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

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

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.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

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.

L’article National Geographic reveals the 25 best destinations to visit in 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. York, England

In York, a ghost can be a souvenir as well as the subject of a frightening story. The York Ghost Merchants, a shop selling small ghost sculptures, organises Ghost Week, which runs from 24 October to 1 November this year. Its programme includes storytelling, creative workshops and a Gothic tea dance in York Cemetery Chapel. Visitors can also join the free Little York Ghost Hunt on selected evenings, searching for miniature figures hidden around the city. It gives you a reason to look twice into those shadowy corners. Finding something you can take home is considerably more reassuring than meeting an actual ghost.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Andrea Di Filippo (@dr_difilippo)

2. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has a strong claim on Halloween visitors: this is the birthplace of Bram Stoker, the author who gave the world Dracula. The city celebrates that connection with the Bram Stoker Festival, running from 23 to 26 October 2026. The programme includes theatre, literary discussions and a parade, with events for families as well as fans of darker stories. It offers a chance to explore the writer’s legacy beyond the familiar image of a vampire in a cape. For a quieter encounter with the past, Glasnevin Cemetery offers a different perspective on the city through the lives of those buried there.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Visit Dublin (@visitdublin)

3. Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania comes with a Halloween reputation that needs little introduction, but there is more to the region than plastic fangs. Bran Castle is its most recognisable vampire attraction, with towers and a rocky setting that help explain its popular association with Dracula. The connection needs a little care, though: Count Dracula is a fictional character, and Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The castle’s appeal lies in the mix of history and vampire legend. Beyond Bran, the medieval streets of Brașov and autumn forests of the Carpathian Mountains offer plenty of reasons to extend the trip. You can leave the cape in your suitcase for those outings.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Andrea & Chiara (@travel2feelalive)

4. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges does not need to cover every building in cobwebs to create a Halloween setting. Its medieval streets and canals provide the atmosphere, particularly when explored after dark. Night tours introduce visitors to local legends and the more unsettling stories behind the city’s romantic appearance. Among them is a tale of a water ghost associated with the Lake of Love, giving that reassuring name a rather different meaning. Travellers who prefer museum displays to ghost stories can visit the Torture Museum, although its subject matter makes this a less gentle option. Afterwards, returning to the lights of the city’s squares may feel especially welcome.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da @miracleofvacationns

5. Prague, Czech Republic

In Prague, even the clock has a reminder that your time is running out. A skeleton representing Death forms part of the Astronomical Clock’s mechanical display, alongside its procession of apostles. Elsewhere, the city’s stories draw on alchemy, a historical practice that mixed early experiments with beliefs about transforming metals and discovering the secrets of life. For an excursion outside Prague, visitors can explore the folklore surrounding Houska Castle, north of the city. According to legend, its chapel covers an opening to hell, supposedly sealing dangerous creatures beneath the building. That is a supernatural story rather than an established account of its construction, but it certainly gives visitors something to think about while looking at the floor.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

6. Derry, Northern Ireland

Derry is an option for travellers who would rather join the Halloween celebrations than spend the evening waiting for something to jump out at them. Its annual festival brings performances, costumes and illuminated displays into the streets, with activities designed for different ages. Celtic folklore helps shape the celebrations, giving the spectacle a connection to the season’s older traditions. The carnival parade takes place on 31 October, turning Halloween night into a shared city celebration. Families can look for suitable activities in the programme, while groups of friends have an excuse to make dressing up part of the trip. Here, the other visitors are as much a part of the atmosphere as the setting.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Jennifer | Evgeniya (@jennigiraffe)

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

For those whose ideal Halloween involves more pumpkins than nightmares, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens offers a gentler starting point. Its Halloween season runs from 2 October to 1 November 2026, combining autumn decorations with the historic amusement park’s rides and seasonal stalls. It suits a visit built around browsing, eating and enjoying the displays, with a few rides between stops. After dark, the Tivoli Lake becomes the setting for Halloween Illuminations, a show combining lasers, fire, smoke and water with music. The evening spectacle gives visitors a reason to stay beyond daylight, even if haunted corridors hold little appeal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tivoli (@tivolicph)

Choosing where to go depends on what you want from a Halloween break. York, Dublin and Derry offer organised celebrations, while Transylvania and Prague invite visitors to explore the places behind enduring legends. Bruges lends itself to an atmospheric evening walk, and Copenhagen combines seasonal displays with amusement park entertainment. Check individual event dates and booking requirements before travelling, as some celebrations take place before Halloween itself. The hardest decision may be whether to pack a costume or leave room for a ghost souvenir.

L’article Ghost hunts and vampire legends: Seven European escapes for Halloween 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The national park extends well beyond the 205-hectare Tervuren Park beside the AfricaMuseum. Its designation brings nature, heritage, agriculture and tourism into a shared regional project, with a long-term plan to strengthen, expand and connect natural habitats.

A landscape connected by nature and history

Brabantse Wouden’s masterplan covers the period 2024–2048, with particular attention to rare and sensitive animal and plant species. Connecting habitats involves both extending natural areas and reducing the barriers created by roads and other infrastructure.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

Agriculture also has a place in this landscape, through sustainable local food production and practices that support biodiversity. The partnership involves twelve municipalities, including Tervuren, with cooperation addressing issues such as drought and flooding.

Alongside its forests and valleys, the national park encompasses a cultural landscape shaped by centuries of settlement. Beersel Castle, dating from the 14^th century, is one example of the heritage found across the wider area.

Tervuren’s gateway to the Sonian Forest

Tervuren’s connection to the national park centres on the Sonian Forest, known in Dutch as the Zoniënwoud. Its avenues and branching paths provide options for short walks and longer excursions, with Tervuren Park forming one of its Flemish gateways.

Five strictly protected areas within the forest received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017 as components of the transnational site, Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. This designation applies to those specific reserves, rather than the entire forest or national park.

De Warandepoort visitor centre provides information for planning local excursions. During autumn, changing foliage adds a seasonal dimension to the walking routes around Tervuren, from pond-side paths to woodland trails.

A walking itinerary through the arboretum

Established in 1902, Tervuren’s geographical arboretum brings together trees and forest types arranged according to their geographical origins. The collection offers a different perspective on woodland, placing forest communities from different regions within a single walking destination.

The approximately seven-kilometre Royal Walk provides a structured itinerary through the Tervuren arboretum. Sequoias from western North America and araucarias from the Andes are among its distinctive trees.

The route can form the main excursion of a day focused on woodland, with a separate park walk or museum visit adding a cultural element.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

Combining parkland with architectural heritage

Tervuren Park brings together French gardens, ponds and wooded avenues on the former hunting grounds of the Dukes of Brabant. The 5.5-kilometre Warande Walk passes the AfricaMuseum, Africa Palace and Chapel of St Hubert, linking the estate’s natural surroundings with its historical landmarks. It features among six routes for discovering Tervuren on foot.

The baroque chapel dates from 1617, while the remains of the ducal palace recall the estate’s earlier role as a residence. The Africa Palace, formerly the Palais des Colonies, was built for the Brussels International Exposition of 1897. Today’s AfricaMuseum occupies a separate building inaugurated by King Albert I on 30 April 1910.

The exhibition’s collections formed the basis of a permanent museum established in 1898. Today, the institution combines scientific research with exhibitions on Central Africa’s societies, history and natural environments. Its reopening in 2018 followed five years of renovation.

