Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2026

Travel in 2026 looks different from any year that came before it. Direct flights are reaching new corners of the world, sustainable lodges are opening in places that used to take three flights to reach, and high-speed rail networks are quietly transforming how we cross continents. The result is a year packed with destinations that finally feel ready for the spotlight.

This is our team's working shortlist — the ten places we are recommending most often to friends, family and gift card recipients planning a 2026 trip. Each one earns its spot for a different reason, so read to the end before locking in your dates.

Four forces are shaping travel in 2026. First, regenerative tourism has moved from buzzword to standard — destinations like Slovenia, New Zealand and Costa Rica now reward visitors who choose responsible operators. Second, secondary cities and lesser-known regions are seeing serious investment in infrastructure, putting places like Albania's Riviera and Portugal's Alentejo within easy reach. Third, the strong and new long-haul routes mean Asia and South America are more accessible than they have been in a decade. Fourth, the geopolitical climate is disturbing flight routes and ticket pricing, prompting a preference for destinations a little closer to home.

What that means for you: 2026 is the year to skip the usual European capitals and aim for a destination that still feels personal. Our top ten reflects exactly that.

Slovenia has become a global leader in sustainable tourism without losing what makes it special. Lake Bled is still picture-perfect, but it is the lesser-known corners that reward you most: the Soca Valley's emerald rivers near Bovec, the Logar Valley's wild meadows, and Ljubljana's compact, green old town. The country is small enough that you can stay in a single base and day-trip everywhere — a two-hour drive crosses the entire country.

These nine volcanic islands offer dramatic landscapes, whale watching from April to October, natural hot springs at Furnas, and authentic Portuguese village culture without the mainland crowds. Sao Miguel is the easiest base — a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Lisbon — but Pico, Faial and Terceira reward island-hoppers willing to take a short inter-island flight.

Albania has emerged as one of the most exciting destinations in Europe. The Albanian Riviera between Vlore and Saranda has stretches of beach to rival Croatia, with a fraction of the crowds. The capital Tirana has transformed into a hub of contemporary art, street food and bold architecture, while the UNESCO sites of Berat and Gjirokaster showcase 2,500 years of Ottoman, Byzantine and Illyrian history in walkable old towns.

Fly into Tirana and rent a car — you can drive the entire coast in three days, with stops at Ksamil, Himare and Dhermi. Stay in family-run guesthouses or one of the new boutique hotels that have opened along the coast since 2024.

While the Algarve and Lisbon draw the crowds, the Alentejo remains delightfully undiscovered. Rolling cork oak forests, medieval villages like Monsaraz and Marvao, dark-sky reserves around Alqueva, and some of Portugal's best wines are an easy 90-minute drive south of Lisbon. Stay in a converted monastery or a working wine estate, eat slow-cooked black pork, and never feel rushed.

Morocco continues to balance ancient medinas with modern luxury. The Al Boraq high-speed train links Tangier to Casablanca and Marrakech in under three hours, making multi-city trips genuinely practical. Combine the souks of Marrakech with a desert camp in Erg Chebbi (about a six-hour drive), then wind down in a riad in Fes before flying home from Casablanca.

Pack layers — desert nights drop close to freezing in winter, while afternoons can hit 25 degrees.

Costa Rica continues to set the standard for sustainable travel. Roughly 25 percent of the country is protected, new wildlife corridors are connecting fragmented habitats, and the access roads to Corcovado, Tortuguero and Monteverde have seen serious upgrades. Spot quetzals in the cloud forests, sloths in Manuel Antonio, and humpback whales off the Osa Peninsula between July and October.

Poland combines rich history with modern energy, making it one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations in 2026. Kraków’s medieval old town and castle-lined skyline feel straight out of a storybook, while Warsaw blends restored historic streets with bold contemporary architecture and a thriving food scene. Along the Baltic coast, Gdańsk offers colourful waterfronts and maritime heritage, while the Tatra Mountains near Zakopane deliver hiking in summer and reliable skiing from December to March. Add in excellent value hotels, efficient rail connections between cities, and a growing boutique hospitality scene, and Poland stands out as a destination that feels both accessible and full of discovery.

With new shinkansen routes opening west of Hokkaido and a steadily favourable yen, 2026 is an exceptional year for Japan. Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto, our team recommends adding the Setouchi Triennale art islands of Naoshima and Teshima, the mountain temples of Koyasan in Wakayama, and the food capital of Osaka — where street snacks at Dotonbori still cost less than a coffee in many European cities.

April (cherry blossom) and November (autumn colours) remain peak seasons, but May and October are nearly as beautiful with thinner crowds. A 14-day Japan Rail Pass remains the single best travel investment if you plan to move between regions.

With easier visa processes, new direct routes from Asia and a renewed commitment to regenerative tourism, New Zealand is more accessible than it has been in years. Drive from Auckland down to Queenstown over two weeks, taking in the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the wineries of Marlborough, the glaciers of the West Coast, and the fjords of Milford Sound.

Colombia's transformation is one of the great travel stories of the decade. The colonial heart of Cartagena, the colourful streets of Comuna 13 in Medellin, the coffee farms of the Eje Cafetero, and the Tayrona National Park beaches near Santa Marta all sit within a single seven-day trip. New eco-lodges in the Amazon, improved domestic flight connections, and a thriving food scene led by chefs like Leonor Espinosa make Colombia genuinely unmissable.

Fly in via Bogota or Medellin and take internal flights between regions — distances are larger than they look on a map.

If you are picking a gift for someone with serious wanderlust, a Getaway Gift Card lets them choose any of the destinations on this list — and any hotel within them. Whether they want a beachfront stay on the Albanian Riviera, a ryokan in Kyoto or a coffee farm in Colombia, the recipient builds the trip themselves. Browse our hotel chain partners and explore destinations by country to see how far the value stretches across the world's most exciting destinations of 2026.