Top 5 Trendiest Destinations For 2026 According To Experts

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If you're a frequent traveler who spends half their time looking for flight deals online, chances are you've used Skyscanner at some point.

Along with Google Flights, it is perhaps the most popular platform for tracking the cheapest route in the market, especially because airlines aren't particularly known for displaying the most attractive fare on their official websites.

Other than helping you get to your destination while paying (far) less, Skyscanner has also recently looked at data from thousands of flight searches on their page, between January 1 and June 30, 2025, to establish the top trending travel destinations going into the upcoming year.

Let's just say, if you're expecting to find tourism darlings like Paris, London, Tokyo, and Bangkok on there, you're in for a surprise—this time, it's the lesser-known gems that are stealing the limelight:

Zadar, Croatia

Boasting the most beautiful sunset in the world, as attested by none other than Alfred Hitchcock himself, Zadar will feel like a breath of fresh air on your trip to Croatia after stopping by the jam-packed Dubrovnik and the party-centric Split.

It's still relatively lesser-known, but you should definitely make plans to check it off the list urgently ahead of the expected crowds in 2026: searches are up 72% year-on-year (YOY).

Zadar is highly sought-after for its beautiful Adriatic coastline and peaceful pebbly beaches, but it's equally popular for its Roman heritage: the Old Town, surrounded by Venetian-era walls, is still criss-crossed by Roman streets and alleyways.

The centerpiece of town is the St. Donatus Church, a rare example of a round, pre-Romanesque church erected as early as the 9th century, and it lies right next to a ruined Roman Forum, where remnants of pagan temples and columns can still be seen.

If you want to see something truly unique, however, make sure you add the Sea Organ to your list: this series of marble steps leading to the sea has in-built pipes and channels that create harmonic sounds when the waves pass through—and it's the perfect site for catching that blood-orange Dalmatian sunset.

Madeira, Portugal

A lush volcanic island off the coast of West Africa, that's an integral part of Portugal nonetheless, Madeira is oftentimes dubbed the ‘Hawaii of Europe‘, and it's seen a 78% year-on-year increase in flight searches recently:

Having been to Madeira ourselves for a digital nomad retreat, we can't say we're surprised: picture towering mist-enveloped peaks, deep valleys, ancient forests sprinkled with pristine waterfalls, and of course, a dramatic coastline.

Funchal, the charming capital of Madeira, is a vibrant city best known for its Portuguese colonial architecture and lively street markets, but the island's true charm lies in its unspoiled nature and quaint coastal villages.

There's nowhere better to take in Madeira's wilderness than village-hopping on the rugged north coast, going on a levada trail—tourist-friendly footpaths through the jungle following the course of winding streams—or hiking up to Pico Ruivo to catch the sunrise over the mountainous scenery.

Bodrum, Turkey

Forget Istanbul and Antalya: if you're heading to Turkey in 2026, the trendy resort town of Bodrum should be your first port of call.

Up in searches by 85 percent YOY, this laid-back city offers scenic beaches straddling a crystal-clear Aegean Sea, historic sites dating back millennia, and affordable all-inclusive resorts for only a small fraction of the France and Italy rates.

The Old Town, an ecosystem of narrow cobble-paved alleys framed by bougainvillea, and centered around a yacht-littered marina, has its own share of manmade wonders, with the medieval Castle of St. Peter and the City Walls to name a couple.

The family-friendly Bitez Beach, within walking distance of the Old Town, has lots of cafes and seafood restaurants along the shoreline, though if it's a taste of Bodrum's epic nightlife you're craving, it's Gumbet Beach should be high on your list.

For the culture buffs out there, Bodrum is also home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the (now-ruined) Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, on the edge of the historic center, and it costs around $3 to visit.

Jaipur, India

Expected to see a surge in tourism in the coming year following a 107 percent increase in Skyscanner searches, Jaipur is nicknamed the ‘Pink City' of India, and it's a major cultural spot packed with opulent palaces, imperial gardens, and stately buildings.

The number one attraction here is the 18th-century Palace of the Winds, built with a rose-colored, honeycombed facade, dotted with balconies, so that the women of higher castes who resided in it could watch life unfold at their feet without mingling with the pleb.

Perched on a hilltop above the urban sprawl, the Amber Fort is not to be missed, either: a maze of interconnecting villas, gardens, and postcard-ready squares centered around ornate fountains, it's one of India's most beautiful architectural complexes.

Aside from the pomp of it all, Jaipur's main appeal is its labyrinthine historic center, with centuries-old houses painted in various shades of pink, and bustling bazaars where you can both sample the rich Rajasthani cuisine and browse souvenirs.

Limón, Costa Rica

The trendiest destination for 2026, Limón is a laid-back beach city in Costa Rica. It's seen a record-breaking 286 percent increase in searches YOY, so we'd suggest you get there quickly before it gets as crowded as the other Caribbean hotspots.

The cultural heart of the country's Afro-Caribbean community, it's famous for its plethora of reggae and calypso bars, colorful festivals, and traditional cantinas serving soulful food—if you like rice, beans, and plantains, you've come to the right place.

Not only is Limón Costa Rica's largest Caribbean port, making it a strategic trade and shipping hub, it serves as a gateway to the region's tropical nature.

It's a short drive away from beautiful beaches, like Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, rainforests, untouched reserves inhabited by rare wildlife, and the canal-traversed Tortuguero National Park, a nesting hotspot for green sea turtles.

Must-Have Traveler Tools For Going Abroad In 2026

If you haven't traveled internationally in a while, you should know it's a very different world right now than it was 4 or 5 years ago, when countries were reopening for tourism and welcoming Americans with open arms.

Between complex geopolitical conflicts across Europe and the Middle East and the tightening visa requirements affecting U.S. passport holders, planning well in advance of a trip is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises down the line.

That's why we've launched a bunch of new free-to-use traveler tools recently:

• Travel Advisory Checker: use it to check all the latest safety advice applicable at your destination
• Entry Requirement Checker: latest information on visas or ETAs applying to American citizens
• 1-Minute Trip Check: the one checklist you need before heading to the airport