Exploring beyond Tervuren

For a first visit, choosing the Royal Walk or Warande Walk as the main excursion creates a manageable day itinerary. A shorter alternative follows the 1.5-kilometre AfricaMuseum promenade between the museum and Tervuren’s church, with nine information panels explaining the institution’s connection to the town.

Longer stays allow time to explore the national park’s other landscapes, from Hallerbos near Halle to Meerdaalwoud and the Dijle Valley near Leuven. Tervuren provides an introduction to a regional destination whose forests, waterways, farmland and heritage can be explored over several outings.

L’article Discovering Brabantse Wouden National Park through Tervuren est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The cathedral city of Hereford was once an important military centre. That was a few centuries ago but, today, Herefordshire is a real leader in other ways, from innovation and championing local products to the sheer friendliness of its people.

Here are 10 reasons to put Herefordshire on your travel list.

1. Start the day in style

As you’re in England, what better way to start the day than by sampling some of the county’s best produce, including a full English breakfast, perhaps?

There are a couple of spots well worth trying, including the lovely Castle House Hotel in Hereford, whose wholesome breakfast offering is open to both guests and non-guests. It also has an interesting Benelux connection, having once been owned by Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands.

Away from the county’s main city, you’ll find the terrific, multi-award-winning Lowe Farm B&B, set in the rolling Herefordshire countryside and celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.

The place is lovingly overseen by Juliet Williams, a larger-than-life character who serves up delicious and healthy breakfasts sourced almost entirely from local products and producers.

Juliet, who is nearing 70 but remains full of energy and enthusiasm for what she does, has welcomed a staggering 27,000 guests since opening, including the Spanish ambassador to the UK and coachloads of Japanese tourists. Some 60% are repeat visitors, a clear sign of the quality of service she provides.

Juliet and her husband Clive also boast a minor Belgian connection: the best man at their wedding was from Belgium. She takes great pride in sourcing her products locally and cooking with healthy ingredients, some sourced from the same local butcher used by famous TV chef James Martin.

2. Discover Hereford’s history

2026 marks the 1,350th anniversary of the Hereford diocese and the city oozes history.

One must-visit attraction is Hereford Cathedral, dating back to Saxon times, and its Mappa Mundi, one of the world’s unique medieval treasures. Constructed on a single sheet of vellum more than 700 years ago, the map shows how the world was interpreted by scholars at the time.

Look closely and you’ll spot Ghent on the map in the Europe section, curiously located in the bottom left of the world.

Close by is the equally wonderful Chained Library, home to some 229 medieval manuscripts and more than 1,200 early printed books. It is the largest library of its kind to survive with all its chains, rods and locks intact.

The magnificent cathedral is also home to impressive architecture, a mighty Willis organ, stained glass, including a tribute to the UK’s SAS, which is based locally, and numerous works of art. It is all brought to life by a 400-strong team of volunteers who are passionate about what they do.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Daniel’s Historic Architecture (@greatbritisharchitecture)

A short walk away is Hereford’s historic Town Hall, home to the current Lady Mayor, something of a rarity as there have only been seven women mayors in the city’s entire history.

Tours are available, offering an insight into Hereford’s rich history and a reminder that its castle was once second only in size to Windsor.

The city boasts another proud record: along with the City of London, it has never been defeated in battle.

There is also another historical connection to Belgium. In the council chamber, where the mayor presides over meetings, a framed and unusual Union Jack hangs above one of the doors, featuring a central shield with a French inscription.

The inscription reads: “Expression of our gratitude to our benefactors Mr & Mrs GB Greenland and members of the Committee – Belgian refugees in Hereford, Nov 9th 1915.”

Following the German invasion of Belgium in August 1914, roughly 250,000 Belgian refugees fled to Britain. Hereford City Council holds the distinction of being the first British city to officially step forward and offer hospitality and sanctuary to displaced Belgian families.

On 9 November 1915, Belgian refugees living in Hereford presented a silk flag to Mayor G.B. Greenland as a permanent token of friendship and “immense gratitude” for the local community’s safe housing and kindness.

Tours of the Town Hall are overseen by the entertaining Scotsman John Marshall, the Mayor’s Officer. He is responsible for looking after some serious silverware, including the 349-year-old Civic Sword, mayoral robes, including one used in Queen Victoria’s coronation, and the mayoral golden chain, which dates from the 1800s.

There’s precious little that the very likeable John doesn’t know about Hereford and its rich history. Like so many others in the county, he genuinely loves his job, so much so that he is happy to extend his planned retirement to continue doing it.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Jon Simpson (@just.jon.simpson)

3. Meet the local artisans

Whisky production in a traditional cider county? Well, yes, and very good it is too.

At least that is the case at Rosemaund Farm Distillery, which has recently been brought back under family ownership. Described as the “largest little distillery in Herefordshire”, the site, formerly home to Chase Distillery, is a real hive of activity and has just marked its latest release, “The Director’s Cut”.

The sprawling site even boasts a touch of Hollywood glitz, as world-famous film director Guy Ritchie is involved with his Wild Kitchen/Wild Table concept, an outdoor cooking and dining experience where a full meal can be enjoyed after a tour of the impressive whisky-making operation.

Criss-crossing some of the county’s marvellous, meandering country roads leads to another laudable local artisan: Monkland Cheese Dairy.

It was run for more than three decades by Mark and Karen Hindle, who now operate the adjacent café, while former chef Dean Storey owns the dairy, makes the cheeses and runs tours.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Monkland Cheesemakers (@monklandcheese)

While the French may be world-renowned for their cheeses, here’s proof, if it were needed, that the Brits can do the job just as well.

Public tours offer the chance to see up close how its delicious cheeses are made, partly using an impressive Dutch Gouda vat capable of holding 1,000 litres of cow’s milk.

4. Enjoy a spot of lunch

Back in Hereford, the county’s entrepreneurial spirit is certainly alive and kicking at The Yard, a collective of small-scale eateries.

Overseeing things are two go-ahead brothers, Edwin and Dorian Kirk, who offer vital mentoring to would-be local start-ups.

Ed says: “We help people who are just starting out to build up their own business and become owners themselves. In a way, it is all about achieving their dreams, just as me and Dorian have managed to do.”

After trekking around all morning, it’s a great place for a filling, tasty but affordable light lunch, be it pizza, a burger or steak, accompanied by one of the local ales.

As with so many places here, it is all about cutting food miles and “buying local”, with much of the food sourced directly from local producers.

If you happen to visit in late October, the space transforms for Oktoberfest, complete with Bavarian beers and music.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Hereford Indie Food Festival (@hereford_indie_food)

5. Try your hand at pottery

One of the reasons this county is described as a hidden gem is its welcoming locals, including Jon Williams and Sarah Monk, who run Eastnor Pottery.

Having met at art school in Bath, the couple moved to “idyllic” Herefordshire, where they live and work on the Eastnor Castle estate, offering enjoyable potter’s wheel experiences alongside making their own ceramics.

It’s an opportunity to get hands-on with one of the county’s creative traditions and experience another side of rural Herefordshire.

6. Explore Eastnor Castle

After having fun on the potter’s wheel, make time to admire Eastnor Castle, home of the Hervey-Bathurst family, with lavish interiors containing medieval armour, fine art and yet another reminder of Belgium.

This comes in the shape of impressive Belgian tapestries, including three from Bruges in the Staircase Hall and more in the Gothic Dining Room.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Eastnor Castle (@eastnor_castle)

James Hervey-Bathurst, the current owner, moved here with his family in 1989, but his family have been there since 1949 and have ancestral links to the original owners going back centuries.

