9 Best Places to Visit in Europe

Europe’s calling. And 2026 might just be the year you answer.

We combed through the destinations that top publications have tipped as the best places to visit in Europe this year. Then we added our own local knowledge to the mix. And there's a clear pattern: travellers are moving away from the usual hotspots and seeking out underrated destinations.

There’s even a name for it now: “quiet travel”. It’s about slowing down, dodging the hustle and bustle, and giving yourself time to actually be somewhere – not just pass through.

This is your shortcut to the best European countries to visit this year. A mix of classics, wild corners, and places where you’ll want to slow your pace. Let’s dive in.

• Explore Europe your way with these Nordic Visitor tours

1. Iceland

Iceland never seems to lose its pull. Volcanic. Windswept. Occasionally hostile. Often breathtaking.

Black sand beaches that stretch into the distance. Glaciers that crack and groan. Geothermal pools that steam into cold air while you float, weightless, somewhere between earth and sky. It’s theatre.

Forbes predicts Iceland will remain one of the top destinations for travellers who’re after natural beauty, adventure, and contemplation. And honestly? The hype is justified.

Want the northern lights? Go in winter. Chase them across the Westfjords or into the highlands. The further you go from Reykjavík’s glow, the clearer their dance will be.

After the midnight sun? Summer’s your window. That’s when Iceland’s highland roads open up, revealing a wilderness that feels raw and otherworldly.

And then there’s 12 August 2026. A total solar eclipse will sweep across Iceland, plunging parts of the country into darkness for a few extraordinary moments. Iceland’s last total eclipse was in 1954 – so for most of us, this really is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

UNESCO also recognised something close to Iceland’s heart this year: its swimming pool culture. Here, local pools are social anchors – places to warm up, unwind, and share moments with friends and family. They’re as much a part of the landscape as the mountains and hot springs.

• Start sketching your next trip with these bestselling Iceland tours
• Related: Iceland solar eclipse 2026 – Your guide

2. Italy

Northern Italy is having a moment. Milan, along with Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, will co-host the Winter Olympics in February.

But even without the fanfare, this region delivers. Alpine beauty, Italian elegance, world-class food – it’s all here.

And speaking of food, Italian cuisine just made history.

Towards the end of 2025, it became the first national gastronomy to earn UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status. Not a single dish, but the whole tradition: the Sunday lunches, the recipes passed down through generations, the ritual of sitting down together. If you needed another reason to eat your way through Italy, there it is.

National Geographic‘s best-of-the-world round-up encourages you to spend your days in the Dolomites for jaw-dropping scenery and outdoor adventures year-round. Conde Nast Traveller describes Milan as “underestimated”, begging you to venture into the metropolis for inventive restaurants and “nuanced culture”.

In summer, places like Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy give you that Mediterranean warmth without flying to a Greek island. Same sun. Fewer visitors. Better cheese.

• Get the inside track on big-hitters like Rome, Florence and Milan with our Italy tours
• Related: Best time to visit Italy – Your guide

3. Scotland

Among the 2026 travel trends, Scotland has been among Europe’s best, especially for solo travellers. But there’s more to it than that.

There’s the way the wind cuts across Rannoch Moor. The way Edinburgh’s cobbled closes smell of stone and barley. The way a local will call you “pal” before you’ve even sat down in the pub.

Take a road trip through the Highlands. Watch the weather change moods like a cat deciding whether it likes you (or not). Drive into Glen Coe and feel the quiet settle into your ribs.

Try a little Haggis, if you’re brave. Cullen skink, a smoked haddock chowder, will warm you from the inside out. And if you’re on Skye or any of the other islands, try the seafood. Oysters, langoustines, scallops – straight from the water, simply prepared, incredibly fresh.

Scotland is ancient, dramatic, and occasionally damp – but never dull.

• Meet these famous landscapes on a Scotland trip
• Related: Best group tours in Europe for solo travellers

4. Ireland

Ireland’s got soul. The kind you feel when you’re sitting in a pub, and someone starts playing a fiddle, and suddenly the whole room is singing along.

It's green, yes. Comically so. But it's also rugged, salt-worn, and full of stories.

Why should you go? Well, Lonely Planet put County Tipperary on its must-visit list for 2026. It’s a reminder that the best moments often happen off the beaten path.

The Rock of Cashel draws the eye first – ancient stone buildings crowning a green hilltop, visible for miles around. But linger in the county, and you’ll find village pubs, castle ruins, and farm-to-table food. That Cashel Blue cheese? Worth the trip on its own.

• Related: Best places to visit in Ireland – Your guide

5. Finland

Finland has long been a favourite for northern lights chasers – Lapland especially. But 2026 is bringing fresh attention to the rest of the country.

