As 2025 gradually draws to a close, you’re probably going to not only start thinking about all the cool places you ticked off the bucket list this year, but also about what lies ahead for your travel plans in 2026, right?
Well, if you need some fresh contenders, Lonely Planet has just published its roundup of the best places to travel, and along with some already-popular destinations like Mexico City, Botswana and Sardinia, there are some out-of-the-box suggestions on the agenda, too.
First up, Réunion, a French Department in the Indian Ocean (which is around 230km from Mauritius), described by Lonely Planet as the best place ‘for delving into a unique natural and multicultural heritage’.
Generations of migration has meant today, a wonderfully diverse population and spectrum of faiths call the island home, and that variety is mirrored in its natural landscape, which is home to 400 different microclimates, a bounty of species and one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
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However, it’s not the only destination on this with nature in buckets – why not consider Tipperary? Sure, it might be a long way (get it?!) but the rural Irish county is primed for remote adventure. The Glen of Aherlow is a majestic valley where you can hike or horseback-ride your way around, and there’s lots of historical sites to absorb (like the Rock of Cashel or Cahir Castle) and food to be enjoyed (famous Cashel Blue cheese is worth travelling for alone).
And there’s plenty more where that came from: the ancient Spanish port city of Cádiz, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Quy Nhon in Vietnam, Ikra-Flinders Ranges and Outback in Australia and Cartagena in Colombia are just some other inclusions by Lonely Planet. Scroll on for the full list.
These are the 25 best places to travel in 2026, according to Lonely Planet
- Peru, South America
- Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Maine, USA
- Cádiz, Spain
- Réunion, Africa
- Botswana, Africa
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Finland, Europe
- Tipperary, Ireland
- Mexico City
- Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
- British Colombia, Canada
- Sardinia, Italy
- Liberdade, São Paulo
- Utrecht, Netherlands
- Barbados, Caribbean
- Jeju-Do, South Korea
- North Island, New Zealand
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
- Quy Nhon, Vietnam
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phuket, Thailand
- Ikra-Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia
- Tunisia, Africa
- Solomon Islands, Oceania
You can read more about each of these destinations on Lonely Planet’s website. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for Time Out’s roundup of the 26 best new things to do in the world in 2026 – how many did you tick off this year?
ICYMI: The best ‘set-jetting’ destinations for 2026 travel have been named.
Plus: These are the hotels that made the World’s 50 Best longlist for 2025.
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