A new year, a new run of holidays to relish. As we explore the world with gusto – stats point to a continuing rise in overseas travel out of Ireland in 2025 – all four corners feel tantalisingly close.
In the year ahead, some destinations become better connected than ever, with new direct flights. Others see new world-class attractions, can’t-miss events or budget-busting options to lure us over. It adds up to a wealth of places to spend our hard-earned holiday fund.
For inspiration or aspiration, here are The Irish Times’ top destinations for the year ahead.
Cancún, Mexico
Cancún, Mexico. Photograph: iStock
There’s a reason Cancún was purpose-built as Mexico’s main tourist area in the 1960s: its tropical climate, vast stretches of golden beaches leading to gin-clear waters, ancient Mayan attractions and accessibility to Europe and North America make it perfect for sun-seekers.
Over 60 years later and the investment has paid off – it’s holiday heaven, with the largest concentration of all-inclusive resorts in the Americas plus boutique accommodation and modest guest houses to suit all budgets. Aer Lingus’ new direct flights from Dublin to Cancún is another mark of its popularity – the carrier flies three times a week from January to April.
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The only real blight is that Cancún’s shoreline is becoming ever more seaweedy, but top-end resorts dredge daily, and it still proves tricky to peel yourself away from the beaches. It’s worth it, though, to explore the Cancún–Riviera Maya corridor where well-preserved Mayan ruins in Tulum and Chichen-Itza, a choice of cenotes (vibrantly turquoise natural swimming pools), and Mexico’s culinary draws are quite a reward.
Get there: Aer Lingus fly from Dublin to Cancún three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) from January to April, from €594 return. Kōchi, Japan
Niyodogawa-cho, Agawa-gun, Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Photograph: iStock
With the euro at recently record highs against the yen, cost-conscious travellers will find their budgets carrying them further in Japan, opening the door to richer experiences and slower travel.
The island prefecture of Kōchi is buzz-worthy: online searches have doubled in the past year according to Skyscanner, thanks to its reputation as a slice of authentic Japan.
In tune with its location on the Pacific, its small fishing industry, undeveloped coastline and tight-knit communities play a large part in Kōchi’s make-up – visitors will find daily routines unfolding here as they have for centuries.
Language and cultural differences may be a challenge, but spending time navigating them will prove immeasurably rewarding.
Get there: Multiple airlines fly indirect from Dublin to Osaka from €534 return. Kōchi is a five-hour train ride away from Osaka. Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France 
Bellvue Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France. Photograph: iStock
Positioned at the foot of Mont Blanc, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is a traditional Alpine and spa town that’s reinventing itself for the future with an impressive series of upgrades.
In 2026, the century-old Mont Blanc Express introduces energy-efficient trains to connect passengers from Geneva to Chamonix via Saint-Gervais.
From here, a recently-opened gondola system scoops up passengers from Saint-Gervais’s train station to the slopes in just 15 minutes – so there’s no need to hire a car and draw straws about who’ll do the driving.
Get there: Aer Lingus fly from Dublin or Cork to Geneva from €88 return. Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is an hour’s train ride away. Suchitoto, El Salvador
Suchitoto, El Salvador. Photograph: iStock
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, but it is crammed with draws like towering volcanoes, mystical lakes, renowned surf breaks and a rich culture.
Decades of gang warfare kept El Salvador off the main tourist trail, but a nationwide clean-up in 2022 means it’s now one of the safest countries in the region. Now is the time to visit: enough amenities have sprung up to facilitate a seamless holiday, while its authenticity remains in tact.
Suchitoto, a town revered for its brilliant white colonial architecture and indigo production, is the first stop in a Salvadoran adventure.
Try Casa 1800 for a comfortable stay and contemporary cuisine like PuPizza (a hybrid of pupusas, the traditional stuffed tortilla, and pizza), served with sweeping views across Lake Suchitlán.
Get there: Multiple airlines fly indirect from Dublin to San Salvador from €774 return. Suchitoto is an hour’s drive away. Port de Sóller, Mallorca
Port de Sóller, Mallorca. Photograph: iStock
It’s almost a burden that when the solar eclipse happens on 12th August 2026, Mallorca is along the centreline and set to attract a slew of stargazers, who’ll jostle for space with tourists and second homeowners in the height of summer.
Expect accommodation and flights to this ever-popular Balearic island to peak around this time, but arguably, it’s worth the scrum to experience a total solar eclipse in idyllic conditions.
