I’ve been asked this already and as someone who likes to be on the pulse of travel trends, as well as someone who likes travelling to off-the-beaten path countries, these 10 countries would be the places I would recommend to go to in 2026.
Whether they are lesser travelled but growing, they have new attractions that have opened or maybe they have an event on this year, all of these countries are worth visiting soon!
Why you can trust my views?
I’ve been travelling the world for over 10 years and visited 75 countries. I love going to off the beaten path destinations and going to places “before they become popular”. I’m always keeping my finger on the travel pulse reading countless blogs about travel, following many travel accounts on social media and having plans of where to travel in the back of my head for months in advance. This isn’t just another list of generic places to visit that hit all the popular destinations listed on other sites. These are places that I would actually want to visit in 2026.
The 10 Countries to Travel to in 2026
Albania
Albania is one of my favourite countries in Europe and one I have now been to a couple of times. After my first visit in 2021, I thought that it may become more popular and it has proved so.
Although the southern beaches around Saranda are more popular (and expensive) than they were in the past, there are still a number of hidden gems in the country. The smaller town of Berat, Shkodër in the north and the Valbona to Theth hike are still parts of the country that many don’t see.
You can check out all of my guides on Albania here.
Oman
Oman is one of my favourite countries in the Middle East. Compared to the craziness of nearby Dubai (one of those places I’m not a fan of), the peaceful Oman along with it’s traditional culture and friendly faces is a place to go if you want to see a way of life that doesn’t feel like it has changed, whilst also stepping into the modern world.
There are a number of reasons to visit Oman, from Nizwa Fort to the beautiful nature of Wadi Shab but the biggest one must be to go before it becomes too popular and the tourist hordes discover this corner of the Arabian peninsula.
Find all of my posts on Oman here.
Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country nestled in the Himalayas between the superpowers of China and India. It has always been a challenge to get to and an expensive one at that.
To visit Bhutan in 2026, you must pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) which is USD$100 per night. However, this will be increasing to USD$200 in September 2027. This makes is important to visit Bhutan in 2026 and see the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, the capital Thimpu and the other amazing monasteries and Himalayan peaks before the price increases.
Faroe Islands
These secluded islands in the North Atlantic have been a challenge to get to for many years, only for the hardiest of tourists. But now their national airline has increased their flights to London, Paris, Barcelona and Edinburgh, getting to the Faroe Islands is a little more accessible.
Known for its stunning landscapes, it is a photographers dream. Add to that the traditional way of life with their grass roofed houses, remote colonies of puffins and waterfalls more jaw dropping that any you may have seen before.
If you’ve ever wanted to go to Iceland, the Faroe Islands are the lesser visited but just as dramatic cousin.
Taiwan
Taiwan is a country I have enjoyed travelling to before and 2026 is a great time for you to go too. From a stunning modern city in Taipei to amazing nature of Yangmingshan National Park a short bus journey away, there is something for everyone in Taiwan.
It has a fascinating culture and history and is a country that is easier to travel around than it’s larger neighbour China thanks to better English proficiency and a friendlier visa policy.
You can find all of my posts about Taiwan here.
Rwanda
Rwanda has been on my list for many years and is somewhere you should consider going in 2026.
With a clean and modern capital in Kigali, known as “the Singapore of Africa”, if it’s your first time to Africa, a safe and organised start to your trip awaits before heading out to visit mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, one of only three countries this is possible in.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a country I loved travelling around in 2025 but as it gets more popular, make sure you go there soon! The incredible nature isn’t going anywhere and the friendliness of the people and their traditional lifestyle will remain for years.
But the main reason to visit Kyrgyzstan in 2026 is the World Nomad Games are returning to the country for the first time since 2018. The biennial event takes traditional nomadic sports such as wrestling, falconry and archery as well as lesser known events such kok boru, a game similar to polo where competitors on horse back fight for a goat carcass.
If you want to read my posts on Kyrgyzstan, click here.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has grown in popularity since the end of their civil war in 2019. Terrorist attacks and economic incidents have meant their journey to becoming a fully fledged tourist destination has had bumps in the road but that is now behind them and are welcoming of foreign tourists.
Known for surfing on its southern coast, beautiful beaches in Weligama, Buddhist monuments across the country, the tea in the foothills of the interior, climbing Sigiriya Lion Rock and the Insta famous train ride from Ella to Kandy.
It is actually a destination I have already booked to travel to in 2026 and can’t wait to share more of.
Here are my first thoughts on Sri Lanka after just arriving.
Egypt
The main reason for visiting Egypt in 2026 is to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo!
After a delay of a number of years, the new Grand Egyptian Museum opened in November 2025 in incredible new complex located close to the Pyramids of Giza. More than 20 years in the making, the museum showcases the history of the Ancient Egyptians from pre-history up to the end of the Roman era.
Famous for the statue of Ramesses II and the The Golden Burial Mask of Tutankhamun, there are over 100,00 artefacts in the museum to keep you busy for hours. Tickets can be purchased here.
Italy
Italy has always been a country that has attracted millions of tourists per year, so why am I recommending it for 2026?
I’ve watched sport all over the world, from cricket in the Caribbean, baseball in Japan, rugby in New Zealand and football in more countries than I can count. But Italy will host the 2026 Winter Olympics across many cities in the north of Italy. It is one of the first Olympics that will be held in multiple cities with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo being the main hosts with 16 venues across 4 clusters in the region also including Valtellina and Val di Fiemme.
The opening ceremony of the Olympics is the 6th February and closing ceremony of the Paralympics is 15th March 2026.
Summing up the best countries to visit in 2026
I’ve been travelling for over 10 years and I’ve been to many off the beaten path destinations, but if I had a blank slate of where to travel to in 2026, one of these destinations would be on it.
I already have one of them booked and I plan to go to at least one more. But with options across the world, covering a variety of budgets and types of travel, I hope you get to travel to one of these places in the coming year!