The trips worth taking in 2026

Ella is travel advisory support by travelers, for travelers. All advisors are true local insiders, sharing their honest, unbiased take on their personal favorite places around the globe.

Our advisors have already hit the ground running: so far this year they’ve been on safari in the Serengeti, explored the canals and winding streets of Venice, wandered Istanbul’s markets and tea shops, and dove deep into London’s natural wine scene. They’ve been raising families, running businesses, eating extraordinarily well — all the while picking up the kind of knowledge you only get from actually being there.

So we asked them: what are the trips worth taking in 2026?

Not the trending destinations or the places getting buzz. The ones they’d personally recommend, right now, based on everything they know.

Here are the destinations and adventures our local advisors personally recommend, right now.

First time Europe trips 🌍

Venice, Italy

The Biennale is back this May for its 61st edition, and a couple of major hotel openings (Orient Express Venezia and Airelles Venezia) are bringing incredible new energy to the city. But the real story right now is the wine bars: natural wine has completely taken off in Venice and young Venetians are behind some of the most exciting spots in the city.

Laura is a travel journalist and author of The New Roman Times; she’s traveled every inch of Italy and knows the best local restaurants and which hotels are worth it. Talk to Laura →

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has been on lists for years now, but 2026 is a different chapter. It still has everything you came for, but there’s a strong pull to local moments and culture. For a taste of that: head ten minutes from the center to Cerca da Graça, a local field with views of the castle and river where neighbors gather at sunset to throw frisbees for their dogs before walking up the hill for a glass of Oitava Colina at a craft beer bar that you won’t find in any guidebook.

Ligia moved here for university in 2002 and never left. Twenty-three years later, she knows exactly how to shape a trip around whoever you are and however long you have. Talk to Ligia →

Food + wine trips 🍷

Sicily

Sicily is one of those places that keeps revealing itself the longer you stay. The food is extraordinary, the coastline is wild, and the wine scene is having a genuine moment. Etna’s volcanic vineyards are producing reds that can hold their own against anything in Burgundy, and the tiny beach villages along the northern coast still feel untouched.

Lucy is a wine writer who extended what was supposed to be a short trip to Sicily by nearly a month because she couldn’t bring herself to leave. She knows the vineyards worth visiting, the alleyway vermouth bars, and exactly which bottle of Nerello Mascalese to order with dinner. Talk to Lucy →

Crete

Crete is big enough that you could spend two weeks and still not see all of it — but it’s equally possible to get a taste in a few days. Stone alleys in Chania, mountain villages in the east where nothing has changed in decades, ruins from Europe’s oldest city, beaches you have to hike to, and the food! There’s truly no better way to live the Greek life than a 3 hour long dinner on a warm summer evening, finished off with a complimentary glass of Raki from the waiter turned friend.

Gabi moved to Chania in 2016 and never left. She co-authored the DK Eyewitness guidebook to Crete, hosts culinary tours around the island, and has had more glasses of frappé than any person reasonably should. Talk to Gabi →

Naples + Ischia, Italy

Naples is one of those cities that rewards you for showing up without a rigid plan. World class art and architecture, edgy street art around every corner, and street food that will ruin you for pizza anywhere else. Spend a few days there and then get on a boat to Ischia, which remains one of the most underrated islands in the Mediterranean. From there you can easily reach Pompeii or head down the Amalfi Coast.

From her home in Rome, Annie has made this trip more times than she can count and knows exactly how to sequence it based on how much time you have. Talk to Annie →

Bucket list nature & wildlife trips 🦒

Kenya

Kenya is one of the most accessible safari destinations in the world, with direct flights into Nairobi and the ability to be out on a game drive the same day you land. The Great Migration moves through the Masai Mara from July to October, and if you time it right you can witness the river crossings, which are one of those things no documentary fully prepares you for. But don’t skip Nairobi itself. It’s home to the only national park in the world that sits inside a major city, and the food scene, the coffee, and the nightlife are all reasons to stay a few extra days.

Maria was born and raised in Nairobi and has been to all 47 counties in Kenya. She’s spent 20+ years working across East Africa, traveled to 90+ countries, and is a pro at travel logistics and adventure. Talk to Maria →

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

There is nowhere else on earth where animals simply don’t care that you’re there. In the Galápagos, you snorkel alongside penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas, and none of them flinch. You come back to shore and watch blue-footed boobies and seals sunning a few feet away from you. Visitor numbers are tightly controlled to protect the ecosystem, which means it never feels crowded, but it also means you need to plan well ahead. Cruises during peak months can sell out 6 to 12 months in advance.

