Take your pick (and pack your bags!) for our must-visit destinations of the year.
SOUTH KOREA
THE LOWDOWN: With the launch of direct flights, a new hiking trail and an ever-growing obsession with the country’s incredible cultural hits – including viral Netflix musical KPop Demon Hunters – this destination is looking pretty Golden right now.
DON’T MISS: Much of the new Dongseo Trail, a 527-mile route modelled on Spain’s Camino de Santiago, will open this year, running from Anmyeondo Island to the fishing village of Uljin. “Meanwhile, Korean fried chicken is really something, and the capital, Seoul, is the home of that,” says Tom.
Stock up on K-beauty in the district of Myeongdong, and get a taste of music-meets-waterfight at Seoul’s Waterbomb Festival in July or your fix of K-pop proper at the Gangnam Festival in autumn.
BEST TIME TO GO: April, for the cherry blossom.
FYI: Virgin Atlantic flights from London to Seoul start on March 29, from £799 return.
LUDLOW, ENGLAND
THE LOWDOWN: This pretty Shropshire market town is fast sealing its spot as one of the UK’s best foodie destinations, and Tudor stunner Castle Lodge – former home of Catherine of Aragon – is re-opening as a seven all-suite boutique hotel with an eatery under talented local chef Harry Bullock.
DON’T MISS: Other foodie delights include Pale Kitchen And Arts, serving up pastries and local art, the cheese rarebit on Guinness bread at No3 Church Street (from the owners of much-loved Harp Lane Deli) and excellent waffles at Number 9 Ludlow. Richard Ashcroft, The Streets and The Human League are gigging at Ludlow Castle this summer, too.
“Ludlow is one of England’s great historic towns with a lovely walkable centre filled with independents,” says Tom. “But the beautiful Marches countryside surrounding the town means it’s wise to pack your walking boots as well.”
BEST TIME TO GO: September, for the UK’s longest-running food festival.
PELOPONNESE, GREECE
THE LOWDOWN: In Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, hitting screens in July, the jaw-dropping scenery of the Peloponnese will be the star of many scenes.
Better still, “You get more bang for your buck here than on many of the Greek isles,” says Tom Hall, vice president at Lonely Planet.
DON’T MISS: Hike to oceanside Nestor’s Cave to see where Matt Damon’s Odysseus outwits the Cyclops, swim in Poseidon’s realm at omega-shaped Voidokilia Beach, explore the atmospheric Methoni Castle and snap flamingos at protected wetland Gialova Lagoon.
There are also herons, ospreys and the African chameleon here – which isn’t found anywhere else in Europe. The area’s home to the kalamata olive, too, so bring on those delicious Greek salads!
BEST TIME TO GO: May for lovely 23°C days.
FYI: Flights to Athens cost from £42 return.
VANCOUVER, CANADA
THE LOWDOWN: This stunning city, surrounded by mountains, is a host of the FIFA World Cup this summer. “Nature is so accessible here – you can spot whales and seals by just going for a walk around Stanley Park,” says Tom.
DON’T MISS: Head to the fan zone at Hastings Park for bands, food stalls and a buzzing atmosphere. Dig into the local sushi fave, a BC roll with sweet spot prawns, washed down with a 33 Acres of Sunshine craft beer, then hop on the Skyride to Grouse Mountain for amazing city views.
Further afield, British Columbia is also home to seven national parks with hiking trails, waterfalls and glaciers to explore, plus the chance to spot bears at Yoho National Park. It’s a hot spot for geothermal activity, so don’t skip the natural spas at Lussier Hot Springs, too.
BEST TIME TO GO: Catch the footie buzz between June and July. Otherwise, September for autumn colours and smaller crowds.
FYI: Flights to Vancouver cost from £323 return.
RABAT, MOROCCO
THE LOWDOWN: A UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026, the Moroccan capital provides a fab setting for adventures. Wander the blue and white alleys near the Kasbah Des Oudayas or explore the Ville Nouvelle, where you’ll find chic boutiques and eateries. Trad riads make great-value stays, too.
DON’T MISS: Take in the Chellah – an impressive 14th-century Islamic necropolis, Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Grand Theatre of Rabat and the observation deck at Mohammed VI Tower. “Rabat is very different to what you might imagine,” says Tom.
“It has a modern feel, yet still has old kasbahs, souks and the beautiful Andalusian gardens. It’s also on Morocco’s high-speed rail network, so if you want to see more of the country, it’s super-easy,” he adds.
