Trips worth taking in 2026

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 →