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Savvy vacationers know that essentially the most rewarding discoveries typically emerge from trying past the apparent. From trending ‘it’ locations to flashy resort openings to a seemingly unending feed of ‘better of’ lists—we’re inundated with choices and spoiled for alternative. So the place to go subsequent?
You’d be forgiven if none of those areas are in your 2026 journey bingo card—but. But these 4 locations deserve a second search for their distinctive design credentials and burgeoning inventive scenes. The cherry on high? Each boasts a wonderful design-led property that opened throughout the final two years.
Genoa, Italy
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Genoa was as soon as the powerhouse of the Mediterranean, rivaling Venice as a maritime republic. Today as one strolls through the narrow caruggi—Genoese for the alleyways winding through the city center—it’s hard to tell if Genoa is falling apart or being put back together, and therein lies the beauty. This is a city that hasn’t been sanitized for general tourist consumption.
The city’s approach to preserving architectural heritage while integrating modern design sensibilities offers a masterclass in thoughtful urban development. A long-awaited high-speed rail line, scheduled to begin partial service in 2026, will dramatically improve access to this overlooked maritime capital.
Genoa’s creative renaissance centers around the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli system – grand palazzos that when hosted visiting dignitaries. Today, these are being reimagined by up to date Italian designers who perceive that genuine luxurious does not require ranging from scratch. Lorenzo Bagnara’s store Via Garibaldi 12 exemplifies this evolution: a Sixteenth-century palazzo the place unique frescoes and gilded moldings function backdrop to Kartell furnishings and Ginori tableware.
For panoramic views solely Mother Nature can design, take the historic Zecca-Righi funicular to its last cease—the views over the sprawling port and Apennine foothills remind you why this metropolis commanded maritime empires.
Stay: Palazzo Durazzo (opened 2023), itself one of many historic Palazzi dei Rolli relationship to the Seventeenth century. Owner-architect Emanuela Brignone Cattaneo and designer Cesare Barro spent seven years finishing the painstaking renovation of this 12-suite stunner. The latest addition is two-bedroom Gli Ambasciatori, with views over the historic middle and glimpses of the ocean and the Lanterna lighthouse.
Nice, France
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Gone are the times when Nice was considered merely as an arrival airport and gateway to glitzier spots alongside the Côte d’Azur. Over the previous few years Nice has emerged as a fascinating vacation spot in its personal proper.
Historic Vieux Nice pulses with genuine Niçois tradition, that includes slim cobblestone streets and colourful baroque buildings. Creative vitality buzzes in La Libération neighborhood—Nice’s reply to New York’s Brooklyn—where independent boutiques, local restaurants, and wine bars create an authentic counterpoint to the more clichéd Riviera scene along the picturesque Promenade des Anglais.
Nice’s design credentials extend beyond art into architecture and urban planning. Studio Libeskind’s sculptural ICONIC growth showcases how town embraces daring up to date design whereas respecting its Belle Époque heritage.
The metropolis’s place makes it a perfect base for design pilgrimages: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin for Le Corbusier’s Cabanon; Saint-Paul-de-Vence for Josep Lluís Sert’s Fondation Maeght; and, in close by Vence, Matisse’s masterpiece Chapelle du Rosaire – which the artist himself known as his ‘crowning achievement.’
Stay: Hôtel du Couvent, opened in summer season 2024, occupies a superbly restored Seventeenth-century convent the place up to date French design sensibilities meet monastic tranquility. The property exemplifies the brand new Nice aesthetic: subtle restraint with surprising moments of visible drama.
Cairo, Egypt
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There’s a sure buzz about Cairo as of late that is unimaginable to disclaim. An worldwide group of creatives and entrepreneurs have taken discover. This transformation extends from the galleries of leafy Zamalek—the place areas like Tintera showcase images and rising artists—to the rebirth of downtown Cairo itself.
Cairo is a metropolis the place Twenty first-century creativity coexists with millennia of architectural historical past. In a megalopolis of 23 million, realizing the place to focus turns into important. The inventive momentum facilities round downtown’s Khedival Cairo district, the place Belle Époque and Art Deco buildings are being transformed into hybrid spaces combining retail, hospitality and cultural programming.
What makes Cairo particularly compelling now is its emergence as a creative hub for the broader Middle East and Africa region, attracting designers, artists and cultural entrepreneurs who see opportunity in the city’s unique position between tradition and modernity.
Stay: Immobilia Cairo, curated by hospitality platform Egypt Beyond, is a collection of apartments in the city’s first skyscraper—a 1930s Art Deco landmark. Each residence retains original details while being filled with historic antiques and art from Cairo’s leading galleries. Private terraces offer downtown views, while services include insider access to the city’s best cultural experiences.
Northern Beaches, Australia
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This isolation has fostered a community of architects, designers, and makers developing a distinctly Northern Beaches aesthetic: raw natural materials, indoor-outdoor living and relaxed sophistication that feels effortless yet considered.
Newport exemplifies this evolution, where warehouse spaces have transformed into studios for furniture makers and ceramic artists. Meanwhile, Avalon’s main street features independent stores like Maker & Monger, the place Australia-made homewares replicate the area’s dedication to craftsmanship over mass manufacturing.
Stay: Jonah’s at Whale Beach reopened 2024 after intensive renovation. The transformation by Sydney-based Hecker Guthrie honors the location’s Nineteen Thirties heritage whereas creating completely up to date lodging. Each of 11 rooms options customized native furnishings, floor-to-ceiling home windows framing Pacific Ocean views and locally-sourced supplies connecting company to this outstanding shoreline’s distinctive character.
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