The top of the year is often a time to consider the big plans you’d like to see out as the months unfold. Maybe that includes habits you want to start (or stop!), career goals you want to make good on, or trips you want to take. All are worthy endeavors, but with the vacation component, in particular, picking a destination can be overwhelming if you have no place in particular in mind. As they say, the world is your oyster, but… it’s one heck of a big oyster, at that. To help you narrow the scope a bit, you might consider astrology—particularly, where to travel, according to your zodiac sign.
While there is an entire focus in astrology that considers how geography interacts with your specific birth chart called astrocartography, it’s also possible to get a simpler star-aligned travel suggestion, according astrologer to Maria Sofia Marmanides. All you have to do is consider your ninth house. In astrology, there are 12 houses that govern different aspects of life, and the ninth house focuses on travel. “We can take a lot of cues about what appeals to us while away from home and out of our comfort zones based on the sign and planet that is ruling that house,” Marmanides says.
“We can take a lot of cues about what appeals to us while away from home and out of our comfort zones based on the sign and planet that is ruling [the ninth] house.” —Maria Sofia Marmanides, astrologer
Just be sure to read for your rising sign (not your sun sign, which is what you’d typically read for your horoscope), since your rising sign is what’s connected to the placement of houses. “Your rising sign determines where all the houses or areas of life are set up in your birth chart, so reading for your rising sign gives your horoscopes, if they’re reliably written, a dead-on accuracy that you just can’t get from sun signs,” astrologer Mackenzie Greer previously told Well+Good.
Your rising sign will always be the sign in your first house, so to determine your ninth house placement, count to the ninth sign ahead of your rising sign. For example, if you are a Leo rising, Leo is your first house placement, and Aries—nine signs away from Leo—rules your ninth house of travel. (Not sure what your rising sign is? Input your birth time, date, and location into a free natal chart generator like this one.)
Below, Marmanides and Tom Marchant, founder of the Black Tomato travel agency, offer specifics for where to travel this year, according to your zodiac sign.
Check out below for where to travel, based on your zodiac sign
Aries: the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Sagittarius rules Aries’s ninth house, and since one of the archer’s core traits is seeking change, this means Aries wants to expand their horizons when they travel. “A yoga or meditation retreat may be just the thing that relaxes their fiery nature while also allowing them to have a spiritual and adventurous experience,” Marmanides says.
Marchant says the Yucatán Peninsula region of Mexico is a good bet for self-reflection and relaxation. Marchant recommends seeking out sunrise yoga, enjoying spa treatments, diving in natural cenotes, or swimming in a saltwater lagoon for a healing vacation you won’t forget.
Taurus: Svalbard, Norway
Taurus loves nature, and Capricorn ruling its ninth house means the bull will enjoy travel that includes picturesque, snowy destinations in the mountains where they can do lots of physical activities.
Scenic and unique, Svalbard is a winter wonderland filled with pleasing views. “Days can be spent cross-country skiing between mighty glaciers and vast peaks, with nights beneath the blaze of the midnight sun,” Marchant says.
Gemini: Patagonia, Chile
Gemini wants to experience something their friends haven’t, so Marmanides says any destination “that has the potential to be the next coolest place to travel” is their ideal vacation spot.
The remoteness and beauty of Patagonia make it one of the next “it” travel destinations, Marchant says: “Its rugged wilds, dense forests, and turquoise-tinted lakes will leave visitors breathless in the best possible way.”
Cancer: Paros or Folegandros, Greece
Cancers want to escape and unplug, so they’ll look for a vacation that’s as remote as possible to maximize their chances to relax. Breezy Pisces rules Cancer’s ninth house, which Marmanides says means they want to return from vacation “refreshed, reenergized, and ready to reset.”
The Greek islands are ideal for rest and relaxation, especially the locales that are a less trodden with tourists. “Avoiding crowds is easy in the secretive Byzantine coves of Paros and the isolated quietude of Folegandros, a tiny, gem-like island that once served as a place of political exile,” Marchant says.
