What Country: the rising destinations worth your time — and the alternatives next door

The rising destinations worth your time are Malmö, Faro and western Sicily for a long weekend, and Egypt's Red Sea coast, central Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan for a week or more. Each has a quieter neighbour that suits a slightly different trip: Lund, Tavira, Marsala, El Quseir, Hue and Karakol.

Pick the season before the hotel. A fashionable destination is not an exemption from the weather.

For the European options, allow extra time at the border. The EU's new biometric checks have made passport queues longer at some airports, and missing a flight because of them is usually your problem, not the airline's.1

What is actually trending?

Skyscanner's list of rising destinations for 2027, reported by Time Out in October, is led by Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, where flight searches were up 501% on the year. Hurghada was up 186%, Malmö 103%, Trapani 95% and Da Nang 68%.2

Those figures measure searches, not bookings, and a small destination can post a huge percentage without troubling Spain.

The travel association ABTA gives a steadier picture. Its Holiday Habits survey of 2,082 UK adults, carried out in July and August, found 36% had visited Spain in the past year and 11% Portugal, which rose to sixth place.3

Kyrgyzstan's leap has an obvious suspect. The Independent reported in May that tour operators saw a rush of interest in Central Asia after it featured in the BBC's Race Across the World, with one specialist reporting a 300% rise in enquiries.4

Weekend breaks: three or four days

Malmö, or Lund as your base

Malmö has a waterfront, a strong food scene and the novelty of being reached via Denmark. Lund, a short train ride away, is a compact medieval university town and a calmer base.5

Getting there: British Airways flies London to Copenhagen in about 1 hour 50 minutes, and the train from Copenhagen Airport takes 20 to 30 minutes to Malmö. Buy the rail ticket before boarding and carry your passport, because Sweden checks arrivals from Denmark.6

When: May to September for walking and time outdoors. A winter weekend is a cosier, more indoor trip.

Advice: the Foreign Office has no warning against travel to Sweden.7

Faro, or Tavira for a river town

Faro's old town and the Ria Formosa lagoons give the airport city a better role than waving everyone on to a coach. Tavira, on the River Gilão, has old streets, churches and boats to island beaches.8

Getting there: BA flies from Heathrow and London City to Faro in just under three hours. Tavira is a train or bus ride further east.8

When: April to June, or September and October, for sightseeing. Leave some time unplanned: a holiday should not require a progress meeting.

Advice: no Foreign Office warning against travel; its wildfire guidance covers April to October.7

At Faro, the head of border control told the BBC in July that what used to be a ten-minute passport queue can now take more than 30 minutes.1

Trapani, or Marsala, without trying to do all of Sicily

Trapani's rise points to interest in western Sicily rather than the whole island. Its old centre, the hilltop town of Erice and the salt pans make a coherent short trip. Marsala, further down the coast, is the alternative base, with its archaeological museum and the island of Mozia nearby.9

Getting there: Ryanair's Stansted to Trapani page shows summer flights of about 2 hours 55 minutes but no winter fares. Out of season, BA flies Heathrow to Palermo in about three hours, and the west coast is a separate transfer beyond that.10

When: spring or early autumn. Choose Trapani or Marsala and perhaps one excursion: the island is not a weekend-sized tasting platter.

Advice: no headline warning against travel to Italy, though the Foreign Office, in an update on 3 November, warned of demonstrations in some northern cities.7

Longer trips: one to three weeks

Hurghada, or El Quseir for a different Red Sea base

Hurghada's appeal is no secret: winter sun, direct flights and a well-established resort strip. El Quseir, further south, adds a historic port, an old town and an Ottoman fort to the coastal hotels.11

Getting there: easyJet flies direct from Gatwick, with recent flights taking about 5 hours 20 minutes outbound. El Quseir is a road transfer from Hurghada or Marsa Alam airport, so check what your hotel provides.11

When: October to April, to avoid the fiercest summer heat.

Advice and entry: the Foreign Office, updated on 27 October, warns of regional tensions and advises against travel to parts of Sinai and some border and desert areas; Hurghada and El Quseir are outside those areas. It also flags variable safety standards on boats and diving trips and reports of sexual assaults in resorts. British visitors need a visa for Hurghada and a passport with at least six months' validity on arrival.12

Da Nang, or Hue for history

Da Nang has My Khe Beach, the Marble Mountains and the Hai Van Pass. Hue, the old imperial capital, offers the Perfume River, royal tombs and one of Vietnam's best food cultures.13

Getting there: Vietnam Airlines flies non-stop from Heathrow to Hanoi in about 11 hours 45 minutes, then on to Da Nang or Hue in roughly 70 to 95 minutes. Allow a proper day at each end of a two-week trip.14

When: Vietnam's tourism board recommends March to May for Da Nang and February to April for Hue, so March and April suit both. The Foreign Office warns that tropical storms can disrupt travel from May to November.137

Entry: British citizens can visit visa-free for 45 days with six months left on the passport and two blank pages.15

Bishkek, or the mountains around Karakol

For a trip of ten days to two weeks, use Bishkek as the arrival city and spend most of the time around Karakol, near Lake Issyk-Kul and the Tian Shan mountains. The local tourism organisation runs food, culture and walking trips as well as serious treks.16

Getting there: there is no direct UK flight. Pegasus flies London to Istanbul in about 3 hours 50 minutes and Istanbul to Bishkek in about 5 hours 10 minutes, so allow roughly nine hours in the air plus the connection, then a long drive east.17

When: June to September for the mountains. The Foreign Office warns that high routes can have snow even in summer and that mountain rescue is limited, so check your insurance covers trekking at altitude.16

Entry: British citizens can stay visa-free for 30 days in any 60-day period. The Foreign Office also warns against straying near the Tajik border.15

What should you budget?

