In 2026, travel is no longer about ticking landmarks off a list. It’s about depth, rhythm, and places that feel emotionally rich rather than overexposed. The destinations shaping the year ahead share a common thread: they reward curiosity, encourage slower itineraries, and offer beauty with substance: whether through culture, design, food, or nature. This is where discerning travellers are going next, and how to experience each place properly.
Rabat, Morocco
Rabat is Morocco at its most composed. As the country’s political and cultural capital, it blends historical gravitas with an understated modern elegance that feels worlds away from the sensory overload of Marrakech. The Atlantic breeze softens the pace, while wide boulevards, contemporary museums, and carefully preserved heritage sites give the city a quietly confident atmosphere. Rabat doesn’t shout for attention, it rewards those who linger.
What to do
Days here unfold beautifully when unhurried. Begin with a walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas, where white-and-blue houses frame sweeping ocean views and time seems suspended. Explore the city’s growing contemporary art scene, then drift toward the Bou Regreg waterfront for a sunset stroll punctuated by tea breaks and river reflections. Rabat is also a city of ideas:lectures, exhibitions, and cultural programming add depth beyond sightseeing.
Places to visit
The Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Chellah ruins at dusk, and the Bou Regreg Marina for its calm, cinematic energy.
Where to stay
Choose a refined riad near the kasbah for atmosphere, or a modern boutique hotel in the Ville Nouvelle if you prefer space, clean lines, and rooftop terraces with sea views.
Canadian Rockies, Canada
The Canadian Rockies are redefining mountain travel for a new generation: less rugged survival, more restorative immersion. Towering peaks, glacial lakes, and vast forests form the backdrop, but it’s the thoughtful integration of wellness, architecture, and slow luxury that places this region firmly on the 2026 radar. This is nature with polish, designed to awe without exhausting.
What to do
Mornings belong to the landscape: sunrise at Lake Louise, quiet walks along emerald lakes, or scenic drives where every turn feels unreal. Afternoons are for contrast: thermal pools, spa rituals, or long lunches with mountain views. Balance short hikes with gondola rides and reserve one unforgettable experience, whether it’s wildlife tracking or a helicopter flight over glaciers.
Places to visit
Banff and Canmore for culture and dining, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake for iconic scenery, and the Icefields Parkway for one of the world’s most dramatic drives.
Where to stay
Opt for a luxury lodge or design-led cabin with fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and outdoor hot tubs. Comfort is part of the experience here.
Algodões, Brazil
Algodões is the antithesis of flashy beach travel. Tucked along Bahia’s untouched coastline, it offers raw beauty wrapped in simplicity: wide sands, warm water, and a rhythm that invites complete disconnection. Its appeal lies in how little it asks of you: no schedules, no crowds, no urgency.
What to do
Life here revolves around the tide. Swim in the morning light, wander barefoot between beach and hammock, and let afternoons dissolve into naps or reading. Boat trips reveal hidden coves and coral pools, while evenings are reserved for long, unhurried meals built around freshly caught fish and local flavours. Yoga, meditation, and gentle movement fit naturally into the landscape.
Places to visit
Algodões Beach itself, surrounding coves accessible by boat, nearby fishing villages that feel untouched by tourism.
Where to stay
Stay in a low-key pousada or eco-lodge where design is intentional but discreet. Proximity to the beach matters more than amenities.
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg is Europe’s quiet design capital. Built around water and shaped by trade, the city blends industrial heritage with forward-thinking architecture and a creative scene that feels authentic rather than performative. It’s a city for travellers who appreciate detail, space, and a certain cool restraint.
What to do
Explore Hamburg from the water first: harbour cruises reveal the city’s scale and soul. Spend time in converted warehouses housing galleries, restaurants, and music venues. Evenings are best enjoyed neighbourhood by neighbourhood: cocktails in one district, live music in another, and a late dinner in a former dockside space.
Places to visit
Speicherstadt, HafenCity, the Elbphilharmonie surroundings, and the Port of Hamburg.
Where to stay
Choose a centrally located boutique hotel with strong interiors: Hamburg’s hotel scene mirrors its design-forward ethos.
Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand
Aoraki/Mount Cook is travel stripped to its essence. Vast, silent, and monumental, it delivers a sense of scale that reorders priorities. Days feel expansive, nights deeply quiet, and the landscape dominates every thought.
What to do
Walk alpine trails that frame glaciers and peaks, even if only for a few hours—the impact is immediate. Scenic flights and glacier experiences add perspective, while evenings belong to stargazing, where the sky becomes the main event. This is a place to do less and feel more.
Places to visit
Mount Cook Village, Lake Pukaki, nearby Lake Tekapo for its surreal colour and night skies.
Where to stay
A lodge or cabin designed around the view, with warmth, silence, and simplicity at its core.
Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei thrives on contrast. Ancient temples sit beside cutting-edge towers, while one of Asia’s most exciting food scenes unfolds nightly in open-air markets. It’s a city that feels alive, curious, and deeply human.
What to do
Eat intentionally and constantly: street food, traditional dumpling houses, modern tasting menus. Between meals, explore temples, browse design stores, or escape to nearby hot springs and mountain trails. Taipei rewards those who follow instinct rather than itinerary.
Places to visit
Taipei 101 district, major night markets, historic temples, nearby hot spring towns.
Where to stay
A modern boutique hotel near a metro hub allows seamless exploration day and night.
