The Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027

A new national park at the edge of the world, an ancient city reinterpreting its past, a classic road trip route with fresh reasons to pull over: Your next unforgettable trip could start with any of these. Shaped by National Geographic’s global community of writers, photographers, and explorers, our annual Best of the World list reveals 25 remarkable destinations across six continents where new itineraries, cultural revivals, and milestone celebrations make now the time to explore.

Why go: Find epic fjord adventures and wellness-led travel in one of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes

Fjords ripple across the county of Vestland, in Norway’s southwest, a wild region of sky-high cliffs, turquoise waters, and cascading waterfalls straight out of Norse mythology. The scale of natural wonder is grand here: Wherever you go, big wilderness awaits.

In the south is the mighty Hardangerfjord and Folgefonna National Park, where one of Norway’s largest glaciers glitters. Just east of there, Trolltunga (“troll’s tongue”), a 2,300-foot-high rock formation, juts out above a sapphire blue lake. Head to northern Vestland to see the sheer-faced, more than 10-mile-long Nærøyfjord, which makes a dramatic backdrop for kayakers and eco-friendly cruise boats (or zero-emission electric boats) looking for seals, porpoises, and white-tailed eagles.

At the heart of Vestland, Bergen is surrounded by seven peaks and nestled alongside a postcard-perfect fjord. The city was once a hub of the Hanseatic League, a place where merchants ruled the waves and the dried-cod trade, and today the town’s medieval wharf district, Bryggen, is a fairy-tale feast of cobblestones, wonky gables, and bright timber facades.

At Bergen’s showpiece Gaptrast, which just scored its second Michelin star, chef Kristian Vangen wows diners with seasonally spun tasting menus, playing up modern Nordic cuisine that riffs imaginatively on locally farmed, fished, and foraged ingredients.

Direct flights to Bergen are becoming more common. But the seven-hour overnight train from Oslo has become comfier, with Vy, the national railway company, installing convertible lie-flat seats. Don’t sleep the whole trip, though—even under starlight, the view out the window is something else. —Kerry Walker

See our guide to visiting one of Norway’s most astonishing fjords and the historic sites and Michelin-star restaurants of Vestland’s charming coastal capital. 

Why go: A tropical destination pairs rainforest trails and living heritage that runs deep

Penang state gets much of its character from the push and pull between Penang Island and mainland Seberang Perai. Starting on Penang Island, travelers can drift from the UNESCO-protected streets of urban George Town to rainforest-fringed beaches, then cross the Penang Strait to the mainland, where rural villages called kampongs and winding, mangrove-filled rivers sit alongside modern industrial hubs.

Slated to open in 2027, George Town’s Penang Hill cable car will whisk passengers from the lush Penang Botanic Gardens to the summit in under 10 minutes, treating them to sweeping, panoramic views of a tropical rainforest canopy at the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve. Beyond the peak, Penang Hill’s tranquil rainforest unfolds, offering miles of trails that show off the region’s rich ecology. To avoid the crowds at the summit, explore the secluded bypaths along the mountainside or join certified Penang Hill eco-heritage guides for an intimate look at local conservation efforts along the trails. At Nature Green Farm, guests can learn about organic farming before sitting down for a hill-to-plate experience, where farm-fresh produce is transformed into a memorable meal during an interactive cooking demonstration.

Also in George Town, the Soori Penang hotel reimagines an ornate Chinese clan estate from the turn of the 20th century. Fifteen meticulously restored shophouses serve as guest suites and will soon expand to include a new wine bar and sprawling three-bedroom residence with its own small reflecting pool built into the floor. Design highlights throughout the hotel emphasize heritage, with hand-carved stone lions at every suite entry and reflecting pools set beneath restored, open-air light wells where the original air shaft once let light and rain into the house. While Soori guests enjoy exclusive perks like historical tours, traditional teahouse visits, and private performances at the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, George Town’s cultural offerings—from street art to tours of heritage houses—remain accessible to all.

On the mainland, a new wave of low-impact adventures is taking root. Along the Sungai Juru river, the Penang River Cruise offers a two-hour guided cruise that explores thriving mangrove habitats and explains the critical role these coastal forests play in protecting shores and sustaining marine biodiversity. Trapping crabs, casting fishing nets, and gathering shellfish are a few ways visitors can participate. —Kristin Braswell

Plan a Penang trip with our destination spotlight, full of tips on exploring the streets of George Town and enjoying the city’s vibrant food scene. 

Why go: Experience the world’s greatest open-air museum as the eclipse falls over the city

For thousands of years, the sun shaped life along the Nile and was revered by Egypt’s ancient pharaohs as a divine force. On August 2, 2027, that holy sun will briefly disappear as a total solar eclipse casts Luxor into more than six minutes of daytime twilight. The celestial spectacle will draw global attention to the ancient city. Still, the real wonder is year-round: a landscape of monumental temples and royal tombs, from Karnak and Luxor temples to the Valley of the Kings and the tomb of Tutankhamun. New openings and improved connections make it a great moment to visit a city where Egyptian antiquity remains vividly present.

Among the biggest developments is the reopening of the historic Winter Palace hotel, where Howard Carter announced the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 and Agatha Christie was a frequent guest. It’s due to reopen in July as the Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, restoring one of Egypt’s most storied old haunts to its former glory.

The year also sees the launch of Egypt’s first luxury tourist sleeper train, the Guardian of the Nile, linking Cairo and Aswan with a stop in Luxor. With just 40 cabins, fine dining, and curated excursions, it tips its hat to a bygone golden age of rail travel.

Getting to Luxor will be easier with the extension of two free visas: the summer entry visa for travelers on Egyptian-owned airlines and a four-day transit visa for eligible visitors.

Once in Luxor, the city’s archaeological riches are best appreciated from the river and the sky. At sunrise, hot-air balloons drift above the Valley of the Kings, with the ribbon of the Nile running through fertile fields, the desert just beyond. On the water, double-sailed, bargelike dahabiyas recall the leisurely journeys of 19th-century archaeologists and explorers, gliding past riverside villages that still depend on the river as they have for generations. The eclipse may last only minutes, but the landscape it briefly shadows has endured for millennia. —Zoey Goto

Our Luxor destination spotlight is your guide to touring the 3,000-year-old temples of Karnak and hopping Egypt’s first luxury tourist sleeper train. 