The event happens at sunset, adding another a layer of romance to the occasion. Tour operators are laying on extra sunset boat trips to offer unobstructed views out at sea, yet Port de Sóller, on the western side of the island, is already set up to make the most of sunset. It won’t be too early to book an outside table at the Cap Roig Restaurant in the Jumeirah Mallorca to marvel at this phenomenon with a glass of something delicious.
For a more informal watch, the viewpoint of Mirador de Santa Catarina is a 10-minute walk from Port de Sóller’s main drag – just don’t expect it to be deserted.
Get there: Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly direct from Dublin to Mallorca, from €80 return. Tampere, Finland
Tampere, Finland. Photograph: iStock
A 90-minute train ride from the capital of Helsinki, Tampere is the European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2026, along with Dubrovnik in Croatia. It means the city, akin to Cork in population, is a breeze for visitors in many ways.
Rich with nature and lakes that they want to show off, the city has recently launched a summer shuttle service to its nearby national parks, Seitseminen, Helvetinjärvi and Isojärvi, so travellers can make a day-trip via public transport. Lake Pyhäjärvi houses its first accessible beach, with spacious unisex changing rooms, Braille signage, and modifications to make the beach safe for people with disabilities.
Prefer to sightsee in the city? That’s a doddle too: an app highlights four culture routes based on themes like its rock music tradition and its architecture.
Get there: Multiple airlines fly indirect to Tampere, from €187 return. Antalya, Turkey
Antalya, Turkey. Photograph: iStock
A heady mix of year-round sun, a competitive currency, beachside glitz and bargain-friendly stays means Turkey’s popularity just keeps growing. Corkians are set to be the newest influx, as SunExpress introduces a new Cork to Antalya route twice weekly starting from May 2026.
It appeals to a variety of holiday types: while a cultural and historical hub in its own right, Antalya is also a landing pad for the Turkish Riviera, the stretch of glittering coast that’s dotted with enormous yachts and luxe beach clubs as much as archaeological wonders and rustic charm.
Its family-friendly appeal is set to get a boost in 2026: TUI Blue Maviss and Corendon Hydros Club Kemer open in the region, bringing another two major resorts to pick from.
Get there: SunExpress flies from Cork to Antalya twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays), starting on May 16th 2026, from €220 return. Bazaruto, Mozambique
Bazaruto, Mozambique. Photograph: iStock
The concept of a hidden gem is all relative, but it’s a wonder the Bazaruto Archipelago is less popular than its counterparts of the Maldives and Seychelles. As the number of lodges rises in the coming year, chances are that it won’t stay that way for long.
While less commercialised, expect the full suite of paradise island activities: snorkel the coral-filled Two Mile Reef to see schools of brightly coloured fish, sea turtles and eels, or take a boat trip out to catch dolphins and whales that circulate around the warm Indian Ocean. It’s just as bustling on land: a wildlife walk will uncover Samango monkeys, bushbuck, and flamingos, or get an adrenaline fix by sandboarding down the island’s towering dunes.
It requires stamina to reach Bazaruto – expect a full day in transit each way – but the second you bury your feet in the powder-soft sand looking out to the aquamarine horizon, you’ll know it was worth it.
Get there: Multiple airlines fly to Vilankulos from €1,004. Bazaruto is an hour-long boat transfer away. Shanghai, China
Shanghai, China.Photograph: iStock
Shanghai has long been a global powerhouse, but it’s aiming to broaden its standing on the world stage by becoming a family-friendly leisure destination too. So when the city’s neon-lit metropolis, imperial temples or east-meets-west stone-gated shíkùmén lanes become too dull for kids, it’s time to head to either Disneyland Shanghai or the newly opened Legoland, made out of eight sections, 85 million Lego bricks, 75 rides and a Lego-themed hotel – quite a construction.
As Legoland’s flagship feature, Miniland is everything you’d expect. It’s where to find Chinese cityscapes recreated in Lego form. The biggest draw is the 10m (32ft) high model of the Shanghai Tower made from over 344,000 bricks.
Language won’t be a barrier: all major signs and safety briefings are in Chinese and English, most staff speak basic English, and live shows often have English subtitles or narration, so it’s the ultimate destination to build memories … and 3D models.
Get there: Etihad Airways fly indirect from Dublin to Shanghai, from €365 return.Seligman, Arizona, US
Seligman, Arizona. Photograph: iStock
The dreamiest road trip destination, Route 66, turns 100 this year – a fine excuse to hop into a Chevvy and take to the dusty highway that spans 3,900km (2,423 miles) from Chicago to Santa Monica. For the nostalgic Americana vibe, the Arizona leg is a classic.
