Magazine travel experts Time Out published the prestigious list of the most beautiful places in the world for 2026.
The dramatic Spanish peaks sat at the top of the list Picos de Europawhich rise above medieval villages, while among the top 30 there were also unexpected architectural wonders such as a luxurious library Morgan in New York and baroque cathedrals St. John’s in Malta.
The fact that high positions were also taken by destinations in our immediate vicinity is especially pleasing. Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, with its 16 connected lakes and spectacular waterfalls, has once again confirmed its status as one of the most visited natural attractions in Europe. Right next to them is the Montenegrin one Bay of Kotorwhich experts describe as a medieval postcard framed by rugged mountains.
For lovers of the exotic, the list offers Komodo National Park in Indonesia with pink beaches, and mystical Choquequirao in Peru – the lesser-known “brother” of Machu Picchu, which can only be reached by hiking for several days. From the polar Disco Iceland in Greenland to colorful mountains Zhangye in China, this year’s selection celebrates diversity – a blend of untouched wilderness, historic cities and contemporary spa oases like Iceland’s Sky lagoons. Whether you’re looking for tranquility in Finland’s Lakeland or adrenaline on the cliffs of Big Sur, 2026 is the ideal year to explore these visual masterpieces of the planet.
The rest of this prestigious list includes the Douro wine valley, magical Ullswater, medieval Bologna, alien Capo Testa, Victoria Falls, Punakha Valley, arctic Disko Island, Welsh Brecon Beacons, iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, ancient Choquequirao, tame New Forest, mountainous Hà Giang, Finnish Lakeland, fairytale Lillafüred, authentic West Cork, Bolivian Altiplano, magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Icelandic Sky Lagoon, the mystical Highlands, the exotic Dakhla, the colorful Zhangye Mountains, the wild Storms River and the unusual Elephant Rock.