He recalls: “We were presented with a wonderful but daunting challenge.”

That’s a reference to the rundown state of the property, which has since been restored to its former glory.

Before leaving, take a look in the grounds at something you might not expect to see in rural England: a segment of the Berlin Wall.

James bought the three-metre-high, 2.6-tonne section last year and had it shipped to the UK. He hopes its presence, close to the deer park, reminds visitors of how conflict can divide people and communities, a message as relevant today as ever.

7. Discover more of the countryside

You need to allow time to fully experience everything this county has to offer.

Time and energy permitting, there’s plenty more to keep visitors busy, including Black Mountain Adventure near Brecon, Canwood Gallery, a contemporary art space, and the many farm shops dotted across the landscape.

These include Oakchurch, just the place to stock up on some lovely local produce before heading home.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Black Mountain Adventure (@blackmountainadventure)

8. Taste the local food scene

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to sampling the county’s wonderful local produce, whether in the north, south, east or west.

In the south, at Woolhope, for instance, is The Crown, a terrific pub and restaurant run by another friendly Herefordian, Annalisa Slocombe.

The recently refurbished eatery serves a mix of pub classics, including good old fish and chips, along with local beers.

Located in a tiny village of around 200 residents, the menu is constantly evolving. But, as Annalisa explains, favourites such as steak remain “to avoid a customer revolt”. From the end of this month, she hopes to have eight en-suite rooms available too.

Cricket lovers will feel at home here, with plenty of memorabilia on the walls, including a bat used at the England v New Zealand Test in 1999 and a collection of Wisden books dating back to 1988.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Crown at Woolhope (@crownwoolhope)

Another great place, this time back in Hereford, is The Beefy Boys. Hereford was the first location in what has become a fast-growing chain, with its latest restaurant scheduled to open in Cambridge later this month.

The county is renowned worldwide for the quality of its beef and that, along with great service, is one reason why the burgers here stand out. The meat is sourced from a single local farm.

The Beefy Boys story started in Hereford and the venue has expanded in recent years to accommodate up to 250 people.

Assistant General Manager Kai says: “Even midweek it’s bustling here and we’re still growing.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Beefy Boys (@thebeefyboys)

Not too far away, to the east, is L’Ecole des Amis, which serves refined French cuisine in a beautifully restored old schoolhouse.

At the helm are Cedric L’Herbier, who hails from Le Touquet in France, and Bruce Havard.

Cedric, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the restaurant trade in both the UK and France, recalls how the rundown building was badly in need of “some TLC” when they acquired it.

A rapid restoration, completed in just 12 months, has resulted in a lovely, informal place to enjoy top-class cuisine that Cedric describes as “unsophisticated and unpretentious”.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от L’Ecole des Amis Restaurant (@l_ecoledesamis)

They change a couple of dishes every few weeks and there is also a brasserie-style lunch menu.

On opening night, an estimated 80% of customers travelled from where Cedric previously worked in another part of the county, about 18 miles away, and he and Bruce continue to command a loyal customer base.

It is largely down to the fresh food, cooked with real care, which makes one Frenchman glad that he took the plunge for “one last adventure” in his working life.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от L’Ecole des Amis Restaurant (@l_ecoledesamis)

9. Stay in the Herefordshire countryside

If you enjoy peace and quiet, with a few animals for company, Pudleston Court could be the place for you.

Nestled in 50 acres of beautiful private parkland, it’s hard to imagine you are just a few kilometres from the busy town of Leominster.

It is home to seven holiday lets, five of which are original estate buildings, formerly used for everything from housing geese to a rifle range, and all have been carefully refurbished.

One, the delightful Meadow View, is a barn conversion sleeping up to six people with its own private pool. It boasts underfloor heating, three bedrooms, a log-burning stove and a delightful terrace.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Pudleston Court (@pudleston_court)

Don’t be surprised if, on arrival, you are greeted by some curious “locals”: peacocks roam freely around the estate, while charming young alpacas can be found in a nearby field.

There is also another connection to the Heijn family, who formerly owned the property. The current owner is a Swiss woman who fell in love with it after reading an article about it in Country Life magazine.

She had always dreamed of owning her own English castle and this was her chance to do just that.

She has overseen a careful restoration that is still ongoing, with future plans including expansion into the corporate market through company stays, board meetings and training days.

Approached via those unique meandering roads, where the only hold-up is likely to be cattle crossing, this is a genuine oasis of peace and tranquillity in an increasingly hectic world.

And there’s yet another Belgian connection: Rhi Baines, the Chief Operating Officer, has fond memories of Belgium after celebrating her 21^st birthday in Brussels.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Pudleston Court (@pudleston_court)

10. Enjoy a road trip from mainland Europe

It could hardly be easier for people travelling by car from mainland Europe, including Belgium. Once off the ferry or shuttle, motorways cover much of the journey to Herefordshire.

After navigating the M25 around London, travellers can continue via the M40 and Gloucester or the M40 and Worcester.

There are no motorways in Herefordshire itself, however, so allow a little extra time for getting around.

It all adds up to a great getaway, whatever the time of year. Pay a visit and it’s easy to see why this pretty part of England is described as a “hidden gem”.

One excellent way of finding out more about this creative county is through Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire, a leading independent destination marketing company.

It supports Herefordshire’s food and drink businesses, accommodation providers, activities, leisure venues and events, while also promoting the county’s craftspeople, creatives and artisans.

L’article 10 reasons to discover Herefordshire, England’s ‘hidden gem’ est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Intrepid Travel (@intrepidtravel)

The list was created with travel forecasting company Globetrender and draws on information from local guides, tourism boards and Intrepid teams in 35 countries. Destinations had to receive fewer visitors than comparable places and possess enough infrastructure to accommodate growth. New flights, railway links, tourism projects and cultural events were also considered. The report is not a scientific ranking, but combines available data with local knowledge and editorial judgement. “If we want tourism to continue to be a force for good, we need to constantly rethink how and where we travel,” Intrepid’s general manager of experiences Erica Kritikides said.

Samburu National Reserve leads the list as a quieter alternative to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It receives around 30,000 to 40,000 visitors annually, roughly one-tenth of the Maasai Mara’s total. Travellers can search for the “Samburu Special Five”, which include Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. Community-led tourism also helps fund conservation and local services. Second-placed Mestia is a Georgian mountain town surrounded by the traditional villages and medieval defensive towers of UNESCO-listed Upper Svaneti. Improved access and tourism investment are positioning the area as a year-round base for hiking and skiing.

@mandy.hrr Underrated & Unforgettable: Why Samburu National Park Is Kenya’s Best-Kept Secret Far from the crowds, Samburu offers an exclusive safari with rare wildlife like the elegant gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx – the “Samburu Special Five.” Add elephants, leopards, and striking desert scenery, and you’ve got a truly wild adventure. #SamburuNationalPark #HiddenGemKenya #SafariSecrets #SpecialFive #UntamedAfrica #WildlifeWonder #BucketListTravel #SaveThisPost #AfricanAdventure #TravelInspo #Safari #Kenya #Kenyasafari #kenia ♬ sonido original – KiaraMarBalto

Jordan’s Northern Highlands occupy third place and show a greener side of a country usually associated with Petra and Wadi Rum. The region combines Roman remains, forest reserves and mountain paths. Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon follows in fourth place, with northern lights, hiking and winter activities among its attractions. A new Arctic tourism initiative is developing community-led cultural, wildlife and adventure experiences. Guided activities can also introduce visitors to the history and traditions of Yukon First Nations.

