Cork Named Because the High Rising Travel Vacation spot for 2026, In keeping with KAYAK

Sure, it’s all the time useful telling your friends the place you intend to journey this yr and having numerous Google Maps folders of tried and examined eating places and bars despatched to you, however if you wish to go someplace that seems like a totally undiscovered vacation spot, KAYAK has acquired simply the factor. 

The journey search engine did some digging and produced its second annual ‘What the Future’ report, which discovered that 71 p.c of Gen Z and 75 p.c of Millennials are craving ‘undiscovered destinations’. The report is predicated on group knowledge from TikTok, and the checklist of locations that can supposedly be common this yr is definitely intriguing. 

Topping it’s the pleasant Irish metropolis of Cork, which is the nation’s second most populous hub and arguably the extra laidback, cooler youthful sibling to Dublin. It’s splendidly walkable and stuffed with sensible locations to eat, unofficially referred to as Ireland’s culinary capital, in addition to a handy base for mountain climbing within the county – Gougane Barra and the Sheep’s Head Peninsula are each value packing your strolling boots for. 

Head to the town for Cork Fringe Festival on May 8-10 and luxuriate in all of the theatre and comedy going down throughout the town, in addition to its smattering of correct, quintessential Irish pubs – The Mutton Lane Inn and Coughlan’s are a few landmark choices, however there are a lot to discover. 

Claiming second and third place in response to KAYAK are two Chinese locations: Chongqing, a metropolis on the Yungui plateau which is neglected by mountains and is a hub of each historical and fashionable Chinese historical past, and Harbin in northeastern China, which is house to numerous Russian structure and the world’s largest ice sculpture pageant. In fifth place can also be Shenzhen, a Unesco City of Design. Scroll on to take a look at KAYAK’s high 10 rising locations in full.

These are the ten high rising locations, in response to KAYAK

1. Cork, Ireland
2. Chongqing, China
3. Harbin, China
4. Zakynthos, Greece
5. Shenzhen, China
6. Almaty, Kazakhstan
7. Hilo (Big Island), Hawaii, USA
8. Noumea, New Caledonia
9. La Romana, Dominican Republic
10. Luxembourg

📍 Check out Time Out’s roundups of the most underrated locations in Europe and the world, for extra 2026 journey inspiration. 

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