Where to spend Christmas? Caribbean, Vietnam, South America but also New York and Rio de Janeiro

A flight to Latin America or Southeast Asia? And what if instead, as a welcome gift under the tree, there was an adventure in Sub-Saharan Africa? And how could one give up, nonetheless, a New Year's Eve in an Eastern European capital or in the always fascinating setting of large European and Italian cities? The Christmas festivities are just around the corner, and on the subject of travel, Italians' desires are quite diverse, with a good number of holidaymakers seeking unique and authentic experiences, others showing interest in warmer and more exotic destinations, and still others preferring the beauty of the Peninsula amidst art, wellness and food and wine. More than seven out of ten are those who are booking a trip for the end-of-year festivities with a predefined budget (the average is 800 euros per person) and taking advantage of promotional offers and cancellations without thinking about it, 8% will do it last-minute, 60% plan to leave for Christmas while the percentage of those who are thinking of not travelling at all stops at 21%. This is stated by the Bit 2025 Observatory (the event scheduled at Fiera Milano Rho from 9 to 11 February), which analysed data from the main travel platforms and tour operators.

Among the most noticeable trends is certainly the growing focus on trips that combine adventure and relaxation, with tours to countries that offer both wilderness and white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. The most popular destinations lead in this sense to the Caribbean and evergreen destinations such as the Dominican Republic; even more positive are the numbers relating to preferences for Central America, starting with El Salvador, another country where one can combine the relaxation of white sandy beaches with the experience of visiting large unspoilt natural parks and evocative localities that are the cradle of Hispanic tradition, to continue with Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras. Classic photo safaris are also popular, with many travellers looking at relatively new itineraries such as the lush forests of Madagascar, while adventure seekers will head for South America. At the forefront is Uruguay, with its colonial cities, pampas, great rivers to explore and iconic meat-based cuisine. Turning to Asia, Vietnam remains one of the most desirable attractions for its unique mix of ancient culture and tropical nature, while for those not afraid to brave the cold, Iceland is gaining the most attention for its unspoilt landscapes of volcanoes and thermal waters, its unparalleled northern lights and its picturesque fishing villages with colourful houses.

Short- and medium-haul travel during the festive season will once again be the preferred option for those who feel like packing their bags and taking a break from the usual routine for a few days. European capitals such as Paris, Vienna or London (the tourism board Visit Britain predicts a record 25.1 million visits for an expenditure of almost 14 billion pounds) but also the desire to immerse oneself in the festive atmosphere among events, exhibitions and illuminations while staying in Italy is definitely important. Milan leads the popularity ranking (in 2024, an average of more than 1 million visitors per month arrived in the Lombard capital) thanks to its renowned shopping offer, while Naples (which estimates to reach 14 million tourists by the end of the year) is the destination to focus on for its nativity tradition and the unfailing visit to the creations of the artisans of San Gregorio Armeno. Finally, there are many requests for cities in the North-East where the ritual of Christmas markets is celebrated, and those for some locations in Calabria and Puglia are also on the increase.

For New Year's Eve, people are looking for destinations that combine a great tradition of outdoor events and shows with a range of venues where they can party late into the night. One of the most popular destinations in Europe remains London, which promises entertainment for all between fireworks on the Thames, parties in nightclubs of all kinds in districts such as Soho and Camden or sui generis evenings in West End theatres. Another popular capital city is Madrid, with the historic ritual of twelve grapes to be eaten at the twelve chimes of midnight in front of the great clock in the Plaza del Sol and the possibility of continuing the party in the clubs of the Gran Vía movida, in Chueca, or in up-and-coming alternative neighbourhoods such as Lavapiés. Those in search of novelty look to the East and more specifically to cities with timeless charm such as Budapest and Berlin (a favourite destination for younger travellers both for the traditional party at the Brandenburg Gate and for the wide choice of techno and house discos) and to capitals with Habsburg charm such as Ljubljana, Zagreb and Bratislava, not forgetting Prague of course. Those who do not want to move from Italy will instead bounce between the canals of Venice and the historic centre of Rome or Turin, while requests to spend New Year's Eve by the sea in Liguria or in the medieval villages of Umbria are on the rise. Three out of all, finally, are the destinations chosen for those who will toast the New Year on the other side of the world: New York and the Times Square crystal ball, Dubai with the spectacular firework shows around the Burj Khalifa, and Rio de Janeiro to welcome 2025 on Copacabana beach amidst music and costumed dancing.