52 Places to Go in 2026

Fun list, Mardee, and thanks much for sharing!

Have to mention... Anyone else notice the wall-to-wall crowd pictured in Assisi? Given the heavy coats I'm guessing that it was filmed during low season, and not even what they could be for an 800-year celebration during warmer months!

That list has a real mix of places! Iceland for the eclipse though, as much as I love Iceland you could not pay me to go then. Wayyyy too crowded for me. We will be going again just after that. For the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, we have not been to that specifically, but have spent a lot of time in the Brooks Range, adjacent to the Gates of the Arctic and it is a beautiful area. Very remote!

Kate, I didn't notice that about Assisi but I actually posted something about Assisi on a recent thread, and others were talking about the crowds. I was surprised, but back when I was there (2001), it wasn't that crowded. Of course, nothing was as crowded back then, and I just have to keep reminding myself of that. 😂

mikliz97, I definitely hear what you are saying about Iceland. I'm so glad I will be there the month before. You couldn't pay me to put up with those crowds!

I had to laugh....coming in at #7 is Oran, Algeria. For Casablanca fans that features in the opening scene as they are tracing the refugee route from Paris to Marseille across the Mediterranean to Oran.

Starts at 1:09 if you are interested, lol!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pYG1Vbgq0o

Interesting selections for the US. I guess I thought they were after "hidden gems" but that's not really the case. Sanibel-Captiva, Medora and other selections are well-established on the tourist route. Medora possibly less so but it's definitely known to those who are National Park enthusiasts. The Route 66 thing is interesting. I used to read the Trip Advisor Road Trips forum a lot and that is on the radar for lots of Europeans who want an adventure in the US.

Thanks so much for the post, Mardee! And for gifting the article!

Great list!

We are looking at taking the OAT India tour or going to Akron, Ohio. (Akron is closer… but I am still working on my wife for India.) Neither of these places are on the list. Hmm. I suspect anti-Akron bias!

Happy travels.

Pam, that's really interesting about the Casablanca reference. I love that movie! And one of these days, I will drive Route 66. I love the iconic nature of that highway.

David, I have India still on my list. I can't bear to take it off, and one of these days I will head there, probably on a tour and probably an OAT tour. Lane's TR made it sound really good and really interesting. With regards to Akron, all I can say is that I've driven through it and never stopped. But then I'm from Ohio, so maybe it would seem a bit more exotic to someone else. 😂

Sorry, but several of the places I wouldn't go it they paid me. Memphis and Chicago locations for sure.

I have been to at least half of these places and some are excellent.

Some of the very special places that I love:
Peru-especially Cuzco and Machu Picchu
Going through the Panama Canal
Doing a cruise around the Horn of South America from Buenos Aires to Chile.
Japan is my favorite country in E. Asia. Kyoto is special, but Nikko, Nagasaki, and more.
The museum in Taipei, Taiwan that was moved there from Bejing.
Glacier Bay in Alaska, also Denali, Alaska
The Canadian Rockies by Bus
Yellowstone Park
The Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC
Cruising the fjords in Norway all the way to the North Cape
Stratford Upon Avon and York, UK
Rome, Italy
Florence, Italy
Venice, Italy
More in Italy, but can't do it all here.
Athens, Greece, especially the Parthenon and New Acropolis Museum
The Pyramids in Egypt, also Abu Simbel, Valley of the Kings
Safari in Kenya and Tanzania during the Great Migration
Budapest, Hungary
Dubrovnik, Croatia
The Great Ocean Road, Australia and going to an opera at the Sydney Opera House.
Going to see Swan Lake in St. Petersburg, Russia by the Mariinsky Ballet.
The Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China
The Great Wall of China
Hong Kong

(...)Chicago locations for sure.

My wife and I absolutely loved Chicago. We had a fantastic time visiting downtown and the museums. The food scene is incredible.

No one ever bothered us and we never felt unsafe.

I'd go back again in a minute.

-- Mike Beebe

geovagriffith, just because you don't like it doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile to visit. Personally I love Chicago. I've been there at least seven or eight times and I'm with Mike Beebe on that one. It's a great city, and there's so much to see and do.

Also, with regards to your own list, keep in mind that the NYT has been publishing a 52 places to go list for over ten years, so there are a lot of places on previous lists. And since they don't repeat them, there's a good chance that many of the items on your list have already been published.

Mike, I also love Chicago. My sister and brother both used to live there, and when they moved away, I was crushed, although I still visit. And you're right about the food scene. Oh my gosh, I love their food. Do you watch The Bear?

Chicago is the American city I wish I knew more. I have been through lots of times but only really went once for a long weekend. I will have to rectify that some time.

Kim, you would love it! There are so many interesting parts to it.

Thank you so much for sharing this very interesting list! Algeria is somewhere I've wanted to go for a long time (altho in my mind Oran specifically will always be associated with Camus' La Peste)- I think they are reducing or perhaps removing some of the visa requirements this year. Perhaps it is the year to go.

Do you think her south of Algeria is safe....that always sounded interesting to me..

These NyTimes lists are kind of a. joke, though, but I do read them!

Look at the photo of Assisi in the article...you can barely walk that street due to the crowds!!

Did they leave out L'Aqulla, the European Capital of Culture for 2026? ( read it a few days ago..forgot all the names on the list..)

Was George Griffith commenting on the list, or listing places he's visited on a tour?

