Expedia has named its ten Destinations of the Year for 2027, and the winners were chosen on hard data: each place saw a significant spike in traveller searches compared with 2025. Topping the list is South Lake Tahoe in California, with searches up a striking 195%. It's easy to see why — North America's largest alpine lake works all year round, drawing skiers in winter and kayakers and paddleboarders when the snow melts.
Second place went to Hyogo prefecture in Japan, with searches up 95%. Often overlooked in favour of Kyoto or Osaka, Hyogo packs coastline, mountains and castles into one prefecture, and it also earned Expedia's Smart Travel Health Check — a badge given to places managing tourism responsibly while still delivering on experiences.
The rest of the top five reads like a world tour. Punta del Este, Uruguay's glitzy beach city, took third after a 65% search surge. Sedona, Arizona followed in fourth, thanks to its mix of yoga retreats, hiking trails and spas. And Busan, South Korea's lively southeast port city — famous for its beaches, its film festival and, yes, Train to Busan — rounded out the top five.
Only two European spots made the cut. Perugia, capital of Italy's Umbria region, landed seventh with searches up 35%. The 14th-century hilltop old town is the headline act, but the city's jazz and chocolate festivals give travellers extra reasons to book outside peak season. The other European entry is Chichester in West Sussex, up 30%. Roman ruins and a walkable city walls trail anchor the historic centre, while the surrounding South Downs National Park, West Wittering Beach and nearby Arundel Castle make it an easy weekend base.
The full list: South Lake Tahoe, Hyogo, Punta del Este, Sedona, Busan, Holbox in Mexico, Perugia, The Tweed in New South Wales, Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada, and Chichester.
Why does this matter if you're planning a trip? These lists tend to be self-fulfilling. Search numbers signal where crowds and prices will rise over the next couple of years, so travellers who move early on Hyogo or Holbox may beat the rush. On the flip side, quieter entries like Chichester or The Tweed are the kind of places where booking later is a safe bet. Either way, the list is a useful snapshot of what's catching travellers' attention right now — and a reminder that year-round, low-key destinations are having a moment.
