Best Places to Travel in 2027: 15 Picks and Why Now

Most lists of where to go next year could run in any year. Every pick here has a reason only 2027 gives you: a total solar eclipse on 2 August with more than six minutes of darkness over the Nile, three World Cups, a Compostela Holy Year, two European Capitals of Culture, Beethoven's 200th death anniversary and the return of Berlin's Pergamon Altar.

For each place you get the dated reason with its source, when to go, what to book and how early, how to get there, published prices and the honest downside. Every date was read on the organiser's page, an official site or, where neither had it, a named press or listings source, most of them on 5 October 2026; where something is not announced, we say so. Conversions use the European Central Bank's reference rates of 2 October 2026.

For every fixed date of the year, see our 2027 travel calendar.

2027 at a Glance: 15 Picks Compared

Destination	Why 2027	Key dates	Best months	Budget level
1. Luxor and Upper Egypt	Longest totality of the eclipse	Mon 2 Aug	1–3 Aug	Low (eclipse-week premium)
2. Strait of Gibraltar: Cádiz, Costa del Sol, Tangier	Same eclipse, both shores	Mon 2 Aug, from about 10:45 in Spain	Late Jul–early Aug	High (peak season)
3. Brazil	FIFA Women's World Cup	24 Jun–25 Jul	Late Jun–Jul	Mid
4. Edinburgh and the Borders	Tour de France start; Fringe's 80th	2 Jul; 6–30 Aug	Early Jul, Aug	High
5. Lima and Peru	Pan American Games	23 Jul–8 Aug	Late Jul–early Aug	Mid
6. Australia	First 24-team Rugby World Cup	1 Oct–13 Nov	Oct–Nov	High
7. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia	ICC Cricket World Cup	2 Oct–21 Nov	Oct–Nov	Mid
8. Santiago de Compostela	Compostela Holy Year	31 Dec 2026–31 Dec 2027; 25 Jul	May–Jun, Sep–Oct	Low to mid
9. Liepāja, Latvia	European Capital of Culture	Opening 22–24 Jan	Late Jan, May–Aug	Low
10. Évora, Portugal	European Capital of Culture	Opening 6 Feb	Feb–May	Low to mid
11. Bonn	Beethoven's 200th death anniversary	18–20 Mar; 26 Mar	Mar–Jun	Mid
12. Kassel and Münster	documenta 16 and Skulptur Projekte	12 Jun–19 Sep; 13 Jun–3 Oct	Mid Jun–Sep	Mid
13. Yokohama	GREEN×EXPO 2027	19 Mar–26 Sep	Late Mar–May	Mid
14. Belgrade	Expo 2027	15 May–15 Aug	May–Jun	Low to mid
15. Berlin	Pergamon Altar back on view	From 4 Jun	Jun–Sep	Mid

Budget level is our relative read of on-the-ground costs during each event, not a quote.

Once-in-a-lifetime sky: the 2 August eclipse

On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon's shadow crosses the Strait of Gibraltar in mid-morning and reaches the Nile about an hour and a quarter later. NASA's path table puts greatest eclipse at 10:06:37.7 UT in the desert east of Luxor, with 6 min 22.6 s of totality in a path 257.7 km wide; the longest duration anywhere is 6 min 23.2 s. Read the eye-safety tips before you pack.

1. Luxor and Upper Egypt — the longest totality

Why 2027: NASA's table has the centre line crossing the Nile close to Luxor between 10:04 and 10:06 UT, with 6 min 22.7 s to 6 min 23.0 s of totality and the Sun 82° up, so darkness falls in the early afternoon on local clocks. Luxor adds an airport, the West Bank temples and a fleet of Nile hotels and cruise boats.

When to go: arrive by 1 August. This is Upper Egypt's hottest season: the 1991–2020 normals give Luxor a 41.2°C (106°F) average August high, a 25.6°C (78°F) low and 0.07 mm of rain (NOAA NCEI).