Why go: The Midwest’s most effortless getaway combines lakefront adventure, local flavor, and creative cultural spaces

On an isthmus between two beautiful lakes, Mendota and Monona, Madison combines the vibrancy of a college town with a mess of trails and green spaces. Wisconsin’s cozy capital, population not quite 290,000, is home to the University of Wisconsin and is compact enough to explore on foot or by bike—it’s certified by the League of American Bicyclists as one of the country’s most bike-friendly cities.

More than 200 miles of hiking trails and bikeways connect leafy neighborhoods, beaches, and some 300 parks—among the most per capita of any U.S. city. No need to travel with your own wheels, since one of more than a hundred stations of the city’s e-bike share system is rarely far away. The scenic, 13-mile Lake Monona Bike Loop takes bikers from the Olbrich Botanical Gardens to the lively downtown waterfront. Real bike nuts might check in at the Mansion Hill Inn, owned by the juggernaut (and locally based) bike manufacturer Trek. The 10-room historic boutique hotel hosts a city-by-bike tour package and can arrange factory tours.

The robust trail network is still growing: Next year, the city’s ambitious Madison LakeWay Project will begin adding new trails and green spaces along the Lake Monona waterfront, eventually connecting downtown to more of the shoreline.

On summer Saturdays, up to 20,000 people descend on Capitol Square to browse the Dane County Farmers Market, the nation’s largest producer-only market. Shoppers weave through stalls bursting with fresh-cut flowers, warm bread, and heirloom vegetables. Opened in July 2026, the new Madison Public Market hosts food-focused artisans and start-ups. Meanwhile, chef-driven restaurants like Fairchild use local veggies in dishes like homemade ravioli. Ahan offers diners Laotian classics and street fare like Lao sausage and spicy lemongrass or son-in-law eggs (a dish of hard-boiled eggs filled with pork, cabbage, carrots, scallions, and vermicelli noodles). —Andrew Nelson

Get our tips on visiting Madison’s beautiful lakes, award-winning restaurants, indie bookstores, and more.

Why go: A blend of cultures and community-led traditions is sparking renewed global attention

From its sandy shoreline to the heights of the Cordillera Central mountain range, Puerto Rico packs in a lot of natural splendors, but the little island’s true beauty is in its people and traditions. In the past year, its musical heritage and cultural pride nabbed the international spotlight with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance and Album of the Year win at the 2026 Grammy Awards, but the full breadth of Puerto Rican culture—a blend of West African, Indigenous Taíno, and Spanish influences—can’t be captured in a TV broadcast.

For a deep dive on the West African roots of Puerto Rico’s contemporary music scene, head to Loíza, a bastion for Black Puerto Rican culture some 20 miles east of San Juan. Venues like Corporación Piñones Se Integra connect visitors to long-standing, Afro-Puerto Rican-led genres like bomba and plena through dance and percussion classes, and July’s Festival de Santiago Apóstol showcases some of the island’s top performers while revelers in colorful costumes and horned vejigante masks take to the streets. ​​​​In the Piñones district on Loíza’s northern coast, family-run kiosks line the roads all year, offering seafood-filled snacks like ​​​​alcapurrias (fried plantain fritters), bacalaítos (deep-fried, salted codfish), and pastelillos de jueyes (crab turnovers).

Trace Puerto Rico’s Indigenous heritage along the Taíno Route, where former settlements, sacred caves, and weathered rock carvings bring Taíno history and mythology to life. One of the Caribbean’s most notable pre-Columbian archaeological sites is the Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes, near the southern city of Ponce, full of preserved ceremonial plazas and ball courts once used by the Taíno people. Meanwhile, the inland municipalities of Utuado and Jayuya are renowned for their many petroglyphs depicting human figures and animals carved into river boulders and exposed stone.

The island’s more recent colonial history surrounds you in the cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan, where the UNESCO-protected Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro stand as a testament to the island’s strategic importance during the Spanish Empire. ​​And Old San Juan has a world-class festival of its own. For four days in January, the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián features music, masks, and hundreds of thousands of people dancing in the streets—a spectacle even grander than a halftime show. —Jared Ranahan

Read more on the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, the Taíno Route, and the Caribbean’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival. 

Why go: This less traveled Lowlands region offers quiet trails and starry skies

Robert Burns, Scotland’s national bard, waxed lyrical about Dumfries and Galloway, which feels, for lack of visitors, a world apart from the nation’s more high-profile destinations. He rhapsodized about its night skies, and one outstanding place to stargaze is at the new Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, opening in midsummer 2027 amid the rippling hills of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. From the shores of mirrorlike Clatteringshaws Loch, two observation domes and a 360-degree planetarium reveal the sparkling treasures of Galloway’s impressively dark skies.

For the region, the new venture is a welcome symbol of rebirth, and more adventurous ways to explore are rapidly developing. The new 206-mile Gallovidian Gravel route connects the scenic, feature-rich trail systems of the 7stanes mountain biking sites, and more switchbacks await on the new 83-mile Rhins of Galloway Coast Path, the first waymarked trail to encircle the hammerhead-shaped peninsula. Next year’s Tour de France Grand Départ, which heads to southern Scotland for the first time in July, may provide extra motivation to get on a bike.

Local history isn’t being sidelined. Beside the River Nith, triangular Caerlaverock Castle—the only one of its kind in the U.K.—was an inspiration to Burns’s contemporary, Sir Walter Scott. Throughout 2027, Historic Environment Scotland will mark the castle’s 750th anniversary. Nearby, the Robert Burns Ellisland Museum and Farm continues to revitalize the historic property where the poet lived and wrote his most famous work, “Auld Lang Syne.” Stay at the new cottage accommodation and walk the poetry trail around the farm. Burns would no doubt appreciate all the stories the place has yet to tell. —Mike MacEacheran

Ready to go stargazing in one of the most breathtaking spots on Earth? Our destination spotlight on Dumfries and Galloway can help plan your visit. 

Why go: A peculiar art fest and a centuries-old fermentation tradition offer new ways to explore a quieter corner of Japan

Niigata Prefecture sits in the heart of Japan’s snow country, the central region on the Sea of Japan renowned for legendary snowfall, which draws skiers from around the world. Next year, well before the snow arrives, the world’s largest outdoor art festival takes over some 200 villages across Niigata. The 10th year of the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale, held from July through November, includes a series of site-specific art installations themed around reuse, which will take over abandoned schools, terraced rice fields, and even tunnels burrowing through mountains, serving as a model for both architectural reuse and rural revitalization. The lineup is still being finalized but will include international heavyweights such as British sculptor Antony Gormley, whose piece will strip the interior of an old timber farmhouse that’s been crushed by years of snowfall, as well as French conceptual artist Annette Messager and Japanese sculptor Tadashi Kawamata.

