The Top 10 Places to Travel in 2018

Before we go any farther, let's make one thing clear: We don't play favorites when it comes to travel destinations. We want to go everywhere. These are just the destinations at the top of our list for 2018.

But places, like trends or people, can have their moments, fueled by forces both obvious (big cultural openings or national anniversaries) and intangible (the trendsetters are all flocking, as if by magnetic pull).

Malta, still riding a Game of Thrones location site high, is the European Capital of Culture for 2018, and Mexico City is the World Design Capital. Jordan recently introduced the impressive, cross-country Jordan Trail, which will make for great hiking and exploring. But as we compiled this list, we found ourselves especially drawn to destinations that feel like sanctuaries and that inspire goodwill. If you travel to recharge the senses and return home energized and engaged, these places will do all that — and so much more.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia and its thriving capital are on a hot streak. In 2017, the Eurasian country saw almost as many international visitors as its own population, thanks to new flight routes from various cities in Europe and interest from trendsetting U.S. travelers flying through Kiev, Istanbul, and Munich. There are more reasons to come. The impeccable dining scene showcases distinct east-meets-west cuisine and impressive local wines. The hotel scene, spearheaded by Adjara Group Hospitality (the folks behind Rooms Hotel Tbilisi), is artsy, innovative, and cool. Add to that enigmatic fashion, design, and nightlife happenings that complement a rich cultural heritage, super-friendly locals and access to the wild Alpine beauty of the Caucasus Mountains, and you have a recipe for travel magic.

Read more on Fathom: Georgia On My Mind

Timor-Leste

One of the world's newest countries (it became the first sovereign state of the 21st century) has almost no tourists. Occupying the eastern end of the island of Timor in the Indian Ocean, the area was under Portuguese rule, then Indonesian, and now uses the U.S. dollar as its legal tender — just about the only convenient element for Americans traveling here. It's tricky to get to and lacking in infrastructure. But its remote location in Southeast Asia means its coral reefs have hardly been touched — the diving is sublime, and the beaches are like Bali's without the tourists. This is a destination for trailblazers and adventurers (who travel with caution) looking for an unexplored part of the world before it goes into heavy construction mode.

Vancouver, Canada

If adventure is on your 2018 agenda, put British Columbia’s biggest city on your radar. It’s a breeze to get outdoors from Vancouver: A new 45-minute flight puts the bohemian hotspot Tofino within easy reach of the city, while a 25-minute ferry makes it easy to get to the Gulf Islands, where charming new spots like Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island are attracting more than just well-heeled Vancouverites. Best of all, new nonstop flights (most notably from Sacramento, Mexico City, and Melbourne), new restaurants (St. Lawrence, Fayuca), an impressive hotel project (Parq Vancouver), and a month-long cherry blossom festival in April make the city itself way more than just a stopover.

Read more on Fathom: Escape to the Edge of British Columbia

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Situated high on a bluff on the Mississippi River, the city of Memphis packs a historical punch: It was a pre-Civil War way station on the Underground Railroad; birthplace of blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll; a Civil Rights landmark; and home to Graceland, Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle church, and the barbecue cooking world championships (part of the annual Memphis in May fest). April 4 of this year marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Downtown Memphis. Instead of focusing heavily on the tragedy, the National Civil Rights Museum is encouraging organizations around the city to use the theme "Where Do We Go From Here?" to look toward the future. March and April bring community-wide celebrations, a King Day street fair, and museum exhibitions like the Brooks Museum showcase of photographs from Civil Rights photographer Ernest C. Withers. At a two-day symposium (free and open to the public) at the Orpheum Theatre, a variety of national and local thought leaders will explore voting rights, 21st-century activism, and criminal justice reform. There will be an inspirational luncheon at the historic Peabody hotel (Eric Holder, Attorney General under the Obama administration, is the keynote), and storytelling at Crosstown Arts with Civil Rights icons as well as makers of the Black Lives Matter and Women's March movements. As National Civil Rights Museum president Terri Freeman points out, "While it's important to have stories from the elders, the icons respect the work of young people pushing for change." After all, King was only 39 when he died. The city is hoping to become an inspirational hub for young people right now.

Slovenia

The small Central European country has been hiding in plain sight since gaining its independence from Yugoslavia in the '90s — that's despite being the only nation on the continent to claim four major geographic regions: The Alps, Mediterranean Sea, the Pannonian Plains, and the Karst limestone plateau. Seasoned skiers, climbers, and outdoorsmen have plenty to sink their teeth into everywhere, and the cool capital of Ljubljana, with its burgeoning art, dining, nightlife, and LGBTQ scenes, makes the destination particularly relevant to those with their finger on the pulse. Kolpa Resort, a hip glampsite in the south, opens this May in time for cherry season. Chef Ana Roš has spent nearly two decades revolutionizing the food of her country, and it's paying off: She was named The World's Best Female Chef 2017, and her restaurant Michelin-star restaurant, Hisa Franko, is nestled in the Slovenian countryside. More than enough reasons for making a trip.

