Melissa Donovan
Celebrating 30 years of their World’s Best Awards, Travel + Leisure is honoring top destinations, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, and experiences around the globe.
The 2025 picks combine readers’ tried and true favorites with up-and-coming trends in the travel world, offering a peek of what travelers look for in their trips. T+L said in a press release that they saw readers gravitate toward destinations with rich history, character, and were off the beaten path. Here are a few of the highlights from the survey.
For the first time, Santa Fe, New Mexico, took the spot as the Best U.S. City, known for its tangible past, food, and diverse landscapes. Also known for its history, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico was named the Best City in the World for the second year in a row, praised for its walkability to attractions, affordability and art scene.
Other notable awards included Mount Desert Island, Maine, being named as the Best U.S. Island for the first time in 15 years. Dominated by Acadia National Park, the island offers rocky peaks and inspiring coastlines, making it “a hidden gem in New England,” one T+L reader wrote.
Paros, Greece, made a name for itself being voted as the Best Island in the World for the first time, beating out well-known neighbors Mykonos and Santorini. The Greek island is said to offer picturesque landscapes, iconic blue and white villages and a fresh Mediterranean food scene.
“This year’s results reflect a travel landscape in motion,” Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Jacqui Gifford said in a press release. “From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place. We’re thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences.”
For more winner highlights, see below or read on travelandleisure.com
WORLD’S BEST CITY: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
WORLD’S BEST HOTEL: andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Kenya
WORLD’S BEST HOTEL BRAND: Capella Hotels & Resorts
WORLD’S BEST ISLAND: Páros, Greece
WORLD’S BEST U.S. CITY: Santa Fe, New Mexico
WORLD’S BEST U.S. ISLAND: Mount Desert Island, Maine
WORLD’S BEST U.S. NATIONAL PARK: Yellowstone
WORLD’S BEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY: National
WORLD’S BEST TRAIN: Rocky Mountaineer
WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE: Singapore Airlines
WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE: JSX
WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Istanbul Airport, Turkey
WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT: T. F. Green International Airport, Rhode Island
WORLD’S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Virgin Voyages
WORLD’S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Disney Cruise Line
WORLD’S BEST MIDSIZE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Crystal
WORLD’S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Viking
WORLD’S BEST INTIMATE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Quasar Expeditions
WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE: The Oberoi Luxury Cruise Line
WORLD’S BEST TOUR OPERATOR: Artisans of Leisure
WORLD’S BEST SAFARI OPERATOR: Travel Beyond
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