Five destinations that keep earning their place on any travel wish list in 2026 are Iceland, Turkey, Greece, Sri Lanka and Bali (Indonesia). Our original 2013 picks have all grown in popularity since, so here is what each looks like now.
| Destination | Best known for | Recent visitor figure |
|---|---|---|
| Iceland | Northern Lights, geysers, hot pools | Just under 2.3 million foreign overnight visitors in 2025 |
| Turkey | Istanbul, history, Mediterranean coast | About 52.6 million foreign tourists in 2024 |
| Greece | Islands, ancient sites, coastline | 40.7 million inbound travellers in 2024 |
| Sri Lanka | Beaches, wildlife, culture | Peak of 2.33 million arrivals in 2018 |
| Bali, Indonesia | Beaches, temples, surf | 6,948,754 international tourists in 2025 |
Iceland
Iceland is a country of extreme contrasts: geysers, waterfalls and hot pools sit beside a modern society, and the Northern Lights can be seen from many parts of the island in the dark months. Tourism has grown sharply since 2013 and accounted for 8.8% of the country’s GDP in 2025.
Turkey
Turkey offers Mediterranean beaches and sites of deep historical significance. Istanbul is a city on two continents and holds Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks including Hagia Sophia, which has been a mosque again since 2020. In 2024, Turkey was the fourth most visited country in the world.
Greece
Greece has one of the longest coastlines in Europe, 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and mountain villages a short drive from the sea. Its tourism receipts reached 21.59 billion euros in 2024.
Sri Lanka
This island south of India offers tropical forests, beaches, wildlife and cultural sites. Arrivals peaked at 2.33 million in 2018 and fell by 92% in 2020 during the pandemic. Check current figures before you plan, as recovery has continued since.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali combines beaches, nightlife, surf at Kuta and temple sunsets, with a growing high-end villa and resort scene on the Bukit peninsula. For more, see 15 places to enjoy luxurious sunshine in Bali and where celebrities go in Bali.
Keep reading
- Luxurious places to enjoy in Bali: the next step if Bali is on your list
- Where celebrities holiday in Bali: a different view of the same island
- Mindsets travel teaches you: how a trip changes your thinking
FAQ
Which destination gets the most visitors of the five?
Turkey, with about 52.6 million foreign tourists in 2024, ahead of Greece at 40.7 million.
Where can you see the Northern Lights?
Iceland is one of the best-known places, in the dark months of the year.
How many people visited Bali in 2025?
6,948,754 international tourists, up 9.72% on 2024.
Is Hagia Sophia a museum?
No. It was a museum from 1935 to 2020 and is now a mosque.
Has Sri Lanka tourism recovered?
Arrivals peaked at 2.33 million in 2018 and dropped 92% in 2020. Check current figures for the latest recovery.
How we put this list together
We kept our five original destinations and refreshed each with the latest visitor figures from public tourism data. Figures are dated by year, and the picks are our editorial choice.
Last updated: October 2026.
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