In our monthly newsletter, you'll find travel tips and updates to travel regulations that we have researched so you don’t have to. We also include restaurant and experience recommendations every time we travel; most of our content is on Europe and the UK.
Thinking about travel in 2026, but want to avoid the same place EVERYONE else is going? Read this.
Published 8 months ago • 10 min read
February 2026
Top 2026 Travel Destinations and Alternative Locations
Ciao Reader,
2026 Has Already Been So Busy!
2026 is off to a busy start. We’re getting back to the grind; it’s been full of work. But it’s fun! We’ve already begun planning trips for clients; some are in the next month or so, and others are in the fall. Additionally, we are working to launch a new website that will be dedicated to our custom travel planning services, keeping our current website focused on travel tips and stories for those who want to plan their own trip.
Top 2026 Travel Destinations and Some Pairing Options to Consider
Choosing a destination for travel can be overwhelming. Everything sounds incredible, you want to do it all, but there isn’t enough time. The desire to see every beautiful place often competes with the desire to relax and go to places that are less traveled. EVERYONE says, “I don’t want to do the touristy things,” but really, they do. They want to see ‘the thing’ but also experience local culture and cuisine. Is Rome busy and full of people (both locals and tourists)? Sure. But who doesn’t want to see the Colosseum or eat amazing Roman cuisine? This newsletter is about balancing top destinations with alternatives or destinations you can couple with top destinations to get a good mix of vibes on your trips.
Every morning, while we sip cappuccinos and look out at the colline Lucchese (Luccan hills) we catch up on the news: politics, world news, and of course travel news. We read through all the articles about hidden gems, popular travel destinations, and changes in the travel world. This list of top travel destinations comes from a collective of the common locations seen throughout major travel authorities, whom we follow.
These are the places that seem to be on everyone's radar. One caveat to this list: the world is a really big place, and since our blogging and travel planning are focused on Europe, this list is too.
Top Travel Destinations for 2026
For the sake of length, we are going to focus on the heavy hitters (in no particular order); these are the ones named year after year as top destinations. They are also the ones you hear the most about for overtourism. Many of these destinations are still worth a visit; they are frequented for good reason. If you want to avoid the crowds and reduce your contribution to overtourism, we suggest traveling in the shoulder months of March- early May and mid-September to mid-November.
Rome, Italy- It’s popular for good reason. Ruins on top of ruins, between the most romantic piazzas. Massive amounts of world history (Roman Empire, hello!). And some of the best food in the world. GO, if you’ve never been to Rome, it’s absolutely worth it.
[Stock photo Castel Gandalfo]
Consider visiting nearby Castel Gandolfo, home to the papal palace where the Pope vacations for short getaways. This little village is situated at the crest of an inactive volcano that is now home to a beautiful lake (jaw-dropping views).
Get out of town for the day and go to see the gardens and palaces in nearby Tivoli.
Orvieto is a hilltop town about an hour from Rome, and many fall in love with the charm of this small village that is reached by a funicular after taking the train from Rome.
Paris, France- The capital of romance. There is so much more to Paris than the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre (both are definitely worth seeing). French food is delicious no matter where you are in France, so consider another city. Everyone says there's Paris and then there’s France. So why not see some of France? These first 3 suggestions are within an hour and a half of Paris.
[Stock photo of Orléans, France]
Go sip champagne in Reims. This is the center of the Champagne region. This lovely French town is home to beautiful Gothic cathedrals. Spend a day in Épernay and taste wine on the Avenue. De Champagne. Yes, a road dotted with champagne houses!
If you want the Parisian architecture and French atmosphere with fewer tourists, check out Orléans. Orleans is along the Loire River and offers a great mix of history and relaxation with some chic boutiques in a lively but relaxed atmosphere.
Go a little further to Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region, for a mix of Gothic, Art-Deco, and half-timbered buildings, and of course, Burgundy wine and mustard. Dijon is 1.5-3 hours from Paris by train.
If you are up for a further trek from Paris, and you like wine, we can’t say enough good things about Bordeaux! Did you know that the port of Bordeaux was once the most important port in Europe? It also has the longest pedestrian shopping street in all of Europe, Rue Sainte-Catherine.
For a smaller village feel in the Bordeaux (Gironde) region, head to Saint-Emilion, or coastal Arcachon (hometown of Anthony Bourdain). Saint-Emilion is where some of the most famous Bordeaux wine blends come from.
Barcelona, Spain- Beaches, tapas, Gaudí architecture (Sagrada Familia & Park Güell), a never-ending city of exploration. This vibrant city has really had a tough time with overtourism, and what you’ve seen in the news may discourage you. We say go anyway!
[Stock image Terragona, Spain]
Not too far north of Barcelona is the Pyrénes mountain range and the tiny country of Andorra. The capital city, Andorra la Vella, has shopping and local culture. The town of Escaldes-Egordany is known for luxury and is home to thermal spas. Several charming mountain villages dot Andorra. And the town of Soldau is a top destination for winter sports.
If you want to stay in Spain, head slightly south down the coast to Tarragona. While this is still a city, it isn’t on the main tourist track. It has amazing beaches and is steeped in Roman history, having once been the Roman colony of Tarraco. Guess what? It has Roman ruins!
Venice, Italy- There is truly no other city like Venice. You will hear other cities compared to the city of canals because they have canals, but it really isn’t the same. The first time we went, we stepped out of the Santa Lucia train station, and we could see the green dome of Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo across the canal. It truly felt like we stepped into another world. The overcrowding here is compounded by the canals, as there are only a few bridges that cross the main canals- everyone has to use them. But you should definitely go get lost in Venice at least once in your life (again, consider the off-season if you can). There are so many great places to visit that are near Venice, and still offer Venetian cuisine and pride.
