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— Journal, Yearly Recap —

The Best Places I Visited in 2025

January 12, 2026
Clear blue water with mountains in the distance at Lake Ohau in the Mackenzie Region, New Zealand.

2025 was a wild year for me. I started the year in New Zealand, finishing up my working holiday visa and my time in the Southern Hemisphere, before returning to the UK and embarking on my housesitting era. Housesits took me all over the UK, and I had a few other trips to other countries in Europe sprinkled in, too! Each year, I do a few annual recap posts – you can read about my top travel experiences and worst travel moments of 2025. This one is all about the best places I went to!

There are no criteria to qualify for this list, it just has to be a place I enjoyed. You can read back on the best places I visited in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. I’ve visited some incredible destinations this year, and looking back I feel so fortunate and blessed to have had these experiences. Here are my top places I went in 2025!

The view from Duke's Nose/Kaiaraara Rocks over the turquoise water of Whangaroa Harbor in Northland.

New Zealand

Of course, New Zealand was going to be at the top of the list. This is one of the most spectacular destinations in the entire world, and I spent the first three months of the year living here! I loved my small-town life in Twizel, with a view of the mountains from my bedroom window and glacial lakes that I went swimming in every day. But the real adventure was my five-week road trip from the south to the north. Highlights were Stewart Island, Franz Josef Glacier, Arthur’s Pass, Nelson Lakes, Egmont National Park (Mount Taranaki), the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Bay of Islands in Northland.

Mount Taranki reflected in Pouaki Tarns in New Zealand.

I covered a lot of ground and saw and did so much in this beautiful country. I’m so grateful for the experiences I had here, proud of myself for taking the leap to do a full year here (even though it was never my plan), and honored to have met so many wonderful people. New Zealand will always have a special place in my heart.

Read More: 21 Phenomenal Places You Must Visit in the Mackenzie Region, New Zealand, New Zealand Road Trip Budget: 2025 Guide, all of my New Zealand posts!

The view of mountain ridge and blue lake from the summit of Augstmatthorn.

Switzerland

I’d always been put off Switzerland by the hefty price tag. But this year was my first trip and WOW! I couldn’t believe just how beautiful it was, and that what I was seeing with my own eyes was, in fact, real. I spent 3.5 weeks in Switzerland, most of it housesitting just outside Bern. Highlights were hiking from Harder Kulm to Augstmatthorn near Interlaken, taking the train to Kleine Scheidegg and seeing magnificent views of the Eiger, hiking from there down to Lauterbrunnen, swimming in Lake Geneva, and relaxing in my own pool overlooking the Swiss countryside. It was magic, and I 100% understand the hype. I’m desperate to return and explore more!

Read More: Swiss Travel Pass: Is it Worth the Money?

The view of lochs and mountains from the summit of Stac Pollaidh in Scotland.

Northwest Scottish Highlands

I’ve been to this part of Scotland before, back in 2020 when I did the North Coast 500. But this time, I had just a few days around Assynt – and it blew me away. I finally made it to Handa Island, this unique spot off the coast that’s home to thousands of seabirds (including puffins!). And I finally hiked Stac Pollaidh, on the most beautiful day imaginable. I did another great walk around Ullapool, and just in general soaked up all the stunning scenery in this part of the country. It’s not an easy place to get to – and with lots of single-track roads, it can sometimes be a challenge to drive – but it was so wonderful to return. I can’t wait to go back again!

Read More: Handa Island, Scotland: What to Know for Your Visit, Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Stac Pollaidh in Scotland

The view over lush greenery and waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.

Croatia

My trip this September (which I won for free thanks to an Instagram competition with Hostelworld!) was my third visit to Croatia. And third time’s the charm, because I FINALLY made it to Plitvice Lakes National Park! I felt like I was in a magical fairytale – this area is truly so gorgeous, with waterfalls and lakes and lots of hiking trails. I also loved visiting Krka National Park (near Split). It was also great to return to Dubrovnik, although it was a bit sad to see how overtourism has impacted the city since my previous two trips. It made me want to plan a big Balkan trip ASAP!

Read More: All of my Croatia posts!

Bright blue water along the golden sandy beach at Carbis Bay in Cornwall.

