Great trips don’t have to be expensive — but some dream vacations come with a serious price tag. A new analysis has identified the 15 most expensive travel destinations in the world. Are they worth it?
The wanderlust comes at a price, and in some places that price is particularly high. A recent analysis shows which travel destinations will put the biggest strain on vacation budgets in 2026.
To compile the ranking, the U.S. travel insurance provider“Squaremouth”analyzed more than 100,000 travel insurance policies, a survey of over 6,000 travelers, and data from Google Flights and Kayak. Five factors were included in the cost index: average daily spending, airfare, hotel costs, rental car costs, and spending on food and beverages.
Greenland tops the list of the most expensive travel destinations. While the world’s largest island boasts spectacular landscapes, it requires travelers to dig deep into their pockets. Expensive flights, the world's highest car rental rates, and high costs for hotels and dining make Greenland the most expensive travel destination in the analysis.
The British Virgin Islands come in second place. This Caribbean country is one of the most expensive destinations in the world when it comes to lodging. Exclusive resorts, luxurious villas, and a limited supply of accommodations are driving prices up significantly.
The situation is similar in French Polynesia, which ranks third. Overwater bungalows, luxurious hotel resorts, and the remote location mean that both accommodations and many services are particularly expensive. The long transport distances have a direct impact on prices.
Antarctica ranks fourth, and the Maldives ranks fifth. The time-consuming journey and high infrastructure costs are driving up prices at both destinations.
Switzerland ranks sixth among the world's most expensive travel destinations. The deciding factor here is not so much the cost of flights or hotels as the high cost of living. Eating out and drinks, in particular, can really add up; when it comes to food and drink, Switzerland actually ranks third worldwide. Only in Bermuda and the Bahamas do travelers spend even more, on average, on dining.
The analysis also shows that the biggest cost drivers vary significantly depending on the destination. In Namibia, airfare is the biggest expense. In Anguilla, on the other hand, lodging is the biggest expense: a night at a hotel there costs an average of more than 1,360 euros. Antarctica, on the other hand, remains one of the most expensive travel destinations of all, since getting there is usually only possible as part of elaborate expeditions.
When conducting the analysis, it is important to note that while the cost index takes into account airfare, hotel, rental car, and meal costs, it does not include other expenses such as excursions, transfers, or visas. In addition, the analysis is based on booking data from a U.S. travel insurance provider and the travel habits of American vacationers. For European travelers, the actual costs, due, for example, to different flight connections, package tours, or regional offers, may therefore differ from the results.
1. Greenland: Daily expenses around €1,000; flight €1,150; hotel €193 per night.
2. British Virgin Islands: Daily expenses €790, flight €760, hotel €966 per night.
3. French Polynesia: Daily expenses €640, flight €950, hotel €1,175 per night.
4. Antarctica: Daily expenses €1,280, flight €1,610, hotel €167 per night.
5. Maldives: Daily expenses €910, flight €1,120, hotel €1,060 per night.
6. Switzerland: Daily expenses €510, flight €760, hotel €412 per night.
7. Zimbabwe: Daily expenses €990, flight €1,560, hotel €170 per night.
8. Turks and Caicos Islands: Daily expenses €750, flight €410, hotel €1,200 per night.
9. Botswana: Daily expenses €1,300, flight €1,540, hotel €133 per night.
10. Anguilla: Daily expenses €1,080, flight €367, hotel €1,430 per night.
11. St. Lucia: Daily expenses €673, flight €702, hotel €964 per night.
12. Namibia: Daily expenses €895, flight €1,710, hotel €163 per night.
13. Iceland: Daily expenses €625, flight €547, hotel €342 per night.
14. Norway: Daily expenses €583, flight €593, hotel €185 per night.
15. Zambia: Daily expenses €787, flight €1,254; hotel €180 per night.
