There was a time when a good holiday was measured by how much we could fit into it. The more places we saw, the more food we tasted, and the more photos we brought home, the better the trip seemed.

But after years of relying on endless recommendations, reviews, and perfectly planned itineraries, many travellers are rediscovering the joy of leaving room for curiosity.

Not every travel trend is worth following. Some appear overnight and disappear just as quickly. But now and then, one reminds us why we travel in the first place: to learn something new, connect with a place, and create memories that last beyond the holiday itself.

Here are eight travel trends we would be more than happy to see stick around.

1. Holidays built around hobbies

Smiling female runner waving during the 2025 Taiyuan marathon race.
Planning trips around personal passions, whether running a marathon or mastering local crafts, creates memories that far outlast the holiday. (Image by Quan-You Zhang)

Instead of picking a destination and figuring out what to do later, more travellers are choosing destinations based on what they already love or what they’ve always wanted to learn.

    That might mean participating in a marathon in New Zealand, learning traditional indigo dyeing in Chiang Mai, joining a Vietnamese cooking class in Phu Quoc, or planning an entire itinerary around cycling, scuba diving, photography, or specialty coffee.

    There’s something wonderful about returning home with more than just a collection of holiday photos on your phone. A handmade bowl, a new recipe, or the confidence to continue a hobby long after your holiday ends often becomes a more lasting reminder of the trip itself.

    2. Independent bookshops and literary escapes

    Woman browsing books on wooden shelves inside a traditional bookstore in Lisbon, Portugal.
    Wandering through independent bookshops in historic cities like Lisbon gives us permission to slow down and get lost in a story. (Image by Farnaz Kohankhaki)

    Bookshops are becoming destinations in their own right, and we’re all for it. Whether you want to spend an afternoon browsing cosy bookshop cafes, discover beautifully curated shelves like Dua Lipa’s Service95 Book Club, or make time for literary initiatives.

      Literary festivals, author talks, hotels inspired by famous writers, and even reading holidays are also on the rise, giving travellers permission to spend an afternoon doing something wonderfully unhurried: getting lost in a good book somewhere new.

      After all, every memorable journey deserves a few quiet chapters.

      3. Making something instead of buying it

      Close-up of female artisans wearing aprons and shaping clay ceramics at a wooden workshop table.
      Swapping souvenir shops for hands-on craft workshops allows us to connect directly with local artisans and traditional skills. (Image by Getty Images)

        There’s nothing wrong with bringing home a souvenir. But making one yourself feels infinitely more meaningful.

        Many travellers are now swapping souvenir shops for hands-on activities where they can create something of their own to take home—signature perfumes, ceramic pieces, handmade paper, and more.

        Not only do these experiences support local artisans and preserve traditional crafts, but they also offer the rare chance to understand the time, skill, and stories behind the objects we often take for granted.

        Your suitcase may come home a little heavier, but so will your appreciation.

        4. Choosing fewer, but better experiences

        Woman standing in reflection before an art gallery exhibition wall covered in framed pictures in Turkey.
        Spending an unhurried afternoon taking in a single gallery or neighbourhood helps us remember far more than rushing between landmarks. (Image by ONUR KURT)

          Instead of racing through packed itineraries, we’re becoming more comfortable doing less—but doing it well.

          Rather than squeezing five attractions into one day, it might mean spending an afternoon wandering a single neighbourhood, lingering over one memorable meal, or dedicating a few hours to exploring a museum properly.

          Ironically, seeing fewer things often helps us remember more. It’s easier to recall the tiny ramen shop where the owner insisted you try their homemade pickles than the sixth temple you hurried through before lunch.

          5. Staying out after dark

          Woman sitting on a friend’s shoulders celebrating among a crowd at a night music event in Kolkata, India.
          Staying out after dark reveals an entirely different energy, from night markets and stargazing to vibrant cultural music gatherings. (Image by Rupinder Singh)

            Evenings open up a completely different side of a destination, whether you’re browsing bustling night markets, joining an after-dark heritage walk, visiting exhibitions during extended evening hours, spotting glowing bioluminescent waters, or simply stargazing far from city lights.

            The pace changes, temperatures cool, and places often feel more relaxed. You notice different sounds, different smells, and a different rhythm altogether.

            Sometimes, all you need to do is stay out a little later.

            6. Travelling through local traditions

            Women performing traditional dance in authentic cultural attire in Hangzhou, China.
            Experiencing living customs, traditional music, and local dance performances offers meaningful cultural context that goes beyond sightseeing. (Image by Stella Tzertzeveli)

              Landmarks may draw us in, but traditions often leave the deepest impression.

              More travellers are planning trips around harvest festivals, tea ceremonies, traditional music performances, textile-making communities, and local folklore, discovering destinations through the customs that have shaped them for generations.

              These experiences don’t just offer something unique to photograph—they provide context. They help explain why a place celebrates the way it does, cooks the food it does, or creates the crafts it’s known for.

              It’s a reminder that culture isn’t something displayed behind glass. It’s something still being lived every day.

              7. Unexpected discoveries beyond the algorithm

              Balinese villagers wearing traditional white ceremonial attire walking in the Melasti procession in Desa Adat Abiansemal, Bali.
              Stumbling upon unexpected local rituals, like a village procession in Bali, creates moments that no recommendation list or algorithm can replicate. (Image by Eyestetix Studio)

                Social media has undoubtedly helped us discover incredible places. But some of the best travel moments still happen when we stop following a carefully curated list.

                A recommendation from the owner of the boutique hotel you stayed at. A neighbourhood celebration you happened to stumble across. A tiny bakery a stranger at a morning coffee spot circles on your map. A conversation with an antique shop cashier who sends you to another store just around the corner.

                These are the discoveries that rarely trend online because they cannot be easily replicated or added to a checklist.

                The internet can tell us where to go. The people who actually live there can tell us why.

                8. Travelling for wellness without the pressure to perfect yourself

                Woman wearing a sun hat relaxing on the beach next to a straw bag near ocean waves.
                Modern wellness travel is less about strict routines and more about simple, restful moments listening to the ocean waves. (Image by Getty Images)

                  Wellness travel has grown far beyond traditional spa retreats. Increasingly, people are looking for experiences that help them reconnect with themselves. Not necessarily through strict routines or dramatic transformations, but through simple moments of rest and reflection.

                  That might mean joining a sunrise yoga session by the sea, spending a few days surrounded by nature, taking a digital detox in the mountains, or simply choosing accommodation that encourages better sleep and slower mornings.

                  The appeal isn’t about becoming a different person while away. It’s about returning home feeling a little more refreshed than when you left.