The Most Visited Countries in the World in 2025

National Geographic Travel presents the ranking of the 14 destinations that top the report published by the World Tourism Organization.

The World Tourism Organization compiles and publishes data on the most visited destinations by travelers. The latest ranking also serves to highlight trends in the first quarter of 2025. Europe stands out as a continent, while Spain has secured the second position as the most visited destination in the world. In National Geographic Travel, we reveal the 14 trendiest countries according to the list published by this United Nations agency.

24.6 million annual travelers

Its capital, Lisbon, is a popular repeat destination for travelers due to its monuments such as Castelo, the Belem Tower, and Jerónimos Monastery, as well as its cultural offerings and gastronomic appeal. Porto is another frequent travel destination in Portugal. The smaller city offers pleasant strolls among churches adorned with mosaics, colorful facades, and wine cellars where the famous local wine is produced.

Coimbra, Batalha, and Sintra are also among the most visited places, with the first two standing out for their monasteries and the latter for its eclectic Palace of Sintra. Portugal's charms are complemented by the beach offerings in Algarve and Alentejo, along with a special mention to the Atlantic island destinations, the Azores and Madeira, noted for their natural beauty.

26.1 million annual travelers

Known for its forests and modern cities, this Asian country occupies the southern part of the peninsula it shares with Thailand, the northern part of Borneo, and around 900 islands and islets. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, dazzles with the 452 meters high Petronas Towers, a symbol of the modern city which has developed over the short course of its two centuries of existence. Its colonial past emerges in Merdeka Square or the Jamek Mosque.

67% of the population is Muslim, coexisting with Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Christianity. Key attractions include the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Taman Negara National Park, and Penang.

31.3 million annual travelers

While mainland Greece is a treasure chest of archaeological gems, its coast comprises beaches and islands that one could never tire of visiting, such as the shores of the Peloponnese and Macedonia. The ruins of the Parthenon welcome visitors starting their journey in Athens, which is also home to charming neighborhoods filled with whitewashed alleys and traditional taverns.

Famous destinations for their archaeological remains include Delphi, Philippi, the columns of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Corinth, Mycenae, Epidauros, the Temple of Zeus at Mount Olympus, the all-male monastery of Mount Athos, or those at Meteora, built precariously atop rocky pillars. Many travelers combine these treasures with cruises through its archipelagos, some frequented by tourists and others pristine, but all equally beautiful.

There are the Cyclades Islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Paxos, and Naxos; the Ionian Islands such as Cephalonia or the small mythical Ithaca; or the Sporades which include the historic Rhodes, once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes, protector and gateway to its harbor: today it preserves walls, palaces, ancient hospitals of the Order of St. John, and cozy squares with restaurants.

31.9 million annual travelers

The small size of Austria compensates with a multitude of attractions. It is a destination for hikers seeking alpine landscapes, skiers wanting to hit charming resorts like those in Kitzbühel or the Tyrolean mountains, accessible from the charming imperial Innsbruck, music lovers retracing the steps of musicians like Mozart in Salzburg, and history and art enthusiasts who come to explore the Renaissance city of Graz and the Baroque city of Linz.

Its alpine landscapes are dotted with small mountain villages featuring wooden cabins and flower-filled balconies. We saved the Austrian capital, Vienna, for last, a destination to return to time and again, whether discovering the imperial palaces of Hofburg and Schönbrunn, museums like the Albertina, the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts, or the modernist ones in the Museum Quarter. Several Austrian cities are also among the favorite winter destinations for roaming their traditional Christmas markets.

32.3 million annual travelers

The 30 million inhabitants of Tokyo live among temples, palaces, skyscrapers, and parks, knowing a history, culture, and traditions that coexist with the hustle and bustle of the 21st century and the millions of tourists it receives each year. Beyond the capital, visitors head to Kyoto, Osaka, or Nara, to experience imperial Japan, sacred temples, and one of the best cuisines in the world.

The routes through Japan are as numerous as the travelers, but they often continue to Kanazawa, Shirakawa-Go, Koyasan, Okinawa, Hokkaido, or Shikoku.

39.4 million annual travelers

The returning traveler who manages to overcome their obsession with visiting London is amazed to discover other destinations in the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, those visiting the capital can see the Abbey and Palace of Westminster, St. Paul's Cathedral with its majestic dome, its iconic bridges over the Thames, or the secrets of the Tower of London, which holds legends and the Crown Jewels.

Outside the city, England preserves the charm of its countryside, the refinement of its gardens, legendary routes such as that of King Arthur, and historic cities like the spa town of Bath or Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare, which contrasts with vibrant destinations such as Liverpool, York, and Bristol. But the United Kingdom is more than just England. To the north awaits Scotland, with its lakes, islands, medieval castles, and fortresses like Edinburgh.

Beyond lies Wales, intact, with its typical villages, endless horizons, and mountains like those in Snowdonia National Park or Brecon Beacons. There are also travelers who wish to reach Northern Ireland to enjoy the sublime coastal landscapes of the Giant's Causeway, formed by basalt columns in County Antrim.

39.6 million annual travelers

Since the reunification of the two Germanies in 1990, the appeal of this country has been enhanced by adding more cities and landscapes to its territory. Currently, there are more than twenty cities that are very attractive for travel, with Berlin, the capital, leading the way.

