Where to Travel in 2027: 20 Places and Moments Worth Booking Now

Some years are just another year on the calendar. 2027 is not one of them. There is a total solar eclipse that will turn day into night over the temples of Egypt, a holy year that only comes around a handful of times a century, and anniversaries that have been 150, 300 and even 1,000 years in the making.

This is my guide to where to travel in 2027: the big moments worth planning a trip around, followed by the classic destinations everyone wants to visit next year. If you like to be somewhere when it matters, rather than a year after everyone else, this is your list.

Event trips book out early, so if something here catches your eye, start planning now.

At a Glance: Where to Travel in 2027

Best once-in-a-lifetime moment: Luxor, Egypt, for the total solar eclipse
Best for a meaningful journey: Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for the Holy Year
Best for history lovers: Normandy, France, for 1,000 years of William the Conqueror
Best for a road trip: Big Sur, California, as the Pacific Coast Highway reopens
Best for celebrations: Jaipur, India, turning 300
Best for a European summer: London, for Wimbledon’s 150th
Best classic summer: The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Best honeymoon: The Maldives

The 2027 Travel Calendar: Dates to Know

When	What	Where
All year	Jacobean Holy Year (Xacobeo)	Santiago de Compostela, Spain
All year	Millennium 2027: 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror	Normandy, France
All year	Jaipur’s 300th anniversary	Jaipur, India
14–18 January	Jaipur Literature Festival (20th edition)	Jaipur, India
19 March – 26 September	GREEN×EXPO 2027	Yokohama, Japan
Late March – early April	Cherry blossom season	Japan
Late June – mid-July	The 150th anniversary Championships	Wimbledon, London
2 July	Tour de France Grand Départ	Edinburgh, Scotland
July – November	Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale	Niigata, Japan
2 August	Total solar eclipse	Spain, Morocco, North Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

The Big Moments of 2027

These are the trips with a date attached: events, anniversaries and natural phenomena that make 2027 the year to go.

1. Luxor, Egypt: The Eclipse of the Century

Why 2027: A total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 | When to go: Arrive a few days before 2 August; October to April for cooler temperatures | Best for: Bucket-list travellers, history lovers, anyone who wants a story for the rest of their life

The moment: Luxor sits almost directly beneath one of the longest total solar eclipses of the century, with roughly six minutes and 20 seconds of totality and near-certain clear skies. Watching the sky go dark over the temples of the Nile is about as extraordinary as travel gets.

How to do it: Start in Cairo with the Grand Egyptian Museum, take the Guardian of the Nile sleeper train south to Luxor, and finish with a slow Nile cruise to Aswan.

Good to know: August in Luxor is fiercely hot, often above 40°C. Plan early mornings, long lunches and afternoons by the pool, and book eclipse week as soon as you can.

I cannot think of a more dramatic reason to travel in 2027. Luxor is already one of the great open-air museums of the world, with the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temple all within easy reach. On 2 August 2027, it becomes the best seat on earth for the sky’s greatest show.

2. Andalucía, Spain: The Eclipse in Europe

Why 2027: The same eclipse crosses the southern tip of Spain | When to go: 2 August for the eclipse; April to June and September to October otherwise | Best for: Food lovers, Europe-based travellers, a summer holiday with a twist

The moment: Around four and a half minutes of totality near Tarifa, the longest anywhere in Spain, with the coast of Morocco just across the water.

How to do it: Base yourself in Marbella, Seville or the white villages, then drive down early on eclipse day. The beachside Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia would make an unforgettable place to watch.

Good to know: Tarifa is small and will be very busy on 2 August. Book early and plan your route in advance.

If Egypt feels like a stretch, southern Spain gives you the eclipse with a side of tapas, sherry and long summer evenings. It is the most accessible place in Europe to see it, and a perfect excuse for an Andalucían summer.

3. Santiago de Compostela, Spain: The Holy Year

Why 2027: 2027 is a Jacobean Holy Year, which only happens when the Feast of St James on 25 July falls on a Sunday | When to go: April, May, late September and October for milder weather and fewer crowds | Best for: Walkers, slow travellers, anyone looking for a meaningful journey

The moment: The cathedral’s Holy Door opens for the whole year, and pilgrims arrive from all over the world to walk the Camino. The next Holy Year after this is not until 2032.

How to do it: You only need to walk the final 100 kilometres to earn your Compostela. The Portuguese Camino and Camino Inglés are quieter than the famous Camino Francés, and there are wonderful paradores and country hotels along the way.

Good to know: The Camino is already at record numbers, and 2027 will be busier still. Book accommodation along your route well ahead.

Walking the Camino is one of those trips that stays with people for the rest of their lives, whether they walk it for faith, for fitness or simply for the joy of a long walk. Doing it in a Holy Year gives the arrival into Santiago an extra sense of occasion.

