Trending Trips People Are Planning Right Now
In 2026, travel planning will be heavily influenced by the demand for intentional, experience-first trips, which are mostly driven by viral moments, major events, and better value outside of the usual hot spots. Presently, two types of trips are being highlighted over and over again by the main trend forecasts: city breaks which combine “value + culture” and “nature + wellness” getaways.
Value-packed culture breaks
Travelers are not only looking at Eastern Europe for its historic cities, but also for the ones that are still offering the feeling of being less crowded and affordable as the classic Western Europe routes. The roundup of trends for 2026 has listed a number of Eastern European cities including Prague, Sofia, Krakow and Budapest as the top “trending destinations”. These kind of trips are usually planned for quick, walkable itineraries—think about food markets, old-town neighborhoods, museums, and day trips—without the sticker shock.
Nature, wellness, and “set-jetting”
The other big trend is nature travel that can be identified as a reset: mountains, beaches, and slow living where the focus is on nature and meaningful experiences. An example is American Express Travel’s 2026 trending list which ranks the Indian Himalayas at the very top, followed by Japan’s Okinawa Islands and Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula—places that have the best of both worlds: outdoors, culture, and relaxation. At the same time, the reports indicate that the demand caused by pop culture and events (from sports to viral destinations) can very rapidly push certain cities to become “must-book” places.
