8 travel destinations to have on your 2026 list

Dig out your diary and dust off your suitcase, because 2026 will be another big year for travel. Whether in the UK or abroad, there’s a bumper crop of new train routes, tours, flights, hikes and hotels on the horizon.

As a travel journalist, it’s my job to put the best ones in the spotlight: the holidays and experiences worth travelling for, and the exciting new ways to explore home turf. Better yet, the wide range of Boundless’s travel partners means you can scoop extra savings – and I’ve included the discount details below.

Read on to discover where to travel in 2026, and start planning a year of new adventures…

Explore England's coastline

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This spring, England will unveil the world’s longest official coastal walking route, stretching 2,700 miles along the country’s entire shoreline. The King Charles III Coastal Path will weave through England’s loveliest seaside landscapes – whether the Jurassic Coast's fossil-filled cliffs, Lindisfarne’s historic pilgrimage walk or Suffolk’s undulating sand dunes.

Though its entirety would take months to walk, most sections are already open so you can start planning a shorter jaunt.

Boundless offer

For accommodation, check out cottages.com; it’s a Boundless partner, so you’ll save 5% on all bookings.

Set sail to Spain

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Ferry travel is on the up: it’s more speedy and sustainable than ever before, with two of Brittany Ferries’ LNG-powered ships now serving UK-Spain routes. Their combination of liquefied natural gas and electric power has seen them dubbed ‘ghost ships’ for their smooth and silent movements through harbours, with significantly lower emissions on every journey.

This summer will be the first major travel period when Europe-bound Britons must register on the new EES (Entry/Exit System) when entering the bloc, so expect widespread disruption at airports. While the rules will also apply at ferry ports, the lower footfall should entail fewer delays – another reason to take the greener route to Santander and Bilbao.

Boundless offer

Boundless members can save 5% on sailings with Brittany Ferries.

Discover an island paradise

To revel in Zanzibar’s pristine white beaches and charming Unesco-listed city of Stone Town, UK travellers have always had to endure lengthy flight connections – until now. Just off the coast of Tanzania, the ‘spice islands’ will welcome several new air routes this year.

In November, Rwandair launched direct services from Heathrow, and Etihad Airways will follow from 14 June – though indirect, via Abu Dhabi. Or, if you fancy twinning an island getaway with a safari in Kruger National Park, consider Airlink’s twice-weekly flights from Johannesburg in South Africa, from June 3.

Ride new rails

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I love the sound of the ComfortJet trains on the new rail route from Prague to Copenhagen via Berlin, launching on 1 May. There’ll be a restaurant carriage, secure bike storage, wifi, wheelchair lifts and a kids’ cinema on board. Journeys are long: Copenhagen–Berlin is seven hours, Copenhagen–Prague is 11, but the scenery is worth savouring and it’ll pass in a breeze; cd.cz/en.

Also on the rails, it will be even simpler to travel between England and Scotland this year, with Lumo’s all-electric trains now serving London King’s Cross to Glasgow (launched in December) and Euston to Stirling (from spring). The Caledonian Sleeper will soon call at Birmingham International, too – an easy overnight route to the Highlands (from 15 January).

Get your kicks on Route 66

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Happy birthday, Route 66! America’s iconic 2,448-mile road trip will turn 100 this year. If you’ve always fancied driving the ‘Mother Road’, now’s your moment: expect celebratory festivals, special events and limited-edition memorabilia throughout the centenary. Check route66centennial.org for details.

It stretches between Chicago and Los Angeles, and takes around three weeks at a leisurely pace – but bitesized options include LA to Oklahoma via Vegas and the Grand Canyon (circa 12 days).

Boundless offer
For car hire, check out Holiday Autos  and Enterprise  – both Boundless partners, saving you up to 10% on rentals.

An Emirati adventure

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The UAE, a fail-safe winter sun choice, will open its first rail network this year: a game-changer for day trips and twin-centre breaks. With no lengthy transfers, you can squeeze maximum adventure into your break: dolphin watching in Fujairah, museum hopping in Sharjah, street food scoffing in Old Dubai, and art appreciating in Abu Dhabi – where the new Guggenheim gallery will open this year.

Initially, the high-speed Etihad Rail route will serve Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujairah, but it will expand to cover 11 UAE cities and regions.

Seek out cooler climes

If you’re still haunted by 2025’s sweltering summer, consider heading somewhere cooler this year. Just You – the solo holiday specialist – will add a new tour to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from May, where the mercury rarely tips over 30ºC. Perfect conditions for exploring Tallinn's UNESCO-listed Old Town, Latvia’s Venta Rumba waterfall and Lithuania’s Curonian Spit National Park.

Boundless offer
Just You  is a Boundless partner, so you’ll save at least £50, too.

Tallinn and Vilnius, the trip’s start and end points, can both be reached from the UK by train. Before the trip starts, I’d recommend staying at Tallinn’s The Burman Hotel, which reopened last spring: with just 17 rooms and a luxurious spa, it was declared “Hotel Opening of the Year” by MICHELIN. From around £250/night on Hotels.com.

Boundless offer
Boundless members save up to 8% on hotels at Hotels.com.

A fresh look at The Cotswolds

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From brand-new walking trails at Westonbirt Arboretum (in spring) and a debut summer music festival at Blenheim Palace (details TBC), to a new outdoor sauna at Chavenage Estate (open now), there’s a wealth of reasons to visit – or revisit – the Cotswolds this year. Near Winchcombe, Dumbleton Hall will launch its new treehouses and shepherds’ hut accommodation in spring, while hikers and cyclists can follow the recently finished Athelstan Pilgrim Way through 100 miles of pristine North Wiltshire countryside.

The Market Tavern pub in Bampton – the village which stars in the Downton Abbey series and films – has just unveiled a stylish refurbishment, while Woodchester Park near Stroud will launch a new Wind in the Willows-themed nature trail in spring.

Boundless offer
Boundless members can save up to 20% on stays at Cotswolds Cottages and free admission to the Cotswold Motoring Museum.

^{This article was accurate at the time of publication. Please note information and offers shown may change over time.}