Niigata’s long, cold winters have helped foster a culture of sake brewing and other kinds of fermentation. The area is also home to dozens of sansai varieties (traditionally foraged wild mountain shoots or vegetables) and some of Japan’s most complex, delicious soy sauces and misos. The tradition takes center stage at the newly opened Hakko House (whose name means “fermentation”) in Nagaoka, where chef Sho Suzuki’s 11-course meal leans into what’s seasonal and foraged: think royal fern shoots and wild asparagus glazed in nanban koji, a spicy fermented paste, or tuna with house-made koji soy sauce. Each course is paired with an exclusive regional sake specifically commissioned by the chef.

Chef Suzuki owns a mini empire of fermented Niigata “snow food” shops and restaurants. Many line Nagaoka’s mile-long Hakko Trip, a self-guided fermentation trail that stops at heritage miso producers, a historic dango shop serving syrupy mochi skewers, and a sake brewery that revives heirloom rice once near extinction before brewing, fermenting, and snow-cooling it in traditional yukimuro, or snow warehouses. The long-practiced Niigata technique allows sake to mature at a low and slow 37°F—and it is a reminder that the slow pace of snow country produces some pretty magical results. —Adam H. Graham

Our destination spotlight explores Niigata’s food culture and more, including its popular ski resorts and some of Japan’s best swimming and snorkeling. 

Why go: A 3,000-year-old kingdom comes back to life

Travelers may know Chengdu for its giant pandas and mouth-numbing hot pots, but the Sichuan capital also opens the door to an archaeological mystery that beckons curious explorers. Next year marks the centennial of a fascinating discovery, when a farmer struck jade while repairing a ditch in nearby Guanghan. This was the first trace of the Shu kingdom, a Bronze Age civilization that left no written records and vanished from history.

The kingdom’s treasures now fill two Chengdu museums. At the Sanxingdui Museum, 25 miles north of the city, six pits excavated between 2020 and 2022 yielded gold masks, elephant tusks, and thousands of artifacts. They join the site’s most iconic discovery: an 8.5-foot bronze figure. Downtown, the Jinsha Site Museum, built over a later Shu settlement, reopens in April after an overhaul. On display there, the Sun and Immortal Birds foil is a 3,000-year-old Shu kingdom relic—a paper-thin gold disk cut into four birds circling a swirling sun—that’s been adopted as a cultural heritage symbol.

For millennia, the Shu kingdom lay beneath Chengdu, today a city with a 24-hour pulse that runs on food. The UNESCO City of Gastronomy is fueled by regional specialties like pork trotters, sweet-water noodles, and mapo doufu (soft tofu in a spicy chili-bean sauce), invented at the more than 160-year-old eatery Chen Mapo Tofu. For hot pot, locals line up past midnight at Wuliguan for its beef-tallow broth and fall-apart braised beef. Shufeng Yayun theater stages nightly Bian Lian performances, a Sichuan opera specialty where performers use sleight of hand to swap the painted masks they wear.

At Papuwa, co-founded by acclaimed bartender Vivian Liu, the shy pepper showcases Chengdu’s flavor profiles with fermented mountain chili, white soy sauce, smoked Tabasco, and pomelo. Mi Xun Teahouse, the city’s only Michelin green star restaurant, serves vegetarian dishes favored by the monks of the nearby 1,600-year-old Daci Temple. Its vegan mapo doufu rivals the original. As for the kingdom that vanished from history? It’s poised for a comeback; China has named the Sanxingdui Museum and the Jinsha Museum its nominees for 2028 UNESCO World Heritage status. —Iona Brannon

From a century-old teahouse to a lantern-lit night cruise, our Chengdu destination spotlight offers insider tips on how to appreciate this ancient city.

Why go: Coastal communities are carrying California’s artistic legacy forward

California’s coastline, hugged by the sinuous Pacific Coast Highway, has a long history of inspiring writers and artists of every sort, from Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata to Jack Kerouac and John Steinbeck. After catastrophic mudslides near Big Sur caused a three-year closure, the highway’s most iconic stretch, the ruggedly scenic thoroughfare between Leggett and Dana Point, is once again open. But the real discoveries lie beyond the winding roadway in the lesser known artsy communities that continue to draw inspiration from the landscape.

On the roadway’s southern end, Laguna Beach marks its centennial in 2027 with a multimedia project, shared all across town, celebrating the community’s long heritage as an artists’ colony. In the heart of downtown, steps from the main beach, a new pedestrian promenade is full of boutiques and galleries, outdoor performance spaces, and al fresco dining beneath rows of twinkle lights.

On the central coast, a creative pulse thrums through Lompoc, where a mural trail depicts the town’s agricultural roots and Chumash history. After a self-guided walking tour of more than 30 murals, break up the afternoon with a tasting session in the former industrial park that’s now home to Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto. Continuing north, quirky Harmony is a one-block former dairy town with a population of 18. Travelers can grab small-batch ice cream at Harmony Valley Creamery’s famous Scoop Truck before trying their hand at glassblowing at Harmony Glassworks or browsing Harmony Pottery Studio and Gallery.

On the northern end of the Pacific Coast Highway, Mendocino County’s moody headlands have enticed both road trippers and artists for decades. The town is still full of studios and artists in residence, so there’s always some surprising exhibition worth pulling over for. Fort Bragg’s innovative Pacific Textile Arts invites visitors to immerse themselves in the community’s creative spirit through workshops and exhibitions such as “Redwood Time,” a fabric art tribute to the majestic trees, debuting in spring 2027. —Sharael Kolberg

Plan your road trip along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway with our guide to the artsy towns and must-sees along the way. 

Why go: A 300-year-old city of palaces hosts one of the world’s largest literary festivals

Jaipur, the capital of India’s northwestern state of Rajasthan, is known for its sandstone architecture and rich tradition of Indian crafts. The city—celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2027—is also home to the Jaipur Literature Festival, one of the largest in the world. Celebrating literature and ideas from South Asia and beyond, it draws roughly 400,000 people annually, with its 20th edition being held January 14 to 18. Bringing together some of the world’s most accomplished authors and other leading voices, the gathering includes book readings, keynote addresses, and panel discussions on topics such as science, politics, and history. Past speakers have included Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai and Nobel Prize winner J.M. Coetzee. The five-day-long event also features the Jaipur Music Stage, a collection of folk, fusion, and world music performances that complement the literary discussions, alongside art installations by Indian artists.

