LONELY PLANET'S BEST IN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR 2026 REVEALED

Lonely Planet's Expert Predictions for the Coming Year Celebrate the 50 Best Destinations & Experiences for the Year Ahead

Deep dive into Bristol's street art scene, take a cultural food tour in Dubai's Old Town, or dance the night away in Belgrade

Global travel authority Lonely Planet has today unveiled its top destinations and experiences for the coming year with the release of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026. 

Lonely Planet's team of writers and editors have distilled big events, new and bucket-list experiences and moments of inspiration to make Best in Travel's best-selling guide of recommendations for where to go and what to do in 2026, featuring 25 must-visit destinations and 25 essential experiences from all around the globe. 

Best in Travel 2026 celebrates the thriving street-art scene in Bristol, known as the birthplace of iconic street artist Banksy. The city has become a colourful hotbed of creativity for a wide range of artists, with specialist walking tours providing insight into the inspiration behind the works of local artists which blend beautifully into the cityscape. From Banksy's Girl with a Pierced Eardrum to Alex Lucas' colourful mural house fronts.

CEO of Visit West Kathryn Davis spoke of the inclusion, stating:

“Bristol is renowned for its progressive spirit, creative energy, and strong sense of independence, so it's only fitting that its streets are alive with vibrant colour and powerful street art. Our ever-evolving outdoor gallery draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year to take part in street art tours, spray art workshops and immerse themselves in the city's rich cultural scene.  

We are thrilled that Lonely Planet has awarded Bristol's street art for Best in Travel 2026. We look forward to welcoming many more visitors this next year and beyond, to discover the humorous, playful, political and subversive street art in the city.” 

Other highlights include the under-the-radar nightlife scene of the Serbian capital Belgrade and Grenada's legendary Spicemas festival, culinary-focused experiences such as food tours of Dubai's Old Town or a journey through the distinctive Indian gastronomy of Kerala. Outdoor and nature lovers will find the lure of whale-watching in the Azores or stargazing in New Zealand's north island region of Wairarapa. Along with off the beaten track locations of Tipperary in Ireland, Jaffna in Sri Lanka, Utrecht in Netherlands and Cadiz in Spain. 

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026 - Complete list

Each entry in the diverse Best in Travel 2026 list reflects a personal experience from Lonely Planet's panel of experts, a vast community of staff, contributors from around the world.

Places

• Barbados
• Botswana
• British Columbia, Canada
• Cádiz, Spain
• Cartagena, Colombia
• Finland
• Ikara-Flinders Ranges & Outback, South Australia
• Jaffna, Sri Lanka
• Jeju-do, South Korea
• Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
• Maine, USA
• Mexico City, Mexico
• North Island, New Zealand/Aotearoa
• Peru
• Phuket, Thailand
• Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala
• Quy Nhon, Vietnam
• Réunion
• Sardinia, Italy
• Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Solomon Islands
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park, USA
• Tipperary, Ireland
• Tunisia
• Utrecht, Netherlands

Experiences

• Azores, Portugal, go whale-watching
• Batanes, Philippines, see the sights by bike
• Belgrade, Serbia, experience the legendary nightlife scene
• Bolivia, watch a Flying Cholitas match
• Bristol, England, deep-dive into street art
• Ecuador, ride horses in the Andes Mountains
• England, attend a Premier League game
• Grand Canyon, USA, rapid-raft the Colorado River
• Grenada, party in the Caribbean
• Iberá, Argentina, look for jaguars in the wetlands
• Japan, spend the night in a ryokan
• Kerala, India, go on a culinary tour
• Kruger National Park, South Africa, stay in a train carriage
• Louisiana, USA, take a Creole trail ride
• Melbourne, Australia, savour the exciting food scene
• Namibia, track desert elephants
• Old Dubai, United Arab Emirates, go on a cultural food tour
• Oregon, USA, visit Willamette Wine Country
• Southern France, visit Eileen Gray's House
• Tajikistan, hike and wildcamp
• The Amazon, Peru, become a citizen scientist
• Victoria, Australia, explore the Bathing Trail
• Vietnam & Cambodia, cruise the Mekong River
• Volcanoes National Park, USA, stay at Hawai'i's Volcano House
• Wairarapa, New Zealand/Aotearoa, go stargazing

The annual bestseller Best in Travel 2026 is an eye-catching softback guide, comprising of colourful photography, essays and local advice for exploring the top 25 Destinations and top 25 Experiences for the year ahead. Available for £14.99 from lonelyplanet.com or where all good books are sold.

Lonely Planet has also launched Lonely Planet Journeys, a travel-planning service that pairs travelers with local experts to create personalised, meaningful, and boundary-pushing journeys. To mark the moment, Journeys released 23 bookable trips inspired by the winning locations of Best in Travel 2026.

This year, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel list is presented in partnership with Holafly, one of the world's leading eSIM providers for travellers. With Holafly, travellers can enjoy unlimited data with no hidden fees, enabling them to move seamlessly and stay connected in the locations featured on Lonely Planet's winning list.

ENDS

Media enquiries please contact: LonelyPlanet@goshpr.co.uk

Notes to Media:

• Strictly Embargoed Until Wednesday 22 October 2025, 08.00 (GMT) – UK
• Website Link: lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel 
• Images and extracts for all destinations are available on request 
• Interviews & comment: Tom Hall, Lonely Planet UK is  is available upon request
• Hashtag: #BestinTravel

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About Holafly

Holafly is the global leader in eSIMs for travellers, offering coverage in over 200

destinations. With an outstanding 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot and more than 15 million

satisfied users, it has become the preferred eSIM choice for international travellers. Its

unlimited data offering ensures peace of mind anywhere in the world.