What to book: a room or cruise cabin covering the night of 1 August, and a viewing spot away from the busiest temple courts. If you route through Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum held its official opening on 1 November 2025 and shows Tutankhamun's complete collection together; the only official ticket website is tickets.gem.eg, where you book a dated, timed slot that cannot be refunded. Egypt's official e-visa portal lists the single-entry tourist e-visa at US$30 (about €27) and asks you to apply at least seven days before departure (Egypt e-Visa Portal; fees).

Getting there and cost: fly into Luxor, usually via Cairo. Eclipse week will be priced as an event, so compare offers early.

The trade-off: you will stand in 40°C heat in the early afternoon with the Sun almost overhead, when even temple columns cast little shade. Bring a hat, water and electrolytes, and sightsee at dawn.

2. The Strait of Gibraltar: Cádiz, the Costa del Sol and Tangier — the eclipse on both shores

Why 2027: Spain's Instituto Geográfico Nacional places Ceuta and Melilla, almost all of Cádiz province, part of Málaga province and the southern edges of Granada and Almería inside the path. Ceuta gets Spain's longest totality, 4 min 48 s between 10:45 and 10:50 local time; Cádiz city gets 2 min 54 s from 10:45 and Málaga 1 min 48 s from 10:48. On NASA's table the centre line crosses the Strait at about 35.7°N between 08:46 and 08:48 UT, with up to 4 min 54 s of totality. It passes about 10 km south of Tangier, so the city sits near the maximum, and Gibraltar, about 50 km north of the line, is inside the path too.

When to go: be in place by Sunday 1 August. Totality comes mid-morning, which leaves the afternoon for the beach.

What to book and how to get there: fly into Málaga for the Costa del Sol, or into Jerez, where the C-1 train reaches Cádiz in about 57 minutes (Aena). Ferries cross the Strait to Ceuta and Tangier; cross the day before, not on eclipse morning. The closer you sleep to the Strait, the longer your totality.

Cost: this coast is already in peak season in early August, before eclipse demand is added, so book refundable rooms now.

The trade-off: totality here runs from under two minutes to just under five, against more than six in Egypt, and Málaga city sits near the northern edge of the path. Check your exact spot on the IGN map before you pay for a room.

Sport's big year

2027 brings three World Cups, the Pan American Games and a Tour de France that starts in Scotland. Two of them already have tickets on sale or in ballot.

3. Brazil — the Women's World Cup from Porto Alegre to Fortaleza

Why 2027: FIFA has fixed the tournament for 24 June to 25 July 2027: 32 teams and 64 matches in eight cities (Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo). Brazil open on Thursday 24 June at the Maracanã, which also stages a semi-final and the final on Sunday 25 July; São Paulo has the other semi-final (FIFA schedule release).

When to go: late June for the group stage, or mid-July onwards for the knockout rounds in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. June and July are winter in Brazil, so pack a jacket for Porto Alegre and summer clothes for Fortaleza and Recife.

What to book: FIFA's schedule release of 20 August 2026 only invites fans to register interest at FIFA.com/tickets; it gave no sale dates or prices. Hold refundable rooms in your chosen city and buy flights once sales open.

Getting there and cost: most long-haul flights land in São Paulo or Rio, and domestic flights link the host cities. Budget one internal flight for every extra city.

The trade-off: the eight cities span the whole country, so following one team through the knockouts can mean several long internal flights. Pick a city and let the matches come to you.

4. Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders — the Tour de France Grand Départ

Why 2027: the Tour de France starts in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027. Midlothian Council describes the opening stage heading south through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, over the Côte de Melrose in the Eildon Hills, to a finish in Carlisle, so day one alone crosses from Scotland into England. The Tour de France Femmes starts in Leeds on Friday 30 July 2027. Then, from 6 to 30 August, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe holds its 80th edition.

When to go: 1–2 July for the race, or August for the Fringe. Doing both means two trips.

What to book: Edinburgh rooms for the nights of 1 and 2 July as soon as you commit, and Fringe rooms as early as you can; both weeks fill the city.

