There are those who dream of temples immersed in fog and those who, more simply, of a table set in the sun. THE Daily Mail he shared the Brits’ travel wishlists for 2026 which tell much more than a ranking: they speak of fatigue when faced with obvious destinations, of the desire to slow down time, of experiences that remain with us. And in the middle of Japan, Iceland and Australia, Italy continues to conquer the hearts of the United Kingdom.
Research that analyzed conversations on Reddit in the United Kingdom and Google search trends has put down on paper the most cited “bucket list” destinations for the coming year. Japan tops the rankings, but close behind are countries that aren’t completely new to Brits. Yet they continue to call. Among them, Italy. Not as a passing fashion, but rather as a certainty that is renewed.
UK dreams of visiting Italy in 2026
L’Italy arrives in third position tied with the Francewith a rating of 8.75 out of 10. He is not alone Rome, Florence o Venice. On the contrary. More and more often the call comes from elsewhere: sunny hills, provincial roads, small villages which promise a simpler life, if only for a week. Cuisine remains a pillar, it would be strange otherwise, but it is no longer enough to say “pasta and pizza”. What is striking is the context: eating well in a beautiful place, without rushing, perhaps chatting with someone local.
Then there is the question of landscape. THE tuscan countrysideTHE south coastsI Northern lakes. Places already seen a thousand times in photography, but which always work in person. And perhaps precisely because they do not seek to impress at all costs.
British travelers seem to appreciate this consistency. Italy does not offer anything new but promises quality. And it holds.
Other countries
At the top of the list is the Japanand that’s not surprising. It’s the dream trip, the one that requires planning, time, budget. A real elsewhere, made of hyperactive cities and sudden silences, technology and ancient rituals. The less visible places (Kawaguchiko, Kanazawa, Takayama) attract as much Tokyo and Kyoto.
Shortly after comes the Spain. A classic that never goes out of style. But we’re not just talking about Ibiza or Barcelona. Málaga, Nerja, Javea. Places where you can return several times and still have the feeling of not having seen everything. For many Brits, Spain is familiar. And that’s why it continues to work.
THE France shares the podium with Italy. Here too, Paris remains a protagonist, but interest in the Alps, in the less brilliant South, in provincial towns is increasing. Trips that mix nature, gastronomy, culture, without the obligation to rush.
Further back, but still present, Iceland and Greece. The first for those looking for extreme landscapes, silences, natural phenomena. The second for those who want the sea, history, but also a certain feeling of belonging. Thailand, Australia, Canada and New Zealand close the top ten, with an interesting fact: Thailand is one of the most sought-after destinations of all time.
A clear signal emerges from these preferences. More and more travelers say they want to favor dense experiences, “filling” trips, rather than traditional vacations. Less recourse, more stories to tell.