Beyond literature, Jaipur’s historical and cultural diversity comes to life in its monuments, where Rajput, Mughal, and European influences shape its massive forts and ornate palaces. Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort sit on adjacent hills (above one another) on the city’s northeast edge, each housing royal palaces adorned with elaborately carved balconies, while delicate floral inlay and carved marble wall panels distinguish Amber’s interiors. The Hawa Mahal is known for its unique honeycomb facade and latticed windows, which provide natural ventilation—a feature reflected in its name, meaning “palace of the winds.” To see the world’s largest stone sundial, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century observatory.

Jaipur’s markets, such as Johari Bazaar and Chandpole Bazaar, are troves of traditional Indian crafts, with shops selling everything from handmade shoes to gold kundan jewelry. Contemporary boutiques like Anokhi and the PDKF Store specialize in textiles showcasing hand-block printing. One technique, dabu, uses hand-carved blocks to stamp mud-resist paste onto cloth. Visit the Museum of Meenakari Heritage to see the time-honored technique of fusing powdered mineral glass onto gold, or check out contemporary paintings, sculptures, photography, and films from India and beyond at the Jaipur Centre for Art. —Arundhati Hazra

When best to visit this literary city? See our Jaipur destination spotlight for more on when to go, what to see, and where to shop.

Why go: Spice things up with creative wellness offerings and a one-of-a-kind festival

Rich volcanic soil feeds Grenada’s fragrant nutmeg, mace, and clove crops, which earn the Caribbean nation its famous moniker, the Spice Isle. The tri-island state weaves its signature spices into everyday life: Nutmeg is reduced into cocktail syrups, boiled into fragrant jams, and proudly depicted on the national flag.

The spice-laden aromas partly inspire Spicemas, the country’s annual August carnival, which marks its 150th anniversary in 2027. The main island comes alive with steelpan and calypso competitions; parades with participants dressed in brightly colored, feathered, and beaded costumes; and Monday Night Mas, an electrifying street party where revelers light up the night with glow sticks and dance behind massive trucks pumping soca music. One of the festival’s most popular events is J’ouvert. As a predawn curtain-raiser to Carnival, this street parade features a striking tradition called Jab Jab, where participants paint themselves with molasses, mud, shoe polish, or other dark material and rattle severed chains in a powerful display of freedom and defiance against the enslavement of their ancestors.

For those ready for a reset, the island offers a deep well of restorative traditions. At River Sallee Boiling Springs, a geothermal site in the north, has warm, bubbling soaking pools. Visitors can coat their skin in mineral-rich volcanic mud, sourced directly from the pool floor, for a natural, soothing spa experience. Nature Spa Grenada draws its inspiration from the Grenadian “river lime”—a hangout by the water, essentially, unwinding and connecting with loved ones in nature. Royal Mount Carmel Falls—one of Grenada’s tallest waterfalls—makes a stunning backdrop for guided yoga, breath work, and hydrotherapy sessions.

Next year, the 500-room Grenada National Resort will open with more wellness options near the pristine Levera National Park, where a mangrove lagoon and an extensive beach provide a haven for nesting leatherback turtles from March through July. —Kristin Braswell

Our Grenada destination spotlight has more details on the island nation’s unique wellness offerings and colorful villages. 

Why go: Join the biggest celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture in one of South America’s most historic cities

Salvador, capital of Brazil’s balmy Bahia state and a city shaped by centuries of African influence, may not draw as many tourists as Rio, but it is one of Brazil’s most enchanting cities. That’s particularly true next year, when two of Salvador’s most extraordinary events—Carnival and Festa de Iemanjá—coincide, bringing millions of revelers to the city in one of the largest African diaspora celebrations on Earth.

The legendary Salvador Carnival, one of the world’s greatest street parties, sees riotous samba-reggae and axé (Bahian Afro-Caribbean fusion) bands parade through the UNESCO-listed, pastel-hued Pillory Square. In Terreiro de Jesus Square, meanwhile, athletes perform capoeira, Bahia’s dance-like martial art. In 2027, for the first time in decades, Carnival takes place immediately after Festa de Iemanjá, the biggest festival of the Candomblé religion, a blend of African religions and Catholicism. This festival sees devotees dress in white-and-blue robes and send matching garlands of roses and hydrangeas into the sea as an offering to the ocean goddess Iemanjá.

Beyond the festivities, the National Museum of Afro-Brazilian Culture preserves newly repatriated art and artifacts from the United States—it’s recently added more than 750 paintings, woodcuts, and sculptures by Afro-Brazilian artists to its collection. Travelers can also explore Salvador’s African heritage through its food. Salvador’s iconic street food is acarajé, a bean-and-seafood fritter also used as a ritual offering in Candomblé. Now new restaurants are reimagining traditional Afro-Brazilian dishes in contemporary ways. For example, Manga’s duck three ways dish is served (in one way) on a bed of feathers and inspired by Candomblé ritual foods. Finally, for sports fans, Salvador will be one of the host cities for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, extending the fever pitch of excitement after the 2026 men’s soccer championship in North America. —Daniel Stables

Ready to experience the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture? Learn about capoeira, the Candomblé religion, and more in our destination spotlight.  

Why go: A wild new national park opens at the southernmost tip of South America

When Charles Darwin sailed the Strait of Magellan in 1834, he called the rugged Chilean coast a “scene of desolation.” But one person’s desolation is another person’s paradise, and that untouched wildness that unnerved Darwin is why Cape Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America, is set to become the 19th park in Patagonia’s 1,700-mile Route of Parks by the end of 2027.

This land is and will remain untamed. Rewilding Chile, the group that donated the land to the federal government, has a five-year vision for adding campsites, bathrooms, a shelter at the Cruz de los Mares—the hilltop monument at the continent’s tip—and clearly marked trails, largely clustered between the entrance and Bahía Águila, a bay used for whaling in the early 1900s. The rest of Cape Froward remains undeveloped.

But a rugged adventure here doesn’t rely on additional infrastructure. From Punta Arenas, drive 43 miles south on Route 9 to Punta Árbol to reach a 24-mile footpath along the reserve’s eastern coastline. Visitors can day-hike through the southernmost territory, where huemul deer roam, to the San Isidro Lighthouse and Museum to learn about the region’s history in whaling and the native Kawésqar people—or follow in Darwin’s footsteps and climb more than 2,500 feet to the top of Mount Tarn.

