Lonely Planet Unveils 25 Must-Visit Destinations And Must-Do Experiences For 2026

UnmutedNewswire

Nov 4, 2025 - 21:00

0 1

Lonely Planet Unveils 25 Must-Visit Destinations And Must-Do Experiences For 2026

Global travel authority Lonely Planet has officially released its “Best in Travel” 2026 list, featuring 25 must-visit destinations and 25 essential experiences from around the world. The annual compilation, published on October 21, 2025, highlights emerging locales, trending regions, and unique cultural experiences that deserve travelers’ attention in the coming year. The list, which has become a benchmark for travel trends, showcases both popular hotspots experiencing renewed interest and under-the-radar gems that Lonely Planet’s experts believe merit exploration in 2026, inspiring travelers planning their journeys.

In an interview with CNN, Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s executive editor and senior vice president of content, highlighted Liberdade in São Paulo as one of her personal favorites, noting: “Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan; 2 million claim connection to Japanese descent in Brazil. Liberdade is really full of surprises. The anime-inspired street art and the Oriental garden. It’s rumored to have the best ramen outside of Tokyo, although I’m sure that’s always a heated debate.”

Natural Wonders And Cultural Gems

Among the standout selections is Reunion, a French Department in the Indian Ocean, approximately 142 miles from Mauritius. Lonely Planet describes it as the best place “for delving into a unique natural and multicultural heritage.” The island boasts remarkable diversity, with 400 different microclimates, an abundance of species, and one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Nature enthusiasts are directed to Tipperary, Ireland, where they can embark on remote adventures. The rural Irish county 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. Food enthusiasts can sample the famous Cashel Blue cheese, which travel experts note is “worth traveling for alone.”

Finland also earned a spot on the prestigious list, with the publication noting this “eccentric Nordic land flies under the radar, but deserves to shine.” Maine ranks fourth overall on Lonely Planet’s 2026 list of top destinations. The state offers visitors a comprehensive travel experience that combines outdoor recreation, culinary excellence, and stunning coastal beauty.

Additional American representation comes from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, which ranked 19th among the world’s top destinations.

Unique Travel Experiences For 2026

Beyond destinations, Lonely Planet highlighted distinctive experiences travelers should seek in 2026. Among the 25 recommended experiences is staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan, which ranked fourth on the list of experiences. 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.

Other notable experiences include rafting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, staying in a train carriage at Kruger National Park in South Africa, and cruising the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. For those seeking culinary adventures, options range from exploring Kerala’s culinary culture in India to taking food tours in Old Dubai or Melbourne, Australia.

The list also features a unique citizen science opportunity in the Amazon rainforest. 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. This experience combines adventure with conservation, as every observation contributes to the protection of this vital ecosystem.