Where to travel in 2024? We take a look at the most popular destinations, trending cities and a few less visited places, also examine future travel trends and touch on places you might want to avoid next year.
It's been a busy year here at Kiwi.com, so we've looked at our booking data and compiled a list of some of our most popular destinations to give you some ideas for your next trip. City breaks, beach vacations, luxury trips and more are all on offer, and they're all available at great prices on Kiwi.com. Where will you go in 2024?
The most popular destinations for 2024
Rome, Italy
THE Italian The capital tops our list as a wonderful place for first-time visitors and enriching for those who return again and again. It suffers slightly from a number of obvious tourist traps, especially in summer, but also retains its capacity to surprise: there is always an unexpected view or a charming café to discover every time you step even slightly out of the beaten track.
Discover the gastronomic delights of Trastevere or Testaccio, the quirky neighborhood known as Little London, or escape the city on a day trip to one of the surrounding, easily accessible Roman settlements by local public transport. Explore more of the best Rome has to offer here.
Tenerife, Spain
A year-round destination, the largest of the Canary Islands is home to almost half of its inhabitants and welcomes around five million tourists per year. People come there for the sun and the beaches, some surrounded by hotels, others well hidden and practically deserted, and some, like the popular Playa Jardin or the wild Playa de Las Gaviotas, boast curious black sand. .
It's also a popular place to party: the huge Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival attracts visitors from all over the world, and both Santa Cruz and Las Palmas (on the neighboring island of Gran Canaria) are towns with a vibrant nightlife and fun feeling. To get away from all the partying, there are also some great hiking trails through the forests and up to Mount Teide, the volcano that rises in the center of the island.
Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje has existed in many forms, from its Roman roots to becoming a major urban center for the Byzantine Empire, the Bulgarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Yugoslavia and finally as a European capital in its own right. You can see it in its architecture which includes churches, mosques, a fortress, the grandeur of the 1920s, the brutalism of the 1970s and some of the craziest and least tasteful statues (over 280 sculptures in all) that you have ever seen.
It also retains a touch of wildness that other towns in the region have lost (not a bad thing). We feel less sanitized, a little out of control, and all the more rewarding. And she doesn't suffer from the crowds of the Croatian coast or towns like Prague and Krakow; as a tourist you are still a slight curiosity. Make the most of it while you can.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Both a hub and a destination, Dubai is becoming more and more popular every year and 2024 will be no different. Even as a stopover destination, Dubai has its merits. For example, the airport is close to the city, easily accessible by a metro line which can drop you off at the foot of the famous Burj Khalifa tower. But if you have chosen it as your destination, you can spend several vacations in one.
You can shop to your heart's content in the malls and eat and drink by the water. Swim, sunbathe, snorkel or kite surf the clear blue waves, or explore the city's oldest neighborhoods. You may want to get out of the city and head into the desert for a night under the stars, drive a 4×4 through the dunes or simply get pampered and relax at one of the many spa resorts.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Consistently one of our most booked destinations, the jewel of the Bosphorus is one of the greatest cities in the world. Straddling Europe and Asia, it's a whirlwind of languages, religions, cultures, food, drinks and more. With sites like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque among its many glories and a rich history, it's a city you'll return to again and again.
Even if you're not really a culture lover, you can take a boat trip (especially at night to see the city lit up in the distance), negotiate the markets, stroll through the parks and gardens, or even attend a match of football. (The three big Turkish clubs are all based in Istanbul). For more inspiration, check out this city guide.
Destinations to avoid in 2024
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While we never want to discourage people from traveling, we also want to encourage responsibility and common sense. There are many cities like Athens who suffer from overtourism; The city recently introduced timed entry visitor zones, capping the number of visitors to popular sites at a still-massive 20,000 people. In the meantime, Venice introduced a tax for day-trippers to try to reduce its overtourism problem. For 29 days in spring and summer 2024, it will cost €5.00 to visit the city. The fee only applies to day trippers arriving between the peak hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but it has been around for a long time and can be extended.
Koh Samui Thailand has always been a tourist hotspot, but the number of visitors has led to a lack of fresh water for the local population. More than 70% of water is consumed by tourists, driving up prices and in some cases necessitating the introduction of water rationing. Another Asian destination, Halong Bay Vietnam has suffered from plastic and oil pollution in its waters for years, with nearly 5,500 tonnes of plastic ending up in the sea each year. A film of oil and scum has formed in its once-clear waters, destroying half of the region's coral reefs.
Additionally, while this is no reason to avoid travel, 2024 will see the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorization System – ETIAS – which will apply to visitors to Europe from over 60 countries, including the United States. Learn more here.
So when you travel in 2024, be aware of your impact on the environment and on the people who live in the areas you visit. Travel is evolving and here are some of the things you can expect in the coming year.
Travel Trends to Watch in 2024
Earlier in 2023, we took a close look at how Gen Z travelers are affecting the travel industry around the world: how and why people in this age group visit the places they choose. You can read the full article herebut the main takeaways were:
Get involved in local culture
Instead of going somewhere just to blow off steam, people become more sensitive to local culture, language and customs. We have seen campaigns like that of the Amsterdam tourist office which actively encouraged people to stay away if their only reason for coming was to party. And generally speaking, it seems that these days, genuine interest in a destination and lifestyle is a big factor in getting people to book a trip somewhere.
Personalization
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This idea is linked to the fact that after many years of wanting to recreate the experiences seen on social networks, a growing number of travelers are turning away from it. Simply copying someone else's Insta experience now takes a back seat to finding a place for yourself. This goes hand in hand with Kiwi.com Advanced Travel Search Filtersso you can tailor every aspect of your trip exactly how you want.
Attitudes and sustainability
Another encouraging sign was that people were choosing a destination with LGBTQ+ rights and sustainable travel in mind. Destinations considered LGBTQ+-friendly rank higher in desirability, and try to travel responsibly – using public transport, e-scooters, etc. while you're at it – is also increasingly seen as important. As you may know, Kiwi.com not only sells flights but also ground transportationso if you'd rather take the rails than fly to your next destination, we've got you covered.
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