Haven’t booked your holiday for 2026 yet? Get moving because your list of must-see destinations for next year is starting to dwindle.
The venerable travel guide Lonely Planet published a book called “Best in Travel 2026” on October 21, featuring a list of 25 amazing places and 25 amazing experiences to try in the year ahead. It comes with a series of unique itineraries curated by our new travel planning service, Lonely Planet Journeys.
CNN Travel spoke to Nitya Chambers, executive editor and senior vice president of content at Lonely Planet, to find out what was chosen and why.
One of Chambers’ favorites on this year’s list? Brazil’s “Little Japan,” also known as the São Paulo neighborhood of Liberdade.
“Brazil has the largest Nikkei community outside of Japan, with two million people claiming Nikkei ties in Brazil,” she says. Liberdade says, “It was really full of surprises. Anime-inspired street art, oriental gardens. Rumored to have the best ramen outside of Tokyo, but I think there’s always a heated debate about that.”
Another city is Mexico City. Chambers said, “I can’t say enough great things about it. The history, the food, the culture, the art! And it was so walkable. It was incredible.” Sprinkled with bougainvillea
The neighborhoods of Coyoacán, La Loma, and La Condesa all received praise from Lonely Planet this year.
The list of U.S. destinations includes North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Maine, which also feature on National Geographic’s 2026 Best of the World list.
“Maine has a very unique culture in the United States,” Chambers said. “It’s very coastal and there’s a lot of nature hiking. The beauty there is really unique and the (four) national parks there are amazing.”
We recommend hiking in the forest in spring. Don’t miss the heron breeding grounds. A colony can support up to 500 birds.
She says Tipperary, on the western edge of Europe, is “a real hidden gem”. It is Ireland’s largest inland county and “a lot of people just pass through it on their way to the Wild Atlantic Way, but I think Tipperary really has one of the most beautiful and underrated driving routes.”
And in Asia, the island of Phuket is best known for its “tropical honeymoon, romantic vibe,” but more and more people are now discovering the island as a work and travel spot for digital nomads.
People are rethinking what their day, week and month looks like relative to what they do for a living,” says Chambers, and the beaches, jungles and breezy coastal lifestyle of this Thai destination fit that bill perfectly.
Botswana is also on Lonely Planet’s list of places to visit in 2026. Peru; South Korea, Jeju Island. Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia. Cadiz, Spain. Sardinia, Italy. Tunisia; Barbados, Caribbean. Solomon Islands; Reunion; Quezteltenango (Sierra), Guatemala; Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Utrecht, Netherlands; Cartagena, Colombia. Finland; Quy Nhon, Vietnam. British Columbia, Canada. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
good time and feast
Best in Travel lists 25 experiences to enjoy next year, including gourmet tours in Old Dubai and Kerala, India.
Chambers, whose grandparents are from Kerala, says: “It’s a real spotlight on the region’s food scene, which is rooted in fresh, local ingredients. Local spices like pepper, cardamom and turmeric have a real history. Being on the south-west coast, we’ve been influenced by trade for centuries. It’s a truly unique cuisine.”
Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant food scene is also one of our favorites this year. Lonely Planet says the cuisine is “eclectic, energetic and experimental” with Asian, African and Mediterranean influences.
Oregon’s Willamette Wine Country is a recommended destination for grape lovers in 2026. The “beautiful and easily accessible” vineyard is said to have few tourists and is said to be bitterly cold. We say “cheers” to that.
According to Lonely Planet, Grenada is the perfect place to party in the Caribbean next year, with Spicemas in August being the biggest festival. More than 20,000 people arrive on the island for the end-of-summer extravaganza, so plan ahead.
Belgrade, Serbia’s legendary nightlife scene is perfect for European party animals. The publisher says it’s “raw, exciting and unapologetically wild.”
Spending a night in a Japanese inn is one of Chambers’ “personal favorites on my list of experiences.” Traditional travel inns “offer a glimpse of traditional Japanese interiors, gourmet cuisine, and hot spring culture. Reminiscent of a slower, more analog time, they are built for relaxation,” says Lonely Planet.
Accommodation on a train in South Africa’s Kruger National Park is another unique style of accommodation highlighted in our 2026 Experiences list. Kruger Sharati: The Train on the Bridge is a hotel located in one of Africa’s largest game reserves, where you can combine luxury living with wildlife viewing.
The 2026 list also includes a stay at Hawaii’s Volcano House in Volcanoes National Park.
Rapid rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is a “bucket list” experience, Chambers says. “A typical itinerary doesn’t apply here. You’re adapting to the valley. Wake up, read the water, and deal with the flow.” It’s a chance to break free from online devices and enjoy the moment.
Stargazing in Wairarapa, Aotearoa, New Zealand next year is another great way to connect with nature. “The sky is there forever, but there are moments too!” Chambers says. “Interest in dark skies is growing as more destinations and parks become available for observing galaxies.”
The 2026 list also includes hiking and wild camping in Tajikistan. Explore the bathing trails in Victoria, Australia. Mekong River Cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia. Cycling around the Batanes Islands in the Philippines.
According to Lonely Planet, sightings of whales and dolphins are “almost guaranteed” in the North Atlantic waters of Portugal’s Azores, and it can be an incredibly emotional experience. April and early July are the best times to visit.
Namibia is a recommended location for tracking desert elephants. Be sure to bring a long camera lens and binoculars.
Meanwhile, equestrian enthusiasts are encouraged to consider horseback riding in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador or a Creole Trail ride through Louisiana.
Also included in the 2026 list. Look for jaguars in the wetlands of Ibera, Argentina. Become a citizen scientist in the Peruvian Amazon.
sports and culture
Do you prefer flying kicks or flying cholitas? Lonely Planet’s sports experiences include watching Premier League soccer matches in England. The publisher states: “Going to a match is more than just visiting a stadium. It provides a unique window into the passion and passion of a country.”
He’s the kind of character who would have a hard time doing anything else. ”
Bolivia’s indigenous women, Cholitas, are sports stars in their country’s wrestling ring. They wear traditional long skirts and bowler hats, and their regular competitions are “part acrobatic, part theater,” Lonely Planet says.
Also on the list for 2026: Visit Eileen Gray’s home in the south of France. Dig deeper into street art in Bristol, England.
