Haven’t planned your 2026 holidays yet? Start now, as the lists of must-visit places for the coming year are being unveiled. The renowned travel guide Lonely Planet published its Best in Travel 2026 book on October 21. It features 25 incredible destinations and 25 unique experiences. The new Lonely Planet Journeys travel planning service also offers curated travel itineraries.

Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of Content, spoke to CNN Travel, explaining the destinations included in the list and why they were chosen. Among Chambers’ favorite picks this year is Brazil’s “Little Japan,” or the Liberdade neighborhood in São Paulo.

Brazil hosts the largest Japanese community outside Japan, with 2 million people of Japanese descent, according to Chambers. She describes Liberdade as “truly full of surprises. Anime-inspired street art, oriental gardens... there’s even a rumor that you can find the best ramen outside Tokyo here. It’s always a topic of discussion.”

Another urban highlight is Mexico City. “You could say so many great things about it. History, food, culture, art! And it’s very walkable. It’s just phenomenal,” Chambers enthused. Neighborhoods like Coyoacán, La Roma, and La Condesa, with their bougainvillea-lined streets, were praised by Lonely Planet this year.

In the U.S., the list includes Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota (also featured in National Geographic’s 2026 Best of the World list) and Maine. “Maine has a unique culture in America. The coastal areas offer plenty of hiking opportunities in nature. The beauty there is truly distinctive, and its (four) national parks are incredible,” Chambers said.

Springtime forest hikes are recommended, and visitors are urged not to miss the heron rookeries, which can support up to 500 birds. Tipperary, on Europe’s western edge, is described as “a true hidden gem.” It’s Ireland’s largest inland county.

“Many people pass through on their way to the Wild Atlantic Way (coastal route). But Tipperary has some of the most beautiful and underrated driving routes,” Chambers noted. In Asia, Phuket Island is renowned for its “tropical honeymoon, romantic experience.”

Increasingly, people are discovering it as a work-and-travel destination for digital nomads. “People are reimagining their days, weeks, and months in relation to their careers,” Chambers explained. Phuket’s beaches, forests, and relaxed coastal lifestyle are drawing them in.

Other destinations on Lonely Planet’s 2026 must-visit list include Botswana; Peru; Jeju-do, South Korea; Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia; Cádiz, Spain; Sardinia, Italy; Tunisia; Barbados, Caribbean; Solomon Islands; Réunion; Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala; Jaffna, Sri Lanka; Utrecht, Netherlands; Cartagena, Colombia; Finland; Qui Nhon, Vietnam; British Columbia, Canada; and Siem Reap, Cambodia.Puma Unisex Adult Clyde OG 75Y PRM Sneaker

Fun Times and Festivals: The Best in Travel list includes 25 experiences to enjoy in 2026, such as food tours in old Dubai and Kerala, India. Chambers, whose grandparents are from Kerala, said, “It really focuses on regional food culture, rooted in fresh, local ingredients.”

“There’s a real history in locally grown spices like black pepper, cardamom, and turmeric. Being on the southwest coast, it’s been influenced by centuries of trade. It’s truly a unique cuisine,” she explained. Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant food culture, influenced by Asian, African, and Mediterranean flavors, is another 2026 pick, described as “singular, powerful, and experimental” by Lonely Planet.

Oregon’s Willamette Wine Country is recommended for wine enthusiasts in 2026. Its “beautiful and easily accessible” vineyards reportedly see fewer visitors, offering ample tranquility. For party-goers, Grenada in the Caribbean is ideal, with August’s Spicemas being its biggest celebration. Over 20,000 people visit the island for this vibrant late-summer festival, so plan ahead.

In Europe, Belgrade, Serbia, is recommended for its legendary nightlife, described as “raw, electric, and unapologetically wild” by the publisher. Spending a night in a Japanese ryokan is one of Chambers’ “personal favorite experiences.” These traditional lodgings offer “a glimpse into Japanese interiors, gourmet cuisine, and hot spring culture. They’re built for relaxation, evoking a slower, more analog time,” Lonely Planet notes.

Staying in a train carriage at South Africa’s Kruger National Park is another unique accommodation on the 2026 experience list. Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge, located in one of Africa’s largest wildlife reserves, allows guests to combine luxury with wildlife viewing.

Other 2026 experiences include staying at Volcano House in Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park and white-water rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, described by Chambers as a “bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime” experience. “There’s no set itinerary; you have to adapt to the terrain. You wake up, read the water, and work with the flow.” Disconnecting from digital devices offers a chance to truly live in the moment.

Stargazing in Wairarapa, New Zealand/Aotearoa, is another recommended way to connect with nature in 2026. “The sky has always been there, but it’s having a moment!” Chambers said. “As more places and parks gain recognition for stargazing, Dark Skies are gaining traction.”

Other experiences on the 2026 list include hiking and wild camping in Tajikistan; exploring bathing trails in Victoria, Australia; cruising the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia; and biking in the Batanes Islands, Philippines. Whale and dolphin watching in the North Atlantic waters of Portugal’s Azores is “almost guaranteed,” per Lonely Planet, and can be an emotional experience, with April to early July being the best time to visit.

Namibia is recommended for tracking desert elephants—don’t forget your long camera lenses and binoculars. Horseback riders are invited to ride in Ecuador’s Andes Mountains or along Louisiana’s Creole Trail. Other 2026 experiences include searching for jaguars in Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands and becoming a citizen scientist in Peru’s Amazon.

Sports and Culture: Craving a flying kick or flying cholitas? Lonely Planet’s sports experiences include attending a Premier League soccer match in England. “Going to a match isn’t just about visiting a stadium: it offers a unique perspective on the country’s passions and character,” the publisher notes. In Bolivia, indigenous women known as cholitas are sports stars in wrestling rings, wearing traditional long skirts and bowler hats. Their regular matches are “part performance art, part drama,” according to Lonely Planet.

Additional 2026 experiences include visiting Eileen Gray’s home in southern France and immersing yourself in street art in Bristol, England.