Getting there and cost: Edinburgh has its own airport and direct trains from London. Watching from the roadside costs nothing; the room is where the money goes.

The trade-off: the peloton passes any one spot in a minute or two, and roads on the route close for hours around it. Pick a climb such as Melrose, where riders slow down, and arrive early.

5. Lima and Peru — the Pan American Games

Why 2027: Panam Sports moved the XX Pan American Games one week later, to 23 July–8 August 2027, citing a crowded sports calendar. More than 7,000 athletes from 41 countries will compete, with the opening ceremony on Friday 23 July and the closing on Sunday 8 August; it is the most important Olympic qualification event for Los Angeles 2028. Named venues include the National Sports Village (VIDENA) and the Villa María del Triunfo complex.

When to go: the first week in Lima, then the Andes, which are in their dry season in July and August.

What to book: the announcements we read gave no ticketing details. Book Machu Picchu first: in 2026 its peak-season cap was 5,600 visitors a day and tickets were sold only on the Ministry of Culture's official site, tuboleto.cultura.pe (Andina). The S/ 64 (about US$19) general ticket Andina quotes is a promotional rate for Peruvians, foreign residents and Andean Community citizens, so check the price for your nationality there.

Getting there and cost: fly into Lima; Cusco is a domestic flight away. Budget for the train to Machu Picchu on top of the entry ticket.

The trade-off: Peru's national holidays, Fiestas Patrias, fall on 28–29 July, in the middle of the Games, when domestic flights and Cusco rooms are in high demand. Lima itself is grey and cool in July.

6. Australia — the first 24-team Rugby World Cup

Why 2027: the Men's Rugby World Cup runs from 1 October to 13 November 2027, the first with 24 teams: 52 matches in seven cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville) (World Rugby). The RWC 2027 schedule uses eight venues: Australia open against Hong Kong China in Perth on 1 October, and the final is at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 13 November.

What to book: tickets, now. The general public sale opened on Thursday 1 October 2026 at 12:00 AEST on the official ticketing website, rwc2027.rugbyworldcup.com, with prices from AUD 40 (about €25) for adults and AUD 20 (about €12) for children and no booking fees. Most matches allow 10 tickets per buyer; Australia's pool matches, the semi-finals and the final allow six. Tickets from unauthorised sellers are invalid.

When to go and getting there: October and November are spring. Fly into the city of your first match and connect by domestic flights.

The trade-off: Perth to Sydney is a flight across the continent, so following a team through the pool stage gets expensive. Base yourself on the east coast, where four host cities line up: Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney.

7. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia — the Cricket World Cup by ballot

Why 2027: the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027: 14 teams, 57 matches, 12 venues. South Africa has eight (Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City), Zimbabwe three (Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls) and Namibia one (Windhoek). Australia play India in Cape Town on 7 October, India meet Pakistan in Johannesburg on 10 October, the semi-finals are in Cape Town (17 November) and Centurion, in Tshwane (18 November), and Johannesburg stages the final on 21 November.

What to book: enter the ballot before it closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026, at tickets.cricketworldcup.com. Registration is free, with one entry per person per match, and prices run from about US$9.50 to US$30 (about €8.50–27) depending on the match.

When to go: October and November are spring; Cape Town's November average high is 23.7°C (75°F) (NOAA NCEI).

Getting there and cost: Johannesburg and Cape Town are the main long-haul gateways. Match tickets are the cheap part; flights between venues are not.

The trade-off: a ballot guarantees nothing, and the venues sit in three countries with separate entry rules. Enter for several matches in one region rather than chasing a single fixture.

Culture years, holy years and anniversaries

2027 is a Compostela Holy Year, makes Liepāja and Évora European Capitals of Culture, marks 200 years since Beethoven's death and lines up documenta with Münster's once-a-decade sculpture show.

