Restless, Rootless, Rewired: The Emotional Cartography of Gen Z Travel

Maheshwari Raj
May 26
4 min read

Woman with a backpack sits on a rock overlooking colorful seaside village buildings, boats on water, clear sky, relaxed mood. — A traveler gazes at the vibrant, colorful buildings of a picturesque coastal village, soaking in the serene beauty of the waterfront.

They’re not sightseeing. They’re soul-searching. In 2025, Gen Z is curating itineraries that double as identity rituals—quietly rebellious, visually poetic, and emotionally precise.

Travel as Texture, Not Terrain

Imagine the soft rustle of linen curtains in a Sicilian Airbnb. The hiss of coffee poured into a ceramic mug at a sunlit café in Vietnam. A field in Jeju that smells like wildflowers and salt. No itinerary. No rush.

This is how Gen Z travels. Less like tourists, more like archivists of feeling. They aren’t interested in ticking boxes—they want to feel moved. They want a moment to press pause, to reimagine themselves, and maybe, to escape the chronic overstimulation of their daily digital lives.

Gondolier in striped shirt navigates a Venetian canal with colorful buildings. Clear sky, calm water, and historic architecture create a vibrant scene. — A gondolier skillfully navigates the tranquil canals of Venice, surrounded by historic buildings and vibrant architecture.

The Shift: From Escape to Portal

Unlike older generations who saw travel as a reward or escape, Gen Z treats it like a portal—an entry point into alternate versions of themselves.

According to the American Express 2025 Global Travel Trends Report,

84% of Gen Z travellers say they travel to discover new cultures.
79% prioritise unique experiences over luxury.

Meanwhile, data from TravelPerk reveals that

78% of Gen Z prefer “purposeful travel”—from wellness retreats to volunteering abroad to simply finding a new café to write in.

But beneath the algorithms and Google Maps pins, there’s something more fragile at play:

A quiet emotional economy—one driven by digital fatigue, aesthetic hunger, and a longing to reconnect with the self.

Street food vendor in red apron cooks with tongs over blue flame. Bottles, bowls, and utensils on cluttered table. Steamy and warm setting. — A street vendor in South Korea prepares delicious food on a bustling market stall, showcasing traditional flavors with sizzling ingredients over a vibrant flame.

Let’s decode how Gen Z’s new world map is emotionally and aesthetically drawn:

Digital Detox Destinations: From Koh Samui to off-grid Spanish villages to silent retreats in Karnataka, the impulse to “log off to tune in” is strong. GWI notes that 68% of Gen Zs seek digital disconnection as part of travel.
Solo Travel: Despite global isolation fatigue, 34% of Gen Z still choose to travel solo, not for selfies—but for self-discovery according to TravelPerk.
Aesthetic Itineraries: TikTok is the new travel agent. 70% use it for trip planning, and as Condor Ferries confirms, most pick destinations based on how they look—cobblestone alleys in Lisbon, tulip fields in Amsterdam, and dusky bookstores in Seoul.
Redefining “Local”: Home feels like a valid holiday now. Slow rail journeys, ancestral villages, mom-and-pop cafés.

“I used to dream of Paris, but last year I visited Meghalaya and cried at a waterfall. It felt more ‘me’ than any Western trip ever has.”— u/earthlingwanderer (Reddit)

Not Just Where—But Who They’re Becoming

Ornate pink and white palace with domes and arches under a blue sky with clouds. The intricate architecture creates an elegant, majestic mood. — The stunning Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of Winds," in Jaipur, India, is a blend of stunning architecture and cultural heritage, featuring intricately carved pink sandstone with a sky full of fluffy clouds.

This isn’t a list of trending destinations. It’s a story of emotional migration. Gen Z isn’t travelling to go somewhere—they’re travelling to be someone.

Their travel style is:

Part main character energy (self-shot filmic moments in vintage towns)
Part digital burnout recovery (retreats where phones sleep in locked boxes)
Part search for the sublime (staying up for the sunrise, just to feel small)

A girl takes a leisurely stroll near the iconic Eiffel Tower, dressed in a stylish black coat and ankle boots, against a backdrop of autumn foliage.

1. Healing Travel

Whether it's an Ayurvedic detox in Kerala, Japanese forest baths, or desert retreats in Morocco. Wellness is no longer an indulgence—it’s a recovery plan from a life lived too online.

“I spent 3 days at a silence retreat in Udupi. No talking, no phone. By the third day, I cried eating mangoes.”— u/selfcarefilez (Reddit)

Lush courtyard with teal door, patterned tiles, and a small pool. Surrounded by lanterns and tropical plants, creating a serene atmosphere. — A tranquil Moroccan courtyard featuring a vibrant turquoise door, intricate tile work, and lush greenery surrounding a sparkling pool.

2. Digital Escape

Some itineraries are built specifically to avoid documentation.

Places like Italy’s hill towns or Goa’s yoga hermitages now advertise no-WiFi stays like a luxury.

“I booked a trip where the main rule was no social media. I actually remembered my trip instead of just filming it.”— u/lurksandwanders (Reddit)

Narrow alley with vibrant orange and blue walls, a white scooter parked, and flowers in pots. Bright, sunny Mediterranean street scene. — Charming narrow street in an Italian village adorned with colorful walls, vibrant flowers, and a parked scooter capturing the essence of Mediterranean life.

3. Aesthetic-Based Travel

Destinations aren’t places—they’re moods.

European Autumn
Soft Girl Summer in Seoul
Misty Bookshop Retreat in Edinburgh

Trip planning threads on Reddit and TikTok are filled with itineraries based on colour palettes, vibes, and outfits, not geography.

Stone monument overlooking a city at sunrise, with historic buildings and a clock tower in the background, creating a serene mood. — Sunrise over Edinburgh, showcasing the iconic Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill with the historic cityscape and Edinburgh Castle in the background.

4. Homecoming Holidays

Amid climate anxiety and cost-of-living spikes, Gen Z is romanticising the local. Suddenly, Shantiniketan feels just as dreamy as Santorini.

Rural train journeys, grandmother’s kitchen gardens, and ancestral towns are reframed as memory-rich, emotionally layered travel.

Woman in blue jacket waves from a moving blue train through green hills, smiling joyfully. Sky is blue with scattered clouds. — A girl joyfully leans out of a vibrant blue train as it winds through lush green hills, capturing the spirit of adventure and scenic travel.

According to Condé Nast Traveller, Gen Z is gravitating toward:

Slovenia’s Julian Alps – for sustainable serenity
Ahr Valley, Germany – a post-recovery wine country with purpose
Dundee, Scotland – a new cultural capital reinventing itself

Lonely Planet notes that Gen Z prioritises community-focused experiences, eco-conscious trips, and unconventional narratives—like the appeal of volunteering on farms or learning pottery in a tiny Greek town over sightseeing.

Snow-covered pine trees on a mountain slope under a clear blue sky. The scene is serene, with deep snow and distant hills in view. — Snow-covered pine trees adorn the serene slopes of the Alps under a clear blue sky.

Curate Your Trips Like You Curate a Life

Travelling, to Gen Z, is not a break. It’s a balm. A new country becomes a new chapter. A new café becomes a memory capsule. A quiet hillside becomes a mirror.

They’re not looking for five-star resorts. They’re looking for five-sense awakenings.

They aren’t just seeking new sights. They’re seeking new ways to see themselves.

Because in 2025, a plane ticket isn’t just an escape. It’s a soft protest, a self-directed film, a postcard to their future self.