Where to go this year
The 25 best places to visit
Our annual ranking of the 25 most rewarding destinations to visit this year - a mix of underrated escapes, comeback cities, and the perennial classics that still deserve a spot. Each pick comes with the climate window, the cost reality, and the specific reason is the right year to go.
We update this list every January based on a simple test: would we genuinely book this trip ourselves this year, given the political climate, infrastructure status, crowd dynamics, and weather patterns? These 25 pass that test.
Tokyo, Japan
March-April for sakura, mid-November for autumn foliage. New JESTA visa-free system now active; yen still favorable for travelers.
Kyoto, Japan
Pair with Tokyo. Cherry blossom in early April; quiet temples in winter. The most concentrated cultural week in Asia.
Bali, Indonesia
Dry season May-October. New tourist tax (150,000 IDR) added but trip costs remain among Asia's best value.
Bangkok, Thailand
November-February for the cool dry season. Visa-free entries extended; new airport rail link cuts city transfer to 26 minutes.
Istanbul, Turkey
April-June and September-October. Lira fluctuations still favor travelers; new metro extension to Istanbul Airport finally complete.
Lisbon, Portugal
April-June and September-October. Still one of Western Europe's better value capitals despite tourist boom.
Porto, Portugal
April-October. 15-25% cheaper than Lisbon; Douro Valley adds dimension.
Barcelona, Spain
May-June and September-October. The tourist-tax bump (4-7 EUR/night) reflects renewed crowd management.
Paris, France
April-June and September-October. Notre Dame fully reopened December - finally worth the visit.
Prague, Czech Republic
April-October and Christmas market season. Still half the cost of Paris for an equally photogenic capital.
Athens, Greece
April-June and September-October. Pre-island base or destination in its own right.
Cappadocia, Turkey
April-June and September-October for optimal balloon weather. Cave hotels at exceptional value.
Marrakech, Morocco
October-April. Sahara extension trips are the trip-defining add-on.
Jordan
March-May and September-November. Petra + Wadi Rum + Dead Sea is one of the world's great 10-day circuits.
Dubai, UAE
November-March. Use as a stopover or 3-4 day standalone trip.
Patagonia (Argentina/Chile)
November-March (Southern Hemisphere summer). Torres del Paine W trek is the bucket-list highlight.
Cusco, Peru
May-September for the dry season. Machu Picchu access is well-managed but book tickets weeks ahead.
Cartagena, Colombia
December-April. Caribbean walled-city charm at South American prices.
Medellin, Colombia
Year-round eternal spring (18-24C). Digital-nomad hotspot if you stay longer.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
April-October for the cooler, drier window. Combine with Iguazu or beach extensions.
Vietnam
October-April for north + south together. New 90-day visa-free for many nationalities makes longer trips easier.
Sri Lanka
December-March for the southwest coast and cultural triangle. Post-economic recovery makes this exceptional value.
India
October-March in most regions. Multi-week trips compound the rewards; pick one region to start.
The Dolomites, Italy
June-September for hiking, December-March for skiing. Pair with Venice or Innsbruck.
Maui, Hawaii (USA)
April-May and September-October. Post-fire recovery continues; verify Lahaina-area access before booking.