Lonely Planet put the entire country on its top 25 list. The Finnish city of Oulu has been designated the European Capital of Culture by the EU. And according to the latest World Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest country in the world for the eighth year running.

Step outside the cities and you’re in a world ruled by trees and silence. Long roads. Vast lakes (some of the largest in Europe). Saunas where steam and snow argue over who gets the last word. National parks that actually feel wild.

Travel editors rave about Finland for 2026 because it hits so many trends at once:
rewilding, winter travel, slow living, design-forward culture. A calm, confident country in Europe that rewards unhurried travellers.

• Dive into the cool creativity and natural beauty with these tours of Finland
• Related: What it’s like to travel in the world’s happiest countries

6. Switzerland

Travel experts have called Switzerland one of Europe’s “most restorative” destinations for 2026, and that feels right. This is one of the best destinations in Europe when you want clarity. In your mind, in the air, and in the scenery.

Switzerland does things properly. The trains run on time. The hiking trails are meticulously marked. The chocolate is... well, it's Swiss chocolate.

Walk the lanes of Lucerne or Bern. Feel history seep up through the cobbled streets under your shoes. Order coffee. Order another. Then let the mountains pull you upward.

And here’s the thing – you don’t need to be a seasoned hiker to reach them. Mountain trains wind through valleys to glacier viewpoints. Cable cars lift you to Alpine meadows carpeted with wildflowers. Snow-capped peaks, glittering lakes, and pine-fresh forests – all surprisingly easy to reach.

• Road trip between Switzerland, Germany and Austria on these multi-country Alps tours
• Related: Best train journeys in Switzerland

7. Hungary

Hungary’s been sitting quietly on eastern Europe’s edge, waiting for people to look past more obvious destinations.

2026 is its moment. It’s affordable. It’s got thermal baths and wellness culture baked right into daily life. And, its grand architecture doesn’t try to impress – it just does.

Hungary’s capital, Budapest, glows in the evening like someone turned up the saturation. Trams rattle past buildings made of a riot of arches. Cafés serve coffee that’ll kickstart your day (maybe even your week).

Soak in the city’s thermal baths. Széchenyi and Gellért are the famous ones, but locals have their own favourites. Explore ruin bars hidden in old courtyards. Or head to the countryside for wine tasting and views that stretch on for days.

• Explore Europe’s heart on a tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest
• Related: Top things to do in Budapest

8. England

England feels well-timed for 2026. Familiar, yes. But changing in small, interesting ways.

Yorkshire is one to watch. National Geographic named the region a top destination for 2026 – its wide-open landscapes and historic towns call for a slower pace of travel. Think long walks across moors, sea air on the coast, and evenings that end early because tomorrow looks just as good.

London still draws people in, but the spotlight is shifting to the city’s east. AFAR highlights the opening of the V&A East Storehouse. Placing you behind the scenes of one of the world’s great museums. You don’t just see the objects. You see how they’re stored, studied, and cared for.

England suits travellers who want depth without noise. Culture that feels lived-in. Cities balanced by space to breathe.

• Discover England, Scotland and Wales on a self-drive tour of the UK

9. Scandinavia

Scandinavia continues to set the pace for thoughtful travel. In 2026, the focus is on getting closer to nature without giving up comfort.

AFAR points to the Stockholm archipelago as one of the standout destinations for the year. Thousands of islands sit just beyond the city. Ferries replace cars. Forest paths lead to the water. You can explore all day, then be back in Stockholm for dinner.

The Swedish capital remains a natural starting point for Scandi escapes. Museums, food, and design flow easily into the outdoors. There’s no big transition. It just works.

Further north, Norway’s Lofoten Islands speak to travellers craving something wilder. Sharp peaks rise straight from the sea. Fishing villages sit quietly along the coast. Viking routes once cut through these waters, and Norse legends still cling to the mountains and shorelines.

• Dive deeper into Nordic life on one of these Lofoten Islands tours
• Related: Unmissable things to see and do in Stockholm

Plan your Europe trip with us

After another year of trend lists, bold predictions, and new “must-sees”, one thing is clear: Europe in 2026 rewards the curious. The wanderers.

That’s where we come in.

When you book with Nordic Visitor, you’re paired with a dedicated travel consultant. A real person who knows the best places to go in Europe, the way locals do. We know the roads worth driving, the towns worth lingering in, and the small details that turn a good trip into one you’ll be talking about for years.

You choose how you want to explore. A self-drive tour made for detours, a small group tour with stories around every bend, or even a privately-guided tour shaped around your interests.

We handle the logistics. The route planning. The handpicked hotels. The local transport. You get to experience the joy.

Make 2026 the year you finally turn that wish list into the dream trip. We’re ready when you are.

​​Get in touch with us to start planning your adventure.