25 unforgettable destinations

THE COMPASS

This month’s travel inspirations: We’re preparing for our biggest travel year yet, with new rules and carry-on packing tips; staying comfortable with this underappreciated essential; checking out a surprising culinary trendsetter and checking into a transformative wellness retreat; setting up our cameras for an astrotourism boom; and pressing “book” on a dream trip (Tuscany? Anywhere in Japan??).

Travelers walk past a neon-light art installation by Michael Hayden in a pedestrian tunnel at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RUBENS ALARCON, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Travel is changing in 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

From Real ID to new visa requirements for American travelers, there’s much to keep track of beginning this month. Avoid travel snafus by reading up on all the travel changes before you book your next trip.

GET READY

Papuan fishermen in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID DOUBILET

Not sure where to go next? We’ve got 25 life-changing ideas.

Dive Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago (pictured). Eat your way through Senegal. Float along an iconic river in Australia. The hardest part? Deciding on just one unforgettable trip.

SEE THE LIST

The sky takes on a pink hue during a winter sunset in snowy Levi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SERTS, GETTY IMAGES

At this Finland resort, travelers find a real winter wonderland

Located above the Arctic Circle, this lively resort encapsulates the wild heart of Finnish Lapland in winter, with snowy woodland walks, frozen lakes, and reindeer encounters.

HOW TO VISIT

Check out the latest product reviews and recommendations from Nat Geo’s editorial team.

A woman wearing an olive green down jacket and tan backpack is seen from behind while standing in snow-covered woodlands. She is adjusting her white knitted hat with mitten covered hands.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NEW AFRICA, SHUTTERSTOCK

We never travel without slippers. We love these.

Comfortable and easy to pack, slippers are hard to beat for relaxing in a hotel room or navigating airplane aisles.

16 PICKS

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRESHSPLASH, GETTY IMAGES

Here’s what you can and can’t pack into a carry-on

We love to travel light, but it’s important to check TSA requirements and the tried-and-true favorites we always pack.

TOP TIPS

Manatees gather at the confluence of two rivers in north central Florida. A new study suggests changing habitat has allowed more manatees to thrive in the region.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON GULLEY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Why is Florida the best place to see manatees?

A new study suggests they’re more abundant in Florida than ever before. One reason? Not unlike travelers, these Caribbean transplants may have been drawn to the Sunshine State’s warm weather. So how well do you know these gentle “sea cows”? Choose the correct statement.

A. Manatees were first spotted in Florida waters in the early 1900s
B. In 2020, Florida manatees were reclassified from endangered to threatened
C. Currently, Florida’s manatee population is roughly 2,000-3,000
D. Manatees are primarily pescatarians, eating small crustaceans and seagrass
E. People once thought manatees could walk on land

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROYCE BAIR, VISIT UTAH

Astrotourism is big this year. Here’s how to get stellar photos.

From northern lights to blood moons and glittery meteor showers, there’s much to photograph this year.

LEARN HOW

Mongolia’s Gobi Desert is a remote and seemingly inhospitable place, but the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve on the desert’s north edge plays host to a thrilling wellness break.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RICHARD I’ANSON, AWL IMAGES

At this yoga retreat, ride with the last nomadic people on Earth

Barren yet beautiful, Mongolia’s Gobi Desert sets a striking backdrop for asanas and silent stargazing.

JUST RELAX

Nuuk is the world’s northernmost capital, and with fewer than 20,000 people it’s one of the smallest.

PHOTOGRAPH BY FILIP GIELDA, VISIT GREENLAND

Greenland may have the most exciting food scene yet

With its fjord feathered coast and iceberg-crowned waters, the “world’s wildest kitchen” is serving up unique, local flavors.

WHERE TO EAT

The three-story, 102-foot-tall pagoda at Kyomizu-dera Temple is a not-to-be-missed place to explore when planning a trip to Kyoto. Winter can be the best time to visit Japan, even better, with guidance from a travel pro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANGKANA KITTAYACHAWENG, ALAMY

Here’s why winter is the very best time to visit Japan

With fewer crowds, travelers have temples, forests, and macaques all to themselves. Bliss out with this 12-day itinerary.

HOW TO GO

MORE TRAVEL STORIES
TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT TRIP

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How TikTok is changing travel for better, and worse

See America’s parks with the people who first called them home

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The ‘Yosemite of South America’ is an adventure playground

SHOP

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