Cornwall

I’d only been to Cornwall once before, 11 years ago, in January, for just two days, without a car. When a housesit came up for a few weeks in August, I jumped at the chance! I finally got to explore this amazing part of England, and it was worth the wait. I loved long walks along the coast, finally visiting St. Michael’s Mount and Tintagel Castle, wandering around cute villages like Fowey and Polperro, and soaking up the sun. While I don’t think I ever want to go back during the school holidays again (the crowds were insane!), I really enjoyed my time here.

Stunning views over the city of Malaga and the cathedral from AC Marriott's rooftop bar at golden hour.

Malaga, Spain

Malaga was my first official press trip as Away With Maja, so it’s always going to be a special place for me now. But it was also just such a VIBE! The city is full of history and has loads of attractions and museums. But it’s also easy to spend time at the beach or day trip to other places in Andalucia. The food here was really amazing – I’m pretty sure I was 98% tapas and tinto de verano by the time I flew home. Three days was the perfect amount of time to visit!

Read More: How to Spend a City Break in Malaga, Spain: 3-Day Itinerary

The towers of All Souls College framed by an arch in Oxford.

Oxford

Another UK destination that I visited once, a very long time ago, and hadn’t returned to in over a decade: Oxford. My first sit of my housesitting era was for three weeks in Oxford, and it was great returning to the city! I’d only visited once, as a day trip from London on my very first trip to the UK in 2011. I spent lots of time visiting the colleges and academic attractions, making day trips to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds, and just wandering the pretty, golden-hued city.

The view over a green valley and a path through heather on Ling Fell in the Lake District.

Lake District

I visited the Lakes three times this year, which was still definitely not enough! My first trip was a flying visit, as a stopover on the drive from Cardiff to Muir of Ord in northern Scotland. I returned for a few days at the end of June, when sadly the weather wasn’t great. And after my Croatia trip, I had another weekend in the Lakes to celebrate my birthday. Not as many Wainwrights bagged this year as I would have liked, so I need to get on it with planning a trip around a good weather window!

Read More: 30 Incredible Places to Visit in the Lake District

Bamburgh Castle and golden light on the dunes in Northumberland.

Northumberland

Northumberland has to be the most underrated part of England – maybe in the whole of the UK. So many impressive castles and fascinating historic attractions, gorgeous beaches (that are empty compared to beaches down south), lots of pretty walks… I could go on. I had a last-minute housesit near Alnwick, and was thrilled to spend a few days exploring. When my family came to visit over Christmas, we drove from Edinburgh back down to York, stopping at a few places in Northumberland along the way! It’s really not that far from York so I need to be better about visiting more often.

Read More: Exploring Northumberland: A Coastal Road Trip Itinerary, Why You Need to Visit Alnwick, Northumberland

Golden light over the heather and moors at Captain Cook's Monument in the North York Moors.

York and Yorkshire

And of course, no “best places” post I write would be complete without a mention of my beautiful city of York, and God’s Own Country – Yorkshire. After spending years abroad and far away, I have a newfound appreciation for this area that I’m lucky enough to call my forever home. Besides spending lots of time in and around York – including hiking the Minster Way from York to Beverley – I had a number of great walks in the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. I spent nearly two weeks housesitting in South Yorkshire, and got to visit a number of places in the area. Some, like the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, were new to me, others – like Newmillerdam Country Park, I’d been to only briefly. I also had a few nights in Whitby – the first time I’ve ever stayed overnight – and a housesit in Knaresborough.

A small path leading up to a pretty house in Robin Hood's Bay on the Yorkshire Coast.

I really do love Yorkshire, and I’m so grateful that I get to live here. It really does have something for everyone. No matter how long I’ve spent here, I love that I’m still finding new things to do or new walks in new areas I hadn’t visited yet. There is a lifetime of exploration here, and I’m thrilled to be based here again.

Read More: All of my York posts and all of my Yorkshire posts!

Maja walking in front of York Minster.

So there you have it – all of the top places I went to in 2025! The vast majority of the year was spent in New Zealand and the UK, and I’m glad I got to travel as much as I did. It was exhausting at times, and I definitely burned out in 2025. But overall, I’m so glad I made the most and grabbed the opportunities when they came to me. I have, literally, no plans for 2026 as of now – so we’ll see where the year ahead takes me!

Thank you for following along on my adventures in 2025!

What was the best place you visited in 2025?

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