Top 20 must-see places to visit2026 ranking

Less famous than its cousin the Serengeti, Tarangire National Park is a great introduction and clearly worth the trip. Elephants are everywhere, I ran into whole herds all day long, sometimes passing just a few yards from the vehicle. But the park is also all about giant baobab landscapes and way fewer safari vehicles than in the more touristy parks. A great stop for a more authentic safari, far from the crowds.

I went up to the Doi Suthep temple, perched on the hill above Chiang Mai. You have to climb a staircase of several hundred steps lined with two golden dragons to get to the top (or take the funicular if your legs are tired). Once up there, the golden stupa in the center is impressive, and the view over the entire city of Chiang Mai down below is clearly worth the climb. Lots of people there, especially late in the day, but the vibe stays chill and you can feel it is a real place of worship, not just a tourist trap. One of the best viewpoints in the area.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse (the holy cross), right next to the former abbey of the same name, sits at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle from the Royal Mile, and at the foot of Arthur's Seat. Unlike the Castle, the area around the Palace is much less lively. The Palace itself: you follow a self-guided route with audio guide commentary that leads you to the royal bedrooms and Mary Stuart's reception room, where her private secretary was murdered right in front of her by her husband. The tour lets you learn a lot about the Crown of Scotland, the Stuart dynasty, and how it joined with the British crown. The rooms still have their period furniture and decor (the royal family still visits…

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Built on an ancient volcano, the castle houses several buildings from different eras. According to the guide, the site has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, which apparently is a European record (though I have my doubts about that). I recommend taking the guided tour to get lots of info and fun facts about the castle and Scotland, from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and all the way up to the recent world wars. Try to be there in person if you want to catch the cannon firing, the one o'clock gun. From the ramparts, you get a lovely view of the surrounding area.

Great free museum in the Old Town that I found really interesting to visit.The central gallery under its glass roof is impressive.The dinosaur and extinct animal skeletons, stuffed animals, and fossils are well worth a look.What I really thought was awesome is the science wing, where you can see planes, Formula 1 cars, steam engines, but above all, numerous interactive workshops let you experiment in a fun way to understand a few scientific principles. Example: how the shape of airplane wings makes things fly, how pulleys make heavy weights easier to lift, how heated air makes hot air balloons rise... Kids and adults alike have a blast testing all of it!

Pretty large and varied free botanical garden with different recreated regions, from China to American giant sequoias, passing through the Alps. I would have loved to see the palm greenhouses, but they are under construction until October 2026 I believe.

Pretty physical climb, takes a good hour, with a few pretty steep sections. There is even a stretch where I was a bit dizzy, the narrow trail runs alongside a pretty steep slope. This is not a climb I would do with young kids or people with limited mobility. The effort is rewarded by an impressive panorama of Edinburgh, the sea, the region. Minor disappointment: I was expecting to see a bit more wildlife (birds, animals, flowers, flora...). That said, a fire (it happens even in Scotland now!) had burned part of the mountain a few weeks before my visit.

I can not visit L.A. without going to one of my favorite spots, the Santa Monica pier. The pier is always packed, but that’s usually because of its main attraction, the Pacific Park amusement park. I’ve only been there with my sister and my husband, but it’s an absolutely great place for kids. There are rides, arcade games, and restaurants. Although the amusement park is completely free to enter, you do have to pay for your individual rides and games. If you’re ever in the Santa Monica area on vacation, make this one of the places you visit. It’s a great stop for family fun!

One of my favorite days in Northern Thailand. The White Temple is massive and super detailed, you have to take the time to stop and gaze at every little detail in every nook. The Blue Temple is smaller but just as meticulous, with a white Buddha inside, gold leaf on every single statue, you honestly do not know where to look anymore. And the grand finale, a coconut and butterfly pea flower ice cream that matches the colors of both temples. You can easily visit both in one day and it is definitely a must-see.

What a lovely surprise the perched town of Krujë is! We had noted it as a stop on our road trip, but the little street where the bazaar is located is truly charming, and it is a pleasure to visit the castle while eating on a terrace with an unbeatable view of the surroundings! I recommend it as a day trip from Tirana or as a stop if you are heading up to the Albanian Alps!