On 20 October 2026, National Geographic released its traditional ‘Best Places in the World to Travel to’ list. The ranking includes 25 destinations across the world with something for every traveller’s taste.
As 2026 is slowly but surely coming to an end, many people are already looking ahead. Travellers in particular are starting to become excited for 2027 and planning their next trips as airlines, train companies, and other industry stakeholders are announcing numerous novelties for the year to come.
National Geographic, too, is getting ready for 2027. The organisation has just published its yearly ‘Best Places in the World to Travel to’ list, featuring no less than 25 destinations across the world. From adventurers to cultural-minded city dwellers to culinary enthusiasts, the 2027 ranking features something for every kind of traveller.
“Our audience, and travellers in general, are looking for their travel to be meaningful and enriching in some way, so we also really look for places that deliver something that feels like it’s going to add to the experience and give you a bit more. People’s leisure time is so precious − it is one of those things that none of us feels we have enough of. That’s why I think our list is really focused on trying to find places that deliver that for people across a wide range of interests,” Nathan Lump, National Geographic editor-in-chief, told USA TODAY.
The 25 best places to visit in 2027
- Baltimore (US)
- Cape Froward (Chile)
- Chengdu (China)
- Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland)
- Grenada
- Halifax, Nova Scotia (US)
- Jaipur (India)
- Kuélap, Chachapoyas (Peru)
- Leipzig (Germany)
- Luxor (Egypt)
- Madison, Wisconsin (US)
- Malawi
- Maya Ka’an (Mexico)
- Melbourne (Australia)
- Niigata (Japan)
- Normandy (France)
- Pacific Coast Highway, California (US)
- Penang (Malaysia)
- Puerto Rico
- Salvador, Bahia (Brazil)
- Santander (Spain)
- Southern Ozarks, Missouri and Arkansas (US)
- Transcaucasian Trail (Armenia)
- Tricity (Poland)
- Vestland (Norway)
In order to decide which destinations made the 2027 selection, National Geographic started by asking the question to its community. Writers, reporters, photographers, videographers, National Geographic explorers, editors, and staff members all submitted their favourite destinations for the year to come, which resulted in a list featuring hundreds of proposals.
By carefully going through every submission, the National Geographic editors eventually managed to narrow it down to just 25 destinations. According to Lump, all finalists must have a certain wow factor to them, while the final list must show a good range of geographies, special interests, and passion points.
The 2027 list thus features destinations from across the world, from the US to Armenia and Japan. History fanatics can discover the birthplace of the American railroad, Baltimore, while creative wellness offerings await at Grenada.
As far as Lump is concerned, the destination that stands out the most is Kuélap in northern Peru, a destination that only a few people have heard of.
“Is a really interesting pre-Incan site that has only recently become more accessible to visitors. It was built by the Chachapoya people in about 500 BC, and it’s an incredible feat of engineering. They’ve got like human-shaped sarcophagi perched on a cliffside, and it’s like one of those really mysterious places that most people have probably never heard of It’s a really, really fascinating place,” he told USA TODAY.
National Geographic also gave its readers the chance to vote for a Readers’ Choice Best of the World destination. Catalina Island, located at an hour-long ferry ride from Long Beach in California, came out as the winner for 2027.
