Skyscanner named the most popular travel destinations for 2026.

Popular Tourist Destinations for 2026

According to The Sun: The company SKYSCANNER has published a list of the most popular tourist destinations for the coming year, with the Italian resort taking the top spot.

In first place is Salerno, which is considered a more budget-friendly alternative to the famous Amalfi Coast.

According to research data from Skyscanner, Salerno has recorded an increase in requests by 211 percent.

This followed the opening of a new airport in Salerno last year, which received a number of flights from the UK.

Impressions from Visiting Salerno

Travel editor assistant from The Sun, Sofia Sviatlowska, shared how one can travel on a budget.

“At 8:00 PM, a line forms outside Mamma Rosa, a small unassuming restaurant, the price of which is justified by the cheap wine, fresh octopus pasta, fried anchovies with fennel, and traditional Amalfi lemon dessert.”

“A Passa Duomo offers fantastic cocktails, from colorful blue Mai Tais to marshmallow-white Russians in the coolest street setting.”

In the Skyscanner study, the second place went to Koro in Palau, while the third was Kochi in Japan.

Closer to home, Bilbao in Spain is in fourth place, with its popularity having increased by 97 percent.

“Bilbao is the Spanish city that is fastest reached from the UK, with flights taking just 1 hour 45 minutes from Bristol, so it's no wonder it’s becoming increasingly popular.”

“The world-renowned Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art is the city's main attraction, featuring popular works by artists such as Richard Serra, Robert Rauschenberg, and Yayoi Kusama.”

“You can't visit Bilbao without trying pintxos — the Basque version of tapas. These exquisite snacks are served on small skewers and can be found at most bar counters.”

Other Popular Destinations for 2026

Among other popular tourist spots in 2026 are Rabat in Morocco, Akureyri in Iceland, and Rijeka in Croatia.

In addition, Skyscanner analyzed flights with the biggest price drops. Flight prices fell by 44 percent compared to the previous year.

Significantly cheaper flights to the German city of Cologne saw the biggest drop in airfare prices.

Cologne is also easy to explore on foot, and while it is famous for its Christmas markets, there are plenty of other opportunities to discover, as traveler Janine noted.

“Be sure to visit the Farina perfume museum to learn about the first modern perfume 'Cologne', which was used by Oscar Wilde and Princess Diana.”

“Or treat yourself to 12 pools, eight saunas, and three steam rooms at the famous German spa Claudius Therme.”

If you're looking for an affordable winter getaway, consider Goa in India, where flight prices have dropped by 34 percent. The beach resort has become more accessible due to new electronic visa rules allowing Brits to apply 72 hours before their flight.