To traverse the entire path, book a five-day tour to go wild camping in sub-Antarctic forests (and wading into three rivers) to reach Cruz de los Mares. Also consider a three-day ocean kayaking trip from San Isidro to the end of the continent, or a catamaran tour around the cape to a humpback feeding ground. —Alexandra Gillespie

Be among the first to visit Cape Froward. Our destination spotlight will help you plan a backpacking adventure, sea tour, or day hike.

Why go: A new Museo Reina Sofía outpost fuels a Cantabrian cultural renaissance

Set along Spain’s northern coast, between Asturias and Basque Country, Cantabria is often overlooked. But the opening of two world-class art museums in Cantabria’s capital city, Santander, is poised to change that.

As of September 2026, the port city officially became the new home of the global bank Faro Santander’s impressive art collection, more than a thousand pieces that include the panel painting “The Preaching of St. John the Baptist” by Lucas Cranach the Elder, “Samson and the Lion” by Peter Paul Rubens, and works by Titian, El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. The collection is displayed in a neoclassical building facing the Bay of Santander, reimagined as a 21st-century museum by Pritzker Prize-winning British architect David Chipperfield.

In 2027, Madrid’s prestigious Museo Reina Sofia—home to one of Spain’s finest collections of 20th- and 21st-century art—also opens an outpost in Santander. The museum, in another repurposed 18th-century building, will house the Archivo Lafuente archive, a collection containing 138,000 paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and books on avant-garde movements like Dadaism and historical events like the Spanish Civil War, as well as works by artists from Spain, Latin America, and North America.

Also in 2027, Santander’s Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology will move its 2,600 artifacts—including Paleolithic hunting tools with animal engravings, Iron Age carvings, and a Medieval ivory belt brooch—to a new, $56 million home. Spanning nearly 120,000 square feet, the steel-and-glass space was designed to evoke archaeological strata by Barcelona-based architectural firm Mendoza Partida.

Until now, Santander has been a popular vacation destination primarily for Spaniards, drawn to the city’s wide sandy beaches, like El Sardinero, and excellent fresh seafood. Rabas, crispy fried squid strips, are a local specialty, and Restaurant Los Peñucas in the Barrio Pesquero is one of the best places to try them. But the arrival of the new museums will place this northern port city firmly on the world’s cultural stage. —Eddi Fiegel

Our Santander destination spotlight is your ticket to exploring this easygoing beachfront city turned global art hub. 

Why go: A celebration a millennium in the making is set among landscapes the Impressionists adored

Normandy captivates travelers with its Gothic cathedrals, seaside resorts, and rolling green pastures speckled with thatched houses. But William the Conqueror made the place pivotal to European history. Born in 1027, William led the cross-Channel conquest of England, recounted in dramatic detail in the embroidered scenes of the Bayeux Tapestry, one of medieval Europe’s most famed works of art.

A thousand years later, the Normandy region is pulling out all the stops for a culture-packed birthday bash called Millenium 2027: European Year of the Normans. With more than a thousand events planned throughout the year—concerts, medieval feasts, theatrical street performances, and more—it’s a chance to embrace Norman joie de vivre while admiring carefully preserved heritage sites.

The party kicks off in February in Caen with a sound-and-light show at the Abbaye aux Dames. The stunning Romanesque abbey is part of the triumvirate of Caen landmarks constructed by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders. In the Abbaye aux Hommes, pay your respects at his tomb (only his thigh bone remains) and learn about the building’s World War II role as a hospital. Lording over it all, the colossal Château de Caen, encircled by ramparts, shows off a new landscaped park and visitors center after a restoration.

In a major Millennium initiative, the Bayeux Tapestry’s “missing scene”—William the Conqueror’s coronation—finally sees the light of day. Contemporary artist Hélène Delprat designed the tableau, woven into a 269-square-foot work by the Atelier Guillot in Aubusson and set to be displayed at the Château de Falaise. The UNESCO-listed tapestry is currently on display at the British Museum, its first ever loan to England. At the same time, its namesake, the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, is undergoing renovation and expansion, expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The celebration leans into spectacle in June with a flotilla of up to 40 Viking-style ships sailing from estuary to estuary along the Normandy coast. An homage to the region’s Viking founders and William’s ancestors, who gave their name “Northmen” to Normandy, the ship gathering will be a festive opportunity for spectators to participate in tours, activities, and educational events.

Of course, Normandy’s rich history encompasses more than William’s epic feat, with the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel and moving D-Day monuments lining the coast. The cuisine is famously decadent in the butter capital of France, and the landscape is as inspiring as when Claude Monet and other Impressionist painters depicted it in the 19th century: dramatic white-chalk coastal cliffs, fishing villages of half-timber houses, and the sinuous loops of the Seine River. —Mary Winston Nicklin

Don’t miss Normandy’s millennial birthday bash. See our tips on when and where to visit, from the gardens that inspired the Impressionists to the world’s most famous island abbey.

Why go: America’s heartland surprises with unexpected outdoor adventures

Over millions of years, the flow of water across what’s now the southern Ozarks carved out a spectacular array of bluffs, valleys, and ridgelines. Today the rugged landscape straddling Arkansas and Missouri (and a bit of Oklahoma) is a haven for outdoor adventures and immersive cultural activities.

Art aficionados should prioritize a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum, which houses one of the country’s most significant collections of American art, recently added more than 100,000 square feet of new galleries, dining areas, art-making studios, and landscaped grounds, plus a plaza with a splash pad and a playground for kids.

Trail enthusiasts flock to Bella Vista, near Bentonville, the (credibly) self-proclaimed mountain biking capital of the world. The brand-new OZ Trails Bike Park is Arkansas’s first chairlift-served mountain bike park, where adrenaline seekers—and their bikes—ride the lifts to access some 20 miles of heart-pumping gravity trails for all levels. Its downhill trails operate like ski runs, dropping about 300 feet in elevation from the chairlift’s top terminal to its base.

Also new in Bentonville, the 8th Street Gateway Park is a 98-acre oasis with six miles of beginner mountain bike trails, nearly six more miles of paved greenways, and a skate park designed by the same team behind the park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. There’s also a playground, a great lawn, and often a phalanx of food trucks. A new hotel, the Compton, makes a fitting base, with a dedicated cycling concierge, a bike valet offering post-ride towels, and foam rollers in every room. The bike park’s phased opening wraps up in November 2026.

A 60-mile drive across the Missouri border brings travelers to Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. Here, the Ozarks’ limestone cliffs and valleys unfold across 10,000 acres, where herds of elk, bison, and longhorn cattle roam, and visitors hike and bike a vast network of trails, some of which pass millennia-old burial grounds.