8. Santiago de Compostela and the Camino — a Holy Year

Why 2027: a Holy Year is celebrated whenever 25 July, the feast of St James, falls on a Sunday; Galicia's official Camino site names 2027 as the next, after 2010 and 2021–22. The cathedral's Holy Door, at the back of the building on Praza da Quintana, is due to open on 31 December 2026 and stay open until 31 December 2027, according to the listings site Planomato; the official pages we read did not yet give the date. The cathedral has announced the motto, "Al ver la estrella, se llenaron de inmensa alegría" (Catedral de Santiago).

When to go: Sunday 25 July is the high point. May–June and September–October give you the Holy Year with more room on the trail.

What to book: the Compostela certificate needs at least 100 continuous kilometres on foot or horseback, or 200 by bike, on a recognised route, with a pilgrim credential stamped along the way (at the start and end of each stage if you walk only the last 100 km in sections) (Pilgrim's Office). Book beds for the last stages and for Santiago itself as soon as your dates are set.

Getting there and cost: Santiago has its own airport, and walkers can start any recognised route. Beds are the main cost, and they go fastest near the city.

The trade-off: a Holy Year concentrates walkers on the final 100 km and in the city around 25 July. If quiet matters, walk a longer route and arrive outside July and August.

9. Liepāja, Latvia — Capital of Culture on the Baltic

Why 2027: Liepāja is a European Capital of Culture under the banner "(un)rest Land", which also covers Kuldīga and South Kurzeme. Its opening weekend runs Friday 22 to Sunday 24 January 2027 with free entry. On Saturday 23 January the day starts with an amber hunt on the beach and ends with an open-air "City Symphony" and an evening concert at the Great Amber concert hall premiering Ēriks Ešenvalds's "Wind Symphony"; Sunday opens tourist routes through Karosta and other neighbourhoods.

When to go: the opening weekend for the spectacle, or May to August for the programme; the "Stars in Amber" concert series runs from January to July.

What to book: rooms for the opening weekend now, since the events are free and the city is small. Concerts already sell out: the 26 May concert by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Andris Nelsons is gone.

Getting there and cost: most visitors arrive via Riga. The opening events cost nothing, so rooms and transport are the budget.

The trade-off: late January on the Baltic coast means short days and cold wind, and the amber hunt is outdoors. Pack for winter.

10. Évora, Portugal — the Alentejo's year

Why 2027: Évora is Portugal's fourth European Capital of Culture, after Lisbon (1994), Porto (2001) and Guimarães (2012), with a programme built on vagar, the Alentejo's unhurried pace (Euronews). The opening is on 6 February 2027 at Rossio de São Brás, at the entrance to the historic centre: a free show by director Marco Martins with 400 professional and amateur performers, for an expected 30,000–40,000 people (RTP).

When to go: the opening weekend, then spring, before the Alentejo summer heat.

What to book: rooms for 5–7 February now. Organisers expect regular visitors to the city and the wider Alentejo, normally about 600,000 a year, to double to 1.2 million in 2027, and the full programme was promised for the end of 2026.

Getting there and cost: Évora is a train or coach ride from Lisbon, which makes a day trip possible if rooms run out. The opening show is free, so the room is the main expense.

The trade-off: a small walled city doubling its visitors will feel it on headline weekends, and you are booking before the full programme is due. Book the opening, then fill in the rest when the programme lands.

11. Bonn — Beethoven's 200th

Why 2027: Beethoven died on 26 March 1827, and in 2027 the date falls on Good Friday. The Beethoven-Haus Bonn marks it, under the motto BTHVN2027, with a concert by Anna Handler and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra in the Beethovenhalle studio. The year opens on 17 December 2026, his baptism day, with a Daniel Hope concert, then runs through a special BTHVN WOCHE festival on 18–20 March, the Jussen brothers (12 February), organist Anna Lapwood (13 April), Lang Lang with the Gewandhaus Orchestra under Andris Nelsons (5 June) and a Sir András Schiff chamber series (24 June–5 July).

When to go: 18–26 March covers the festival and the anniversary; June adds the Gewandhaus and Schiff concerts.

What to book: public sale opened on 29 June 2026 at the Beethoven-Haus shop (Bonngasse 21), its webshop and Eventim. Secure the headline concerts first.