[Stock photo of Lago Di Garda by Milena M.]
We loved living near Padua (Padova), it’s a great area for shopping, history, architecture, and cicchetti. If you are planning to stop there, then you should read our Padua Travel Guide: Your Hub To The Surrounding Region.
If you have a car, you can go over to Lago di Garda and see what the buzz is all about with Italian Lakes. This is a great choice for a family, and it’s a 1.5- 2 hour drive from Venice.
Take a trip to go wine tasting for some famous Valpolicella or Prosecco, just outside of Venice. The Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco region stretches from Treviso to Trieste. Stay in Conegliano to be close to the Prosecco road.
If this trip is a multi-country trip, you can stop in Trieste on your way to Croatia. Trieste is a port city with culinary influences from Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia. Trieste is about a 2-hour train ride from Venice, and the Slovenian and Croatian borders are 30-50 minutes away. Side note: Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a great 2-3 night stop with a delightful wine and culinary scene.
Florence, Italy- This is our favorite city. We fell in love with it the first time we traveled to Italy. We visit often (we’re going next week, actually). Known as the Renaissance city, Florence has so much beautiful art and architecture to see. As the heart of the Tuscan region, it also offers incredible food and easy day trips to nearby towns (including the Chianti area for world-famous wine). There are so many places to visit in Tuscany that will give you Tuscan charm without the crowds that Florence sees in high season.
[Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy]
We live in Lucca, we love it, come enjoy a bike ride on the wall of the city, which is also a park. Stay for shopping in the center, and really great food in the beautiful piazzas. Lucca is 1 hour and 25 minutes by train from Florence
Siena is more than a close second to Florence, although it has made its way higher up the radar of tourists. Known for its famed Paleo race, which happens in the main Piazza twice a year. Climb the Torre di Mangia for sweeping Tuscan views. 1-1.5 hours from Florence by bus or train.
Yes, you can get to Pisa for a day trip from Florence, too. Pisa hasn’t reached the overtourism level, but it can be quite busy. How can you not see the leaning tower of Pisa!
A smaller village we have come to love is Arezzo. This small town was the filming site for La Vita É Bella (Life is Beautiful), it’s close to wine country (but so is all of Tuscany). This lovely town has a very authentic Tuscan vibe with a higher local-to-tourist ratio than some.
Amsterdam, Netherlands- There is so much more to Amsterdam than the coffeeshops and the Red Light District. But if you want to experience the Netherlands, stop in Amsterdam for tulip season, skip the coffee shops, and go somewhere else. Of course, there is the nearby area of the Hague and Rotterdam for a quick trip outside of Amsterdam (the Hague is coastal). Belgium is just over the border from the Netherlands.
[Stock photo of Dinant, Belgium]
If you are interested in art, history, and architecture, stick to the Western side of Belgium (Flanders) and Brussels. You will find lots of war history and French/Dutch-inspired cuisines. Consider cities like Ghent, Bruges, and Antwerp, while in Flanders.
If you want amazing outdoor experiences, head to Wallonia (south east), where you will find German, Dutch, and French influences. Rent bikes, go rail biking, or see some amazing underground caves with a river flowing through. Many towns are positioned on the rivers with unreal backdrops. Consider cities like Namur and Dinant. Also, this is Belgium- have you heard of Belgian beer??? How about Trapist Beer?
A Few Other Destinations That We Think Should Be On Your Radar
Central Europe!!!!! People, places like Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary just don’t get enough mentions. We finally visited these places in 2024, and we were genuinely surprised by how much we loved them. We’ve now been to Poland 3 times. All of these countries have a history of survival and resilience. Their cuisines lean heavily into comfort food, good beer, and delicious desserts and pastries. The architecture in cities like Prague, Budapest, and Kraków is awe-inspiring.
Venture out of the norms, there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored!
We would love to hear from you. Reply and tell us about your favorite alternate or off-the-beaten-path city.
Stay tuned: we are working hard to update all of our city guides and create more digestible chunks of information and tips. We’ll also be adding curated tour recommendations- our favorites that we, or our clients, have taken, to make your travel planning that much easier.
New on the site: We’ve updated lots of travel planning tips, so check out these updated blog posts:
Between the excitement and stress of preparing for a trip, this handy checklist will help you make sure you don't forget to do something before you leave for your trip.
A Few Of Our Favorite Travel Resources:
VoiceMap - Harness the power to explore on your own, at your pace, with a self-guided audio tour. No big tour group, no failing equipment, and straining to hear a guide. Select a tour, download it, grab your favorite earbuds and phone, start, pause, and stop at your leisure!
Get Your Guide - A marketplace for tours that is growing every day. Compare tours and reviews to find the best one for you. We typically find tours for larger historical sites and museums here.
Rail Europe - Rail Europe is a good place to start for a Eurail pass (travel in 1 European country or multiple countries).
DiscoverCars - These car rentals are not only competitively priced, but they are in just about every destination you might be headed to. A bonus: they have a high customer satisfaction rate, and we love that.
You can find more of our favorite travel websites, apps, and products on our website in the Resources section. These are all the resources that we frequently use to plan and enjoy a trip.
*No BS, we want to be transparent; some of the links included on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. We only recommend products and companies that we have vetted. Thanks for your support. This helps us bring you travel tips!
In our monthly newsletter, you'll find travel tips and updates to travel regulations that we have researched so you don’t have to. We also include restaurant and experience recommendations every time we travel; most of our content is on Europe and the UK.