Finish with a few days in Galicia, eating your way through seafood, Albariño and the coastline of the Rías Baixas.

4. Normandy, France: 1,000 Years of William the Conqueror

Why 2027: Millennium 2027 marks 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror, with more than 1,000 events | When to go: June for the Viking-style flotilla; May to September otherwise | Best for: History lovers, food lovers, a long weekend from Paris or London

The moment: Normandy is calling 2027 the European Year of the Normans, with a flotilla of Viking-style ships in June and a special showing of the Bayeux Tapestry’s “missing scene” at Falaise, William’s birthplace.

How to do it: Combine Bayeux, Falaise and Mont-Saint-Michel with a few days on the coast at Honfleur and Deauville. Normandy is an easy train ride from Paris.

Good to know: The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is being renovated, with completion expected by late 2027, so check what is open before you go.

Normandy is one of my favourite parts of France for a slower kind of trip: cider orchards, butter-rich food, half-timbered towns and the wild Atlantic coastline. 2027 gives it a story worth travelling for.

Starting in Paris? Here are 50 things you must do in Paris.

5. London, England: Wimbledon at 150

Why 2027: Wimbledon celebrates 150 years since the first Championships in 1877 | When to go: Late June to mid-July | Best for: Tennis lovers, first-time and fiftieth-time visitors to London

The moment: The 2027 Championships mark 150 years of the oldest tennis tournament in the world, with celebrations planned across the grounds, including a statue of Sir Andy Murray.

How to do it: Enter the public ballot or join the famous Queue for tickets, or book hospitality for guaranteed seats. Combine it with an English summer of garden parties, picnics and long evenings.

Good to know: Hotels in Wimbledon and central London will fill quickly over the fortnight. Book as soon as dates are confirmed.

There is nothing quite like London in summer, and Wimbledon is the most quintessentially British event on the calendar. Strawberries and cream, Pimm’s, and the hush of Centre Court: the 150th will be one to remember.

6. Scotland: The Tour de France and Dark Skies

Why 2027: The Tour de France begins in Edinburgh, and the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory opens | When to go: June to September | Best for: Road-trippers, stargazers, cycling fans

The moment: On 2 July 2027, the Tour de France’s Grand Départ leaves Edinburgh for Carlisle. Later that summer, the new Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is expected to open in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the darkest places in Britain.

How to do it: Spend a few days in Edinburgh, then road-trip south through the Borders to Dumfries and Galloway, where Caerlaverock Castle marks its 750th anniversary in 2027.

Good to know: Edinburgh will be busy around the Grand Départ, and again in August for the festivals. Book early either way.

Scotland is at its most magical in summer, when the light seems to go on forever. 2027 gives you a reason to see more than Edinburgh and the Highlands, and to head south to a part of the country many travellers miss.

7. Jaipur, India: The Pink City Turns 300

Why 2027: Jaipur celebrates its 300th anniversary | When to go: October to March | Best for: Culture lovers, design lovers, first-time visitors to India

The moment: The Pink City was founded in 1727, and 2027 marks three centuries of palaces, bazaars and craftsmanship. The Jaipur Literature Festival celebrates its 20th edition from 14 to 18 January.

How to do it: Stay in a palace hotel, then travel on to Udaipur, Jodhpur or a tiger safari at Ranthambore.

Good to know: January is peak season for Jaipur, and the literature festival fills the city. Book well ahead.

Jaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in the world for anyone who loves colour, textiles and design. Its 300th year will be one long celebration.

8. Japan: Blossoms, Gardens and Art

Why 2027: GREEN×EXPO in Yokohama and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in Niigata | When to go: Late March to early April for cherry blossoms; July to November for the Triennale | Best for: Food lovers, culture seekers, design lovers

The moment: GREEN×EXPO 2027, an international horticultural expo, runs in Yokohama from 19 March to 26 September 2027. In the countryside of Niigata, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale fills villages, schools and tunnels with art from July to November.

How to do it: Combine Tokyo and Yokohama with a few days in Niigata, then head west to Hyogo, which Expedia has named one of 2027’s fastest-rising destinations, for Himeji Castle and the hot springs of Kinosaki Onsen.

Good to know: Cherry blossom season books out a year ahead. If you want spring 2027, book now.

Japan never disappoints, and 2027 gives you reasons to go beyond the Tokyo–Kyoto route that most first-time visitors follow.

9. Big Sur, California: The Pacific Coast Highway Reopens

Why 2027: The Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur reopens after a three-year closure | When to go: April to October | Best for: Road-trippers, couples, nature lovers

The moment: One of the world’s great drives is back. Highway 1 along Big Sur has been closed since landslides in 2023, and the full route is set to reopen.