These are our own planning allowances per adult sharing a room, in pounds, set on 9 November 2026. Use them to sense-check real quotes; insurance, visas and getting to the UK airport are extra.

Package deals can undercut that. easyJet Holidays was advertising seven nights in Hurghada from £498 per person, based on two adults sharing on selected dates; check the board basis, transfers and luggage before comparing.18

Borders: the paperwork has changed

For Sweden, Portugal and Italy, British tourists can spend up to 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area, not 90 days per country. Your passport must be less than ten years old on arrival and valid for at least three months after you leave.19

The EU's Entry/Exit System now records fingerprints and a photo at the border. It is free and the record lasts three years.20

It has not been quick. The BBC reported in July that at Rome's main airport the time for British passengers to clear passport control had risen from seven minutes to 20, even after improvements. On a bad day, the queue can rival the flight.1

Arrive early for the flight home: some airlines advise three hours at European airports. The BBC also reported that airlines need not rebook you free if you miss a flight in the queue, and that travel insurance is unlikely to pay out.21

ETIAS, the separate online travel authorisation, is not yet running and the EU is not taking applications. Anyone selling you one is selling you nothing.20

In Italy, hotels register guests' passport details, so wait while they do it rather than leaving your passport at reception.19

Ways to pay less

Fly into the hub, stay in the neighbour.

Fly into the hub, stay in the neighbour. Copenhagen plus a short train often beats hunting for a rare direct to Malmö; Hurghada packages can undercut a self-built El Quseir itinerary once transfers are counted. Catch: add the transfer time and luggage fees before you congratulate yourself.618

Buy the package when the board basis matches how you eat. easyJet Holidays' Hurghada example from £498 per person is only a bargain if the board, transfers and bags match a quote you would actually book. Catch: compare like with like, not headline with fantasy.18

Travel in the shoulder. April to June and September to October do most of the European weekend work without peak fares or peak heat. Catch: some Trapani summer-only routes vanish in winter, which pushes you onto Palermo plus a transfer.10

Use airline and hotel gift cards only when the maths and the expiry are clear. Discounted travel gift cards exist on the same resale sites as pub cards, but airline terms often limit who can fly and when. Catch: issuer insolvency and blackout dates can wipe the "saving"; spend soon and read the card's own rules.

Keep one spare half-day for the new EU border checks. Missing a flight in the Entry/Exit System queue is usually on you. Catch: three hours at the airport is dull and cheaper than a new ticket.21

The verdict

In our view, use a trend list for inspiration, not instructions. For a weekend, pick the place that leaves the most time on the ground. For a longer trip, let the season, the entry rules and the full cost decide between the headline destination and its neighbour.

The best alternative is not necessarily cheaper or quieter. It is the one you actually have time to enjoy.

Editorial choices, not verified quiet or low-crowd alternatives.

• Weekend: Malmö or Lund; Faro or Tavira; Trapani or Marsala.
• Longer: Hurghada or El Quseir; Da Nang or Hue; Bishkek or Karakol.

• Bishkek 501%
• Hurghada 186%
• Malmö 103%
• Trapani 95%
• Da Nang 68%

• EES: biometrics at the border. UK guidance says registration is free and the record lasts three years.
• ETIAS: not operating on this check. The EU says applications are not being collected.

Sources

1. BBC News, "New EU border system tripling time at passport control, airport boss says", 19 July 2026. Read the report Back
2. Time Out, "The trending travel destinations for 2027, according to Skyscanner", 8 October 2026, read the report; Falstaff, "The unexpected 10 travel destinations for 2027", 15 October 2026, read the report. Back
3. ABTA, Holiday Habits 2026–27; fieldwork 21 July to 6 August 2026. Back
4. The Independent, "How to have your own 'Race Across the World' adventure across Central Asia", 21 May 2026. Read the report Back
5. Visit Malmö; Visit Lund, travel to Lund. Back
6. British Airways, flights to Copenhagen; Visit Skåne, getting around. Back
7. Foreign Office travel advice, all current on 9 November 2026: Sweden, updated 11 August; Portugal, updated 11 August; Italy, updated 3 November; Vietnam, updated 21 September; Kyrgyzstan, updated 14 September. Back
8. British Airways, flights to the Algarve; Visit Tavira; Rough Guides, Tavira. Back
9. Visit Sicily, Marsala; Visit Sicily, touring west Sicily. Back
10. Ryanair, London to Trapani; British Airways, flights to Sicily. Back
11. easyJet, Gatwick to Hurghada; KAYAK, Gatwick to Hurghada route; Nourbelle Tours, El Quseir travel guide, 25 September 2026. Back
12. Foreign Office, Egypt, updated 27 October 2026; safety and security; entry requirements. Back
13. Vietnam Tourism, Da Nang; Vietnam Tourism, Hue. Back
14. Vietnam Airlines, flight time to Vietnam from the UK. Back
15. Foreign Office entry requirements: Vietnam; Kyrgyzstan; Kyrgyzstan regional risks. Back
16. Destination Karakol; Visit Kyrgyzstan, Karakol; Foreign Office, Kyrgyzstan safety and security. Back
17. Pegasus, flights to Istanbul; Pegasus, flights to Bishkek. Back
18. easyJet Holidays, Hurghada, seven nights from £498 per person, checked 9 November 2026. Back
19. Foreign Office entry requirements: Sweden; Denmark; Portugal; Italy. Back
20. GOV.UK, EU Entry/Exit System, updated 10 April 2026; European Union, ETIAS. Back
21. BBC News, "Three things you can do to stop EU border checks at the airport costing you", 6 July 2026. Read the report Back