Travel publication Lonely Planet has released its list of the 25 best destinations for 2026, with an Irish hot spot landing in at number five.
The wide-ranging list suggests adventurers enjoy the "breezy coastal living" of Phuket, the "Bronze Age stone structures" of Sardinia, and the "legendary" apples of Tipperary.
Naming it as the ultimate travel destination for hiking, history, and food, Lonely Planet describes Tipperary as a haven for nature lovers.
Recommending the Glen of Aherlow for its "ridiculously scenic valley flanked by the Galtee Mountains and Slievenamuck", the writers list hiking, fishing, swimming and horseback as some of the best ways to enjoy the striking views of the valley.
Meanwhile, history lovers are recommended to visit the 12th-century Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle, as well as the historic passages in Mitchelstown Cave.
Food and drink were also mentioned in Tipperary's favour, with apple tarts, Bulmer's cider, Cashel Blue cheese, O'Donnells crisps, and Blanco Niño tortillas all getting a mention, as well as local pubs like Thatch in Cloneen and Jim of the Mills.
The 25 Best Destinations in 2026
- Maine, USA
- Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Réunion, Africa
- Finland, Europe
- Tipperary, Ireland
- Peru, South America
- Cádiz, Spain
- Botswana, Africa
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala
- Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Utrecht, Netherlands
- Barbados, Caribbean
- British Colombia, Cananda
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, USA
- Sardinia, Italy
- Jeju-Do, South Korea
- Quy Nhon, Vietnam
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phuket, Thailand
- Ikaria-Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia
- North Island, New Zealand/Aotearoa
- Tunisia, Africa
- Solomon Islands, Oceania
