T+L Editors Share Their Bucket-List Destinations

If there’s one thing that 2025 reinstated, it’s that travel is a gift that keeps on giving. From inter-continental gig-tripping and Grand Prix-inspired itineraries to the night sky’s Quadrantids and Beaver Moon, the past 12 months were all about culture, cuisine, and community spirit. Year 2026 is all set to up the ante with global sporting events, the rise of “shelf discovery” (after all, supermarket safaris and hoarding local snacks are a BIG part of travel now), exquisite alpine escapes, and more. For this story, we sat down with T+L editors to learn about their 2026 travel forecast and the places that have piqued their interest.

Also, check out our list of the best places in Asia to travel to in 2026.

Places that T+L editors want to travel to in 2026

South Korea saw multiple takers

“A holiday that I truly want to take for cultural immersion over everything else is to South Korea. I feel like while India had its K-boom, my own exploration of Korean culture is limited”, said Samreen Tungekar, Managing Editor, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia.

The Korean drama takeover has not only inspired destination-led travel to the likes of Jeju Island, Seoul and Busan, but also sparked interest in culture (we’re talking colourful hanboks, checking into a hanok and unwinding at Jimjilbangs), cuisine (think soju, sake, Tteokbokki, Hotteok and bimbimbap!), and beauty (snail mucin is dominating all our skincare stashes).

“It’ll be nice to be able to experience Korean culture firsthand, especially to understand the culinary culture of the destination,” adds Tungekar.

Sneha Chakraborty, Senior Digital Writer, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, who’s an ardent K-drama fan (currently obsessing over When Life Gives You Tangerines), nods in agreement. “Watching the series left me unexpectedly determined to travel to Jeju Island. I say unexpectedly because I am the definition of a city-dweller. Constitutionally attached to capitals, allergic to slowness, and routinely reminded by my closest companions that ‘slow travel’ has never been my thing.”

Also read | Jeju Special: ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ & 14 Other K-Dramas Filmed On The Island

When Life Gives You Tangerines’ 16 heart-tugging episodes went beyond the plot to captivate Chakraborty’s imagination with Jeju’s basalt cliffs, wind-bent fields, the looming presence of Hallasan at its centre, and a coastline shaped by lava and labour.

“The series pushed Jeju’s unrivalled sights to my meticulously maintained bucket list on iNotes at 3 am. Now I find myself wanting to circle the island, tracing the shores of Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunrise, watching haenyeo divers surface along the coast and, because the journalist in me never switches off, asking them about the local economy in my broken Korean from a 60-day Duolingo streak, passing tangerine orchards and stone villages”, Chakraborty adds.

Beyond Duolingo, check out T+L editors’ favourite wellness apps to prioritise fitness on the go.

Inspired by Turkish dramas: A holiday in Ankara

“Ankara has been quietly sitting on my travel radar for years, thanks largely to Turkish dramas that make the city and its surrounding landscapes look layered, atmospheric, and full of quiet intrigue”, says Jahnavi Pradhan, Content Trainee, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia. Some of Ankara’s gleaming attractions include the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which houses striking artefacts from the Paleolithic to Hittite eras, the Ankara Castle, which, apart from surreal city views, gives visitors a peek into Phrygian, Galatian, and Seljuk history, and Hamamönü – a lively neighbourhood featuring 19th-century Ottoman architecture.

Also read | The Best Times To Visit Turkey For Pleasant Weather, Lower Prices, And Beach Days

Pradhan wishes to experience Ankara at an unhurried pace, exploring its museums, historic quarters, evolving food scene, and everyday rhythms; a city that feels lived-in, authentic, and rich with stories.

Tomorrowland Belgium calling! Must-visit place to travel in 2026

One travel trend we’re carrying with us right into 2026 is gig-tripping! “I’m planning to go to Tomorrowland Belgium next year in July. It’s one of the best music festivals in the world, which everyone must experience at least once in their life”, says Divya Arora, Assistant Editor – Affiliate Content, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia.

“The journey packages and passes go live in January 2026, and I hope I’m able to get my hands on them so that I don’t really have to rely on third-party platforms”, she adds. Arora also highlights the requirement of a Schengen visa, underscoring the importance of planning ahead of time.

Say si! to Portofino: One of the top places to travel in 2026

Jahnavi Pradhan, Content Trainee, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, also wishes to explore Portofino’s colourful, coastal charm in 2026. With pastel-hued homes, luxe boutiques, and world-class seafood offerings, this fishing village nestled on the Italian Riviera coastline crafts a Pinterest-y getaway.

“What I love about it is its intimate scale; a cosy, postcard-perfect commune where pastel houses line the harbour, mornings unfold slowly, and luxury feels understated rather than showy”, says Pradhan. Her ultimate Italian holiday is one centred around slowing down, quiet coastal walks, lingering lunches by the water, and that effortless balance of elegance and ease that the village does so naturally.

From the Andamans to Portugal: A love letter to sparkling coasts

“I love beaches, and the sound of waves crashing is my ultimate lullaby. In 2026, I hope to travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and spend time at the Radhanagar Beach, which is known for being one of the cleanest beaches in India, shares Nishtha Grover, Senior Editor, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia. Beyond idyllic shores, the Andamans tailor some of India’s best tropical adventures spanning sea-walking, glass-boat kayaking, and seaplane rides, giving a birds-eye view of regional attractions like Cellular Jail, Mount Harriett and Ross Island.