Jess is a wildlife + cruise specialist who has been in the water with all of it, and she knows which itineraries actually get you to the best sites and which ones just look good on paper. Talk to Jess →

Finnish Lapland

The Northern Lights are visible in Lapland an average of 200 nights a year, mainly from late August to early April, and this year will be the highest activity peak in their 10-year cycle. That alone is reason enough to go, but the days are just as good! In winter there are reindeer and snowmobiling through forests. In summer the sun barely sets, and the hiking and wild swimming are perfection. Plus, there’s no better place to try out a sauna.

Faith moved to Lapland a couple of years ago with her Finnish husband to raise their two young kids, so she knows this place the way only someone building a life there can. Talk to Faith →

Road Trips 🚗

California

California is one of those places that was built for a road trip - and this is the year for it. Route 66, home of the iconic American road trip, turns 100 years old and ends just outside of LA. From LA, you can drive the coast up through Big Sur, cut through wine country in Paso Robles, and end in San Francisco: every stretch of that drive feels like a different country. That’s before you get to the national parks, the desert, the mountains, the surf. Bonus: the FIFA World Cup has matches in both LA and San Francisco this summer.

Jackie grew up in LA doing road trips like this with her family and has been exploring the state her entire life. She has a special affinity for the Paso Robles wine region. Talk to Jackie →

Cape Cod & Coastal Rhode Island

Two of the best stretches of coastline in New England, and genuinely hard to choose between them. Cape Cod for whale watching and long beach walks. Narragansett for learning to surf or sunset boatrides. Both have great food, local shops, and the kind of quiet where you can hear the waves from your porch and nobody’s in a rush to get anywhere.

No matter how far and wide her career as a travel journalist takes her, Jess’s favorite trip is still a New England road trip. She fell in love with the area after swimming with sharks for the first time off Narragansett, and she’s been exploring the beaches & towns here ever since. Talk to Jess →

The Azores, Portugal

Ponta Delgada is the Portuguese Capital of Culture for 2026, so there’s a lot going on in São Miguel this year. But even without that, this is such a special place, halfway between Europe and North America. You can soak in volcanic thermal baths in the morning, visit Europe’s oldest tea plantation and hike down to a crater lake after lunch, and end the day at a restaurant overlooking the Atlantic, glass of Azorean wine in hand.

Sandra is from the Azores and freelances for Lonely Planet Lisbon. She’s the person who will tell you to pre-order the Furnas stew 24 hours ahead, skip the pineapple greenhouses everyone says are a must, and to try the local cottage cheese with pimenta da terra before anything else. Talk to Sandra →

Winter sun trips ☀️

Puerto Rico

San Juan is one of those places that has everything and somehow still surprises you. The history, the architecture, the beaches, the food. Interest spiked after Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, but there are still corners that most first time visitors miss entirely. Luquillo is one of them. A perfect day: start at Cafe Sombras for the best coffee in the city, then walk Old San Juan until you lose track of time.

Eleanor splits her time between New York, Miami and Puerto Rico, and is a pro at sorting logistics, seeking out local spots, and helping first time travelers feel excited and prepared. Talk to Eleanor →

Sri Lanka

There’s an almost unreasonable amount in one island here. You can go from the hills of Nuwara Eliya to whale watching off the coast to a leopard safari in the jungle, all in the same trip. Colombo is its own thing entirely: buzzing, layered, full of late night roadside cafes and sundown cocktails on the terrace at the Galle Face Hotel. And with beaches set to an average temperature of 25–30°C (77–86°F) year round, and new direct flights on British Airways, now is the ideal time to go.

Amenthi is a Colombo local, a humanitarian worker and single mom of two who spends her weekends road-tripping her kids to the jungles and her evenings finding the best coffee spots in the city. Talk to Amenthi →

Vietnam

The Vietnamese Railway system is one of the most epic in the world - the trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, in a private sleeper bunk should be on every traveler’s to do list. Aside from the plane ticket, Vietnam is incredibly affordable. The dollar stretches far, especially if you’re a budget - mid-range traveller, but even luxury travel here is do-able for most. There’s so much great history, but the real draw is the nature: mile after mile of green paddies with buffalo. And overall the country feels safe and stable. The people are incredibly friendly and the infrastructure is continuously getting upgraded - including a new airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ashley has traveled the country end-to-end, but the thing that brings her the most joy: waking up at 6:00 in the morning, grabbing an iced coffee, and walking over to Hoan Kiem Lake to do calisthenics and exercises with the Auntie’s and Grandma’s Talk to Ashley →

Avoid the tourist crowds in Europe 🏰

East London

Yes, Buckingham Palace is worth it. Honestly most of London’s “must do’s” are. But if you want a trip with real local texture, a few days in East London will change the way you think about the city. It’s well connected enough to reach all the main sights, but it’s also the part of London that lets you feel what it would be like to rent a flat above a cafe for a while. The food alone is worth the trip, and summer is hands down the best time: pubs and parks, outdoor swimming, long evenings that don’t end until ten.

