November 6, 2025, 12:04 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Europe is full of cities and regions worth visiting repeatedly. Additionally, there are places that are currently “on the rise.” This is how the renowned travel magazine “Condé Nast Traveller” explains its selection of what it considers the best travel destinations in Europe for 2026. TRAVELBOOK presents the list—including a potentially polarizing mention from Germany.
Rome, the so-called Eternal City, is eternally beautiful. Many other destinations in Europe also attract visitors from around the world year-round. But where is something happening right now? Which places are currently in the international spotlight, perhaps due to major sporting events, extraordinary cultural projects, or new culinary concepts? And which cities and regions are particularly focused on sustainable tourism? Based on these criteria, “Condé Nast Traveller” has selected exciting travel destinations in Europe for 2026. The list was based on countries, regions, cities, and districts nominated by experts from the travel magazine’s extensive network. The editorial team then filtered out the 10 most important highlight locations—including a German metropolis that is currently “at the forefront of the design world.”
More or Less Surprising Places Included
One should not expect hidden gems from the list—it doesn’t claim to offer them. There are even places known to be affected by overtourism, such as the Greek island of Crete. It was recently officially named the European Gastronomy Region for 2026, which, alongside the opening of new, exciting hotel restaurants and a new airport, is one of the reasons for its inclusion on the list. Similarly, the Italian metropolis Milan hardly needs to be made appealing to travelers, although connoisseurs might equally appreciate the less crowded Turin. In any case, Milan will host the Winter Olympics in 2026, and according to “Condé Nast Traveller,” various design fairs and the typical “Dolce Vita” are arguments for visiting the city next year.
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Among the significantly lesser-known places from the list of the best travel destinations in Europe for 2026 is Oberkrain (Gorenjska). This is not a city but one of Slovenia’s historical landscapes. The region impresses with fairy-tale nature and charming villages that transport visitors to another world, according to “Condé Nast Traveller.” At the same time, Oberkrain focuses on cultural highlights and sustainability: A new museum for contemporary art showcases works from across Europe, while thermal spa resorts offer wellness and relaxation in a stunning natural setting.
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Frankfurt am Main Only German City on the List
The German city on the list is Frankfurt am Main (see large photo above). Known primarily as a banking metropolis, it aims to stand out next year as the World Design Capital. “More than 200 events will further blossom the city, from the Main River to districts that have developed anew in recent years,” it says in justification. The East Harbor, for example, “once a dull industrial area, now a vibrant neighborhood.”
Frankfurt am Main is also highlighted for the New Old Town, opened in 2018. There, lovingly reconstructed half-timbered houses and modern buildings form a harmonious ensemble around the Römer and the historic Fountain of Justice. In the Westend, the Jewish Academy complements the cityscape as a new center for education, culture, and exchange—a significant project for the deeply rooted Jewish community in Frankfurt. Visitors could stay in one of the newly opened hotels mentioned by “Condé Nast Traveller,” including the former traditional Grandhotel Hessischer Hof, which is set to reopen as a Taj Hotel by the end of 2025.
The 10 Best Travel Destinations in Europe for 2026
The following list shows the 10 best travel destinations in Europe for 2026, including a brief description of the reasoning by “Condé Nast Traveller”:
- Seville, Spain: new luxury hotels, creative gastronomy, and emerging cocktail bars
- Crete, Greece: European Gastronomy Region 2026, new airport project, luxurious resorts
- Peloponnese, Greece: filming location for Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey,” new hiking trails, and ancient cultural treasures.
- Milan, Italy: host of the Winter Olympics 2026, new design hotels, furniture fair Salone del Mobile.
- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France: sustainable Alpine tourism, new energy-efficient trains, opening of the Glaciorium
- Oberkrain (Gorenjska), Slovenia: Julian Alps, Lake Bled, new art and wellness centers
- Brussels, Belgium: cultural revival, new Centre-Pompidou Museum, opening of The Standard hotel.
- Frankfurt am Main, Germany: World Design Capital 2026, new hotels, Jewish Academy, vibrant food and cultural scene.
- Islay, Scotland: whisky island with new distilleries and the boutique hotel “Ardbeg House.”
- Oulu, Finland: European Capital of Culture 2026 with art and sustainability projects and sauna festivals.