DECEMBER 2025

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, celebrating with family & friends! I am ending this year with a blogpost with my travel highlights of 2025. In 2025 I started a new job, which luckily gave me sufficient time off to enjoy my passion. In 2025 I was able to visit a few locations that had been on my bucket list for years. In 2020 we had to cancel our trip to Uzbekistan and in 2025 we finally got to visit this gorgeous country, so of course Uzbekistan is represented on this list. I hope my travel highlights offer you some inspiration for trips in 2026. I wish you a happy New Year’s Eve and I will see you again in 2026 🙂

Travel highlights 2025

10) Baden-Baden

I already knew Baden-Baden is a great destination, but this year I got to experience its Christmas markets for the first time. During Christmas Baden-Baden is even lovelier than usual, with festive decorations and lights everywhere. The combination of a Christmas market, with the cultural activities that Baden-Baden has to offer makes for the perfect weekend trip. Read all about our experience here. 

9) Floralia Brussels

This year I managed to visit the famous Keukenhof gardens as well as Floralia near Brussels. Floralia was hands down my favorite. Why do Belgian’s do tulips better than the Dutch? Probably because it is less famous, therefore attracts less visitors and making it a more enjoyable visit. I am booking tickets for next year as soon as the ticket shops reopens! You can find all my pictures here. 

8) Aqua Dome Tyrol

I have previously visited the Aqua Dome Spa in Tyrol, but in 2025 I got to see it covered in snow. Absolutely magical! We only got to visit on a daytrip this time but I just could not skip it on this list. You can read about our previous stay at Aquadome here. 

7) Korcula & Split

Korcula & Split are two destinations that we didn’t get to visit on our big roadtrip through Croatia. In 2025 I was able to schedule in a little trip to visit this region that was unknown to me. In Split I was so impressed with the historical city center and the amazing foodie scene. In Korcula we the perfect beach experience, which you can read about here. 

6) Naples

After coming back from Naples I couldn’t stop raving about it. It really took me by surprise and was so much better than I expected. Such a raw city, full with graffiti, incredibly chaotic. But you can find hidden gems behind every wall, a hidden courtyard, a monastery or even a church. I have so many great Naples recommendations, which you can find in this blogpost. 

5) Ischia & Procida

The real reason we came to Italy in October 2025: to visit the islands in front of Napels’ coast. Ischia & Procida are not touristy anymore at the end of October and we were able to explore the islands in all quietness. We had the best hotel with a heated pool, so this holiday felt like an extension of summer. I did separate blogposts on Ischia and Procida. 

4) Samarkand Uzbekistan

Samarkand is the former capital of the Silk Route and therefore it has a lot of history and grandeur. I loved the architecture with the colorful tilework. Uzbekistan is a great introduction country if you are interested in traveling the Stans. We found hotels comfortable and the long distance train was a great way to travel. Read my Samarkand recommendations here. 

3) Norwegian Fjords

Our big trip this year was a roadtrip in Norway. We traveled with our own van and loved the campsites at the Fjords. Some of our highlights at the Fjords were swimming in Flam, camping at the Naeroyfjord and exploring stunning Bergen. It didn’t hurt that we visited during a heatwave with splendid weather every day!

2) Buchara Uzbekistan

I had some doubts on whether to place Buchara on top of the list, but decided to put it in second place. Buchara was our favorite destination in Uzbekistan. The car free city center felt like going back in time and we loved the atmospheric restaurants and our hotel. You can comfortably travel to Buchara by train from Tasjkent and you should not miss it on an Uzbekistan trip. 

1) Lofoten Islands

I put the Lofoten Islands on the top of the list, because we did a hike that made me cry from happiness. Hugo completed a pretty tough hike with us, so I could see the view from Reinebringen with my own eyes. To share this with my husband and son made it my favorite travel moment of the year. Lofoten is rising in popularity, so if you want to see it unspoiled as it is, without many restrictions, you should go as soon as possible!