Time Out Editors On The Finest European Travel Locations For 2026

At Time Out Travel, it’s our job not solely to point out you all of the good issues to eat, drink, see and do in mega-destinations like London, Paris, Berlin and Rome, but in addition to shine a lightweight on the ignored locations that are nicely worthy of simply as a lot consideration. 

That’s why, at the start of every 12 months, we name on our worldwide community of educated editors and ask them the place they’re excited to journey to this 12 months – and share the record with you, after all. 

For 2026, our annual roundup options UNESCO’s soon-to-be-crowned World Book Capital, Rabat, the grand opening of a brand-new pedestrian suspension bridge in Aoraki/Mount Cook in New Zealand, and Central Vietnam, made extra accessible than ever earlier than due to a surge in worldwide flights. 

But, the place are we heading in Europe? Well, in accordance with Time Out’s journey editor Grace Beard, Hamburg ought to be in your radar. Germany’s second metropolis is already a longtime, culture-packed metropolis, however new additions just like the brand-new UBS Digital Art Museum (from Tokyo’s teamLabs) together with a state-of-the-art opera home in HafenCity, plus reinvented wartime bunkers and glossy new lakeside resorts, means 2026 is a very good time to soak all of it up. 

Over within the UK, Cirencester, which boasts ‘an elegant collision of architectural styles, bags of Roman history at the Corinium Museum and the Amphitheatre, fabulous shopping options at the markets, a solid roster of pubs and restaurants,’ is one on your 2026 bucket record, in accordance with Time Out’s UK information editor Ed Cunningham. 

Global movie editor Phil de Semlyen compels you to go to Favignana, a titchy island 18km off Sicily’s west coast and the backdrop of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey, earlier than all people else does. ‘The eye-rubbingly beautiful beaches and cyan seas are just as cinematic IRL, while the hinterland is full of rustic charm. Our tip? Get there before the set-jetting crowds descend.’

Lastly, the cosier youthful cousin to Stockholm, Gothenburg, is Europe guides editor Ella Doyle’s advice on your 2026 journey plans. It’s acquired simply as a lot tasty meals, quirky and intriguing cultural areas and Scandi fashion because the capital, plus the brand-new Paradox Museum, road meals market Vassen and wonderful Way Out West competition (which has Lorde, The Cure and the Gorillaz on its 2026 lineup). 

More European journey in 2026

On a finances this 12 months? Check out our newly revamped record of Europe’s finest low-cost metropolis breaks, from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Hungary, Greece and the UK. Elsewhere, we’ve acquired guides for Europe’s finest highway journeys, music festivals and brand-new practice routes to get enthusiastic about this 12 months. Happy travels!

Check out the total record of the place Time Out’s editors will likely be travelling to in 2026. 

Did you see that a shocking new modern artwork gallery has simply opened on this Asian capital?

Plus: The new vacationer taxes and prices throughout Europe to find out about in 2026.

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