Greece has taken the number one spot in Condé Nast Traveller UK's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, with voters crediting the country's culture that spans millennia — and exciting new reasons to return, such as Athens' National Museum of Underwater Antiquities, alongside the ever-reliable draw of Santorini sunsets. The judges quip about an 'Odyssey effect', and whatever the cause, Greece clearly struck a chord this year.
The food-lovers' podium went to Italy, Portugal and Japan, with Japan also scoring highest for ease of getting around — a nod to its famously efficient transport network. Elsewhere in the rankings, there are some notable newcomers and climbers. Kenya cracked the top 10 for the first time, winning praise for Maasai culture and its safari offerings, while Costa Rica impressed readers with its famously warm welcome. Canada made a rare appearance at number 20, edging past its neighbour the United States thanks to top marks for safety and a huge range of outdoor activities, from Rockies skiing to whale watching on the Atlantic coast.
The full top 20 makes interesting reading for anyone planning a big trip. Croatia (7th) is flagged as feeling the strain of overtourism in Dubrovnik and Split, but readers still rate it highly for quieter corners like Istria's family-farm restaurants and the Kornati Islands. Indonesia (8th) gets a nod for offering a genuine escape beyond Bali across its 17,000-plus islands, from Komodo National Park to Raja Ampat. Thailand (10th) benefits from easy internal transport and, no doubt, a post-White Lotus bounce. Vietnam (14th) set a record with 21.2 million international visitors in 2025 and, in the writers' view, has moved from 'one to watch' to 'one to book'.
There are a few surprises in how the usual heavyweights fared. France slipped four places to 18th, though the piece suggests that's more post-Olympics fatigue than any loss of affection — Paris for city breaks and Marseille are still trending. Qatar (19th) is having a moment: more than five million visitors in 2024, up 25% on the previous year, with growth continuing in 2025, helped by new hotels and restaurants in Doha. Spain (12th) is praised for its nightlife, but also for a shift in places like Mallorca and Marbella, where design hotels, natural wineries and Michelin-starred restaurants are pulling visitors away from the beaches and into the old towns.
For travellers, this list works best as a shortlist generator. If you want culture with your beach, Greece's top spot comes with a fresh museum reason to visit Athens. If wildlife is the priority, Kenya and South Africa (11th) both make the top 11. If you're after value and fewer crowds than Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia (16th, home of Angkor Wat and the Cardamom Mountains) sit side by side in the rankings. And if you simply want somewhere that feels safe and outdoorsy, Canada's first-ever entry makes a strong case for a Rockies or Newfoundland trip.
Story source: Condé Nast Traveller UK
