Red Rock Park, Nevada
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Red Rock Park, Nevada
WHERE TO

wander

2025
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Not all who wander are following the crowd.

At Atlas Obscura, we believe the world is full of awe, insights, and wonders for those willing to wander off the beaten path. That’s why we’ve created Where to Wander, our selection of 20 travel destinations for 2025 that have fewer crowds, remarkable surprises, and more chances to connect with locals rather than tourists. Sourced from our own journeys and network of travel experts, we hope these recommendations will awaken your curiosity and fill your upcoming year with wonder-lust.

Serbia | AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

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Travel is not about personal growth or bragging rights. Travel is transformative not because it changes us, but because it makes connections that can change the world. People who see the complexity of the world—at home and abroad—see better. We reject the cynicism that can hang over tourism because we believe that deeper connections are possible, that meaningful experiences can happen anywhere at any time, and that the world is big enough that it still holds lots of surprises.

This is what inspires us at Atlas Obscura, and this is why we have created something new: The Wanderlist. For 2024, we’ve selected 24 remarkable destinations that demonstrate why travel and exploration are important to us. Each of the places we’ve selected for this list are sure to evoke a sense of surprise and curiosity. They’re places where you’re less likely to encounter crowds. And they’re places where, we feel, your travel dollars benefit local communities and help preserve the places you’re visiting. We sourced the destinations on this list from our own travels and our network of guides, writers, and travel experts around the world. We’ll be releasing the first-ever Wanderlist next month, and are so excited that you will be joining us on this journey in 2024 and beyond.


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Get ready for an adventure! Delta Airlines and Atlas Obscura will soon unveil the top 24 destinations for 2024. Stay tuned!

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Spain

Asturias

Nature

Food

History

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Spain

Asturias

Nature

Food

History

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Spain

Asturias

Nature

Food

History

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Spain

Asturias

Nature

Food

History

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Spain

Asturias

Nature

Food

History

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The Frisian Islands
Low tide at Wadden Sea | Fredrik Nilsson/Getty Images

The Frisian Islands

Well Aged

Aerated

intimate

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Franklin County
Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls | peeterv/Getty Images
Massachusetts

Franklin County

Sharp

Rare

Earthy

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Freetown
Castle remains at Bunce Island | I just try to tell my emotions and take you around the world/Getty Images
Sierra Leone

Freetown

Stony

Tumbling

Refreshing

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Ohio
Bromley Collection Museum at Old Castlemaine Gaol ❘ Courtesy Bromley Collection Museum
USA

Ohio

Resilient

Dreamy

Syncretic

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Nessebar
Saint Sophia Church, or Hagia Sophia Basilica | Sorin Colac/Alamy
Bulgaria

Nessebar

Isolated

Dramatic

Crafty

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El Salvador
Lagoon in Santa Ana Volcano, or Volcán Ilamatepec | mbrand85/Adobe Stock

El Salvador

Ferrous

Friendly

Full

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Curaçao
Diver at shipwreck | Heiko der Urlauber/Alamy

Curaçao

Intricate

Soviet

Pungent

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Mangystau Region
Kyzylkup or Tiramisu Mountains | Максат79/CC BY-SA 4.0
Kazakhstan

Mangystau Region

Inclusive

Reborn

Proud

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Piran
Darwin frog ❘ Courtesy Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo
Slovenia

Piran

Volcanic

Arboreal

Serpentine

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Bhutan
Paro Taktshang Monastery, or Tiger’s Nest, on the Trans Bhutan Trail | Tim Pile/Alamy

Bhutan

Slithering

Sunny

Classical

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Silver Islet
Sea Lion Rock in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park | Posnov/Getty Images
Canada

Silver Islet

Illusory

Galactic

Sticky

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Gold Country
Jardín de San Marcos ❘ FERNANDO MACIAS ROMO/Shutterstock
California

Gold Country

Macabre

Artsy

Braised

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Paraguay
Market in Kota Kinabalu ❘ Peter Adams/Getty Images

Paraguay

Cosmopolitan

Lush

Savory

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Malawi
Dawn at Lake Malawi | DeAgostini/Getty Images

Malawi

Lithic

Isolated

Maritime

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Khammouane Province
Tham Pha at Thakhek | Stefan Auth/Getty Images
Laos

Khammouane Province

Reinvented

Supportive

Spicy

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Sheffield
Sheffield mural | Chris Putnam/Alamy
Tasmania

Sheffield

Windy

Pristine

Crusty

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Gyeongju
Saint-Malo, France ❘ MathieuRivrin/Getty Images
South Korea

Gyeongju

Buttery

Tidal

Cobblestoned

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Kiribati
Three cup chicken ❘ Dietmar Rauscher/Alamy

Kiribati

Steamy

Sleek

Sacral

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Réunion Island
Natural Bridges ❘ Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Getty Images

Réunion Island

Secret

Fried

Immersive

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Timor-Leste
Sacred totem houses in Lospalos | Design Pics Inc/Alamy

Timor-Leste

Evolving

Complex

Insular

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Travel with Atlas Obscura

Ready for an adventure? Join one of our small-group tours and see the world's most remarkable places.

Get Lost with These Themed Lists

For 2025, we’ve chosen 10 topics we’re seeing around the world. Consider these the year’s category winners.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Readers’ Choice

When our readers tell us where to go, we listen. Check out their top destination recommendations for 2025.

Reader Choice Image

Drangarnir sea stacks off Vágar Island | Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images

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WANDER WIDER

Learn more about these and other wanderous destinations from around the world.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Curiosity Image
outdoor ODDITIES

Offbeat Roadside Sculptures

Unveiling the Art Along the Highways.

Travel With Atlas Obscura

Ready for an adventure? Join one of our small-group tours and see the world’s most remarkable places.

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