12 Top Tranquil Travel Spots for 2025

Our favorite serene and soothing sites to escape the stress

December 13, 2024

Prambanan temple, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of iStock/Sadagus.

If 2024 was the year global travelers began to appreciate the serious problem of overtourism, 2025 looks set to usher in a massive shift to less hectic destinations.

So, if you’re starting to make your travel plans for the coming year and desperate to avoid selfie-stick mobs and stress-inducing tourist traps, we’ve rounded up a dozen places where serenity rules and nature often takes center stage.

From sleepy seaside towns to calming forests and dreamy mountain escapes, these tranquil spots are sure to soothe even the most frazzled traveler. You might have a hard time leaving.

1. Northwest Patagonia, Argentina

The view from San Martin de los Andes, Patagonia Argentina. Photo courtesy of iStock/Juan Pablo Rodriguez.

Most foreign visitors to Argentine Patagonia skip right past this area to head for the glaciers and moonscapes of El Calafete and Tierra del Feugo. But they’re missing out on a land of stunning Andes peaks, chill mountain towns, and the 7 Lakes Route— which I drove last month and can confirm is one of the most spectacular roads you’ll ever travel.

To Do and See: Kayak in San Martín de los Andes, sip craft beer in El Bolsón, and hike through Lanín National Park. EA tip: pack a good camera for those surreal Andes sunsets.

When to Visit: October to April (spring to early fall) for peak hiking and driving conditions.

Calm-o-Meter: 9/10. Is anything more serene than the perfect lakeside picnic spot?

2. Wellington, New Zealand

The Wellington Cable Car, a landmark of Wellington, New Zealand. Photo courtesy of iStock/Robert CHG.

New Zealand’s third-largest city, with just 220,000 residents, is a laid-back town with cool cafes and cinematic landscapes. It might take a while to get there, but you’ll be delighted you made the journey — and so will your worries.

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To Do and See: Start your day with a stroll along the Wellington Waterfront, explore Te Papa Museum, then head up Mount Victoria for jaw-dropping views. Don’t miss the Lord of the Rings filming locations nearby.

When to Visit: November to March (summer) for balmy weather and outdoor fun. 

Calm-o-Meter: 7/10 – Chill city vibes plus surrounding nature make for a next-level escape.

3. Prince Edward Island, Canada

An aerial drone photograph of Wood Islands Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island at golden hour. Photo courtesy of iStock/onurkurtic.

This remote, windswept isle is a place of bucolic landscapes, world-class seafood, and Anne of Green Gables literary nostalgia. A few days here and you’ll feel yourself settling into an earlier, much less hectic century.

To Do and See: Cycle the Confederation Trail, relax on red-sand beaches, and feast on fresh-from-the-ocean lobster. 

When to Visit: June to September for the full PEI experience and lobster festival fun. 

Calm-o-Meter: 9/10 – Like stepping into a pastoral painting, but with the sea.

4. Brno, Czechia

Parnas Fountain in the old town of Brno, Czech Republic. Photo courtesy of iStock/Leonid Andronov.

The Czech Republic’s lively second-city, a short train ride north of Vienna, is a charming alternative to Prague, with a more welcoming and open vibe than the crowded and tourist-dominated capital.

To Do and See: Wander cobblestone streets and plazas, stroll open-air markets, sip wine in nearby Moravian vineyards, and tour the quirky Brno Underground. 

When to Visit: May to September for al fresco dining and sunny strolls. 

Calm-o-Meter: 7.5/10 – A calm yet vibrant city, the perfect little European getaway.

5. Srinagar, India

Waterflowers on Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Photo courtesy of iStock/guenterguni.

Stunning, Himalayan-set Kashmir remains free of tourist hordes mainly because of a lingering insurgency. But most areas are as safe as Chicago or New York, plus you’ve got floating gardens and dreamy houseboat stays on Dal Lake, surrounded by steep green mountains. You might even find the traffic chaos an unexpected delight.

 To Do and See: Cruise the lake on a shikara (traditional wooden boat, many of which are now Ubers), ski or hike gorgeous Gulmarg, and sip saffron-infused kahwa tea. 

When to Visit: March to October for clear skies and blooming flowers. 

Calm-o-Meter: 8.5/10 – Relaxing on the roof of your houseboat, taking in the lake’s mirror-like calm as kingfishers zero in on then dive for their prey, is unbelievably soul-soothing.

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6. Bocas del Toro, Panama

Starfish beach, Bocas del Toro, Panama. Photo courtesy of iStock/DmitriyBurlakov

Within a few years, this Caribbean island paradise could become the next Cancun. So it’s a good idea to go now and enjoy the still quiet, laid-back vibe. First, read all about Bocas in our recent article.