To the east, Ridgedale, Missouri’s lakefront Big Cedar Lodge is like a year-round summer camp for families. The property includes the 20,000-seat Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, which has hosted performers such as the Rolling Stones and Morgan Wallen, set against a backdrop of rolling Ozark hills. And at the Top of the Rock preserve, a golf cart tour follows a paved route past dramatic rock formations, through covered bridges, and into caves full of bats. —Emily Hochberg

Plan an Ozarks trip with our adventure getaway guide to the region’s biking trails and spots to admire free-roaming bison and elk. 

Why go: The provincial capital is at the center of Atlantic Canada’s heritage revival

To the Mi’kmaw people, Halifax is known as Kjipuktuk, meaning “great harbor.” True to its name, the city now embraces a dynamic mix of Indigenous, European, African, and other traditions, which visitors can discover through cultural centers, historic sites, and guided tours.

Opening downtown in 2027, Wije’winen/Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre was designed as a place for community, dialogue, and learning. “Mi’kmaw has been here for over 10,000 years,” says executive director Pam Glode-Desrochers. “This is our homeland and [we] want to educate people on who we are.”

The 75,000-square-foot building references Mi’kmaw motifs in its architecture—a drum-shaped event space, a facade that evokes a quill box. Visitors can learn how to cook traditional foods like bannock bread or participate in a smudging ceremony. On the grounds, guides lead medicine walks, pointing out sweetgrass and other native plantings used in healing.

African heritage in Canada has its roots in Nova Scotia, beginning with Black Loyalists who arrived after the American Revolution. Ayomikun Bus Charters, founded by seventh-generation Nova Scotian Kevin Brooks, explores that legacy in Halifax through tours that stop at Africville, once a thriving community that dated back to at least 1848, now a UNESCO-designated Place of History and Memory.

Even more heritage stories unwind from the harbor at historic Pier 21. Some one million immigrants arrived there between 1928 and 1971. It now houses the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, which shares how French, English, Dutch, Irish, and others have left their mark on Kjipuktuk and shaped Canadian identity. —Amy Alipio

Learn more about visiting the Wije’winen/Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, climbing a historic hilltop fortress, and experiencing the one-of-a-kind Africville Museum. 

Why go: An ambitious long-distance hiking trail offers new ways of exploring Armenia’s wilder corners

The Armenian high country is defined by striking volcanic massifs and lush alpine valleys, with medieval monasteries and Silk Road caravansaries tucked in among the peaks. It’s not an easy landscape to travel, but new developments along the Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) make the landlocked Caucasus nation more inviting than ever to explore with a pair of hiking boots.

Evolving since 2015, the TCT consists of old shepherds’ roads and once overgrown footpaths restored by volunteer crews throughout the Caucasus. The trail links Armenia and Georgia—with plans to extend into Azerbaijan—and will eventually span roughly 1,900 miles. The Armenian section stretches more than 500 miles, from Meghri in the south to Lake Arpi in the north.

Hiking the TCT remains a rugged experience, but ongoing updates are making treks more accessible. Trail improvements, updated signage, and new camps are making it easier to climb Mount Azhdahak—the highest point in the Gegham Mountains—explore the wine regions of Vayots Dzor, hike the river gorges of Lori, and visit remote communities like Old Martiros, where guests can book homestays and learn to cook foods foraged along their trek. Experienced trail experts tailor customizable itineraries that hikers of all levels can book, including preplanned routes and the option to transfer luggage between homestays and camps. With help from new downloadable maps compatible with popular hiking apps, hikers can follow these itineraries on their own without a guide.

Last summer saw the launch of the first sections of the Armenian National Trail (ANT), which are now open for hiking and intersect the TCT at several points. The ANT, which will be approximately 600 miles when complete, differs from the TCT in that it’s exclusive to Armenia and specifically connects rural villages. Collectively, these developments are transforming the country into one of Asia’s most exciting hiking destinations. —Alicia Erickson

See Armenia’s dramatic landscapes, volcanic peaks, and Silk Road-era guesthouses with trip-planning advice from our destination spotlight.

Why go: A famously livable city gets even more inviting

Melbourne checks all the boxes of a great global city: Its arts scene is happening, its roster of great sports teams and venues is crowded, and its neighborhoods are vibrant and distinct. And the culinary scene? Incredibly diverse. Successive waves of migration since the 1800s have turned Melbourne into a city where travelers never need to eat the same cuisine twice.

On Smith Street alone—a historic commercial strip north of the city center—you can travel the world through the city’s diverse cuisine, from sizzling Korean BBQ and Ethiopian stew to Filipino noodles and Italian cannoli. Another place to taste it all is the landmark Queen Victoria Market, a temple to gastronomy with over 600 vendors that’s been keeping the city well fed since 1878. The market’s car park is set to become an ideal spot for a picnic when it is transformed into 2.4 acres of gardens next year.

The gardens are part of a fast-tracked $17.8 million plan to “green” Melbourne with a dozen new pocket parks and expanded reserves, including converting a Kensington warehouse into a community green space and planting dozens of native trees along the Yarra River to create a leafy corridor through the city from Birrarung Marr to Docklands.

Sydney has long attracted more visitors, but Melbourne is increasingly earning the spotlight. The waterfront Docklands district will host eight matches during the Rugby World Cup next October, putting Melbourne on the global sports stage.

For travelers who prefer birdsong over the roar of the stadium, the Great Victorian Bathing Trail will welcome two additional stops—Apostles and Phillip Island—in 2027. The 560-mile coastal road trip stretches east and west from Melbourne, visiting a collection of hot springs and sea baths across the width of Victoria. A two-hour drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island will unveil open-air saltwater baths opposite the island’s sandy beaches in late 2026, giving travelers an extra reason to visit the island’s resident little penguins, which are famous for parading by the thousands each night as they return from the sea to their burrows.

The 12 Apostles Hot Springs and Resort is expected to open in 2027, overlooking the dramatic serrated limestone stacks jutting out of the sea along the southwest coast. The 12 Apostles are the main feature of the Great Ocean Road, a popular 150-mile road trip east from Melbourne that visits storied shipwrecks, rainforests, and coastal towns. A motel revival is underway along the route, with once tired roadside accommodations like Surf Hotel and Sunnymead Hotel being converted into swish coastal stays. —Justin Meneguzzi

Learn how to explore this Australian city, from the Aboriginal heritage walk at the botanical gardens to the iconic Great Ocean Road. 

