From lesser-known islands to Spanish cities
NOT sure where to head on holiday next year? Well, you’re in luck because the best places to travel to in 2027 have just been named.
Each year Lonely Planet releases its Best In Travel list highlighting amazing destinations around the globe – from beach-filled islands to mountainous coasts.
The list, which features 50 destinations and experiences, is selected by a global community of experts.
And this year, one UK spot has been featured on the experience list – walking St Cuthbert’s Way in the Scottish Borders.
The 62-mile walk stretches between Melrose and Lindisfarne, heading over the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders and through Northumberland.
Along the way, there are a number of hillforts to see as well as village pubs to stop at for a tipple, before heading across to Holy Island.
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Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, said: “It is wonderful to see St Cuthbert’s Way recognised by Lonely Planet as one of the best experiences in the world to enjoy in 2027.
“Britain is blessed with so many breathtaking landscapes, stunning coastlines and remarkable history and heritage that it is fitting that a trail, which effortlessly combines all three, has received such a glowing endorsement by global travel experts.”
As for the best places to go in the world next year, several destinations in Europe made it onto the list including The Veneto, Italy.
The Veneto region spans a large area and includes popular Italian spots such as Venice and Lake Garda, but it also includes smaller cities like Verona and Padua.

Another sunny spot on the list is Šibenik, in Croatia – a small Adriatic city with a number of vibrant festivals throughout the year as well as a white stone palace dating back to the 14th century.
Of course, Spain made it onto the list with Leon, in the north of the country.
Unlike more popular Spanish retreats, the medieval city of Leon benefits from fewer visitors and crowds, but heaps of Gothic architecture and history – as well as 29C weather in September.
Though, if you wanted to head somewhere completely different to where you have been before, venture to Skanör and Falsterbo, in Sweden, also known as the Swedish Riviera.
These two towns are linked by a bridge and can easily be explored together
Make sure to look out for the colourful beach huts as well as take a dip in the calm, shallow waters.
Plenty of long-haul destinations were named on the list too, including Quebec in Canada .
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding, who has previously visited, said: “When people ask me where I would recommend travelling to – which is a lot – I always instantly reply Quebec.
Lonely Planets Best in Travel Destinations 2027
THESE are the best destinations to head to in 2027, according to Lonely Planet:
- Quebec, Canada
- Northern California Coast & its Redwoods, USA
- Maryland, USA
- Prince Edward Island, Canada
- New Mexico, USA
- The Veneto, Italy
- Dessau, Germany
- Skanör – Falsterbo, Sweden
- Šibenik, Croatia
- León, Spain
- Montserrat, Caribbean
- Bariloche and the lakes, Argentina
- Granada, Nicaragua
- Bocas del Toro, Panama
- Oman
- Rabat, Morocco
- Tsavo East and West National Parks, Kenya
- Dunedin & the Waitaki, New Zealand
- The Tweed, Australia
- New Caledonia, South Pacific
- Okinawa, Japan
- Chengdu, China
- Gujarat, India
- Danang, Vietnam
- Fulidhoo, Maldives
“This charming French-Canadian city feels like stepping into a fairytale, even with its own castle on the hill – which is actually Chateau de Frontenac Hotel.
“The city is easily explored on foot and is a great base for exploring the wider Quebec region with waterfalls, dense forests and pretty towns.”
If it is white beaches you are after, Fulidhoo in the Maldives also featured on the list.
Fulidhoo is actually one of the Maldives’ non-resort islands, which means you won’t see commercialisation or tourist traps.
Instead, white sand beaches sit at the edge of the island boasting crystal clear waters with stingrays and nurse sharks.
Or for a different island, Montserrat, which according to Lonely Planet is “one of the Caribbean’s most overlooked islands, with emerald-green peaks, black-sand beaches, and a fascinating history shaped by volcanic fire”.
Fancy exploring somewhere in America? Then head to the Northern California Coast and see its Redwoods.
Coast Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world and along the Northern Californian Coast they grow in many different spots including Humboldt Redwoods and Jedediah State Parks.
Sticking to the forest theme, you could visit Monteverde’s cloud forest, in Costa Rica, where the trees are surrounded by a fairytale-like mist caused by warm winds from the Caribbean meeting the cooler air of the mountains.
Or for a safari, visit Tsavo East and West National Parks in Kenya with massive savannahs where elephant herds roam freely and Yatta Plateau – the world’s longest lava flow.
When it comes to other great experiences across the globe, Lonely Planet recommends barhopping Miami’s South Beach hotels, where in addition to sunny, sandy beaches you will find the city’s iconic Art Deco hotels.
For something a little closer to home, in Italy, sailing the Aeolian Islands also made the list.
These little-known UNESCO-listed islands feature rugged coasts but also have crystal clear waters.
Or live out your Mamma Mia dream in Greece by diving into Poseidon’s underwater world with wrecks and hidden caves.
Lonely Planets Best in Travel Experiences 2027
THESE are Lonely Planet’s top experiences to do across the globe in 2027:
- Walk St Cuthbert’s Way, Scottish Borders to Northumberland
- Explore Killary Fjord, Co Galway, Ireland
- Turn temporary keeper at Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island, USA
- Enjoy wine and fine-dine in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
- Barhop Miami’s South Beach hotels, USA
- Savour the Slow Road, Minnesota, USA
- Road-trip through history on Route Napoléon, France
- Sail the Aeolian Islands, Italy
- Dive into Poseidon’s underwater world in the Aegean Sea, Greece
- Go on a Galápagos expedition cruise, Ecuador
- Dance tango at a Buenos Aires milonga, Argentina
- Take a polar plunge, Antarctica
- Marvel at Monteverde’s cloud forest, Costa Rica
- The Museums of Abu Dhabi
- Meet Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees, Tanzania
- São Tomé and Príncipe’s deserted beaches
- Immerse in art in the Red Centre, Australia
- Experience Faʻa, Samoa
- Embark on ocean adventures, French Polynesia
- Glide on a longboat to orangutan territory, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Ride the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
- Michinoku Trail, Japan
- Follow a Foodie Trail, Taiwan
- Be dazzled by Kazakhstan’s futuristic architecture, Astana
- Go flightseeing in Alaska, USA