Also, check out our guide to Blue Mind Theory, and uncover why travel enthusiasts are seeking water-centric experiences.

For the same reason, Grover is also inclined towards exploring the Algarve region of Portugal. “Nothing screams relaxation like lying on a hammock, reading a book while the music of the waves crashing plays in the background,” she weighs in.

Discovering Ladakh’s rugged, understated luxury

“What I’m most looking forward to next year is a road trip to Ladakh”, says Divya Jain, Regional Managing Editor – Digital Growth, Lifestyle Asia India and Travel+Leisure Asia. While Jain has, so far, admired Ladakh’s unrivalled beauty in pictures, she is resolute to witness it first-hand in 2026. The high-altitude getaway is home to some of the world’s highest motorable roads, gilded Buddhist monasteries (Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Alchi Gompa come highly recommended), and also offers the chance to enjoy rafting at the Indus and Zanskar rivers.

“The plan is to drive from Delhi to Manali and stay the night there. Then head to Leh. To avoid the crowds, I’m planning this trip in August end-September beginning”, she adds. Her itinerary will include places like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri and Turtuk.

Also read | Exploring Ladakh’s Monastic Heritage Through Likir And Alchi

Slow travel in Auli, Uttarakhand: Best offbeat place to travel in 2026

“I am really looking forward to visiting Auli in summer 2026. We have gone off to the mountains in the summers for years now, and have zeroed in on Auli for next year because we have never been there”, says Esha Dasgupta, Senior Digital Writer, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia. She excitedly discusses her alpine moodboard, with wholesome picnics by the tranquil Auli Lake being a major draw.

If not Auli, Dasgupta would like to spend over a week in Karnataka, crafting an unhurried itinerary that includes Hampi, Coorg, and Mysore. “If the Karnataka trip doesn’t pan out, then Ratnagiri in Maharashtra will be my destination of choice for 2026. One thing is for certain, in 2026 I won’t be travelling for adventure, but for culture, food, and relaxation”, Dasgupta explains.

Of Landour’s misty hills and colonial charm

The next high-altitude place that we want to travel to in 2026 is Landour, Uttarakhand.

Carra Fernandes, Content Trainee, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, fondly reminisces about her tradition of visiting one hill station every year with her friends, and shares, “I’ve heard Landour is beautiful and filled with the feel of Ruskin Bond’s books, and I’m really looking forward to witnessing its charm first-hand”.

Also read | Walking Through Ruskin Bond’s Mussoorie: A Travel Guide To The Queen Of Hills

Dharamkot, Himachal Pradesh

With yet another mountain destination on our 2026 roster, it’s safe to say that team T+L is dreaming of pine-scented holidays – mountain drives, scene-stealing treks, piping hot bowls of thukpa, and the works!

“The one destination that is on my wish list for 2026 is Dharamkot in Himachal Pradesh. It is a meeting point for global citizens and a place of cross-cultural indulgence. People from all over the world come together to slow down as the town is known for its wellness offerings”, says Dinal Jain, Digital Writer – Growth, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia. Beyond the region’s yoga and meditation workshops and Vipasana centres, Jain also dreams of enjoying the Bohemian ambience and sipping coffee at cafes that frame the majestic Himalayas at Dharamkot, also called Mini Israel. “What stands out about Dharamkot is its unique artist community hosting writing and pottery retreats”, adds Jain.

Other local attractions on Jain’s radar include the esteemed Kangra Devi Temple, the Triund trek and the nearby McLeod Ganj town.

A soulful sojourn in Spiti Valley: A top mountain place to travel in 2026

The next destination on our list of places to travel to in 2026 is closer to home, where kind locals, some of the country’s most picture-perfect sunrises, and local diners draped in prayer flags await. Yes, we’re talking about Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley.

Also read | Spiti Valley Diaries: A Traveller’s Guide To India’s Cold Desert Gem

“Apart from its picturesque landscapes, trekking trails and top attractions like Key Monastery, I also wish to visit the pristine Chandra Taal Lake in the region and spend some time by this tranquil body of water”, says Vanya Jain, Web Story Producer, Travel + Leisure India & South Asia.

A Swiss escape

Our list of places to travel to in 2026 would be incomplete without Switzerland, a dream-like reverie unfolding across the Matterhorn in Zermatt, hiking and skiing in the Alps, the majestic Rhine Falls and Interlaken. “Postcard-perfect views from the Alps, the cable ride, Glacier Express, and the joy of sipping hot coffee at an aesthetic cafe framing the Swiss scenery are some of the reasons I want to fly to Switzerland. Of course, the Bollywood junkie in me also wants to relive DDLJ in Switzerland too”, says Anukriti Srivastava, Web Story Producer, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia.

Shop the best travel experiences here

(Feature image credit: Matheus Guimarães/Pexels)

Related | 26 Practical Tips For Smarter, More Responsible Travel In 2026

Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

We may earn an affiliate commission when you shop through links on our site.

Written By