Alonnisos in Greece takes fifth place after welcoming about 70,000 visitors in 2024, compared with approximately 500,000 on nearby Skiathos. The island lies within Europe’s largest marine protected area, which provides an important habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Visitors can also explore the Peristera shipwreck, presented as Greece’s first underwater museum. Investments in recycling, desalination, renewable energy and biowaste management are intended to support more sustainable development.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Visit Alonissos (@visitalonissos)

Dili in Timor-Leste occupies sixth place as new air connections make one of Southeast Asia’s least-visited countries easier to reach. The capital provides access to reefs, beaches and mountains, while its Tais Market showcases the country’s traditional woven cloth. Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail follows in seventh place. The 300-kilometre route has 22 stages crossing tea estates, forests and rural communities. Tourism spending can reach local guides, farmers, cafés, craftspeople and guesthouses along the way.

Liepāja, Latvia, is eighth and will host more than 500 events as a European Capital of Culture in 2027. Its Baltic beach, musical heritage and former military district offer reasons to travel beyond Riga. Chile’s Carretera Austral takes ninth place and runs for 1,240 kilometres through the fjords, glaciers and forests of northern Patagonia. Dalsland completes the list with lakes, forests, kayaking, cycling and wild camping. A direct Malmö–Oslo railway service introduced in 2026 has made the Swedish region easier to access. It received around 320,000 visitors in 2025, compared with almost 16 million for Stockholm.

@katiesaway Just came back from the most amazing weekend in Dalsland! We were gifted two nights stay at Nordic Refuge and spent the weekend hiking, swimming, cycling and just enjoying the Swedish summer! Here are all the places we visited: • Håverud and the aquaduct • Fröskogs Kyrka • Vandra i Ronjaland – hiking the trail to see where the film Ronja Röversdotter was shot • Not Quite • Sörknatten Naturreservat • Ärrsjön If you want our full itinerary you can find it on my blog (links in bio) #dalsland #sverige #visitsweden #sverigetiktok #resaisverige #dalsland #svensksommar ♬ Makeba – Jain

Promoting overlooked places can, however, raise fears that tourism pressure will simply be moved to a new destination. “The real test is whether tourism can grow without overwhelming local communities, ecosystems and infrastructure,” Globetrender founder Jenny Southan said. Previous editions have already brought greater attention to featured regions. Intrepid said its Pakistan bookings rose by 67% after Gilgit-Baltistan appeared on an earlier list, while bookings to Kyrgyzstan increased by 62%. The company has introduced five new itineraries connected to the 2027 selection, covering Kenya, Canada, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Georgia.

L’article Kenya’s Samburu leads Intrepid’s 10 ‘Not Hot’ destinations for 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Two cities, complementary strengths

Kazakhstan has a distinctive advantage in this competition: two complementary centres. Almaty, its largest city and former capital, is the commercial, academic and cultural anchor; Astana, the national capital, adds national institutions, international finance and policy innovation. For international visitors, the contrast is equally clear: Almaty combines a major urban economy with mountain tourism and culture, while Astana has developed as a modern capital and a growing hub for international business and events.

Oxford Economics’ 2025 Global Cities Index offers one measure. Among 1,000 cities, Almaty ranked 258^th and Astana 276^th, the two highest positions in Central Asia, while Tashkent, the region’s largest city and a natural benchmark, ranked 471^st. Almaty also placed 64^th globally for human capital.

The economic base is substantial. In 2025, Almaty’s gross regional product reached KZT 36.2 trillion (about US$69.4 billion), while Astana’s was about US$37.6 billion. Together, they generated roughly 35% of Kazakhstan’s GDP. Tashkent, despite its larger population, generated about US$29 billion. Almaty and Tashkent both recorded real growth of 11.3%, meaning Almaty expanded at the same pace but from more than twice the economic base.

Astana is developing particularly quickly. Its population increased by more than 110,000, or 7%, in 2025, while 4.8 million square metres of housing were commissioned. The capital attracted around US$4.9 billion in fixed-capital investment, while gross foreign direct investment inflows reached US$4.1 billion, 2.6 times the previous year’s level. SMEs accounted for 65.9% of GRP, pointing to a broader private economy developing alongside the city’s role as an administrative centre.

Finance, talent and technology

Astana’s clearest institutional asset is the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Launched in 2018 under an independent common-law framework, it includes its own court, arbitration centre, regulator and exchange. In the March 2026 Global Financial Centres Index, Astana ranked 65^th globally and first in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

By mid-2026, the AIFC had more than 6,000 registered companies and reported US$26.3 billion mobilised since 2018. Almaty-based KASE adds domestic depth, with equity-market capitalisation of about US$76 billion at the end of 2025. This division of labour matters: Astana provides an internationally recognisable legal and regulatory gateway, while Almaty offers the deeper commercial market where capital can be deployed.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

Almaty’s strength rests on decades of international business activity and a highly service-oriented economy. Services accounted for 85.9% of GRP in 2025, while the city attracted US$8.58 billion in gross FDI inflows. Trade, transport, finance, technology and professional services have created the concentration of businesses and skilled workers required by companies looking for a regional base. Tourism is increasingly part of that service economy, strengthening Almaty’s position as both a place to do business and a destination in its own right.

Human capital reinforces that position. Kazakhstan has three universities in Astana and Almaty among the global top 400 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, while the country reported more than 35,000 international students in 2025. Foreign institutions have also established a growing presence, including Coventry University in Astana and De Montfort University in Almaty.

Digitalisation is another shared strength. Kazakhstan ranked 24^th among 193 countries in the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index, while Almaty ranked 27^th globally in the UN Local Online Service Index. Astana, meanwhile, is developing a Smart City platform with Presight AI, part of Abu Dhabi’s G42 group. More than 60,000 cameras are being integrated alongside AI-enabled video analytics and a digital twin, part of a shift towards city management based increasingly on real-time data.

From city life to mountain tourism

Tourism and culture provide another measure of the cities’ growing international profile. Kazakhstan recorded 15.7 million foreign visits in 2025 as tourism investment and accommodation capacity continued to grow. Almaty alone welcomed about 2.49 million tourists, including 754,000 international visitors.

Its location at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains gives Almaty an unusual combination of metropolitan life and immediate access to nature. Shymbulak ski resort, Medeu and mountain trails sit close to a city already recognised for its cultural and creative offer. For travellers, that creates the possibility of combining a major Central Asian city with skiing, hiking and mountain experiences. Its winter tourism profile will gain further international exposure when Almaty hosts the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Astana has followed a different route. The capital hosted the World Nomad Games in 2024, bringing more than 2,800 athletes from 89 countries, and has become an increasingly important venue for international cultural, political and sporting events. Such events are helping broaden Astana’s identity beyond that of an administrative capital while generating international arrivals and showcasing Kazakhstan to new audiences. Together, the two cities allow Kazakhstan to offer very different urban experiences within the same destination.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

Two gateways to Central Asia

Connectivity reinforces the same two-city logic. In 2025, Almaty airport handled 11.93 million passengers and Astana 9.2 million. Together they served more than 21 million, compared with 9.96 million at Tashkent. Two major gateways support different commercial, government and tourism flows while reducing reliance on a single hub.

