As 2026 draws to a close, travelers are beginning to map out where they want to go next year.
To help jump-start those plans, Lonely Planet in September released its annual “Best in Travel” guide for 2027, highlighting 25 destinations chosen by its global network of writers and contributors.
The guide’s destination picks span Argentina’s mountains, Canada’s red-rock beaches, a Caribbean island, and California’s ancient redwood forests, among other places.
Here are the 25 best travel destinations featured in Lonely Planet’s annual list.
The Tweed, Australia
The Tweed region is in far northeastern New South Wales, between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.
Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking and biking.
The Veneto, Italy
Veneto, the northeastern Italian region, is far more than just Venice.
It stretches from the Prosecco Hill vineyards to the Dolomites and Lake Garda, offering visitors a bit of everything: historic cities, mountains, lakeside towns, and a top-class food and wine scene.
New Mexico, US
New Mexico offers a range of activities and sights: desert landscapes, mountain towns, ancient sites, and a mix of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures.
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province.
However, it packs in red sandstone cliffs, fishing villages, and a food scene centered on the sea. Fans of “Anne of Green Gables” can also visit the places that inspired author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel.
Bariloche, Argentina
Bariloche is a great destination to explore Patagonia’s lakes and mountains.
Located within Nahuel Huapi National Park, the city is known for its alpine scenery, outdoor activities, and chocolate shops, giving Bariloche a distinctly European feel.
Skanör-Falsterbo, Sweden
Skanör-Falsterbo is on the Falsterbo Peninsula in southwestern Skåne, dotted with beaches, cottages and beach huts.
The two towns have medieval roots and were once important centers for the herring trade, when merchants traveled from across northern Europe to take part in the annual Scania Market.
Montserrat, Caribbean
Known as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” for its Irish heritage and lush, mountainous landscape, Montserrat offers black-sand beaches, hiking trails, and a quieter alternative to neighboring islands.
The 1995 Soufrière Hills eruption and later ones buried much of the former capital, Plymouth. Visitors can tour the remains of Plymouth and learn about the volcano at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada, the former capital of Nicaragua, is filled with bright buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and churches, with the yellow Granada Cathedral serving as one of its best-known landmarks and a backdrop to the city.
Dunedin & Waitaki, New Zealand
Dunedin and the nearby Waitaki District on New Zealand’s South Island offer historic architecture, dramatic coastline, and outdoor escapes.
Tsavo East & West National Parks, Kenya
Together, Tsavo East and Tsavo West form Kenya’s largest protected area.
Travelers can spot elephant herds, zebras, giraffes, and African wild dogs roaming across the two parks.
León, Spain
Located in northwestern Spain with easy access to the Camino de Santiago, a trail that stretches across several European countries, León provides visitors with several museums to peruse, including the Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art.
History buffs can also visit the ancient Roman mining site of Las Médulas, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Panama’s Bocas del Toro is a series of islands along the Caribbean coast, making for a lively, beach-filled destination for those seeking sunshine and a relaxing vacation. Pack goggles and a snorkel: the water is crystal clear, and a coral reef lies below.
Maryland, USA
Maryland is a historic US state known for Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad and several other sites on the Network to Freedom. The state also offers a plentiful seafood cuisine, as the Chesapeake blue crab is a highly prized local delicacy.
Oman, Middle East
Oman, a country bordering the United Arab Emirates, has a rocky mountain range backdrop and a subtle skyline in Muscat, the country’s capital, that pays tribute to Omani and Islamic heritage.
Visitors can see canyons and dunes and visit traditional markets and castles across the country.
Québec, Canada
Québec, Canada, looks like it could be another European destination. French is Québec’s official language, and most residents speak it.
Quebec City, the capital of the province, is lined with cobblestone streets and historic fortress walls.
Chengdu, China
Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province, is the birthplace of the fiery Sichuan cuisine and the home of giant pandas.
Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa, located in Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is a chain of tropical islands with a culture quite different from that of Japan’s mainland.
The average annual temperature is about 73 degrees, and it is one of the world’s few “Blue Zones,” a region associated with health and longevity.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang, located in central Vietnam, is a coastal city and one of Vietnam’s largest by population.
Visitors can walk across Dragon Bridge, a dragon-shaped steel bridge over the Han River, or visit Golden Bridge in nearby Bà Nà Hills, which appears to be held up by giant hands.
Fulidhoo, Maldives
A small island in the Maldives, Fulidhoo, can be walked end to end in 30 minutes. Still, Lonely Planet recommends that travelers visit the island as both a getaway and a dive into the local culture.
Dessau, Germany
Dessau, now part of the German city of Dessau-Roßlau, became home to the Bauhaus school in 1925.
Visitors can view two UNESCO sites: the Bauhaus structures and the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, an 18th-century landscape park system. The city is located about an hour and a half away from Berlin.
Rabat, Morocco
Morocco’s Rabat is a coastal city home to a UNESCO World Heritage site and known for its blend of traditional culture and modernity.
Since it has a Mediterranean climate, the city is easy to visit year-round, and visitors can take in its architecture and tour its numerous historical sites, such as Chellah, which holds remnants of the Roman and Merinid empires.
California’s Coastal Redwoods, USA
Northern California’s coastal redwoods are home to some of the world’s tallest trees and offer plenty of outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking, biking, rafting, backpacking, birding, and more.
New Caledonia, South Pacific
New Caledonia is a French special collectivity in the South Pacific, with a cultural mix shaped by Indigenous Kanak, French, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Crystal-clear waters and coral reefs surround the archipelago, along with turtles, rays, and dolphins, making it a great destination for those seeking a relaxing beach vacation.
Gujarat, India
Gujarat, located on the western coast of India, is home to wild lions and salt flats, as well as elaborately carved mosques and shrines. The state has an archaeological history dating back more than 3,500 years — making it a fantastic place for history lovers.
Šibenik, Croatia
Šibenik is in Croatia’s Dalmatia region, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Visitors can take day trips to nearby Krka National Park or boat trips to the Kornati Islands.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post The 25 best places to visit in 2027, according to Lonely Planet appeared first on Business Insider.
