30 unexpected holiday hotspots for 2026 including surprising Gothic destination
Survey suggests more than four in 10 people expect to visit somewhere unusual for them in the year aheadTransylvania and Baku are among the unexpected destinations Brits have on their top holiday wish-lists this year, according to new research.Other lesser visited places people say they plan to check out range from Rovaniemi in Finland to Panama City. And despite - or perhaps because of - US President Donald Trump threats to take over Greenland, its capital of Nuuk is also in the top 30 hotspots identified in a survey of 2,000 commissioned by TopCashback.In number spot is the Italian island of Sardinia, followed Portugal’s Madeira, then closer to home Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. The top 10 for summer getaways also includes Lapland in Finland - better known as a winter go-to - and the island of Gozo, off Malta.Transylvania in Romania, in 15th place, is perhaps best known for being home to Count Dracula, a vampire who lives in a castle in the Carpathian Mountains. But King Charles also has close links, owning a retreat there. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is another that just makes it into the top 30.In the poll, 43% said they expect to visit somewhere that would not otherwise have occurred to them as a holiday destination, showing a growing appetite for more unusual destinations.It seems to be a stronger trend among the younger generations, as 67% of Gen Zs - those born between 1997 and 2012 - specifically looking to go somewhere off the beaten track this year.But while many are searching for hidden gems to make their budget stretch further - with 24% saying cost has inspired them to seek out lesser-known destinations - the research suggests Brits don’t necessarily want the cheapest trip, they want the most rewarding one.More than two fifths (44%) are choosing a lesser-known location this year because they think it will lead to more memorable experiences, while 38% believe it will feel like more of an adventure, not just a holiday.While half said overall price is something they prioritise when booking a holiday, 80% confirmed they consider the value of a holiday to be about more than just the cost, but the experience, culture, and rewarding feeling they get in return.Adam Bullock, UK director at TopCashback, said: “Value is clearly important when booking a holiday, but it’s not always about finding the cheapest trip. For many people, value is about the joy and memories they get back from it - the kind of getaway that feels exciting and genuinely worth talking about when they return.”Top 30 travel hotspots for 2026Sardinia (Italy)Madeira (Portugal)Outer Hebrides (Scotland)Azores (Portugal)Troms (Norway)Lapland (Finland)Gozo Island (Malta)Faroe Islands (Denmark)Latvia (Northern Europe)Slovakia (Central Europe)Montenegro (Balkan region)Svalbard (Norway)Moldova (Eastern Europe)La Gomera (Canary Islands)Transylvania (Romania)Alta (Norway)Rovaniemi (Finland)Panama City (Panama)Chiang Rai (Thailand)Kiruna (Sweden)Nuuk (Greenland)North Macedonia (Central Balkans)El Hierro (Canary Islands)Bosnia & Herzegovina (Balkan Peninsula)Georgia (Caucasus region)Serbia (Southeast and Central Europe)Albania Riviera (South-western Albania)Uzbekistan (Central Asia)Belgrade (Serbia)Baku (Azerbaijan)