Getting there and cost: Bonn sits beside Cologne, with Cologne/Bonn Airport between them. The press release lists no prices, so check each concert before you plan around it.

The trade-off: Good Friday is a public holiday in Germany, so expect shut shops on the anniversary itself, and the chamber concerts play to small halls.

12. Kassel and Münster — documenta and the once-a-decade sculpture show

Why 2027: documenta 16 runs in Kassel from 12 June to 19 September 2027. Skulptur Projekte returns to Münster from 13 June to 3 October 2027 for its sixth edition and 50th anniversary; it has come back every ten years since 1977. Around 30 artists, curated by the collective WHW for the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, will work in public space across the city, with a focus on the Kinderhaus, Berg Fidel and York-Quartier neighbourhoods.

When to go: any time from 13 June to 19 September, when both are open. Late June also catches the Schiff concerts in Bonn (pick 11), in the same German state as Münster.

What to book: rooms in both cities for your dates. Neither page we read gave 2027 ticket details, so check again in spring.

Getting there and cost: both cities sit on Germany's long-distance rail network, so a Kassel, Münster and Berlin loop works by train.

The trade-off: Münster's works are spread through outer neighbourhoods, so rent a bike or plan long walks, and two shows of contemporary art in two cities is a lot if it is not your passion.

New openings and expos

Two expos and one long-awaited museum reopening give 2027 its new places to see.

13. Yokohama — GREEN×EXPO 2027

Why 2027: the horticultural expo runs from 19 March to 26 September 2027 at Kamiseya in Yokohama, under the theme "Scenery of the Future for Happiness" and the tagline "Let's Go Bloom" (GREEN×EXPO 2027). The organiser expects 15 million visitors, 10 million of them paying (TravelVoice).

When to go: late March to May, when the opening weeks overlap with cherry blossom season (see our cherry blossom guide).

What to book: advance one-day tickets are on sale now on the official ticket page until 18 March 2027, at ¥4,900 (about €28) for adults and ¥1,400 (about €8) for children aged 4–11, against ¥5,500 and ¥1,500 once the expo opens; night, summer and season passes exist too, and visit-date reservations are to be added later. The official site also takes shuttle-bus and parking reservations, so book your ride with your ticket.

Getting there and cost: Yokohama is a short train ride from Tokyo, but the expo site lies outside the centre, so allow time for the shuttle. A one-day ticket plus transport is the core cost.

The trade-off: the site lies outside the centre and is reached by bus, car, bike or on foot, so each visit takes most of a day, and the summer months are hot and humid.

14. Belgrade — Expo 2027

Why 2027: Serbia hosts a specialised Expo from 15 May to 15 August 2027, 93 days under the theme "Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All", and expects more than 4 million visitors (Expo 2027 Belgrade). In December 2024 the organisers were planning for 120 to 140 participating countries (120 alone would be a record for a specialised Expo), a national day for each with high-level delegations, discounts for students, retirees and children, and multi-day passes (Expo 2027 news).

When to go: May and June, before the summer heat peaks. Check the national-day calendar if you want to see a particular country's programme.

What to book: the official site still says tickets are "available soon", so hold a refundable room and wait for prices.

Getting there and cost: fly into Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport. Ticket prices are unpublished, so budget the city first and the Expo later.

The trade-off: with tickets, prices and transport plans still unannounced, this is the least plannable pick on the list. Commit to dates once the organisers publish them.

15. Berlin — the Pergamon Altar returns

Why 2027: after years of renovation, the Pergamonmuseum's north wing and central section reopen on Friday 4 June 2027 (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin). That brings back the Pergamon Altar and the Hellenistic Hall, plus the whole Museum of Islamic Art in a new presentation, including the Aleppo Room, the Mshatta Façade and the Alhambra dome.

When to go: June to September, combined with Kassel and Münster (pick 12) by train; documenta opens eight days after the museum, on 12 June. Weekday mornings will be easier than the opening weekends.