Next are elegant Munich, the vibrant Hamburg, Cologne, and Potsdam, the artistic Dresden nicknamed Florence on the Elbe, or the medieval cities of Heidelberg and Rothenburg. Beyond its urban areas and the cultural offerings in their art galleries and museums, Germany also attracts travelers with romantic routes through the Rhine Valley or the wine tourism-friendly Moselle Valley, for instance on river cruises, as well as the Black Forest, with its lush woods. The Route of Castles of Ludwig II of Bavaria is one of the most popular. And by the way, from many stages of this itinerary, the alpine mountains that border the south of the country can be glimpsed.

39.8 million annual travelers

Bangkok is an amalgamation of buildings, streets, flavors, and festivals that make the Thai capital an irresistible place for travelers. Amid its wide avenues and skyscrapers, ancient temples and bustling traditional markets rich in history and heritage emerge. It can be the perfect gateway to losing oneself in the northern valleys and Chiang Mai, the relics of Ayutthaya, and the beaches of the Andaman Sea.

51.2 million annual travelers

Turkey, a crossroads of cultures and a passage between East and West, is a country filled with natural treasures. Among the most iconic are the mountains and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, Pamukkale with its white terraces declared a World Heritage Site, or the islands of the Aegean Sea.

Other treasures include significant archaeological sites from the Roman Empire like Ephesus, with the iconic façade of its library, or the Greek sites of Pergamum and Aphrodisias, and the Lycian tombs of Myra, dating back to the 4th century BC. The experience is capped off with cities filled with bazaars and mosques, like the beautiful Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, at the gates of the Bosporus, where Ottoman art and palaces like Topkapi shine.

64.5 million annual travelers

The list of attractions in Italy is as infinite as the beauty of its artistic treasures. Its exceptional architectural heritage floods cities like Rome, rich in remnants from the Roman Empire, Florence, considered the cradle of the Renaissance, Venice with its canals, the romantic Verona and Vicenza, the university city of Bologna, or the venerated Assisi, with churches adorned with famous frescoes.

Beyond the cities, it is the valleys, villages, and coasts that demand attention, in regions of rolling hills like Tuscany, active volcanoes like Etna, and the famous beaches of Puglia, Amalfi, or the Italian Riviera, not to mention island treasures like Sardinia and archaeological Sicily.

65.7 million annual travelers

With an area of over 9,500 million km², its territory is as wonderful as it is diverse. The Gobi and Taklamakan deserts impress, along with tropical forests stretching up to the Himalayas or the fascinating Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Nature contrasts with its bustling metropolises: the capital, Beijing, or the futuristic Shanghai, which receive tens of millions of travelers from around the world embarking on a fascinating journey through China.

79.3 million annual travelers

The allure of the United States is so strong that it consistently ranks among the most visited tourist destinations. From coast to coast, from Washington or the overwhelming New York City to the Californian cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the journey can focus on these iconic cities while also venturing through the heart of the country with unforgettable locales such as New Orleans, Philadelphia, Chicago, or Boston.

Meanwhile, the liberal and artistic Miami, in the warm state of Florida, is another major destination in the country. Alongside all these emblematic places, some travelers prefer to delve into less-traveled landscapes discovered by following secondary roads in rural states, many of which provide access to some of its more than 40 national parks, like the iconic Grand Canyon in Arizona or Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon in California. In this destination, we cannot forget the untamed Alaska and the islands of Hawaii in the Pacific.

83.7 million annual travelers

Spain undoubtedly deserves to be on the podium of the world's most visited destinations. Our country stands out for its variety and richness of monuments, landscapes, traditions, festivals, and gastronomic and cultural attractions, which include some world-renowned museums. Its coasts, beaches, and fishing villages are consistently ranked among the best in the world. Its archipelagos are also exceptional: the Canary Islands with their volcanic or dune islands, and the Balearic Islands with charming Menorca and Formentera.

In terms of monumental richness, Spain boastsunique prehistoric sites such as Atapuerca, Roman ruins like those in Mérida, Tarragona, or the Aqueduct of Segovia. One must visit the immense Mosque of Córdoba, with a Christian cathedral in the center of the monument; Granada with its beautiful Alhambra; imposing medieval castles throughout the autonomous communities; Seville and its Alcázar; Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral, a goal of the Camino de Santiago; and Renaissance towns like the duo of Úbeda and Baeza.

Urban destinations also rank in the Top 10 attractions of this country, from Barcelona with its Modernism Route stopping at the Sagrada Familia, to Valencia with its contemporary architecture, or Madrid, famous for its museums and the atmosphere of its streets.

89.4 million annual travelers

The most visited country in the world has that privilege due to the richness and variety of its historical, artistic, and natural heritage. The top visited sites in France include Paris, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, Versailles, Alsace, Mont Blanc, and the Alps. Additionally, France treasures untamed landscapes along the cliff coasts of the north in Normandy or in Brittany, Pyrenean and alpine destinations, offering extensive skiing in winter and hiking in summer, not forgetting the island of Corsica, nicknamed the Beauty of the Mediterranean.

Cities cater to all tastes. First is Paris, the City of Light, impossible to summarize all its charms. Next come the beautiful Toulouse, the cinematic Lyon, or Mediterranean arc cities such as Marseille and Nice, known for its famous carnival. Not to mention a unique attraction of France: its acclaimed status as a gourmet paradise.

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