National Geographic names its 25 best places to travel in 2027
National Geographic has released its Best of the World 2027 list of 25 places to visit next year, USA Today and CNN reported. The picks run from Baltimore to Luxor, Egypt, where a total solar eclipse is due in August 2027. Readers also picked Santa Catalina Island as a bonus spot.
National Geographic has named 25 places it thinks people should visit in 2027, according to USA Today and CNN. The Best of the World list came out on Tuesday, October 20.
The places were chosen by the magazine's travel experts and editors, USA Today reported. Forbes said this is the list's 15th year. Nat Geo began ranking the places in 2012, Forbes said.
The list includes four US spots, USA Today reported. They are Baltimore, the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the Southern Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas, and Madison, Wisconsin. Puerto Rico is also on the list.
Other picks include Halifax in Nova Scotia, Normandy in France, Leipzig in Germany, Chengdu in China, Jaipur in India, Melbourne in Australia and Malawi, USA Today reported.
Many picks are tied to events next year. Baltimore marks 200 years of American railroads, Forbes reported. Normandy will mark 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror, USA Today said. In Luxor, Egypt, a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, will bring more than six minutes of daytime twilight, Forbes reported, quoting Nat Geo.
"The core spirit behind 'Best of the World' is to provide people with fresh, exciting, new reasons to get out there and see the world," said Nathan Lump, the magazine's editor in chief, according to USA Today.
Lump said he was most struck by Kuélap, an ancient site in northern Peru, USA Today reported. It has only lately become easier for visitors to reach. He said the team also tries to point people to less crowded places, such as Niigata in Japan.
The list starts with hundreds of nominations from writers, photographers, explorers and staff, Lump said, according to USA Today. The team then vets them for a "wow factor" and a good range of places and budgets.
Nat Geo also ran a Readers' Choice contest on social media, USA Today reported. Readers picked Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California as the 26th place on the list.
What we know: Nat Geo's 2027 list names 25 places, plus a readers' pick.
What we don't: How the list will shape travel plans and bookings next year.
Where outlets agree USA Today and CNN report that National Geographic's Best of the World 2027 list names 25 places, including Baltimore, Luxor and Kuélap in Peru.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.