Kazakhstan is also expanding international routes as tourism grows. In June 2026, the European Union and Kazakhstan signed a Horizontal Aviation Agreement opening further opportunities for European airlines to operate between the two markets. Infrastructure is expanding accordingly. A second runway is planned at Astana International Airport, alongside new passenger and cargo facilities, while the capital’s 22.4-kilometre automated LRT links the airport, city centre and Nurly Zhol railway station. Almaty is also investing in its airport and metro infrastructure.

Central Asia will benefit as Tashkent, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Samarkand and other cities expand. Urban development need not produce a single winner. But scale becomes more powerful when supported by institutions, skills and connectivity.

On that measure, Astana and Almaty remain Central Asia’s leading urban pair. Almaty brings commercial scale, talent, finance, tourism, nature and cultural energy; Astana brings international financial infrastructure, state capacity, technological innovation and a growing international events profile. Together, they give Kazakhstan two specialised and increasingly connected centres for business and travel at the heart of Central Asia’s transformation.

L’article How Astana and Almaty are reshaping travel and business in Central Asia est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Visiting Spa means repeatedly coming back to water. It flows beneath the streets, emerges from springs in the surrounding forests, fills the pools of the Thermes de Spa, appears in treatments whose origins stretch back more than 150 years, and leaves the region by the bottle from Spa Monopole. It is impossible to separate the destination from its springs.

That heritage has international significance too. Since 2021, Spa has formed part of UNESCO’s Great Spa Towns of Europe, alongside ten other historic thermal destinations including Bath, Vichy, Baden-Baden and Montecatini Terme. Together, they represent the European spa culture that developed around natural mineral springs and flourished particularly between the early 18^th century and the 1930s.

But in Spa, this heritage is anything but frozen in time.

When Europe came to take the waters

Walking through the centre with local guide Johny Lejeune quickly reveals how profoundly the arrival of visitors seeking the benefits of Spa’s waters transformed what had once been a modest settlement.

The town experienced two particularly prosperous periods: the second half of the 18^th century and, later, the decades stretching from around 1870 until the First World War. Wealthy visitors arriving to “take the waters” became known locally as Bobelins. Aristocrats, monarchs, writers, composers and political figures came not only for treatments but also to socialise, promenade and be entertained.

Spa consequently accumulated an extraordinary collection of visitors over the centuries. Peter the Great, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Giacomo Meyerbeer and the Duke of Wellington are among the names connected with the town. Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium developed an especially strong relationship with Spa, spending the final seven years of her life here. Her name survives today in perhaps the town’s most important thermal source.

The wealth brought by the Bobelins also produced an architecture intended as much for entertainment as for treatment. Spa’s gaming tradition dates to 1763 with the establishment of La Redoute, the predecessor of today’s Casino de Spa, regarded as the world’s oldest casino still in operation. The competition must have been intense: as Lejeune tells it, by 1787 disputes between Spa’s rival casinos had become so serious that the Prince-Bishop of Liège sent 200 soldiers and two cannons to restore order.

Nearby, the 130-metre Galerie Léopold provided fashionable visitors with a sheltered place to promenade, while the surrounding Parc de Sept Heures takes its name from the hour at which spa guests traditionally came out for their evening walk. Taking the waters was not simply a treatment. It was a social ritual, and water effectively created an entire urban lifestyle.

The waters beneath Spa

Leave Spa’s grand buildings behind, and the original reason for all this prosperity becomes much clearer. The wooded landscape surrounding the town is scattered with springs, or pouhons, whose waters vary considerably in mineral composition and taste.

At one of them, the presence of iron was immediately visible in the reddish deposits surrounding the water. And, naturally, I had to taste it. Slightly sparkling, intensely metallic and with an unmistakable iron aftertaste, it is certainly different from the Spa water most of us know from the familiar bottles on supermarket shelves.

That diversity is fundamental to Spa’s thermal system because different springs have different purposes. Three in particular are closely connected to today’s Thermes de Spa. The naturally carbonated, iron-rich Marie-Henriette spring is used for traditional treatments, including carbonated baths and peat treatments, while water from the Clémentine spring supplies the swimming pools and several balneotherapy treatments.

In Spa, water is therefore not simply a backdrop to the destination or a generic wellness ingredient. Each source has its own characteristics, history and use.

Pierrots hiding in plain sight

Water even appears in one of the most colourful symbols scattered around the city.

Spa Monopole dates back more than a century, and in 1923 a competition was organised to create a symbol for the company. The winning design was the Pierrot, a small figure attempting with both hands to hold back the stream of water bursting from a bottle. More than 100 years later, that same little character can still be found on Spa water labels.

I had barely noticed him before.

Once you know the story, however, the Pierrot suddenly seems to appear everywhere in Spa. Twelve larger Pierrots are scattered around the city, each decorated differently, bringing unexpected splashes of colour to the streets and creating a small discovery trail of their own. I came across several during my visit, each with its own personality.

It is a playful symbol, but an appropriate one. Even here, in the city’s public art, everything comes back to water.

A hotel with a direct line to wellness

Accommodation is naturally part of the experience of staying in Spa, and during my visit I stayed at the Van der Valk Hotel Spa, in the heart of the town and within walking distance of many of its main sights.

The hotel itself has recently undergone a significant transformation. According to Adrien Nys, Business Development Manager at Van der Valk Liège, the ground floor was completely redesigned ahead of its inauguration in April 2025, while a gradual renovation of the bathrooms is still underway.

Its most distinctive feature, however, is its connection with the Thermes de Spa. Although the hotel and the thermal complex are independently managed, a private funicular can be accessed directly from the hotel’s first floor, taking guests up the wooded hillside to the Thermes.

It changes the experience considerably. Rather than driving to the thermal complex and changing there, guests can get ready in their room, put on a bathrobe and head directly to the funicular. As Nys put it during our conversation, you can change “in your own oasis” before making your way up to the Thermes.

As the funicular climbs the wooded hillside, Spa gradually drops away beneath you. Within minutes, you have moved from the architecture and streets of the historic town to a contemporary thermal complex overlooking the valley. It is an extraordinary arrival and, rather than simply being a practical means of reaching the Thermes, the journey feels like part of the experience.

Opened in 2004, the Thermes de Spa sit high above the town, surrounded by greenery, rather than in the historic centre where the former thermal establishment once stood. Yet at the top, the connection with Spa below remains very tangible.

Christel Pire, Reception Manager at the Thermes de Spa, explained that the facility’s philosophy has changed considerably from the days when thermal treatments were more medicalised and could be reimbursed through Belgium’s social security system. Today, the emphasis is primarily on relaxation and wellbeing, while preserving several treatments directly linked to Spa’s thermal tradition.

The Thermes welcome around 170,000 visitors annually, according to Pire, of whom approximately 35,000 book treatments. The majority come for the thermoludic facilities: indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, hammams and relaxation areas. The pools, filled with water from the Clémentine spring and heated to around 33°C, extend outdoors, allowing visitors to float in warm spring water while looking across the surrounding landscape.

1868, still alive in a copper bath

Some of the most fascinating experiences at the Thermes are found away from the pools. In the treatment area, Spa’s past and present come remarkably close together.

The carbonated bath is perhaps the best example. Large copper bathtubs of the type used in Spa since the 19th century are filled with naturally carbonated and ferruginous water from the Marie-Henriette spring, heated to around 36°C. There are no mechanical jets. Instead, tiny naturally occurring bubbles settle over the skin as the body rests in the water.

Pire describes it as one of the Thermes’ traditional treatments, a direct continuation of practices once offered in the old thermal establishment. The water and the copper are not incidental details but part of the treatment itself.