How to do it: Drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles over five to seven days, with nights in Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Barbara. Laguna Beach celebrates its centennial as an artists’ colony in 2027, too.

Good to know: Book Big Sur’s handful of cliffside hotels as early as possible. There are very few rooms, and demand will be high.

This is the road trip I recommend more than any other in the United States: redwoods, cliffs and the Pacific crashing below. It is one of the prettiest road trips in the world, especially if you have time to travel all the way from San Francisco down to Los Angeles, making every stop along the way. My top pick? Carmel-by-the-Sea.

The Classics: Where Everyone Wants to Go in 2027

Not every great trip needs a once-in-a-lifetime event. These are the destinations that top wish lists year after year, and for good reason. If 2027 is the year you finally tick one off, here is how to do it well.

10. Paris, France

Why 2027: The city everyone wants to see, now more than ever thanks to the Emily in Paris effect | When to go: April to June and September to October; December for Christmas | Best for: First-time visitors, couples, food and fashion lovers

The moment: There is no city quite like Paris in spring, when the chestnut trees are in bloom and every café terrace is full.

How to do it: Stay in Saint-Germain or Le Marais, and pair Paris with a few days in Normandy for the Millennium celebrations.

Good to know: Book popular restaurants and the Louvre in advance, and visit the big sights early in the morning.

I have been to Paris more times than I can count, and it gets better every time. Whether it is your first visit or your fiftieth, there is always another neighbourhood, café or hidden courtyard to discover.

11. The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Why 2027: The ultimate Italian summer, and still one of the most-searched trips in the world | When to go: May, June and September | Best for: Honeymooners, couples, la dolce vita

The moment: Lemon groves, cliffside villages and long lunches overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.

How to do it: Base yourself in Positano or Ravello, take a boat to Capri, and finish with a few nights in Rome.

Good to know: July and August are very busy and very hot. Shoulder season is far more pleasant.

The Amalfi Coast is the Italian summer of everyone’s dreams, and it lives up to the hype. Nothing beats arriving into Positano by boat.

12. Santorini and the Greek Islands

Why 2027: Greece remains Europe’s favourite summer escape | When to go: May, June and September | Best for: Couples, island-hoppers, sunset chasers

The moment: Whitewashed villages, blue domes and sunsets over the caldera.

How to do it: Combine Santorini with a quieter island such as Milos, Paros or Sifnos, and add Mykonos if you want the party.

Good to know: Santorini gets crowded when cruise ships are in. Stay in Imerovigli or Oia and explore early and late in the day.

The Greek islands never go out of style. Island-hopping by ferry is one of the great European summers.

13. Tuscany and Umbria, Italy

Why 2027: Perugia is one of Expedia’s rising destinations for 2027 | When to go: May, June, September and October | Best for: Food and wine lovers, slow travellers, villa holidays

The moment: Rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, hilltop towns and some of Italy’s best food and wine.

How to do it: Rent a villa or stay at a countryside estate, and explore Florence, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Perugia and Assisi.

Good to know: Hire a car. The best of Tuscany and Umbria is found in the countryside, not the cities.

Tuscany is the Italy of postcards, and neighbouring Umbria gives you the same beauty with fewer crowds. Spend a week between the two and you will understand why so many people never want to leave.

14. The French Riviera and Monaco

Why 2027: Monaco searches have soared since Emily in Paris announced it would film there | When to go: May to June and September | Best for: Glamour seekers, couples, set-jetters

The moment: Pastel towns, superyachts and that Mediterranean light.

How to do it: Base yourself in Nice, Antibes or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and explore Èze, Villefranche and Monaco.

Good to know: Prices peak during the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival in May.

The Riviera is the most glamorous stretch of coastline in Europe, and set-jetting is one of 2027’s biggest trends.

15. Iceland

Why 2027: The northern lights and the land of fire and ice | When to go: September to March for the northern lights; June to August for the midnight sun | Best for: Adventurers, photographers, road-trippers

The moment: Waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches and, in winter, the northern lights.

How to do it: Drive the Ring Road over 10 days, or base yourself in Reykjavík and do the Golden Circle and South Coast.

Good to know: Weather changes quickly. Build buffer days into your plans, especially in winter.

Iceland is one of the most dramatic places I have ever travelled. There is nowhere quite like it.

16. Bali, Indonesia

Why 2027: Still one of the world’s most-loved islands | When to go: April to October (the dry season) | Best for: Wellness travellers, couples, families

The moment: Rice terraces, temples, beach clubs and some of the best-value luxury in the world.

How to do it: Split your stay between Ubud for culture and wellness and Uluwatu or Seminyak for the beach.

Good to know: Traffic can be slow. Choose one or two bases rather than moving every night.

Bali was one of the first places I fell in love with, and it still has a magic that keeps travellers coming back.