Azores, Portugal

If 2017 was all about Portugal, this year, the Azores, its autonomous archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic, should come into its own. The nine islands, which are connected by ferries, are an off-the-grid dream of land and sea adventures at every level of activity — from whale watching to paragliding — and altitude — from scuba diving to mountain climbing. Little wonder that four islands (Corvo, Graciosa, Flores, and, most recently, São Jorge) have been designated UNESCO biospheres. The Azores have year-round appeal, but mark the calendar for the Tremor Music Festival in March on São Miguel, the Sanjoaninas cultural festival that date back to the 16th century in June, and the massive fireworks show on New Year's Eve. Getting here is fast (four hours from Boston) and increasingly easy, with direct flights on Azores Airlines / SATA from the east and west coast, as well as several European gateways.

Read more on Fathom: The Azores Are the Hawaii of the Atlantic

Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa’s second most populous city is usually one stop on a packed itinerary that includes the country’s famous safari parks, winelands, and garden route, but its a destination in its own right, worth its own trip. Two major debuts in 2017 make a strong case for planning more than a one or two-night stay in the stunning port city: Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is the continent’s first and only museum of its kind. And on the rapidly evolving V&A Waterfront neighborhood, The Silo was one of the year’s most highly anticipated boutique hotel openings. This year, the country will celebrate the centennial of the birth of Nelson Mandela, their much-beloved first democratically elected president, which feels especially fitting in the current political climate. Change is in the air, and Cape Town is one of the world’s most exciting contemporary cities. Also worth noting for American travelers: The U.S. dollar is strong in South Africa, so your money will take you farther than it would in other countries.

Read more on Fathom: Is Cape Town the World's Next Great Art Destination?

Columbus, Indiana, USA

The unassuming small town — population 46,000 — is home to one of the world’s largest public collection of modernist art and architecture, including works by I.M. Pei, Dale Chihuly, and Eliel and Eero Saarinen. Exhibit Columbus, an annual, three-month festival featuring eighteen interactive installations erected around the city’s famous icons, debuted this past year, attracting some of the design world’s top minds. The goal: Turn Columbus into the Marfa of the Midwest. The city’s location, an hour’s drive from the nearest airport, has preserved its unspoiled, small town charm. You'll want to see it before that changes.

Faroe Islands, Denmark

If it’s wild, unspoiled nature you are after, look no further than the remote, self-governing archipelago comprised of eighteen volcanic islands located between Iceland and Norway. The rocky cliffs, postcard-worthy red cabins, and rugged natural beauty can be reached with a short flight from a number of countries, including Denmark, England, Iceland, and Norway. One traveler we spoke with called the Faroe Islands the “more challenging version of Iceland.” You have to work a little harder to get where you’re going, you might have to hike for hours at a time to reach your destination, and many islands remain hard to access. Since opening in 2011, Koks, the islands’ first Michelin star restaurant has been drawing curious food lovers from all over Europe; come spring, Havgrím, a new 14-room boutique hotel overlooking the island of Nólsoy, will start accepting guests.

Read more on Fathom: Are the Faroe Islands the Next Iceland?

The Arctic

According to a recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "long-term losses in the extent and thickness of the sea ice cover" are the new normal in the ever-warming Arctic. This will take an inevitable toll on the environment and wildlife, which means we need to see it while we still can — and to do so responsibly with travel companies that careful about their impact. For travelers, the rewards will be great: The Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, icebergs and glaciers, majestic wildlife like polar bears and whales and sea lions. The North Pole (whose location is always shifting) region is shared by Alaska, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Canada, but Nunavut, Canada's northernmost province, is the closest land mass. Options for staying here include Arctic Haven Wilderness Lodge, a new 12-room inn on Ennadai Lake powered almost entirely by green energy and run by a family of pioneering Arctic explorers. Arctic Kindgom offers an excellent lineup of small group safaris year-round, with activities like hot air ballooning and scuba diving and accommodations in lodges and tents. Those short on time will appreciate their three-day trips Arctic Weekend Getaways, with rates as low as $2,000 CAD. If you'd rather travel by sea, Ponant's Expedition luxury cruises explore Norway, Greenland, Sweden, and Canada, with options ranging from 11 to 23 days. By Rail, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains' Arctic Explorer is a New Year's tour of the Northern Lights en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Plan Your Trip

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