Why go: For an epic musical getaway, visit Germany’s fastest growing city

Music has shaped Leipzig’s identity for 800 years. The city was home to some of the world’s most significant composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, and Richard Wagner. Their legacy can still be heard across the city today, in grand opera and orchestral halls, in jazz clubs, and on street corners.

In 2027, Leipzig pays homage to its musicians with several milestone events. The city is expanding its existing 3.3-mile Music Trail with a second 4.5-mile loop that includes landmarks such as Gustav Mahler’s residence and the campus that’s home to the 800-year-old St. Thomas Choir. A Beethoven Festival in May commemorates the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death, and Leipzig’s annual Bachfest, in June, celebrates the 300th anniversary of the master’s transcendent oratorio St. Matthew Passion. The annual Mendelssohn Festival, in November, features orchestral, vocal, and operatic performances by some of the world’s most preeminent musicians. For contemporary music lovers, Leipzig’s jazz scene is among Europe’s most vibrant, as are its indie music and its creative fusion. Find unconventional pairings—a classical pianist with spoken-word artists, say, or a pipe organ and electric guitar duo—in venues as varied as the Spizz jazz club and the Thomaskirche, the church where Bach was once choirmaster.

Looking for more than music? Leipzig’s architecturally stunning Museum of Fine Arts packs a punch with its large collection of 17th-century Dutch Old Masters and a significant variety of works by Lucas Cranach. Half an hour’s tram ride away, the Karl Heine Canal draws paddlers to its graceful bridges and waterside restaurants, and downtown, Auerbachs Keller once served its superb sauerbraten and wild boar with dumplings to the likes of Goethe, who set a portion of his masterwork Faust in the restaurant’s now 500-year-old dining room. —Amy S. Eckert

Are you a music lover ready to visit one of Leipzig’s many festivals? See our destination spotlight for tips on when to visit, where to shop, and where to eat. 

Why go: History shines anew in the birthplace of the American railroad

A compact city of vibrant neighborhoods and a gateway to the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore also proudly wears its outsize role in U.S. history. Among its big moments: chartering the nation’s first commercial railroad in 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio, or B&O. To mark the bicentennial of American railroading, the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation is debuting a $38 million upgrade, turning a niche repository for train buffs (until last summer it was called the B&O Railroad Museum) into a broader and livelier exploration of how railroads have transformed American life.

Complementing the museum’s soaring 22-sided roundhouse, its exhibit on the B&O’s surprising role in the Underground Railroad, and its deep collection of vintage equipment, a restored 33,000-square-foot building opens to the public for the first time in early 2027. In what was once the country’s oldest continuously operating railroad repair facility, the museum is unveiling archival treasures, such as letters from President Lincoln, and immersive exhibits on current and future railroad technology. An outdoor amphitheater, opening in December 2026, will host concerts and events to celebrate the bicentennial.

New investment is bringing fresh energy to other history-rich spots around town, building on Baltimore’s deep sense of community and ties to the water. Lexington Market, established in 1782, is the jewel of the city’s neighborhood-based public markets. It was recently rehoused in a bright, modern hall adorned with work by local artists. Dozens of merchants—including Faidley’s Seafood, family-owned for 140 years and still serving its fabled crab cakes—offer produce, baked goods, and prepared foods.

At the bustling Inner Harbor, home to attractions like the National Aquarium and the 1854 U.S.S. Constellation warship, a new promenade full of pocket parks, retail, and restaurants is replacing an aging mall. Also along the waterfront, the gradual redevelopment of the Baltimore Peninsula neighborhood, anchored by Sagamore Spirit whiskey distillery, has brought green spaces and restaurants like Nick’s Fish House (home to the city’s best steamed crabs) to a former industrial area. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Blueway has launched a network of kayaking trails—an active, eco-friendly way to explore waterfront landmarks across 20 miles.

Some historic sites are better left in their old glory. For panoramic views of Charm City and its aquatic surroundings, head to Fort McHenry, the 1798 bastion whose successful defense inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” —Brooke Sabin

See our guide to what not to miss in Baltimore for rail buffs, sports nuts, art lovers, and more.

Why go: Africa’s best-kept secret offers thrilling nature experiences without the crowds

As the classic safari circuit grows ever more crowded, compact Malawi offers a quieter path into the wild. The landlocked East African country hasn’t always been a nature-travel destination, but in recent years, government initiatives and conservation organizations such as African Parks have been laying the foundation to restore habitats and strengthen tourism infrastructure.

Travelers are seeing the results in Malawi’s top wildlife regions, Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, both of which are now home to the so-called big five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and African buffalo. Game drives in both areas make it easy to spot vast populations of birds and antelope, such as slender-bodied nyalas and sable antelope, with their scythelike horns, roam the woodlands and grasslands.

This renewal has a trickle effect, bringing fresh attention to Malawi’s other natural assets. The country’s namesake lake adds an extra dimension to a safari, with its sandy shores creating a peaceful, picturesque backdrop for kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling. Then there’s Mount Mulanje. A World Heritage site, this 9,849-foot inselberg (that’s an isolated mountain) is one of the world’s largest, and those who hike it are rewarded with views of untouched highland wilderness. Trails, varying from moderate to challenging, take between three hours and three days to complete, with camping along the way. Expert guides navigate the dramatic granite peaks, waterfalls, and forests while telling the story of the mountain’s connection to the Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe peoples, who have inhabited the area for centuries and believe the mountain is the dwelling place of their ancestral spirits. —Emma Gregg

Get more tips on how to see the big five in Malawi, plus details on its least crowded beaches and most exhilarating trails. 

Why go: Community-led adventures fuel one of Mexico’s most authentic Caribbean escapes

Tucked in the heart of Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, south of the resort-dense Riviera Maya, the Maya Ka’an region is home to 78 Indigenous Maya communities who have long watched over pristine jungles and turquoise lagoon systems. Visitors come to spot birds and wildlife in one of the most protected biospheres in Mexico, swim in secluded cenotes, and engage in deeply restorative tourism based on community-ownership and conservation-driven initiatives. 

In a place often defined by mass tourism, Maya Ka’an unites wilderness and living Indigenous culture. And it’s getting easier to reach: A renovated road network and the recently completed Tren Maya, the 900-mile passenger railway circling the Yucatan Peninsula, now link Maya Ka’an directly to international gateways of Cancún and Tulum.