17. The Maldives

Why 2027: The world’s favourite honeymoon | When to go: December to April | Best for: Honeymooners, divers, anyone who needs to switch off

The moment: Overwater villas, house reefs and nothing to do but rest.

How to do it: Choose your atoll for the experience you want, from manta rays in Baa Atoll to whale sharks in South Ari.

Good to know: Seaplane transfers add time and cost, so factor them into your budget.

There is nowhere quite like the Maldives for that feeling of total escape. It is the honeymoon destination for a reason.

18. Dubai, UAE

Why 2027: One of the world’s most-visited cities, and still raising the bar | When to go: November to March | Best for: Winter sun, luxury lovers, families, stopovers

The moment: Desert, beach and some of the most spectacular hotels in the world, all within a short drive.

How to do it: Spend a few days on the beach, a night in the desert, and add Abu Dhabi for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Good to know: Summer is extremely hot. Visit between November and March.

Having lived in Dubai, I know first-hand there is so much more to it than the skyline. It is the perfect winter sun escape.

19. New York City, USA

Why 2027: The city that never goes out of style | When to go: April to June and September to December | Best for: City lovers, food lovers, Christmas trips

The moment: Broadway, museums, bagels and the energy of the greatest city in the world.

How to do it: Stay downtown for character or uptown for the classics, and spend at least one day simply walking.

Good to know: December is magical but expensive. Early December gives you the lights without peak prices.

New York is a city I return to again and again, and there is always something new to discover.

20. Safari in Botswana and South Africa

Why 2027: An African safari tops more bucket lists than almost any other trip | When to go: June to October for the dry season; July is my favourite | Best for: Wildlife lovers, honeymooners, families

The moment: The Big Five, sundowners on the savannah and nights under the stars.

How to do it: Combine a few nights in the Okavango Delta with a private game reserve in South Africa, then finish in Cape Town.

Good to know: The best camps book out a year or more ahead, so enquire early.

I fell in love with safari on my very first trip to Africa, and Botswana remains my favourite. There is nowhere as raw and real. Pair it with Cape Town and the Winelands for the perfect trip.

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in Botswana

Also Trending for 2027: Under-the-Radar Picks

Busan, South Korea: a seaside city of markets, beaches and temples, and one of Expedia’s rising destinations.
Punta del Este, Uruguay: South America’s chicest beach town.
Okinawa, Japan: Lonely Planet’s pick for an island side of Japan.
Tsavo, Kenya: red-earth savannahs and huge elephant herds without the crowds.
Holbox, Mexico: a car-free island with bioluminescent water.
Sedona, Arizona: red rocks and wellness retreats.
South Lake Tahoe, USA: the year’s most-searched rising destination.

How to Plan Your 2027 Trip

Book event trips first. The eclipse, the Holy Year, Wimbledon and cherry blossom season will be the first to sell out.
Travel in shoulder season. May, June and September give you most of the summer with fewer crowds across Europe.
Go a little further. The trending places are often one stop beyond the famous one: Umbria instead of Tuscany, Busan instead of Seoul, Tsavo after the Mara.
Think in pairs. Cairo and Luxor, Paris and Normandy, Tokyo and Niigata. Pairing a big moment with a slower escape gives you the best of both.
Stay flexible. Event dates and programmes are still being confirmed, so book flexible rates where you can.

Where to Travel in 2027: FAQs

What is the best place to travel in 2027?

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Luxor in Egypt for the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027. For culture, Normandy, Santiago de Compostela and Jaipur all have major anniversaries.

Where can I see the 2027 solar eclipse?

The path of totality crosses southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. Luxor has one of the longest durations of totality on land and some of the clearest skies.

Why is 2027 a Camino Holy Year?

A Jacobean Holy Year happens when the Feast of St James on 25 July falls on a Sunday. It happens around 14 times a century, and the next one after 2027 is in 2032.

What are the trending destinations for 2027?

Expedia’s rising destinations include South Lake Tahoe, Hyogo, Punta del Este, Sedona, Busan, Holbox and Perugia. Perennial favourites remain Paris, the Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Bali, the Maldives and Dubai.

When should I book a 2027 trip?

Now. Event-driven trips book out early, and the best rooms always go first.

So, Where Should You Travel in 2027?

If I could choose only one trip, it would be Luxor for the eclipse, followed by a slow Nile cruise. For something meaningful, walk the last stretch of the Camino in a Holy Year. And if you want a classic, you cannot go wrong with the Amalfi Coast, the Maldives or a safari in Botswana.

Wherever you go, start planning now. The best of 2027 will be booked well before the year begins.

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Brooke Saward

Brooke is a Tasmanian-born writer and professional baker who started World of Wanderlust in 2013 and has since travelled to 86 countries. These days her guides focus on what she knows best: the bakeries, hotels and places worth crossing the world for.

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