the NYT 52 Places 2025 works. The Times usually looks for a "why now" factor. Maybe it's a massive anniversary, a new direct flight path, or a city that’s literally rebuilding itself from the ground up.
Take Asheville, North Carolina. It’s number 16 on the list. If you haven't been following the news, Asheville got absolutely hammered by Hurricane Helene in late 2024. Placing it on this list isn't just a "nice" gesture; it's an economic signal. The arts district was devastated, but the city is pivoting toward a "return with heart" campaign. They want people to come back—not to gawk at the damage, but to support the makers and the chefs who are actually keeping the town’s soul alive. It's about travel as an act of solidarity.
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The Top Five: A Wildly Different Vibe
The top of the list usually sets the tone for the whole year. This time, it’s a bizarrely beautiful spectrum:
- Jane Austen’s England: Specifically the southwest. Why? Because the literary legend’s legacy is celebrating a massive milestone, and there’s a pastoral, slow-burn energy there that people are craving right now.
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: But with a twist. The entry fee just doubled to $200 for most foreigners. The NYT is highlighting this as a test case for high-value, low-impact tourism. If you want the tortoises, you’ve gotta pay for the protection of their home.
- New York City Museums: Specifically because it’s the city’s 400th birthday. Expect four major museum reopenings and a lot of "birthday" energy in the art world.
- Assam, India: This is for the "off-the-map" crowd. It’s remote, it borders Myanmar and Bangladesh, and it just got a UNESCO nod for its "pyramids"—the Charaideo Moidams.
- ‘White Lotus’ Thailand: Let’s be real. Season 3 of the HBO show is filming there. The "set-jetting" trend is huge, and the Times is acknowledging that pop culture is basically the new travel agent.
Why the "Bog" of Scotland is Actually Cool
Let's talk about number 20: The Flow Country in Scotland. It’s a bog. A giant, sprawling peatland. Sounds thrilling, right?
But here's the thing—it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site recently. In a world obsessed with climate change, peatlands are the unsung heroes of carbon storage. Visiting a bog might not sound like a Maldives getaway, but it’s part of a growing trend of "eco-curiosity." People want to see the systems that are keeping the planet breathing. It’s gritty, it’s damp, and it’s profoundly important.
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Greenland is Getting... Easy?
Greenland has always been the "maybe one day" destination for most of us. It’s expensive. It’s hard to get to. But that changed in late 2024 and early 2025 with the opening of a massive new international airport in Nuuk.
United Airlines even announced direct flights from the U.S. This is a game-changer. The NYT 52 Places 2025 highlights Greenland because it’s at a tipping point. It’s moving from "expedition only" to "accessible adventure." But there’s a tension there. The locals aren’t exactly ready for mass tourism, so the list encourages a "tread lightly" approach.
Small Towns and Secret Trains
Some of the coolest spots on the list aren't even cities.
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- Alishan, Taiwan: The Forest Railway finally reopened. It’s a 44-mile scenic route through lush mountains.
- Coimbra, Portugal: Everyone is flooding Lisbon and Porto. Coimbra is the "soulful" alternative that hasn't been completely overrun by TikTokers yet.
- Nicaragua: Often ignored in favor of Costa Rica, but it’s being hailed as the "less traveled sister" with just as much jungle and way fewer crowds.
The Logistics: How to Actually Use This List
Look, nobody is visiting all 52 places. That’s insane. The point of the NYT 52 Places 2025 is to help you diversify your travel portfolio.
Instead of booking that trip to Amsterdam (which is actually on the list, but mostly to highlight how they’re trying to manage the crowds), maybe look at Rotterdam (#51). It’s got a totally different, gritty, architectural vibe. Or if you were thinking of Italy, look at the Dolomites (#15) for the new 105-mile "Rhaetian" hiking circuit instead of just hitting the Colosseum again.
Final Advice for Your 2025 Travels
The real takeaway from this year’s list is that travel is becoming more intentional. We’re moving away from "I was here" and toward "I supported this." Whether it’s helping Asheville rebuild or visiting a Scottish peatland to understand carbon sinks, the NYT 52 Places 2025 suggests that the best trips of the year are the ones that leave a positive footprint.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Flight Routes: Look into the new direct flights to Nuuk (Greenland) or Marrakesh if you’re based in the U.S. These routes are new for 2025 and often have introductory pricing.
- Follow the "Set-Jetting" Calendar: If you want to visit Thailand without the "White Lotus" crowds, go before the new season drops in February.
- Support Recovery: If you’re heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains, make a point to spend your dollars at local galleries in Asheville’s River Arts District.
- Book the Trains: For Taiwan or Spain (Canfranc is a highlight), book rail passes early. The Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan is expected to sell out months in advance due to the renewed interest.