Another survivor is the peat bath. Peat is mixed with carbonated, iron-rich Marie-Henriette water and heated to around 40°C. Unlike most of today’s offer, which is centred on relaxation, Pire says the peat bath retains a stronger therapeutic dimension, with regular clients returning for treatments aimed at relieving rheumatic and joint discomfort.

This is where Spa becomes more than another European wellness destination. Modern pools, relaxation rooms and massages coexist with practices that connect today’s visitor with the generations who travelled here to take the waters.

Spa water meets Sothys

That historical identity has not prevented the Thermes from embracing contemporary wellness. Its treatment institute combines the traditional water-based treatments with a broader beauty and massage offer developed with French professional skincare brand Sothys.

The partnership is particularly interesting because Spa’s own water has also found its way into the collaboration. The relationship between Sothys and the Thermes dates back more than two decades and has included the development of products incorporating water from the Marie-Henriette spring.

It is a good illustration of the balance Spa is trying to maintain. The destination does not need to choose between thermal heritage and contemporary wellness. The two can complement one another, with the springs providing the identity that distinguishes the offer from a wellness centre that could exist almost anywhere else.

Belgian water in Belgian hands

The same water story continues beyond tourism and wellness. Spa Monopole has been bottling water here for more than a century and today belongs to Spadel, a Belgian family-owned group.

That ownership has become increasingly distinctive in Belgium. Chaudfontaine, the country’s other internationally recognised mineral-water name, was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2003, while Spa has remained in Belgian hands through Spadel.

The group is also investing in the future of the site. Around €40 million is being invested in Spa Monopole between 2025 and 2027, including improvements to production lines and the plant’s environmental and energy performance.

There is something particularly striking about seeing how one resource operates at so many different levels. The same landscape that attracted aristocratic Bobelins centuries ago today sustains a major Belgian beverage company, a contemporary wellness destination and a tourism identity recognised around the world.

And that little Pierrot trying to contain the water escaping from his bottle suddenly makes a lot more sense.

Spa at the heart of Europe’s thermal future in 2027

Spa’s position within European thermal culture will come into focus again in June 2027, when the city is set to welcome a major joint event of the European Spas Association (ESPA) and the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), bringing European thermal heritage and the health tourism sector to the Belgian destination.

The choice of Spa feels particularly appropriate. Across Europe, thermal destinations are increasingly looking towards prevention, wellbeing, healthier lifestyles and longevity while asking how centuries of therapeutic tradition can remain relevant to a new generation of travellers.

Spa has already been navigating that transition for decades. Its old thermal establishment has found a new life, while the modern Thermes have moved wellness onto the hillside without abandoning the springs and traditional treatments that made the destination famous in the first place.

Over two days in Spa, water seemed to be everywhere, but rarely in quite the same form. It was red with iron at a pouhonin the woods, naturally carbonated in a copper bath, warm beneath the open sky at the Thermes, represented by colourful Pierrots in the streets and bottled under a Belgian brand recognised far beyond the country’s borders.

More than two centuries after Europe’s Bobelins came here to take the waters, Spa continues to reinvent what that relationship with water can mean.

L’article The Belgian town where water became a way of life est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since its inauguration in 1826, the Waterloo battlefield and the Lion’s Mound have become some of the best-known destinations in Wallonia. The Mound alone attracts some 175,000 visitors annually.

As a prominent site of historical and symbolic value, the imposing Lion of Waterloo (which is located in Braine-l’Alleud) was the start of a larger project on the grounds of the battlefield, which also includes the historical Hougoumont Farm and the Memorial 1815, a modern underground museum featuring immersive exhibitions. Every year, a number of events and historical weekends bring the history of the grounds alive.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

In order to prepare the Lion’s Mound for its 200^th anniversary, the monument underwent a series of major restoration works between the end of 2025 and May 2026. The works involved repairs to the long staircase to the top, including its steps, balustrade, and handrail. Stone and cast-iron elements were refurbished, as well as the statue of the lion itself. The works cost the Belgian federal government some €650,000, with funding contributed by the National Lottery.

The reopening of the Lion of Waterloo on 22 May 2026 also kicked off a year of celebrations, honouring the Lion’s bicentenary. Several events have been and will be organised in order to put the special occasion in the spotlight it deserves. We selected some unmissable happenings.

Iconic Lion, a photo exhibition

Until 31 December 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate hosts Iconic Lion, an extensive photographic exhibition dedicated to the Lion’s Mound. The first part features the work of two professional photographers, Samuel Bouchoms and Jean-François Schmitz, and is on display at the underground museum Memorial 1815. Outdoors, the photo exhibition takes visitors on a journey past some of the battlefield’s most iconic locations. The selection of shots on show was captured by the public and gathered through a social media contest.

A festive and family-friendly weekend

For the time of a weekend, on 15 and 16 August 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate will be organising a series of family-friendly activities on and around the Lion’s Mound. The programme includes a bouncy castle, games, a climbing wall, and a giant zip line launched from the top of the Lion’s Mound. Visitors will get to enjoy historical activities with the 1815 reenactors, including rifle and cannon firing demonstrations, and tickets (ranging from €0 to €27 per person) include a concert by the band Mister Cover on the evening of 15 August.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Domaine de la bataille Waterloo 1815 (@domainebataillewaterloo)

A show for the 200^th anniversary of the Lion’s Mound

On 12 September 2026, the Lion’s Mound’s bicentenary will be celebrated through a grand show, narrated by Patrick Weber. Through a combination of storytelling, historical scenes, projections, and spectacular staging, the events that shaped the iconic site since 1826 will be brought back to life. The event is accessible to all (tickets cost €26 per person), and the experience will be elevated by a musical performance by students from Musica Mundi.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Domaine de la bataille Waterloo 1815 (@domainebataillewaterloo)

A little history

On 18 June 1815, a stretch of land located in what is now known as the towns of Braine-l’Alleud and Lasne (just south of Brussels) was the stage of a battle that went on to make history. On that day, the French Imperial Army under the command of Napoleon was met by two allied forces of the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Blücher.

The French were defeated; the Battle of Waterloo meant the end of Napoleon’s Hundred Days return from exile, and thereby the end of the Napoleonic Wars. A relative sense of peace came over Europe, but 40,000 men lost their lives on the battlefield, while many more were wounded. One of those men was the then Prince of Orange, William, the eldest son of King William I of the Netherlands. During the battle, the prince was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball and knocked from his horse as a result.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲 (@hrhprinny)

In 1823, King William I decided to build a monument to commemorate the victory of the Seventh Coalition and to remember the fallen soldiers. For the design, he commissioned his architect, Charles Vander Straeten, who planned the project in such a way as to position it on the spot where the Prince of Orange got hurt.

Over the next three years, the monument took shape. Some 290.486 cubic meters of earth were taken from the battlefield to shape the 40-meter-high mound, a move criticised by many at the time as it undeniably altered the original outlook of the location, chosen precisely because of its rolling landscape. The hill was crowned by a triumphant cast-iron lion – looking towards defeated France – designed by sculptor Jean-Louis van Geel, while 226 steps completed the project.

For more information about Wallonia and to plan your trip, see VISITWallonia.com, the official tourism website for Belgium’s southern region, offering inspiration on destinations, attractions, accommodation, outdoor activities, cultural heritage and local gastronomy.