Cat, Algeria looks really interesting. I know there's a few people that have been there on this forum, but I can't remember who they are off the top of my head.

ekscrunchy, yeah, I think that's Assisi's perpetual state. I haven't been there since 2001, but I still really liked it. Of course, it wasn't as crowded back then. It would be interesting to see St. Francis of Assisi's remains, though. I don't know if I'm willing to brave the crowds to do that, but still...

Maybe go in cooler months? It's not all that cold compared to Minnesota..or New York!! I would not be good braving those crowds that I think would be inevitable in spring/summer/fall.....

Regarding Assisi- I'll just note that we went in July 2024 and while it certainly wasn't empty, it really wasn't too bad at all. It didn't look anything like as bad as the photo in the article. So if someone is considering visiting, I think they should! Another highlight of that trip for us was a tour of the Perugina chocolate factory- in case people need more Umbria ideas.

I was in Algeria twice in 2023, once for just over a week and the 2nd time just spent a couple of days in Algiers using it as a connecting point. I only visited “green Algeria” which is the area bordering the Mediterranean- went to Annaba, Constantine, Setif, Algiers and some amazing Roman ruins in Timgad, Djimila, and Tupisa. Did not have time to make it to Oran or the south which is the Sahara desert area. Parts of the Sahara are still off limits to foreigners due to the security issues.

The interesting thing is that Algeria doesn’t seem to cater to tourists since they have oil money. Lots of folks were surprised that we were visiting. It also mainly deals with small tour groups mainly from Europe. We had a bit of a tough time trying to explain to immigration that we were independent travelers and not with any tour group.

Food in Algeria is not that great - similar to other N African countries like Morocco and Tunisia. Also, there hasn’t been any recent travel guides written in English for Algeria in many years which is understandable since so few go there and is far off the beaten path.

Chicago: the Art Institute is a much-loved friend. It's been a few years since I've been back but probably have visited at least 6-7 times and it never gets old. I'm looking forward to the opening of the Obama Presidential Center too; a great reason to make a return trip.

Chicago has wonderful museums but it was definitely weird that they had snow flurries at the same time that the stores had Easter bunnies.

I have the outline of a children's literature themed trip to the UK. It includes Winnie the Pooh but there's no way I can get there this June for the 100th anniversary events. Oh well.

I had to laugh about the Chicago comments. As a native Chicagoan now transplanted to the East, I always get a lot of negative comments about it from East/West Coast folks. A co worker went for a wedding two years ago and came back raving about how great the lakefront and parks were and all the good restaurants and museums. So when people hate on Chicago, I just smile and know it’s still a nice secret to most.😎

Mardee, when you plan Uzbekistan, let me know, save me a seat.

Will do, James!

Whew! I'm so glad you posted this. We had been considering a trip to Iceland in August and now will definitely postpone to another year. :-)

Smart move, Jimbo—The daughter and I are visiting Iceland, but we're going in July, so the madness should not have arrived yet.

Great post Mardee--I thank you.
If anyone might be visiting Toronto and might also want to research 'places to visit', then move heaven and earth to get to the Reference Library at Yonge/Bloor (i.e. the hub of our city's downtown). That 6-story library is a true gem and on the Second Floor one finds its peerless Travel section: every country, every guidebook plus numerous specialty titles. Adjacent to that section is the superb Maps Room. Understand, as a reference library no-one may take books out but there is nothing to prevent you from spending a leisurely afternoon researching Uzbekistan or wherever.

Bonus: the Rare Books Room has several original edition Baedekers travel guides from the turn-of-the-century.
I am done. The end.

gregglamarsh, thanks for the information! I love Toronto and have been meaning to go back there for some time now. I used to spend a lot of time there about 20 plus years ago when I went there for work and have always loved that city. But now I have even more of a reason to go back to it. That library sounds fascinating.

Such a great montage. Thank you, Mardee, for linking it!

Thanks, jphbucks! And I think so, too. I wish there was a way to visit every place on there (supersonic travel maybe?) but sadly I'll have to settle for just a few. 😊

"Sorry, but several of the places I wouldn't go it they paid me. Memphis and Chicago locations for sure."

I agree with the positive responses defending Chicago but I would also add that for anyone interested in US Civil Rights history and/or the history of American popular music (blues, soul, rock), Memphis has interesting places to visit as well as ongoing live music on Beale Street. Historical sights I visited include the Lorraine Motel where MLK was killed, now a civil rights museum, and the Stax Records museum.

Good that Memphis is listed. I have been there once, spent 5 nights in June of 2015, an eye-opener, memorable, intriguing, very interesting.

Thanks, gregglamarsh, that is an excellent reason for me to visit Toronto--in addition to hanging out with my Canadian librarian friends up there.

I’ll join the chorus singing praises of Chicago, my hometown. World class museums, gorgeous lake front, fabulous architecture, terrific food scene. Just don’t go in the summer or in the 6 month long winter.

Well, this may be neither essential nor enlightening, but as the matter has come up in the preceding comments, I feel I should add another favorable vote for Chicago and Memphis. This doesn't mean that every visitor will like these cities, but if you're already considering either of them, continue doing so! (For those with the interest, Memphis could also be a good starting-point for US Highway 61, which goes south through the Mississippi "blues country." (Or, for a stunning contrast, after visiting the grand estate in Memphis where Elvis Presley finished, you can head south-east along US 78 to Tupelo, and see the humble house where he was born,)