BEST TIME TO GO: Spring, for fewer crowds.
FYI: Flights cost from £40 return.
OULU, FINLAND
THE LOWDOWN: Sitting on the Baltic Sea, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, you’ll find 2026’s European Capital of Culture, with jaw-dropping scenery and lush cuisine. “Pick between experiencing the Midnight Sun or Northern Lights, but either way, it’s a great place to dip your toe into Finnish culture,” says Tom.
DON’T MISS: Feast on reindeer, salmon and foraged berries at pop-ups during August’s Summer Night’s Dinner and September’s Arctic Tasting Week, or just grabbing a coffee and rye bread at Oulu’s lively waterfront market.
Meanwhile, The Climate Clock art trail launches in June with seven hotly anticipated works, and electronic music festival Frozen People is held on a frozen lake in February.
You can even go full Finn at Lainesauna. For €15, you sauna on a raft down the Oulujoki River then dive straight into the water in summer (or an ice hole in winter!).
BEST TIME TO GO: March – to catch the Northern Lights around the equinox and skip the most freezing temperatures.
FYI: Flights to Helsinki cost from £48 return. The new high-speed Pendolino Plus train from Helsinki to Oulu costs from £48 return.
TANZANIA
THE LOWDOWN: An interactive, immersive conservation centre opens in Tanzania’s capital, Arusha, in memory of primatologist Jane Goodall. And handily, the capital is brilliantly located between Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park for ticking off that bucket-list safari, too.
DON’T MISS: Visit Dr Jane’s Dream: The Goodall Centre For Hope, which was developed with help from former Walt Disney Imagineers and African artisans. “National parks, game reserves and conservation areas make up about 38% of the country,” says Jon Nigel, co-founder at Weather2travel.com.
“But as well as spotting the Big Five in Serengeti, head north to Gombe National Park, where Jane conducted her pioneering chimpanzee studies in the ’60s.”
BEST TIME TO GO: June to October for prime waterhole action.
FYI: Flights to Arusha via Amsterdam cost from £412. Safari lodges cost from £62 a night.
LONDON
THE LOWDOWN: It’s the most-searched-for destination in the world, and 2026 is serving up stonking new cultural openings for our very own capital.*
DON’T MISS: V&A East is opening in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in April with The Music Is Black: A British Story including exhibits from Stormzy and Little Simz.
“It’s a brilliant time to explore new places, as well as the classics,” says Tom. “The Museum of London is reopening in Smithfield Market, not far away will be the Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration in Clerkenwell from May.
There’s also a huge Tracey Emin retrospective from February at Tate Modern and the Bayeux Tapestry comes to the British Museum from September.” Oh, and an exhibition dedicated to legendary author Agatha Christie hits the British Library in October, too.
BEST TIME TO GO: London’s a winner all year.
BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN
THE LOWDOWN: This small region famed for its pintxos (bar snacks), is packed with history, culture and 22 Michelin-starred restaurants. Plus, it’s home to a gorge coastline.
DON’T MISS: This will be a top spot to see the total eclipse on August 12. “Get as far to the west as you can,” says Jon. “From San Sebastián, Aiako Harria Natural Park will be a great place to view the night sky.
As will Gorbeia Natural Park, which lies between Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.” Be sure to visit Bilbao’s world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, too.
BEST TIME TO GO: August for the solar eclipse and the legendary fireworks contest at Semana Grande festival in San Sebastián.
FYI: Return flights to Bilbao cost from £44.
DOMINICA
THE LOWDOWN: Also known as the Caribbean’s Nature Island, Dominica has just 63,000 inhabitants, but offers year-round whale watching, plus incredible hiking through its dense forests.
The world’s first sperm whale reserve is now located here, too.
DON’T MISS: You’ll love whale watching. “There are 200 sperm whales in the 300 square miles of ocean designated for the reserve and you can even swim with them as part of small, regulated groups,” says Jon.
Emerald Pool, a rainforest pool fed by a 40-foot waterfall, or Titou Gorge, seen in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, are also must-sees.
Or take the newly-opened cable car to the volcanic Boiling Lake. What was once a three-hour hike each way now takes 20 minutes!
BEST TIME TO GO: go December to April for the best whale spotting.
FYI: Flights to Dominica via Barbados cost from £712. A new international airport is due to open in 2027, too.