If your 2027 travel calendar is still wide open, this is your sign to start dreaming.
Travelers are increasingly looking beyond the usual hotspots in favor of smaller cities, quieter beach towns and destinations that offer just as much to see and do — without feeling like everyone else had the exact same idea.
Recent travel-search data from Expedia and Skyscanner gives us a pretty good idea of where travelers are looking next. From an Italian island escape to an under-the-radar corner of Japan, these are 10 destinations worth putting on your 2027 travel list now.
1. South Lake Tahoe, California
Why it’s trending: Searches are up 195% year over year, according to Expedia.
Lake Tahoe has never exactly been a secret, but South Lake Tahoe is having a moment heading into 2027. This is one of those destinations that works in practically every season. Winter means skiing and snowy mountain views, while warmer months bring hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding and long days around that unbelievably blue alpine lake.
Add it to your list if you love: Mountain towns, skiing, hiking and trips that revolve around being outside.
The Weekend List tip: Don’t automatically think of Tahoe as a winter-only destination. A late-spring or early-fall trip could give you the scenery with a little more breathing room.
2. Vero Beach, Florida
Why it’s trending: Flight searches increased 201% year over year on Skyscanner.
If your idea of a Florida vacation involves a quiet stretch of beach rather than packed theme parks and high-rise resorts, take a look at Vero Beach.
Sitting along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, Vero offers beaches, an arts scene and that laid-back coastal feeling that can be harder to find in some of the state’s biggest vacation destinations. It’s an especially interesting option for travelers who want sunshine without planning another trip to Miami, Orlando or one of Florida’s more crowded beach towns.
Add it to your list if you love: Relaxed beach weekends, coastal towns and slower itineraries.
The Weekend List tip: This could be a great long-weekend destination when you want the beach to be the activity.
3. Olbia, Sardinia, Italy
Why it’s trending: Searches are up 143% year over year on Skyscanner.
Italy will probably always be on our travel list, but in 2027 we’re looking beyond Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast.
Enter Olbia.
Located on the island of Sardinia, Olbia is a gateway to the stunning Costa Smeralda. Think turquoise Mediterranean water, gorgeous beaches, historic streets and plenty of Italian food along the way. It’s the kind of destination that makes you wonder why you’ve been planning the same Italian itinerary over and over again.
Add it to your list if you love: Italy, beautiful beaches, Mediterranean summers and trips that require an unreasonable number of photos.
The Weekend List tip: Use Olbia as the beginning of a larger Sardinia itinerary rather than treating it as a single-city trip.
4. Da Nang, Vietnam
Why it’s trending: Searches increased 127% year over year on Skyscanner.
Da Nang manages to combine several of our favorite things about travel into one destination: beaches, incredible food, culture and easy access to other places worth exploring.
You can spend time along the coast, explore the Marble Mountains and then make your way to nearby Hoi An for its famous lantern-lit streets.
For travelers considering Southeast Asia in 2027, this is one destination worth looking at before automatically defaulting to the region’s biggest tourist hubs.
Add it to your list if you love: Food-focused travel, beaches, culture and multi-stop itineraries.
The Weekend List tip: Build Da Nang and Hoi An into the same trip. They’re close enough that you don’t have to choose between them.
5. Hyogo, Japan
Why it’s trending: Expedia reports a 95% increase in searches.
If you’ve already dreamed about Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, it’s time to add another Japanese destination to the list. Hyogo Prefecture gives you an entirely different mix of experiences. It’s home to Himeji Castle, the hot springs of Arima Onsen and Kobe — yes, that Kobe.
You get mountains, coastline, historic sites, hot springs and one very compelling food scene in the same region.
Add it to your list if you love: Japan, history, food and adding less-obvious stops to a bigger itinerary.
The Weekend List tip: If you’re planning a return trip to Japan, this is exactly the kind of destination I’d add rather than simply repeating the classic first-timer route.
6. Busan, South Korea
Why it’s trending: Expedia searches are up 50% year over year.
Seoul gets much of the attention from first-time visitors to South Korea, but Busan gives you a completely different experience.
It’s a major city with a beach-town side. You can visit temples in the morning, spend the afternoon around Haeundae Beach and finish the day eating your way through the city’s markets.