L’article Lion of Waterloo celebrates 200th anniversary with photo exhibition and grand show est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Step inside Bouillon’s medieval past

The best way to discover Bouillon is simply by wandering its historic streets. The town is wrapped almost entirely by the River Semois, with stone houses, cafes and bridges leading visitors towards the fortress that rises above the valley.

To begin exploring Bouillon, visitors can follow the town’s heritage walk, which passes more than 20 listed buildings and monuments. The route includes the former Convent of the Sépulcrines, now home to the Archeoscope, historic 17^th– and 18^th-century buildings, and the charming Brittany district at the foot of the castle. Along the way, visitors can also see remnants of Bouillon’s 17^th-century defensive walls, including three surviving bastions that once formed part of the town’s fortifications.

Towering above the town is Bouillon Castle, one of Belgium’s oldest and best-preserved medieval fortresses. Built on three rocky peaks overlooking the Semois, the site has guarded this strategic location for almost a thousand years. The earliest written mention of the castle dates back to 988, although historians believe fortifications may have existed even earlier, dating back to the Gallo-Roman era.

Bouillon Castle is deeply connected to the legacy of Godfrey of Bouillon. In 1096, he sold the fortress to the Prince-Bishop of Liège to help fund his participation as one of the leaders of the First Crusade. Following Godfrey’s death in Jerusalem in July 1100, his younger brother Baldwin took over his role and became the first officially crowned King of Jerusalem.

Over the centuries, the fortress changed hands several times before being extensively reinforced by the renowned military engineer Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV. His work created the impressive blend of medieval and early modern military architecture that can still be seen today. 

Inside, the castle is a maze of underground galleries, tunnels, staircases and defensive passages. Visitors can climb towers overlooking the Semois Valley, walk along fortified ramparts and descend into dark dungeons that reveal how the fortress was designed to withstand prolonged sieges. One of its most remarkable engineering features is a deep well, which reaches a depth of 165 metres — below the level of the River Semois — ensuring a continuous water supply for the fortress in the event of a siege. Nearby, a giant wooden wheel once allowed men to draw water from the depths by walking inside the mechanism. 

Among the castle’s highlights is the Primitive Room, one of its oldest surviving sections dating back to the 13^th century. The spacious Godfrey of Bouillon Room, once used as an indoor stable, now displays historical artefacts, while another section of the fortress hosts the permanent Scriptura exhibition, preserving inscriptions left by patients when the upper floor served as a military hospital in the 19^th century. Weapons from the 16^th century line several chambers, adding to the fortress’s immersive atmosphere.

During the visitor season, the castle also hosts falconry demonstrations, showcasing birds of prey against the backdrop of the medieval walls. Evening torchlight tours give visitors a different view of the fortress, guiding them through its historic spaces after dark with views of the town lights below.

Into the woods and waterways of Bouillon

Beyond its medieval heritage, Bouillon is equally appealing for those looking to experience the Ardennes through food and outdoor activities.

Regional specialities reflect both the surrounding countryside and Belgium’s rich culinary traditions. Visitors can sample Bouillonnaise beer, brewed locally, or try L’Oeillet du Château, a hard goat’s cheese traditionally matured in the castle’s cellars. Another local delicacy is Le Croisé, a biscuit reminiscent of speculoos but containing less sugar. Created in 1996 to mark the 900^th anniversary of the First Crusade, the biscuit bears the image of Godfrey of Bouillon and is sold in a decorative metal tin featuring Bouillon Castle. Fish lovers can also enjoy fresh Semois trout, a regional favourite caught in the river flowing through the town. 

Bouillon is also one of Wallonia’s leading destinations for hiking. Several marked trails begin directly in town, making it easy for visitors to combine sightseeing with nature. The 3.5-kilometre Promenade de la Sente aux Geais follows wooded paths and sections of a former tram route while offering panoramic views over the Semois and the historic centre.

For those seeking a more demanding journey, one of the best ways to discover Bouillon’s natural surroundings is the Walk by the Château de Bouillon, a 7 km hiking route that follows the River Semois while revealing new perspectives of the town’s medieval fortress along the way. Starting from the Poulies Bridge on Boulevard Vauban, the moderately challenging trail is marked with red rectangle signs and offers the perfect balance between nature and heritage. Along the way, hikers pass through peaceful natural surroundings and discover landmarks such as L’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine. As the path winds through the area, hikers can enjoy panoramic viewpoints of the castle dominating the skyline before returning to the town. Route descriptions, interactive maps and GPX files are also available for visitors wishing to explore the trail independently.

Cycling provides another way to explore the region. Bike rentals, including electric bikes, are widely available, allowing visitors to tackle the rolling Ardennes landscape with greater ease. One of the most popular excursions leads to the famous Tombeau du Géant (Giant’s Tomb), a spectacular viewpoint around 10 kilometres from Bouillon where the River Semois forms a dramatic loop around a wooded hill. More experienced cyclists can continue on longer circular routes passing Rochehaut, Frahan and even the nearby French border before returning to Bouillon. 

The River Semois itself also becomes part of the experience. During the warmer months, kayaking and pedal boating allow visitors to admire Bouillon from the water while drifting beneath the castle walls. Together with its hiking trails, cycling routes and local gastronomy, these activities make Bouillon far more than a historic stopover, offering travellers the chance to experience one of Belgium’s most scenic corners at a slower pace.

Where to stay in Bouillon

Bouillon offers a wide range of accommodation options, allowing visitors to choose between comfort, nature and outdoor experiences while exploring the Ardennes. Perched above Bouillon’s historic centre, Hotel Panorama offers sweeping views of the Semois Valley and the medieval fortress, making it one of the town’s finest vantage points to admire its main landmarks.

The hotel features comfortable rooms, many with panoramic views of the entire city, offering guests a peaceful retreat after a day of sightseeing or outdoor activities. Its elevated location combines tranquil surroundings with easy access to the town’s main attractions. 

As the sun sets over Bouillon, dinner at Hotel Panorama offers the perfect way to round off a day spent discovering the town’s heritage and landscapes. Served on the terrace overlooking the River Semois and the softly illuminated streets below, the restaurant blends regional hospitality with mesmerising views. The menu features a wide range of fine options, from seafood specialities such as shrimp starters and dorado mains to other carefully prepared dishes and delicate desserts, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxed dining experience surrounded by the Ardennes scenery.

In the morning, guests can start the day with a breakfast buffet featuring fresh breads, pastries, fruit, cheeses, cold cuts and hot drinks. The generous selection provides a pleasant start before setting out to discover Bouillon’s historic charm, scenic trails and natural beauty.

For travellers looking to stay closer to nature, campsites around Bouillon provide options for traditional camping, caravans and motorhomes. These outdoor stays allow visitors to enjoy the surrounding forests and rivers while remaining within easy reach of the town and its heritage sites.

Those seeking a more unusual experience can opt for glamping at Le Hameau de la Semois, where visitors can combine the atmosphere of outdoor living with additional comfort. Set in the Ardennes surroundings, the site offers an alternative way to experience the region while enjoying access to its hiking trails, landscapes and outdoor activities.

Beyond its castle and outdoor activities, Bouillon continues to celebrate its heritage through events that attract visitors throughout the year. The town’s Fête Médiévale de Bouillon, taking place on 8 and 9 August 2026, is one of its biggest annual highlights, welcoming around 50,000 visitors. During the event, Bouillon is transformed into a medieval setting, with residents and visitors dressing in period costumes and bringing the town’s history back to life through a range of activities.