Umbria, Italy
Umbria feels like Italy exhaling. Hill towns rise quietly from the countryside, meals stretch long into the afternoon, and tourism feels personal rather than performative. It’s romantic without trying to be.
What to do
Structure days around markets, countryside drives, and slow meals. Visit family-run wineries, hunt for truffles in season, and allow entire afternoons to disappear into views and conversation.
Places to visit
Assisi, Spello, Orvieto, and lesser-known hill towns connected by winding roads.
Where to stay
An agriturismo with panoramic views or a boutique hotel within a medieval centre.
Sancerre, France
Sancerre is understated French perfection. Vineyards roll gently toward the Loire, villages feel intimate, and life moves according to taste rather than time.
What to do
Spend mornings tasting wines directly from producers, afternoons picnicking or cycling through vineyards, and evenings lingering over candlelit dinners that celebrate regional simplicity.
Places to visit
Sancerre village, surrounding vineyards, Loire River viewpoints.
Where to stay
A countryside inn or refined guesthouse with vineyard views.
Sardinia, Italy
Sardinia is one of those rare Mediterranean destinations that still feels untamed. Its coastline is almost shockingly beautiful: turquoise water, pale sand, sculpted rocks, but what makes the island truly compelling is the contrast between the glamorous sea and the deeply traditional interior. Inland, shepherd culture, ancient stone villages, and time-honoured rituals continue much as they have for centuries. Travel here feels layered: part barefoot summer fantasy, part cultural immersion that reveals itself slowly, meal by meal, road by road.
What to do
The magic of Sardinia lies in balance. Spend your mornings on the water, boat days along the coast reveal hidden coves, secret beaches, and a palette of blues that rivals the Caribbean. Afternoons invite contrast: drive inland through winding mountain roads, stop in small villages for espresso or a late lunch, and witness a quieter, more authentic rhythm of life. Evenings stretch long and unhurried, often centred around generous dinners where local wine, seafood, and pasta are treated with reverence rather than flair. If you enjoy active travel, coastal hikes, snorkeling, and scenic drives add depth between beach days.
Places to visit
Seek out lesser-known coves along the coast rather than focusing only on headline beaches, explore inland villages where traditions remain strong, and take at least one long coastal road trip, these drives are as memorable as the destinations themselves.
Where to stay
The ideal Sardinian itinerary is split. Begin with a coastal boutique hotel or villa for beach-focused days, then move inland to a countryside retreat where silence, views, and slow mornings define the experience.
Maine, USA
Maine feels like a film set designed to calm the nervous system. There is something inherently grounding about its rugged coastline, weathered harbours, and understated charm. Life here moves with the tide rather than the clock, shaped by salt air, seasonal rhythms, and a deep connection to the sea. It’s nostalgic without being frozen in time, offering comfort, beauty, and a sense of quiet continuity.
What to do
Days in Maine are best shaped by light and appetite. Follow the coast by car, stopping often for lighthouses, cliffside views, and small towns where nothing feels rushed. Boat trips reveal a different perspective of the shoreline, while long lunches and early dinners revolve around seafood that needs little embellishment. Hiking and nature walks—especially along the coast: provide cinematic scenery without demanding intensity. The goal is not to do everything, but to let the landscape set the pace.
Places to visit
Acadia National Park delivers drama and scale, while coastal towns and lighthouse viewpoints offer intimacy and character. Even brief stops often feel memorable here.
Where to stay
Choose a heritage inn for classic New England charm or a secluded coastal cottage if privacy and sea views are your priority. Comfort and location matter more than luxury flourishes.
Tipperary, Ireland
Tipperary embodies Ireland at its most gentle and welcoming. Rolling green hills stretch endlessly, punctuated by ruins, estates, and villages where hospitality feels instinctive rather than curated. There is a softness to the landscape and to daily life here: one that encourages conversation, reflection, and unplanned detours.
What to do
Explore on foot or by car, letting the countryside guide you. Walk quiet trails, visit castles and historic estates, and build your evenings around pub culture, not as nightlife, but as social ritual. Meals tend to be hearty, conversations unhurried, and days often end exactly where they should: by a fire, pint in hand, stories flowing easily.
Places to visit
Historic estates, castle ruins, small rural villages, and scenic drives that reveal Ireland’s pastoral heart.
Where to stay
A country house hotel offers romance and immersion, while a small boutique inn in a village allows you to feel part of local life, even briefly.
Medellín, Colombia
Medellín is a city shaped by transformation. Once defined by its past, it is now known for creativity, resilience, and a vibrant cultural pulse. Set in a lush valley and surrounded by green hills, the city feels alive and optimistic, blending modern urban energy with easy access to nature.
What to do
Days are ideal for exploring neighbourhoods rich in art, design, and coffee culture: spaces that reflect Medellín’s contemporary identity. Museums and cultural centres provide context, while cafés and markets ground the experience in daily life. As evening falls, rooftop dining and music-led venues take over, offering views across the valley and a sense of celebration. When the city’s energy feels intense, nearby countryside excursions deliver calm and perspective.
Places to visit
Cultural districts and neighbourhoods, panoramic viewpoints overlooking the city, and coffee-growing regions just beyond the urban edge.
Where to stay
Stay in a modern boutique hotel in a walkable, café-rich neighbourhood where daily life unfolds around you and evenings never feel far from home.