Seligman is particularly notable as the birthplace of Route 66 – it’s where the townsfolk campaigned to keep the historical route alive when bypasses were built in the 1970s. To pay homage, take a pit stop at the all-American Snow Cap Drive-In, a retro diner from 1953, and still famous for their burgers and milkshakes.
If you’re staying overnight, there’s a wealth of neon-lit motels – try Supai Motel, an archetypal Route 66 stop-off that’s excellent value at around €70 per room. For the highway’s centenary, a Route 66 monument will be unveiled here on April 30, but that’s a rare new touch to this time capsule town.
Get there: Aer Lingus fly direct from Dublin to Las Vegas from €495.87 return. Seligman is a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Southport, England
Southport, England. Photograph: Getty Images
Within waving distance of Dublin, the Victorian seaside town of Southport is limbering up for its first Year of Culture: a 12-month volley of shows, festivals and gatherings designed to show off its contemporary side. Equidistant from Blackpool and Liverpool, the celebration opens with Lightport, a large-scale light and sound installation from Lucid Creates that turns the town into an immersive artwork of colour and rhythm.
Next, Cristal Palace sees French street-theatre collective Transe Express suspend a 50ft flying chandelier above Lord Street, the town’s historic thoroughfare, as a focal point for aerial acrobatics, street performance and live music.
Layer on a summer of festivals dedicated to theatre, musical fireworks, food and flowers – all complementing Southport’s perennial draws, from its extra-long pier and genteel gardens to the dune-laced nature reserves of Formby and the Sefton Coast – and it adds up to an ambitious city-scale programme that’s already a highlight of the UK’s cultural calendar.
Get there: Irish Ferries and Stena Line run a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead from €99 return. Southport is a two-and-a-half hour drive away.Cairo, Egypt
Bolstering Cairo’s draw as a destination where history comes to life, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened its doors at the end of 2025, and it’s set to return a focus to this ever-popular winter sun destination. The scale is spectacular: designed by Dublin architects Heneghan Peng and the size of 70 soccer pitches, GEM cost €1,000 million to build. Thankfully, it’s divided into three sections – Society, Kingship and Beliefs – then subdivided according to time period, making it easy to navigate.
The star attraction is Tutankhamun’s tomb. All of its contents are on public display for the first time, including the famous gold mask that’s synonymous with the country. You could spend a whole day ambling around the rest of the museum, but the Giza pyramids are walking distance away, offering another perspective to this marvellous ancient civilisation.
Get there: EgyptAir flies direct from Dublin to Cairo, from €345 return Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is a choose-your-adventure destination. Photograph: Getty Images
If the 2026 Fifa World Cup is calling your name but the US isn’t, you’re in luck – Canada and Mexico are sharing hosting duties too. On the continent’s west coast, Vancouver is a particular draw. The city comes to life in June and July, nicely timed for when its seven matches of the tournament take place.
Known for balancing a dynamic urban energy with easy access to the outdoors, Vancouver is a choose-your-adventure destination. Off the coast, it’s prime whale-watching season. On the tip of downtown Vancouver, the expansive Stanley Park shifts into high gear for summer, drawing crowds to its beaches, lakes, gardens and miles of trails.
Elsewhere, cyclists have a new headline attraction: Grouse Bike Park. The chairlift-accessed mountain bike park offers 13 trails for every skill level, many of which cut through dense forest for sweeping views of Vancouver’s skyline.
Get there: Air Canada fly direct to Dublin three times a week in the summer season, from €375 return. Dubai, UAE
The Burj Al Arab is one of the iconic landmarks of Dubai and is one of the worlds most luxurious hotels with a seven star rating. Photograph: Getty Images
If Dubai, a notable ‘Marmite’ destination, is on your bucket list, here’s another reason to go: it’s set to trial flying taxis for the first time in the next few months, turning The Jetsons-esque futurism into reality. Demonstrated at Dubai Airshow 2025, the electrical vertical take-off and landing (catchily shortened to eVTOL) flight saw its crew speed across Dubai in a 17-minute ride.
Over the next few months, four initial “vertiports” will connect the emirate in minutes – for example the journey from Dubai Airport to the luxury resort Palm Jumeirah is an 11-minute air taxi ride, as opposed to the 45-minute drive it is now. If you can shell out the rumoured €95 fare, it’s certainly something to write home about.
Get there: Emirates fly direct from Dublin to Dubai from €500 return.