Do you like to travel? Where have you been that you’ve loved? Where have you always wanted to go?
Each year, The New York Times’s Travel section publishes a list of “52 Places to Go.” Here are a few of the destinations that the editors suggest visiting in 2026:
Okinawa, Japan
A singularly spectacular castle reopens after a devastating fire
For centuries, Okinawa’s dazzling Shuri Castle was the seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom, whose territory included this 463-square-mile island about halfway between Taiwan and the rest of Japan. Distinct from other such buildings because of its vibrant red color, the hilltop citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site originally dating to the 13th century, is set to reopen in the fall after years of painstaking reconstruction using traditional methods, after a catastrophic fire in 2019. Visitors who can’t wait till autumn to get to Okinawa, a corner of Japan famous for its tropical climate and white-sand beaches, can catch the Ryukyu Lantern Festival, in which more than 3,000 lanterns illuminate a recreated historical town (through March 31) and the Ie Island Lily Festival (late April to early May), which features fields of fragrant flowers, including Easter lilies, on a small neighboring island.
Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
Hike a cross-country trail past turquoise lakes and jagged cliffs
This year, a spectacular path long known to shepherds and the ghosts of the old Silk Road welcomes hikers for its first full season after the final 600-mile section opened late last summer. The 1,243-mile Kyrgyz Nomad Trail crosses Kyrgyzstan in an east-west direction, winding through the rugged Tien Shan Mountains and along small villages and seasonal yurt camps. Attractions include glaciers; Kel Suu, a turquoise lake ringed by jagged cliffs; Tash Rabat, a preserved 15th-century caravansary; and Saimaluu Tash, a remote alpine valley featuring a large collection of petroglyphs. The time to go is June through September, when high passes and mountain lakes are not buried in snow. Independent hikers can fly into Bishkek, the capital, and arrange transportation to the trailhead. Intrepid Travel offers a 10-day guided tour, and Kyrgyzstan-based companies like Ak-Sai Travel and Nomad’s Land can arrange custom hikes.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A haven for both white and black rhinos expands its access
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northeastern Tanzania spanning highland plains, savanna landscapes, woodlands and forests, has long drawn travelers to its spectacular crater, the world’s largest unbroken caldera, born from an ancient volcanic collapse. In March 2025, 17 southern white rhinos arrived from South Africa, part of efforts to expand the species’ range. For now, the rhinos remain in a temporary enclosure visible from the crater’s rim as they adjust to their new home, though they’ll eventually roam free in the crater, joining the black rhinos — as well as the lions, elephants, hippos, buffalo and flamingos — that already make the area their home. And new lodges are expanding access to the conservation area. Lemala recently opened Osonjoi Lodge, a solar-powered property with sweeping views, on the crater’s eastern rim. And the Naserian Safari Camp from Acacia Collections offers 10 rooms and electric vehicles to explore the broader conservation area.
Route 66
Celebrate the centennial of a storied highway
In 2026, America’s numbered highway system and one of its first darlings, Route 66, both turn 100. Sites along the route, which starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, Calif., are hosting celebrations, including a nine-day vintage car rally that will travel from Illinois to California in June. The centennial is a reason to visit places that characterize the route’s adventurous spirit. Drive the Sidewinder, a stretch of 191 hairpin curves outside Oatman, Ariz., where the Black Mountains spill into the desert. See outsider art like the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., whose new visitor’s center will open in April. Stay at the revamped Hotel El Rancho in Gallup, N.M., where stars like Katharine Hepburn and Gregory Peck stayed. Or swap your car for a bike and explore parts of Bicycle Route 66, like the rolling section between St. Louis and Springfield, Mo., where cycling organizations have turned pieces of the original road into bike trails.
Students, explore the entire article and its photos, and then tell us:
-
An eclipse, a revolution and a tiger reserve: Which of the 52 places featured in the Times article seem most appealing to you? Why?
-
What is your dream travel destination? Where in the world would you most like to visit if you didn’t have to worry about money?
-
Where is the best place you’ve ever traveled, whether halfway around the globe or in a neighboring town or state? Why?
-
Do you enjoy traveling? Why or why not?
-
What qualities do you think might be important to prioritize when choosing a travel destination? Would you be more excited by cities or nature? Adventure or relaxation? New places or familiar ones? Are there events you’ve always wanted to experience in person, sites you’ve wanted to see, activities you’ve wanted to try or foods you’ve wanted to taste?
-
Are there any destinations that did not make The Times’s list that you would recommend? If so, what are they — and why do you think people should visit them?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
Jeremy Engle is an editor of The Learning Network who worked in teaching for more than 20 years before joining The Times.
The post Where in the World Would You Most Like to Travel? appeared first on New York Times.