Start in the city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where homestays are common. Learn Maya motif embroidery at Lol-Chuy in the town of X-pichil, and swim in the mirrorlike waters of the Síjil Noh Há lagoon system. In Señor, join local farmers on a guided trek through the fields to learn regenerative intercropping practices and taste traditional dishes such as sikil pak (a rich, toasted pumpkin seed dip with roasted tomatoes and habanero), chiltomate (charred tomato-and-chili salsa), and heirloom corn tortillas cooked over wood-fired hearths. In the jungle at Chunhuhub, sleep in thatched-roof forest cabañas and hike along shaded trails with local experts to unlock the secrets of medicinal rainforest plants, while directly supporting the community’s work toward carbon-neutral forestry, organic farming, and the protection of at-risk tropical hardwood species. In historic Tihosuco, stand in the shadow of a partly destroyed colonial church to hear living oral histories of the Caste War straight from community members. 

Within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, kayak on the turquoise waters of Muyil Lagoon at sunrise to watch jabiru storks and herons in the mangroves, and nearby, in Punta Allen, embark on a marine safari to spot dolphins and sea turtles, or snorkel the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef with community-led stewards. At Much Kanan K’aax Reserve, soak in views of the lagoon from a wooden observation tower and, if you’re lucky, hear howler monkeys echoing through the trees. —Sucheta Rawal

Plan your visit to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the Cave of the Hanging Snakes, and one of the oldest towns in Quintana Roo.

Why go: Find revitalized waterfronts and bold Baltic flavors in this trio of coastal cities on the rise

On Poland’s Baltic coast, the three neighboring cities of Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia—collectively known as Tricity—combine centuries of maritime history with one of Poland’s most dynamic cultural and culinary scenes. The sea shapes each city’s distinct character, and each represents a different chapter in the country’s relationship with the Baltic. Gdańsk grew wealthy in the 16th and early 17th centuries as a major Hanseatic trading port; elegant Sopot developed into a fashionable seaside resort; and modernist Gdynia was built almost from scratch during the interwar period, a symbol of Poland’s renewed independence and maritime ambition. In July 2026, Gdynia Modernist City Centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which recognized its exceptionally coherent urban plan and architecture as a landmark example of 20th-century modernism.

In 2027, Gdynia hosts the main multi-class regatta of the World Sailing Championships, adding a major international event to an already busy cultural calendar across the three cities. Gdańsk’s St. Dominic’s Fair has medieval roots and fills the historic center with artisans, food, concerts, and performances, while the city’s Shakespeare Festival brings international theater companies to the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, built on the site of a 17th-century playhouse. Sopot, meanwhile, hosts the Literacki Sopot book festival, and Gdynia celebrates exploration at Kolosy, Poland’s annual gathering of travelers, sailors, and mountaineers, featuring presentations, films, and exhibitions.

These cities’ historical legacies aren’t static, of course. In Gdańsk, former shipyard buildings, warehouses, and waterfront spaces have been transformed into galleries, restaurants, craft breweries, and music venues. The historic Gdańsk Shipyard—the birthplace of the Solidarity movement—remains a powerful site of political memory even as parts of the surrounding area evolve into an energetic postindustrial cultural district.

A similar spirit of reinvention is transforming the region’s food. Local chefs are returning to traditional Kashubian cuisine, using Baltic fish, local produce, and techniques such as smoking, pickling, and fermentation. Travelers can sample classic coastal cooking at the more than a century old Kubicki restaurant in Gdańsk, refined family recipes at Fisherman in Sopot, and Kashubian-inspired tasting menus at Gdynia’s Biały Królik. —Lukasz Zaluski

Discover our favorite things to do in the Baltic cities of Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia in our destination spotlight on Poland’s Tricity region. 

Why go: The Machu Picchu of the north offers one of South America’s last great archaeological adventures

Northern Peru’s Chachapoya people built Kuélap, a citadel in the cloud forests, around A.D. 500 It became the base of their resistance against Inca rule in the mid-1400s, helping earn them the moniker “warriors of the clouds.” In 2027, the most fascinating finds from an ongoing conservation project will become accessible to the public thanks to new exhibits and trails that access unexcavated ruins.

An hour’s drive from Chachapoyas, in the village of Nuevo Tingo, a cable car provides transport to Kuélap, where an interpretive center highlights archaeological finds, including a replica of a recently discovered tomb that contained the remains of five people. Archaeologists continue to analyze the skeletons and artifacts, and visitors can see some of their discoveries, including a llama bone carved to look like a human face beneath a Chachapoyan headdress.

A new trail set to open in June reaches a section of the Malcapampa ruins, a formerly inaccessible area where visitors can watch archaeologists at work. About a mile beyond, the fortress’s impressive, 55-foot-high south wall is freshly restored after a collapse in 2022. Human bones have been found at the Templo Mayor, built above the south wall. The overhauled complex offers a glimpse of a little-understood civilization, including at a pre-Inca temple where Chachapoya rituals were likely held.

Hikes beyond Kuélap lead to sites that offer glimpses of the Chachapoya people’s fascinating human-shaped sarcophagi, perched high on cliffsides and still containing mummies. —Heather Jasper

An archaeological adventure awaits in Kuélap. See our guide to wandering its incredible historic sites, spotting wildlife, and finding the region’s most impressive waterfalls.

Why go: A surprisingly unspoiled outpost a stone’s throw from L.A. is this year’s Readers’ Choice winner 

It takes all of an hour on a ferry from Long Beach, California to reach Readers’ Choice Best of the World winner Catalina Island, where a surprising Los Angeles County itinerary awaits: Adventurous visitors can hike wild ridgelines, watch for roving bison, and spot dozens of plant and animal species found no place else on Earth.

“We are as unique as the Galapagos Islands, and we're just 22 miles across the channel from L.A.,” says Pepe Barton, communications director for the Catalina Island Conservancy, which protects almost 90 percent of the roughly 48,000-acre island. That includes 165 miles of trails and little-trafficked jeep roads, which thread the island’s rugged interior, along with pocket beaches accessible by shuttle. Watch for Catalina’s tiny native foxes along the 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail, which winds over hills of chaparral and coastal sage scrub. (The bison, needless to say, aren’t endemic but descended from a herd imported by a 1920s Hollywood production.) Shorter treks include the Garden to Sky Trail, reaching a dramatic ocean overlook from the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, a showcase for rare island flora.

Most visitors to the island don’t stray far from Avalon, a throwback resort town full of golf carts and ice-cream parlors. The Pavilion Hotel, a 1958 waterfront lodge, has just reopened after a renovation that emphasizes its midcentury roots. Its leafy courtyard and fire pit beckon after long days on the trail—as might a frosty buffalo milk, Catalina’s potent and ubiquitous dessert cocktail. —Brian Kevin