To Do and See: Go snorkeling in Coral Cay, chill at Starfish Beach, rent a boat and island hop for the day, embrace the nightlife on Isla Colón. 

When to Visit: February to April for dry skies and crystal-clear waters. 

Calm-o-Meter: 8/10 – A hammock, a mojito, and the sound of waves—perfection.

7. Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Swakopmund Promenade, Namibia, Africa. Photo courtesy of iStock/Mlenny.

This little-known desert-meets-ocean landscape feels like another planet, and settling onto your sandboard at the top of a 200-meter dune in Swakopmond, getting ready to shoot down the steep slope at 50 mph, is absolutely exhilirating. But you may not want to do it on reality TV, as I did many moons ago.

To Do and See: Sandboard down massive dunes, spot shipwrecks along the coast, and keep an eye out for desert-adapted elephants.

When to Visit: May to October (dry season) for cooler days and prime wildlife viewing. 

Calm-o-Meter: 8/10 – Surreal, eerily quiet and hauntingly beautiful, the Skeleton Coast is like your own desert dreamscape.

8. Taroko National Park, Taiwan

Changchun temple, Eternal Spring Shrine and waterfall, Taroko National Park, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of iStock/Peera_Sathawirawong.

This under-appreciated Taiwanese gorge, with some of the wildest rock shapes and waterfalls you’ll ever see, is one of Asia’s great natural marvels. And it’s just a short ride from the coastal city of Hualien.

To Do and See: Hike the Shakadang Trail, marvel at the Spring Shrine, and soak in natural hot springs.

When to Visit: October to December for cool, comfortable hiking weather.

Calm-o-Meter: 9/10 – A stunning, peaceful natural escape, especially on weekdays.

9. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Borobudur temple in Java, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of iStock/StockByM.

Java’s calmer, more enjoyable complement to the chaotic capital Jakarta, this cultural hub has been a key stop on the backpacker’s Southeast Asia itinerary for decades. Yet it’s remained quiet, mainly because of its remoteness. If you’re looking to get away from it all, Yogya is well worth the journey.  

To Do and See: Visit Borobudur and Prambanan temples, enjoy shadow puppet shows and batik-making workshops, and explore the buzzing Malioboro Street market. 

When to Visit: May to October (dry season) for clearer skies. 

Calm-o-Meter: 7/10—A balance of cultural richness and zen-like temple tranquility.

10. Chios, Greece

A classical white greek church on a small rocky island in Agios Isidoros, Greece. Photo courtesy of iStock/tunart.

This lesser-known Greek island is generally free of tourist hordes, yet offers fantastic local cuisine, relaxing beaches, quaint centuries-old towns, and terribly friendly locals who all seem to know each other.

To Do and See: Explore medieval villages like Pyrgi, relax on Mavra Volia’s black pebble beach, and sample the island’s famous mastiha (a resin-based treat). EA Tip: you could also hop a short ferry to lovely Cesme, Turkey, for the day.  

When to Visit: May to June or September to October (shoulder seasons) for perfect weather minus the crowds. 

Calm-o-Meter: 7.5/10. Think Santorini, but without your patience wearing thin.

11. Kagoshima, Japan

Takachiho gorge at Miyazaki, Japan. Photo courtesy of iStock/kitchakron.

With its stunning views of an active volcano, countless natural hot springs and proximity to beaches, Kagoshima is one of Japan’s best cities. But because it’s so far from Tokyo— it’s actually closer to Shanghai—few foreign visitors make the journey.

To Do and See: Soak in the steamy sand baths of Ibusuki, take a ferry to Sakurajima volcano, and explore Sengan-en Garden. EA Tip: Fans of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki will enjoy the ancient Yakushima forest, which inspired Princess Mononoke.  

When to Visit: March to May for cherry blossoms or October to November for autumn leaves.

Calm-o-Meter: 8/10. For the stressed, the therapeutic hot springs alone are worth the trip.

12. Saranda, Albania

Ksamil Beach. Photo courtesy of iStock/kitchakron.

On pleasant summer evenings, nearly every local takes a stroll up and down Saranda’s waterfront promenade, chatting, saying hello to friends, grabbing a gelato—and underscoring how this is an under-appreciated Adriatic gem stuck in a calmer, kinder era.

To Do and See: Swim in the turquoise waters of Ksamil, explore Butrint National Park, catch sunset views from Lekuresi Castle, and hop over to Corfu for a day-trip.  

When to Visit: May to September for sunny beach days. 

Calm-o-Meter: 7/10 – An affordable slice of Mediterranean paradise.

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