These Are Europe’s 2 Most Incredible Destinations For 2026 According To Expedia

As customary every year, the Expedia Group has released its long-awaited report on growing travel trends, and fast-rising destinations travelers should keep an eye on.

For their Unpack ’26, which used both booking data and thousands of traveler surveys, 2 surprising European destinations came out on top, and before you try and second-guess it, no, it’s not a now widely-publicized Albania, much less another offbeat Greek island that is featured.

Let’s just say that if you love beach-hopping or fondue with endless Alps views, you’ll definitely be aligned with the travel experts’ top picks for the year ahead:

Savoie, France

Voted one of the top European destinations for 2026, the mountain-traversed Savoie in France is a paradise for nature lovers regardless of season.

We’re talking rustic chalet stays, deep valleys flanked by towering, snow-capped peaks, crystalline mountain streams, and of course, enough creamy Beaufort cheese to keep you fueled in between all the hikes.

If you’re looking for a base to explore Savoie, the charming Chambéry is the ideal location: strategically placed in the heart of the French Alps, at the foot of a medieval castle, it has fairytale-like Old Town streets, world-class museums, and a plethora of traditional auberges serving mountain cuisine.

From Chambéry, you’re a short drive away from Lake Bourget, a lake bordered by spa hotels and pine forests, the quaint Beaufort, a picture-perfect village up in the Alps famous for its rustic townscape, and the vast Parc National de la Vanoise:

Covering a whopping 204 square miles, it is speckled with glaciers, postcard lakes, and numerous hiking trails for those keen on a little adventure.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Savoie & How To Get There

There isn’t really a ‘best period’ to visit Savoie, as it all depends on your travel preferences and what you’re hoping to experience.

For skiing and winter sports, resorts typically operate from mid-November through early April. As far as hiking and outdoor activities go, springtime and summer are ideal as the snow will have melted in the lowlands, and most mountain paths will be accessible.

The easiest way to get to Savoie—if Chambéry is where you’re headed—is flying either into Lyon or Geneva, in Switzerland, then transferring by car or train.

From Lyon, it’s a short 1.5-hour train ride to Chambéry, whereas those landing in Switzerland’s westernmost city, trains can take up to 2.5 hours to make the cross-border trip.

Sardinia, Italy

Home to Caribbean-like powdered-sugar white sand beaches hugged by turquoise seas, pastel-colored harbor towns dating back centuries, and rugged hinterland, Sardinia is Expedia’s second top-pick for travelers crossing the pond in 2026.

It may not be as popular a summer destination as Amalfi or the increasingly trendy Sicily, but Sardinia has plenty of manmade and natural wonders to keep you busy for days, if not weeks on end.

To the north, its aptly-named Costa Smeralda is interspersed with unruffled sandy stretches and nature parks with only a small fraction of the crowds seen on the Italian mainland. Just offshore, the islet-dotted Maddalena archipelago is even more peaceful, and easily accessible with boat tours.

Elsewhere in Alghero, you’ll find a stunning walled town with strong Catalan influences, whereas Bosa, lining the fast-flowing Temo River, is characterized by its pastel-painted, skinny edifices and hilltop Malaspina Castle.

In the equally fascinating south of the island, Cagliari is the compact, deeply historic capital, littered with medieval gems, Roman ruins, and straddling a picturesque Poetto Beach.

A short 50-minute drive from Cagliari, Chia is yet another must-see destination for beach enthusiasts: more white sands, more teal-hue waters, plus dunes and natural lagoons. Now, for the culture buffs out there, you can’t miss Nora, an ancient Roman archaeological site right by the sea.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Sardinia & How To Get There

Sardinia is primarily a sunny destination, which means you’re better off visiting anytime between late April, when the rainy season wanes and temperatures start rising, up to mid- or even late October.

The most crowded months are July and August, though if we’re being quite frank, Sardinia’s tourism hotspots are so spread out, and so incredibly varied, chances are you’ll rarely ever feel like you’re in the midst of high season, whether you’re lounging on a beach or exploring a mountain village.

The most exciting part is that, starting May 20, 2026, you will be able to fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to Olbia, the gateway to Costa Smeralda in the north of Sardinia.

Flights will run four times a week, and the route will remain active all through summer, making Sardinia a convenient alternative sunny getaway for Americans dreaming of Italy.