That combination makes Busan particularly interesting for travelers who have trouble deciding between a city trip and a coastal vacation.
Add it to your list if you love: Big cities, beaches, markets and destinations where food is part of the itinerary.
The Weekend List tip: Pair Busan with Seoul for a trip that shows you two very different sides of South Korea.
7. Perugia, Italy
Why it’s trending: Searches have risen 35% year over year on Expedia.
Yes, Italy gets two spots on this list. No, we’re not sorry!
Perugia sits in the heart of Umbria, and if Tuscany has been sitting on your bucket list, this may be the sign to look one region over.
The hilltop city has a medieval center, beautiful Italian countryside nearby and a food scene built around some of the things this region does exceptionally well: truffles, wine and hearty Umbrian dishes. There are also major jazz and chocolate festivals held here, which gives you a very good excuse to plan your dates strategically.
Add it to your list if you love: Small European cities, wine, food and slower Italian itineraries.
The Weekend List tip: Consider building an Umbria road trip around Perugia rather than trying to squeeze it into an already-packed Rome/Florence itinerary.
8. Bimini, Bahamas
Why it’s trending: Searches are up 150% year over year on Skyscanner.
Bimini is close to Florida but delivers the kind of water and scenery you’d expect from a much farther-flung tropical escape. Diving, snorkeling and other water-focused adventures are the obvious draws here.
It’s also the kind of place that works when the goal of the trip is simply to escape somewhere beautiful for a few days.
Add it to your list if you love: Tropical water, diving, snorkeling and quick island escapes.
The Weekend List tip: Keep this itinerary intentionally light. Bimini is not the trip where you need an activity scheduled every hour.
9. Canmore, Alberta
Why it’s trending: Expedia reports traveler interest in Canmore is up 55% year over year.
Banff gets the name recognition. Canmore deserves some attention of its own. Located in Alberta’s Bow Valley just outside Banff National Park, Canmore delivers dramatic Rocky Mountain scenery with hiking, wildlife viewing and winter activities nearby.
For travelers who want access to this spectacular part of Canada but are willing to look beyond the most obvious home base, Canmore is worth investigating.
Add it to your list if you love: National parks, mountain towns, road trips and ridiculous mountain views.
The Weekend List tip: Don’t think of Canmore as simply a place to sleep while visiting Banff. Give yourself enough time to actually explore Canmore, too.
10. Glasgow, Scotland
Why it’s trending: Searches increased 77% year over year on Skyscanner.
Edinburgh may be the first Scottish city on most travelers’ lists, but Glasgow is making a pretty convincing case for itself.
Scotland’s largest city brings together architecture, museums, live music, restaurants and nightlife — and it can also serve as a jumping-off point for exploring more of Scotland.
If you’ve been wanting a UK trip but would rather build an itinerary beyond London and Edinburgh, Glasgow gives you plenty to work with.
Add it to your list if you love: UK city breaks, music, museums, architecture and combining cities with countryside.
The Weekend List tip: Give yourself a few nights in Glasgow and then turn the trip into a larger Scottish road trip.
So, Where Are We Going in 2027?
What I love most about the destinations trending for 2027 is that they aren’t all the obvious choices. They’re places that make you reconsider a destination you thought you already knew.
Instead of another crowded Italian hotspot, maybe it’s Perugia or Sardinia. Instead of stopping your Japan itinerary with Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, maybe you add Hyogo. Instead of automatically booking Banff, maybe you stay in Canmore.
That’s exactly the kind of travel we love at The Weekend List: finding somewhere worth going and figuring out how to make the most of the time you have there.
And if one of these destinations just made its way onto your bucket list but the thought of researching hotels, flights, restaurants and everything to do once you get there sounds exhausting, that’s where we come in. The Weekend List offers custom travel planning built around your dates, budget and travel style.
Ready to start planning? Head to our Custom Travel Planning page to tell us where you’re dreaming of going!
Trend data referenced in this article comes from Expedia’s Unpack ‘27 travel report and Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2027 research. Search increases reflect each company’s reported year-over-year search data and are indicators of growing traveler interest, not forecasts of actual visitor numbers.
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