Small, cool European cities are predicted to be among the hippest destinations in 2026, travel editor Winsor Dobbin reports.
With some of the world’s major tourism drawcards suffering from overcrowding and sky-high prices, many travellers are looking for small, chic destinations as an alternative to the likes of Venice, Barcelona, and London.
That means Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, matches all the travel trends for 2026.
The European Travel Commission reported recently that tourists in Europe are prioritising lower stress travel to off-the-beaten-track locations.
At a time when surveys show 55% of travellers seeking niche destinations and 93% wanting to make more sustainable choices, Vilnius is aiming to lift its visitation numbers.
it is a less-crowded European city with strong sustainability credentials, and a compact walkable centre that offers easy access to nature.
“Overcrowding, noise, pollution, and heat are making many destinations in Europe less enjoyable for tourists,” Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, head of communication at Go Vilnius.
“Vilnius offers an off-the-beaten-track alternative with fewer crowds but plenty of authenticity.
“It also represents a genuinely sustainable travel option for tourists, whether that means reaching the city by the rapidly expanding network of sustainable rail connections, making the most of its walkability and cyclability, or getting out to the forests and lakes that surround the city.”
For lovers of rail travel, Vilnius boasts improving train connections to Poland, with an affordable daily service from Warsaw. Once in the city, travelling sustainably is easy. Vilnius has over 140km of cycle paths, and public transport use in the first half of 2025 was up by 10%.
Vilnius’ compact UNESCO-listed Old Town is also ideal for exploring on foot and the city boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants.
* Vilnius has around 1.2 million annual visitors as compared to the over 20 million for major European cities like Paris and London. It is accessible by direct flight from Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and other major cities across Europe, and serves as a perfect base for exploring the region. It has convenient transport links to Riga, Tallinn, and to Poland.
See Go Vilnius, the website of the official tourism and business development agency.
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FINLAND CALLING
It will soon be possible to fly from Melbourne to Helsinki with Finnair – and Sydney might not be far behind.
The Finnish flag carrier has unveiled plans to expand its long-haul network and start flights to and from Melbourne late in 2026.
The route will be operated daily via Bangkok with an Airbus A350 aircraft.
The Melbourne route marks a completely new destination for Finnair and connects Australia directly to Finnair’s extensive network via Helsinki.
“We are very excited to introduce service to a new continent,” said Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Finnair.
“By connecting Helsinki and Melbourne, two cities on opposite sides of the world, we can offer a truly unique bridge between the northern and southern hemispheres.
“We expect that this new route will appeal to travellers from Europe heading to Australia, as well as Australians exploring northern Europe and beyond.”
The flight is scheduled to depart from Helsinki shortly after midnight, arriving in Bangkok in the afternoon, and continuing to Melbourne after a brief stop, reaching Melbourne the following morning.
On the return, flights will leave from Melbourne in the afternoon, with a stop in Bangkok in the evening, and land in Helsinki early the next day, aligning with Finnair’s first morning departures across Europe.
The Melbourne flights are now available for booking on Finnair.com, subject to government approval.
In addition to Melbourne, Finnair’s network for 2026 comprises a total of 93 European destinations, 11 Asian destinations, seven North American destinations, including Toronto, which opens in summer 2026, and two destinations in the Middle East.
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DESTINATION DARWIN
Looking for some Top End adventures?
Virgin Australia is to resume direct flights between Sydney and Darwin after a gap of three years.
As of June, Virgin will operate up to seven return flights per week in peak periods, adding 80,000 seats annually between the two destinations.
The airline promises convenient daytime departures for visiting friends and relatives, business and leisure travellers.
Virgin suspended year-round Sydney–Darwin flights in early 2023 following a network review.
Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the route’s return reflects the airline’s commitment to providing choice and convenience for travellers.
“We’re excited to reconnect Sydney and Darwin, two destinations that play an important role in Australia’s tourism landscape,” Hartley said.
“Our return to the route will enhance travel options for passengers, drive competition, and reinforce the vital connections between metropolitan centres and regional Australia, with Darwin serving as a key gateway. It will also provide greater flexibility for corporate travellers moving between the two cities.
“The direct service will make it easier for travellers to visit friends and relatives, while delivering a significant tourism boost to both cities.”
Northern Territory Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill said: “We welcome Virgin Australia’s decision to resume a direct seasonal service between Darwin and Sydney.
“Territorians have been asking for more aviation routes and affordable options, so we are delighted by this announcement.
“We have listened to Territorians who want more daytime flights, so this service is a great addition to the schedule options and provides greater flexibility for travellers.
“We are focused on sustainably growing the Territory’s aviation sector and improving connectivity, choice and competition for Territorians and visitors.”
Virgin Australia currently services three of the Northern Territory’s key gateways – Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru.
For more info see virginaustralia.com.
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See more of Winsor’s travel tips and news at www.gourmetontheroad.com.