Travel planning just got a whole lot more interesting. Lonely Planet dropped its annual list of , and honestly, some of these picks are raising eyebrows in the best way possible. Forget the usual suspects you’ve seen plastered all over Instagram a thousand times. This year’s selections dig deeper, pulling out places that most travelers haven’t even considered yet. We’re talking about a volcanic island with more climate zones than seems physically possible, a Brazilian neighborhood that’ll make you question if you’re still in South America, and a U.S. state that’s suddenly become the coolest place nobody saw coming.
What makes this list different is how it balances the undiscovered with the misunderstood. Sure, there are a few familiar names, but even those come with a fresh angle that challenges what you thought you knew. Lonely Planet’s editors combed through reader submissions, consulted with local experts, and analyzed emerging travel patterns to land on these picks. The result is a mix that’ll satisfy adventure seekers, culture vultures, and even those who just want to eat really, really well. Ready to see which destinations made the cut and why they’re worth bumping to the top of your travel list? Let’s dive in.
Réunion: The Island with 400 Microclimates
Here’s the thing about travel lists. They can either bore you to tears or genuinely blow your mind with places you never considered. Lonely Planet officially released its “Best in Travel” 2026 list on October 21, 2025, featuring 25 must-visit destinations and 25 essential experiences from around the world. Honestly, the picks this year are pretty refreshing.
Réunion, a French Department in the Indian Ocean around 230km from Mauritius, is described by Lonely Planet as the best place for delving into a unique natural and multicultural heritage. This volcanic island isn’t just gorgeous. It’s home to 400 different microclimates, a bounty of species, and one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Mafate is accessible only by foot or helicopter, making it one of the best-kept secrets in the world.
Maine: When a State Becomes Trendy
It’s hard to explain to a Mainer that their state is trendy because they’ll let out a sardonic laugh, roll their eyes, or both, an expression that has a salty kind of New Englandness to it. Yet here we are. Maine ranks fourth overall on Lonely Planet’s 2026 list of top destinations, offering visitors a comprehensive travel experience that combines outdoor recreation, culinary excellence, and stunning coastal beauty.
Take a forest hike in the springtime to see Maine in bloom and at its most serene, as Maine has it all, from a great culinary scene to art and architecture to a beautiful coastline. I think what makes Maine special is its resistance to becoming something it’s not. It remains unapologetically itself.
Liberdade in São Paulo: Brazil’s Little Japan
CNN Travel caught up with Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s executive editor and senior vice president of content, and one of her favorite picks was Brazil’s Little Japan, otherwise known as the São Paolo neighborhood of Liberdade. Think about it. Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, with 2 million claiming connection to Japanese descent in Brazil.
The blend of cultures creates something unique. Start your gastronomic journey at the weekends-only Feira da Liberdade, a street food fair with Japanese and Brazilian favorites, and the red lamp posts will lead you through the neighborhood as you explore built-in spaces for tranquility like the Oriental Garden or the private collection of Lohan Temple.
Tipperary: Ireland’s Rural Retreat
Sure, it might be a long way to Tipperary. Nature enthusiasts are directed to Tipperary, Ireland, where they can embark on remote adventures in the rural Irish county that offers majestic valleys, such as the Glen of Aherlow, perfect for hiking or horseback riding, alongside historical sites like the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. Sometimes the overlooked spots hold the most magic.
Food enthusiasts can sample the famous Cashel Blue cheese, which travel experts note is worth traveling for alone. Let’s be real, when cheese becomes a legitimate reason to visit somewhere, that’s a place worth exploring.
Phuket: Not Just for Honeymoons Anymore
The island of Phuket is best known for its tropical honeymoon, romantic vibe, but more people are now discovering it as a work-and-travel spot for digital nomads, as people are reimagining the way their days and weeks, and months look relative to what they do for a living.
Thailand’s beaches, jungles, and that breezy coastal lifestyle are hitting the spot for remote workers seeking something more than their home office. It’s not hard to see why typing away on a laptop feels different when you’re steps from turquoise water.
Mexico City: The Walkable Cultural Giant
Mexico City keeps proving itself as one of the world’s most exciting urban destinations. Chambers cannot say enough great things about it, noting history, food, culture, art, and it was walkable, as the bougainvillea-strewn neighborhoods of Coyoacán, La Roma, and La Condesa all get a shout-out from Lonely Planet this year.
People underestimate how crucial walkability is for experiencing a city authentically. When you can stroll from neighborhood to neighborhood, you catch those in-between moments, those unplanned encounters that don’t make it into guidebooks.
Botswana: Beyond the Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of this African country’s most talked-about destinations, but Lonely Planet also highlights Linyanti Reserve in its Best in Travel list for 2026. Southern Africa continues to amaze with its wildlife and wilderness areas that feel genuinely untouched.
Botswana has always understood conservation differently from most places. The country limits visitor numbers to protect ecosystems, meaning your safari experience won’t involve battling crowds of other tourists for that perfect lion photo.
Must-Do Experiences: Beyond Destinations
Beyond destinations, Lonely Planet highlighted distinctive experiences travelers should seek in 2026, with staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan ranking fourth on the list of experiences. Experiences now matter as much as destinations. For sports enthusiasts, attending a Premier League game in England ranked seventh, described as an opportunity to witness one of the world’s most passionate sporting environments.
The Citizen research in the Peruvian Amazon project allows travelers to become researchers themselves by installing camera traps, documenting animal sounds, and mapping habitats of macaws and howler monkeys in the Tambopata National Reserve, with this experience combining adventure with conservation, as every observation contributes to the protection of this vital ecosystem. Pretty incredible when tourism actually contributes to protecting places rather than destroying them.
The Verdict on 2026 Travel
Lonely Planet’s annual guide simplifies the search, curating 25 destinations and 25 must-try experiences that capture the spirit of travel right now, as the Best in Travel 2026 edition celebrates diversity from hidden gems to cultural capitals, offering an inspiring roadmap for travellers planning their next adventure. What stands out about this year’s list is the balance between well-known spots getting renewed attention and genuinely under-the-radar places.
Travel in 2026 seems to be leaning toward meaningful experiences over Instagram moments. Places where you can actually learn something, contribute something, or at least come away changed in some small way. Which destinations are calling your name? Tell us in the comments.
<p>The post Lonely Planet Announces Its New Must-See Destinations for 2026 first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>