Mercy is a vegetarian, lover of art and books of all types and connoisseur of the sunny afternoon on the pub patio. She fell in love with East London when she moved here from her hometown just outside of London and hasn’t looked back. Talk to Mercy →

Syros, Paros & Naxos, Greek Islands

Skip Mykonos’s over-partied, over-touristed atmosphere for Syros. Only 30-60 minutes by ferry, Syros is a world away. Hiking trails with views, a theater modeled after La Scala in Milan, cocktail bars hidden in alleyways, and an abundance of local wineries in the north that most never find. The beaches are sandy, shallow, and perfect for families. And because it’s never been a party island, it’s kept the perfect Greek summer vibes. Bonus: add on nearby Paros or Naxos.

Joanna grew up visiting Syros every summer — the island where her grandmother was born and raised, and where she still returns for the restaurants, beaches, and regular excuse to slow down Talk to Joanna →

Istanbul

If you wanted to travel to the Middle East this year, but can’t - Turkey is an awesome alternative. It’s still affordable, and the hospitality and food are legendary. Historical sites are everywhere - you barely need to seek them out. Just take a stroll through the city and you’ll pass five of them. And Istanbul has amazing shopping! From the intensity of the Grand Bazaar to the boutiques in Cihangir - there’s something for every budget (bring an extra suitcase 🧳).

Ashley lives in and around the Middle East, and Istanbul is one of her favorite cities to come back to again and again. She spends most of her time hanging with the city’s (many!) friendly cats and frequenting her favorite kebab restaurant Talk to Ashley →

Multi-generational family trips 👵🏽

Japan

From flawless and fast trains, to family-friendly activities, Japan can be an incredible experience for aging parents as well as the kids. Japan is one of the safest countries, with a genuine respect for older people that you feel everywhere you go. Everyone fixates on cherry blossom season but fall is just as spectacular, with six to eight weeks of foliage sweeping south from Hokkaido to Kyushu, which gives you way more flexibility than the narrow cherry blossom window.

Sequoia has been going to Japan since she was an infant, spending every childhood summer visiting her grandparents. She's lived in Tokyo and Osaka, and these days she regularly travels there with her mom. Talk to Sequoia →

Cruises

Cruising doesn’t have to mean thousands of passengers, tiny cabins, and terrible cover bands — especially now. Cruise boats can actually be a great way to experience places and wildlife that are difficult or impossible to get to by land, like some of the Galapagos islands, the pink dolphins of the Amazon, and Antarctica. Then there are the river boats of Europe stopping by tiny villages & Christmas markets. They’re especially great for multi-generational family trips where you’re trying to keep older parents comfortable and kids entertained at the same time — without anyone losing their mind

Jess’s career as a wildlife and adventure travel journalist has led to some truly epic adventures, from swimming with humpback whales in French Polynesia to photographing penguins in Antarctica. From high end luxury cruising and expedition cruising, to river cruises and ocean exploration she’s done it all and can help you sort what’s worth it. Talk to Jess →

Bonus: Founder’s Favorite

European wine trip by train through Spain & France 🚂 🍇

Increasing fuel prices and global tensions have me looking towards a relaxed holiday not dependent on flights. I’ve visited wineries on 5 continents, but Spain and France are two countries I could never get tired of. Whether a single region for a long weekend, or a 10-day journey from Rioja to Bordeaux, you absolutely cannot go wrong here. To plan it all out without the need for a rental car, talk to wine expert and European resident Lucy: Talk to Lucy →

Got a different destination in mind? Find your perfect local advisor here.

A quick final note: we know life gets busy, and our goal is to help make sure that your holidays that matter don’t fall by the wayside. Our advisors help you not only sort the logistics on your trip, but ensure that you travel well. They will highlight tips, restaurants and attractions that you wouldn’t find otherwise, while helping you sort through whats worth it and not - making the most of the time you have. All through a fun, personal, and highly knowledgable chat.

It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re still dreaming or have plane tickets in hand, our advisors meet you where you’re at and make sure you’ve got it all sorted before takeoff!

~ Kim, Co-founder Ella Travel

Let us know in the comments: where are YOU excited about traveling this year? ✈️