Kate Webster Lonely Planet has lifted the lid on its ‘Best in Travel 2026’, spotlighting 25 places and 25 experiences to inspire next year’s adventures.
Australia stands tall: South Australia’s Ikara–Flinders Ranges & Outback makes the Places hotlist, while Melbourne’s boundary‑pushing food scene and Victoria’s soothing Bathing Trail both feature among the Experiences.
South Australia’s outback shines
Ikara–Flinders Ranges & Outback claims a coveted spot on the global Places list, a nod to its ancient landscapes, red‑rock escarpments and wide‑open sky. It is the kind of country that invites slow travel: long drives between characterful townships, star‑splashed nights and dawn walks through rugged gorges.
Victoria serves the experiences
Two Victorian highlights land on the Experiences hotlist. Melbourne’s dining scene continues to set the pace with its eclectic mix of neighbourhood wine bars, chef‑led tasting counters and multicultural eats worth crossing the city for. Balance the feasting on the Bathing Trail, a restorative circuit of geothermal springs and contemporary bathhouses that pairs wellness with design and nature.
Global highlights to spark your 2026
This year’s picks jump from island life in Sardinia and Réunion to culture‑rich cities like Mexico City and Utrecht. On the Experiences side, imagine white‑water rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, joining the roar at a Premier League match in England, or tracking desert elephants in Namibia. There are fresh reasons to revisit favourites such as Phuket, Ireland and British Columbia, plus lesser‑known gems like the USA’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Brazil’s Liberdade district in São Paulo and Grenada’s Carnival, Spicemas.
How Lonely Planet chooses
Best in Travel brings together recommendations from Lonely Planet’s global network of writers, editors and partners. Entries reflect personal on‑the‑ground experiences, then an editorial panel curates the final collection. It’s not a ranking; rather, a jump‑in‑anywhere set of ideas for travellers to explore on their own terms.
The full Best in Travel 2026 list
Places
• Botswana
• Peru
• Jeju‑do, South Korea
• Ikara–Flinders Ranges & Outback, South Australia
• Cádiz, Spain
• Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
• Sardinia, Italy
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park, USA
• Réunion
• Tunisia
• Barbados
• Solomon Islands
• Maine, USA
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Tipperary, Ireland
• Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala
• Jaffna, Sri Lanka
• Phuket, Thailand
• Utrecht, Netherlands
• Cartagena, Colombia
• Finland
• Quy Nhon, Vietnam
• British Columbia, Canada
• Siem Reap, Cambodia
• North Island, New Zealand/Aotearoa
Experiences
• Hike and wild‑camp in Tajikistan
• Go on a cultural food tour in Old Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Stay in a train carriage, Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Visit Eileen Gray’s house, southern France
• Spend the night in a ryokan, Japan
• Track desert elephants, Namibia
• Look for jaguars in the wetlands, Iberá, Argentina
• Watch a Flying Cholitas match, Bolivia
• White‑water raft the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, USA
• Explore the Bathing Trail, Victoria, Australia
• Cruise the Mekong River, Vietnam and Cambodia
• Ride horses in the Andes Mountains, Ecuador
• Take a Creole trail ride, Louisiana, USA
• Go on a culinary tour, Kerala, India
• Attend a Premier League game, England
• Visit Willamette wine country, Oregon, USA
• Savour the exciting food scene, Melbourne, Australia
• Become a citizen scientist in the Amazon, Peru
• Party in the Caribbean, Grenada
• See the sights by bike, Batanes, Philippines
• Experience the legendary nightlife scene, Belgrade, Serbia
• Stay at Hawai‘i’s Volcano House, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, USA
• Go whale‑watching, Azores, Portugal
• Deep‑dive into street art, Bristol, England
• Go stargazing, Wairarapa, New Zealand/Aotearoa
Book it and plan it
The annual softback edition features all‑colour spreads, local advice and extended photo essays, while online you’ll find fresh photography and premium video for a selection of entries. Lonely Planet has also launched Lonely Planet Journeys, a planning service that pairs travellers with local experts and debuts with 23 trips inspired by this year’s winners.