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"Lonely Planet": The 25 best vacation destinations and experiences 2026

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"Lonely Planet" has just awarded prizes to the most exciting destinations and experiences for the coming year. The result: Belgrade is the new Berlin and "Research in the Amazon" tops the list.

The "Lonely Planet" is one of the best-known travel guides in the world. The publisher has just published its renowned ranking. This year, for the first time, it presents 25 top travel destinations and 25 extraordinary travel experiences. Now it's time; keep your pencils sharp for the best recommendations.

The 25 best travel destinations for 2026

Whether countries, islands, cities or national parks - the new "Best in Travel" list takes travelers around the globe. The bucket list for 2026 includes (in alphabetical order)

  • Barbados, Caribbean
  • Botswana
  • British Columbia, Canada
  • Cádiz, Spain
  • Cartagena, Colombia
  • Finland
  • Ikara-Flinders Ranges, Australia
  • Jaffna, Sri Lanka
  • Jeju-do, South Korea
  • Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Maine, USA
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • North Island, New Zealand
  • Peru
  • Phuket, Thailand
  • Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
  • Quy Nhon, Vietnam
  • Réunion
  • Solomon Islands
  • Sardinia, Italy
  • Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Park, USA
  • Tipperary, Ireland
  • Tunisia
  • Utrecht, Netherlands

Last year, Germany was represented in the ranking with Bavaria, but this year it is left empty-handed. The top list also includes exciting and unexpected newcomers.

Belgrade as the new Berlin?

"Explore the legendary nightlife", enthuses the Lonely Planet about the Serbian capital - a title that was probably previously attributed to Berlin. But Belgrade has long since blossomed into a vibrant party metropolis. With cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere , the city becomes the "ultimate night playground in Europe". Hardly any other metropolis can match the electrifying energy that Belgrade radiates after sunset - whether in clubs on old Danube ships, in bars with live music or at spontaneous street parties that go on until the early hours of the morning.

Utrecht as an insider tip in Europe

The city south of Amsterdam delights with its medieval center, charming bookshops, museums and the famous two-tiered canals - with street level at the top and cozy cellar cafés right on the water below. The climb up the cathedral tower is well worth it: from here you can enjoy a sweeping view over the city.

The 25 best travel experiences for 2026

In addition to these destinations "Lonely Planet" also presents the best experiences for the coming year - from adrenaline adventures to cultural discoveries. There is no ranking, but unforgettable moments are guaranteed. These include, for example:

White water rafting in the Grand Canyon (USA)
Exploring the Amazon (Peru)
Premier League game in England
Sleeping in a train carriage in Kruger National Park (South Africa)
Visiting the "Villa E-1027" in the south of France
Watching desert elephants in Namibia
Food tours in Dubai or Melbourne
Horse riding in the Andes (Ecuador)
Whale watching in the Azores (Portugal)
Chasing shooting stars in Wairarapa (New Zealand).

The "Citizen research in the Peruvian Amazon" project is a particularly unusual experience. Here, travelers become researchers themselves - they install camera traps, document animal sounds or map the habitat of macaws and howler monkeys in the Tambopata National Reserve. Every observation helps to protect this unique ecosystem. Early in the morning, when hundreds of parrots unfold their colorful splendor on the clay walls, it becomes clear: the Amazon is more than just a travel destination - it is a wonder of the earth.


The Falstaff Travel Editors
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