The celebrations continue on 15 August with the annual Marche des Croisés (Crusaders’ Walk), organised by the walking club Les Sabots de Godefroy. Starting from Rochehaut, participants can choose from three mainly forested routes of 6 km, 12 km or 20 km.

In November, Bouillon hosts its Hunting Festival, another major event showcasing the traditions of the Ardennes region. The festival highlights the area’s long connection with hunting culture and brings together locals and visitors for a celebration centred around regional heritage. Together, these events add to Bouillon’s appeal as a destination where history, culture and local traditions remain an important part of the visitor experience.

L’article Why you should visit Bouillon: Belgium’s medieval gem in the Ardennes est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The district is known for its skyscrapers and office towers, as well as the world-famous Grande Arche, not so much as a tourist destination. Straddling Puteaux, Courbevoie and Nanterre in the Hauts-de-Seine department, the district sits at the western end of Paris’s historic axis, a mere 8 km and fifteen minutes by RER from the centre of the French capital.

La Défense’s historical significance and how it came to close a circle in French history that began in 1806 with Napoleon’s victory and the construction of the Arc de Triomphe at the opposite end of this same axis, escapes most of its visitors.

And who can blame them? Most are either business travellers or conference delegates, visible during the lengthy lunch hour at the Hilton restaurant or, at the end of the day, sipping cocktails at the rooftop bar of the Meliá, which, incidentally, offers a formidable panoramic view of the Paris tourists usually come for, namely, the Eiffel Tower rising above the trees, the Arc de Triomphe, Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Bois de Boulogne and, on a clear day, the Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre in the distance. Paris, from up there, is incredibly green.

Officially designated a site of “major architectural creation”, La Défense remains the only high-rise district in France and today counts around sixty skyscrapers. The tallest is The Link, which at 242 metres recently overtook Tour First to become the tallest building in France, and will soon house TotalEnergies’ new headquarters. Hekla, with its jagged, volcanic silhouette, is probably the most striking; and Tour Total is known for its “organ pipe” stack of polygonal volumes, catching the light differently through the day.

Unlike London’s business district, built at the city’s centre and known simply as “The City”, Paris’ rose on its outskirts and took its name from a statue.

Unveiled in 1883, La Défense de Paris by sculptor Louis-Ernest Barrias, chosen over proposals by Rodin and Bartholdi, commemorates the city’s resistance during the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The monument depicts Paris as a woman dressed in the uniform of the National Guard, leaning against a cannon, sword in one hand and flag in the other. At her feet, a wounded young soldier loads a final cartridge into his rifle, while behind her stands a young girl, cold and destitute, embodying the suffering of the civilian population during the long winter siege.

The name spread first to the roundabout, then to the whole district.

Had the French won, France’s business district might be called La Victoire today.

Walking the esplanade, past glass towers, it is hard to imagine the same place seventy years ago, when the area, still pockmarked from wartime bombing, consisted of bidonville-like shanties, workshops, small factories, and a handful of farms. For decades, the statue stood in its centre, in near isolation.

It would take a war, and its aftermath, to transform the area. Inspired by the United States, de Gaulle decided Paris needed its own business district, one that would help launch France back onto the world stage after years of occupation and destruction.

Construction began in 1958, when the state created the planning body EPAD and began clearing the neighbourhood. The district’s oldest structure, the CNIT, a gigantic triangular concrete shell, dates from that year.

From the offices of Cœur Défense, Europe’s largest office complex by floor space with some 160,000 square metres of office space across two 40-storey towers, a guide explained how EPAD went on to expropriate roughly 9,250 housing units and relocate more than 25,000 residents, in stages, between 1960 and 1971. The guide’s grandparents were among them, happily relocated to Drancy, she told us, though most went elsewhere, into transit housing and HLM blocks built locally in Nanterre and its neighbouring towns.

Today the district is delimited by the Seine on one side and the Grande Arche at the end, in a direct line facing the Arc de Triomphe. Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, the visionary architect who won the competition launched by François Mitterrand in 1982, wanted his Arche to be a monument to humanity, not to military triumph.

Between Napoleon’s celebration of victory in 1806 and Spreckelsen’s structure in 1989 lies almost two centuries of French history, passing through empire, defeat, occupation, liberation and reconstruction.

More than three decades after the Grande Arche opened, the results are hard to ignore, and France, it seems, has won its victory after all. Roughly 40% of its companies are French, the rest foreign, and it’s now said to be the fourth most attractive business district in the world, behind two in New York and one in Tokyo, and, as of the latest ranking, the top business district in Europe, having just overtaken London. The numbers are staggering: 180,000 people commute in daily to fill the towers, while only 20,000 actually live there.

Yet office towers alone do not make a city district, and Paris is now investing heavily in turning La Défense into a destination in its own right. Once the eyes get accustomed to the high-rises, one is struck by the abundance of major artworks dotting the place: not one or two but 70 of them, among them Agam’s Fountain, Calder’s Spider, and Raymond Moretti’s rainbow-striped Chimney, a 32-metre ventilation shaft wrapped in coloured fibreglass tubes that looks like a giant Paul Smith design. 

Even the benches are part of a public art initiative run by the district’s public body. No two of them alike, and they are scattered all along the Esplanade, offering a place to rest and stare at the surrounding architecture.

The last stretch of the esplanade is watched over by Daniel Buren’s La Ronde: sixteen ten-metre masts flying colourful windsocks, giving it an unmistakable beachy air.

Tucked away from all of it, are some of the most charming hidden gardens; 23% of the site is now green. Increasingly, the district’s future is being framed in terms of urban sustainability. Paris La Défense aims to halve greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030 and eventually become the world’s first post-carbon business district. New parks, cycling infrastructure and one of Europe’s largest pedestrian zones are all part of that ambition.

The shift is partly born of necessity. La Défense has survived the 1973 oil shock, which froze construction for years, the 2008 financial crisis, which hit especially hard in a district built on banks and trading floors, and Covid, which turned it into a ghost town and highlighted the risks of relying too heavily on office workers alone.

Since then, Paris has made little secret of its ambition to make the district more welcoming to visitors. The opening of the Paris La Défense Arena, Europe’s largest concert and event venue, has accelerated that transformation, bringing concerts, sporting events and entirely new crowds to an area once deserted after office hours.

It will remain a business district, but the ambition now is to have it both ways. Fifteen new restaurants opened here in the last year alone, proof of how quickly its character is evolving.

Le Collège de Paris, which opened a campus inside the Grande Arche in 2017 bringing together business, design and digital schools under one roof, is another sign of that evolution.

For travellers, the district’s functional design offers an unexpected perk. Because the offices empty out over weekends and holidays, La Défense quietly opens up to tourists. Its proximity to Paris, and excellent transport links, make it a smart choice for anyone who wants everything Paris offers without Paris prices. Hotels are reportedly around 30% cheaper than in the centre, a saving families in particular might appreciate, staying here and commuting into town each day. There’s also a direct train to Disneyland Paris.

Like a “mille-feuilles”, the district is built on three levels: the lowest for the métro, RER and underground transport; the middle for the highway and cars; and the upper platform, resting on both, entirely pedestrian. Walking from the Seine to the arena takes about 20 minutes for an able-bodied walker.

While La Défense may not justify an entire trip on its own, there are many reasons to spend a day here. Walk this axis end to end, and you’re really walking through three different ideas of what a monument owes its people: conquest, endurance, and, finally, humanity.

L’article Beyond the Eiffel Tower, a day in the other Paris est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.