Leo: Diamond Circle, Iceland
Leos love anything grand, and that extends to how they vacation. “Anything where they can cross something off their bucket list and share it on social media will make them feel like this vacation was one for the record books,” Marmanides says. Aries rules their travel house, so this means they’ll want a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that involves activities.
The Diamond Circle driving route in the northeast area of Iceland is a “true bucket list item off the beaten path,” Marchant says. The major sites on the route, harbor town Húsavík (known for its whale watching), Lake Mývatn, the Dettifoss waterfall and the Ásbyrgi Canyon, show off the rustic and wild wonders Iceland is known for, he adds.
Virgo: Lake Como, Italy
Virgos want simplicity while on vacation, and they also like to plan. All-inclusive options with everything in one place is often a star-aligned option. Taurus rules their ninth house, so they’re also into luxury, Marmanides says.
Located in Northern Italy, Lake Como is a glamorous destination known for its luxe offerings. Marchant recommends a stay at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which he says offers “five-star service with classic and elegant Italian charm.”
Libra: Beijing
Libras, whose ninth house is ruled by Gemini, want beautiful destinations with lots of history. “They won’t mind choosing a place that is so full of things to do that they’ll have to come back, and they might enjoy visiting the same place a few times, so their ideal locations are big cities,” Marmanides says.
No traveler on vacation would be able to do everything in Beijing, China’s massive and sprawling capital city, which Marchant says “fuses modernity with tradition.” Ancient landmarks include the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven.
Scorpio: Egypt
Scorpios pursue depth, so they want that on vacation, too; this means going places where they can dive into an immersive culture and history. “The more ancient the better,” Marmanides says.
Marchant recommends heading to Egypt. Home to some of the best-known wonders of the ancient world, he says there’s “no shortage of sites for exploration, including the grand temples and its meandering River Nile.”
Sagittarius: Cartagena, Colombia
Sags want their trips to be epic and filled with fun. Outgoing Leo rules their ninth house, which Marmanides says means “destinations known for nightlife, from restaurants, bars, and clubs, to other places where they can be seen.”
According to Marchant, Cartagena, the seaside jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, has Latin America’s best party scene. The bars don’t close until dawn and clubs pulse with vibrant dancing and music. Marchant suggests dancing the night away and eating and drinking at Café del Mar.
Capricorn: Miami, Florida
Organized Caps like to get as much out of their time off as possible by researching an itinerary and packing trips with lots of well-vetted activities. Practical Virgo rules their ninth house, so a “global city where they can keep their schedules tight” ensures they’ll never need to run out of things to do and places to see in one trip.
Miami is as bustling a city, with myriad activities and global influences, allowing Capricorns to move from one thing to the next. Marchant recommends taking in peaceful ocean views in luxury at The Setai. Visit the Art Deco District’s art galleries and hit the Lincoln Road shopping district before setting out for some late-night food and dancing around Ocean Drive.
Aquarius: Stockholm, Sweden
Fashionable Libra rules Aquarius’s ninth house, lending the creative sign a love of shopping. “They want to find something unique and memorable to bring back home as a souvenir or memento,” Marmanides says.
Stockholm is growing fashion capital, which Marchant calls “a trendsetter’s heaven.” It’s known for its focus on sustainable and modern design. Check out the fashionable Södermalm district in downtown Stockholm.
Pisces: The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Scorpio rules Pisces’s ninth house, lending a dose of depth and intensity in terms of travel. This can manifest as Pisces wanting relaxing and unwinding to be top travel priorities. It’s fitting that the zodiac’s fish wants to be anywhere near water, which “allows them to relax and enjoy the soothing and cleansing effects of salt water on their skin,” Marmanides says.
This year, Pisces may embark on a dreamy Caribbean vacation in the clear, blue waters in Belize. Marchant recommends scuba diving in the Great Blue Hole, which researchers think is the largest sinkhole of its kind in the world and a part of a collapsed cave system that’s believed to have formed around 10,000 years ago.