What to book: group bookings opened on 1 July 2026; the reopening notice gave no sale date for individual tickets, so watch smb.museum and buy as soon as they appear.

Getting there and cost: the museum stands on Museum Island in central Berlin. The notice did not publish entry prices for the reopening.

The trade-off: the south wing, home of the Ishtar Gate and the main collections of the Museum of the Ancient Near East, stays closed until 2037 (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz). Expect queues in the first summer.

Practical tips

Protect your eyes. Use viewers that meet ISO 12312-2 and take them off only while the Sun is completely covered. Never look through a camera, binoculars or telescope with eclipse glasses on; optics need their own front-mounted solar filter (NASA).
Mind the late-July squeeze. The Pan American Games open on 23 July, the Women's World Cup final and Santiago's feast share Sunday 25 July, Peru's Fiestas Patrias follow on 28–29 July, the eclipse is on 2 August and World Youth Day fills Seoul from 3 to 8 August (Vatican News). Book long-haul seats early.
Act on this autumn's deadlines, through official channels. The cricket ballot closes on 21 November 2026 and the rugby public sale is open; Rugby World Cup tickets from unauthorised sources are invalid.
Sort the paperwork. The Strait spans Spain, Gibraltar, Ceuta and Morocco, and the cricket three countries. Our international travel checklist covers passports, visas and insurance.
Travel as a group. For eclipse or match weeks with friends, our group trip guide covers dates, budgets and splitting costs.

Plan Your 2027 Trip in 30 Seconds

Pick a date from this list, add the city and what you enjoy, and build a day-by-day itinerary around it: eclipse morning in Tarifa, a match day in Perth, the Holy Door in Santiago. It is free, and you can see the plan without creating an account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best place to see the 2027 solar eclipse?

For the longest totality, Upper Egypt: NASA's tables give about 6 min 23 s near Luxor, where August rainfall averages 0.07 mm. For the easiest trip from Europe, the Strait of Gibraltar: Spain's IGN gives Ceuta 4 min 48 s and Cádiz 2 min 54 s, and the centre line passes about 10 km south of Tangier. Egypt wins on duration, Spain on access.

What time is the 2027 eclipse in Spain?

Monday 2 August 2027, in the morning. The IGN gives totality from 10:45 in Cádiz, between 10:45 and 10:50 in Ceuta, and from 10:48 in Málaga and Melilla, all local summer time. The rest of Spain sees a partial eclipse covering at least 70% of the Sun.

Which 2027 events need tickets or decisions now?

The Cricket World Cup ballot closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026, and the Rugby World Cup public sale opened on 1 October 2026. The Ryder Cup (week of 13–19 September 2027, Adare Manor, Ireland) has closed its ballot; what remains is hotel packages and premium hospitality. Glastonbury (23–27 June) has sold out at £408 (about €480) including the £5 booking fee; cancelled or returned tickets go to a resale in spring 2027, and every buyer must be registered.

When does the 2027 Holy Year in Santiago start and end?

The Holy Door is due to open on 31 December 2026 and close on 31 December 2027, according to listings; the official pages we read did not yet give the date. It is a Holy Year because 25 July 2027, the feast of St James, falls on a Sunday.

Which cities are European Capitals of Culture in 2027?

Liepāja in Latvia and Évora in Portugal. Liepāja opens with a free weekend on 22–24 January 2027; Évora opens on 6 February 2027 with a free show by 400 performers.

Is the Grand Egyptian Museum open?

Yes. It held its official opening on 1 November 2025 near the Giza pyramids. The only official ticket website is tickets.gem.eg, where you book a dated, timed slot that cannot be refunded; in October 2026 the galleries opened 9:00–18:00 five days a week and until 21:00 on Wednesday and Saturday.

What new museums and attractions open in 2027?

Berlin's Pergamonmuseum reopens its north wing and central section, Pergamon Altar included, on 4 June 2027. Yokohama's GREEN×EXPO runs from 19 March to 26 September, and Belgrade's Expo from 15 May to 15 August.