As 2025 is slowly coming to an end, travel book publisher Lonely Planet has published its Best in Travel 2026 book. The perfect holiday planning guide for the year ahead, filled with the world’s most exciting destinations and experiences of the moment.
When planning a new trip, many travellers look for recommendations and inspiration before deciding where to go. Anno 2025, a lot of that information can be found online. So much even that all that information can get a little overwhelming from time to time.
BEST IN TRAVEL 2026 has arrived and it’s better than ever with 50 unforgettable places and experiences to inspire your next trip. Explore the full #BestInTravel list and discover your favorite adventure yet: https://t.co/BLqvK1PN97 pic.twitter.com/cRNHIePGAZ
— Lonely Planet (@lonelyplanet) October 22, 2025
To make things more easily digestible, Lonely Planet makes a yearly selection of the most amazing destinations and the most unbelievable experiences bundled in one book. On 21 October 2025, the Best in Travel 2026 edition hit the shelves and Lonely Planet website, unveiling a selection of 25 destinations and 25 experiences.
Top 25 most exciting destinations for 2026
- Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Peru, South America
- Cádiz, Spain
- Maine, US
- Réunion, Africa
- Botswana, Africa
- Finland, Europe
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Tipperary, Ireland
- Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala
- British Columbia, Canada
- Sardinia, Italy
- Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
- Utrecht, Netherlands
- Barbados, Caribbean
- Jeju-Do, South Korea
- North Island, New Zealand
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, US
- Qui Nhon, Vietnam
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phuket, Thailand
- Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia
- Tunisia, Africa
- Solomon Islands, Oceania
In an interview with CNN, Nitya Chambers (Lonely Planet’s executive editor and senior vice president of content) chose the São Paolo neighborhood of Liberdade, also known as ‘Little Japan’, as one of her personal favourite destinations for 2026.
Lonely Planet, como referente global en el mundo de los viajes, ha presentado hoy su lista de los mejores destinos y experiencias para el próximo año en su BEST IN TRAVEL 2026. https://t.co/j5GEpHkNbE
— Lonely Planet España (@lonelyplanet_es) October 22, 2025
Inspírate, sueña en grandes y encuentra aquí tu próximo gran viaje. pic.twitter.com/of30F283gF
“Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan; 2 million claim connection to Japanese descent in Brazil. Liberdade is really full of surprises. The anime-inspired street art, the oriental garden. It’s rumored to have the best ramen outside of Tokyo, although I’m sure that’s always a heated debate”, she told CNN.
Top 25 best experiences in 2026
- Raft the Colorado River (Grand Canyon, US)
- Stay in a train carriage at Kruger National Park (South Africa)
- See the sights by bike (Batanes Islands, Philippines)
- Spend the night in a ryokan (Japan)
- Cruise the Mekong River (Vietnam and Cambodia)
- Become a citizen scientist (the Amazon, Peru)
- Attend a Premier League game (England)
- Dig into Kerala’s culinary culture (Kerala, India)
- Track desert elephants (Namibia)
- Visit Eileen Gray’s famous villa (South of France)
- Go on a cultural food tour (Old Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
- Look for jaguars in the wetlands (Argentina)
- Ride horses in the Andes mountains (Ecuador)
- Visit Willamette Wine Country (Oregon, US)
- Party in the Caribbean (Grenada)
- Hike and wild camp in Tajikistan (Asia)
- Explore the Great Bathing Trail (Victoria, Australia)
- Spot giants of the sea (Azores, Portugal)
- Stay at Historic Volcano House (Hawaii, US)
- Dance till dawn in Belgrade (Belgrade, Serbia)
- Dive deep into street art (Bristol, England)
- Lose yourself in the night sky (Wairarapa, New Zealand)
- Take a Creole trail ride (Louisiana, US)
- Eat your way through Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)
- See the fighting Cholitas (Bolivia)
The list of experiences not to miss out on in 2026 might be even more diverse than the best destinations for the coming year. From looking at jaguars to spending the night in a ryokan, the options are (almost) endless.
“The inns allow visitors a glimpse of traditional Japanese interiors, gourmet cuisine, and hot-spring culture. They are built for relaxation, harkening back to a slower, more analog time”, Chambers told CNN about the ryokans.
Best in Travel 2026 is now available in stores and online for €18,95.
