17 Best Places to Go in 2021 (Once it's Safe)

It’s hard to write about the top places to go in 2021 with the pandemic raging around us still. But even if we don’t know when travel will be safe again, that day will come, and the Travel Powers That Be have made their lists of where to go when it’s feasible. I’ve combined those lists and created a list of the places that multiple travel publications have listed, aka where you really should go according to the Travel Powers That Be.

Publications have changed their system this year, so this list is also a bit different. I’ve replaced Travel and Leisure this year with Conde Nast Traveler, as the former only listed places within the United States for 2021. All of the places listed in the New York Times’ 52 Places feature are actually reader submissions of places that are meaningful to them. For the purposes of this piece, I’m treating them as recommendations. And the Lonely Planet switched from a model based on cities/countries/regions, to one based on the themes of Sustainability, Community, and Diversity.

Most of the places on this list are well-known and/or major bucket list locations, but certainly not all of them are. And it is a very Europe heavy list. I’m a little disappointed that there are no entries from South America at all this year. As always, these are not my personal recommendations, but the consensus recommendations from top travel publications.

Italy

Conde Nast and CNN both recommend Italy as one of their top places to visit in the upcoming year. Venice is getting a break from overtourism and cruises, and the city is working on adjusting its tourism model now, to make it a more authentic, relaxing, and sustainable place to visit. Conde Nast focuses more on the countryside and rural Italy, in particular the region of Umbria. And Lonely Planet recommends Le Vie di Dante (The Roads of Dante), a trek across central Italy from the city of Ravenna through the Po Valley and over the Apennine Mountains to Florence.

Tulsa, OK

Before the Tulsa Race Massacre, Tulsa, Oklahoma had one of the most successful and thriving black business districts in the US – known as Black Wall Street. 2021 is the 100th anniversary of that horrifying act of domestic terrorism, and Tulsa is focusing on reckoning with its history this year and honor those victims, making it a top listed destination by National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler. Greenwood Rising, (https://www.tulsa2021.org/rising) a history center on legacy of Black Wall Street and the Massacre, is slated to open this year, along with event to be held, as feasible, this year.

New Zealand

This recommendation, made for the whole country by CNN, is near and dear to my heart as a number of my close friends are from New Zealand and tell me I need to travel there all the time. The country is obviously renowned for nature, and NYT particularly recommends Milford Sound (also known as Piopiotahi), a fjord in southwest of the South Island. But in addition to nature is the focus on New Zealand’s Maori history and heritage. Conde Nast suggests visiting Hokianga on the North Island where a new cultural, heritage, and tourism center Manea, is set to open right where Kupe, the explorer who discovered New Zealand, is said to have set ashore over 1,000 years ago. And if all that history makes you hungry, Lonely Planet recommends restaurants in Wellington that focus on native ingredients and cooking techniques.

Greece

2021 is the 200-year anniversary of the start of Greece’s war for independence against the Ottoman Empire. This makes it a particularly excellent year to visit. Both CNN and Lonely Planet recommend the country, steeped in history, be it from centuries past or millennia. Lonely Planet lists Greece as a top food destination to visit because of its focus on local ingredient and cuisine, which is of course delicious. If you are looking for a lesser-known historical destination to visit, National Geographic suggests the city of Alonissos, which has an underwater museum, in a shipwreck thought to be from the 5th century BCE and accessible to recreational divers.  Or visit the island of Andros, in the Cycladic Islands, as NYT suggests.

New York City, New York

CNN and Conde Nast both recommend visiting NYC next. New York City is always a top destination in the world, but it was particularly hard hit at the start of the pandemic, and many industries are struggling with the decline in tourism. CNN focuses on all the outdoor offerings NYC has – from walking around through different neighborhoods to its waterfront parks whereas Conde Nast focuses on the need for tourism to help revive NYC’s restaurant scene and other industries, as well as how the city can act as a gateway to the rest of the state.

Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver - Absolutely worth visiting!

Canada

The question isn’t if you should visit Canada so much as where you should go when you do visit. CNN recommends the country as a whole, but all the other travel magazines chimed in with their suggestions for narrowing it down. National Geographic suggests Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories, or learning more about the Indigenous cultures and Canada’s First Nations in British Columbia. Conde Nast recommends Nova Scotia, where you can visit the USECO-listed Cliffs of Fundy, or Winnipeg, which is opening Qaumajuq, an art gallery which will hold the world’s largest collection of Inuit art. The New York Times recommends Alberta, and Lonely Planet suggests taking a train ride through the Canadian Rockies.

The United Kingdom

While the United Kingdom is a major pandemic hot spot right now, it’s one of the top places to visit once travel become safe. CNN recommends visiting the United Kingdom, and everyone concurred, focusing on sites in England specifically. One of the top places to visit in England, recommended by both National Geographic and Conde Nast, is the English Coast, particularly Coast Path, which is a 2,800-mile seafront walking trail. Some segments feature artwork and art installations along the trail, and for others it’s just you and the rural seacoast. Another top location in the UK to visit is, of course, London, where the New York Times recommends the South London Parks, and the St. James the Lesser Church, while Lonely Planet suggests taking an “Invisible Cities” Tour, which trains people who have experienced homelessness to become tour guides. And finally, if you are in the mood for academia in a gorgeous and historic setting, NYT also recommends visiting the University of Cambridge.

Southern Vietnam

I studied abroad in Vietnam, and the country has a special place in my heart after my time there. Conde Nast recommends Southern Vietnam as one of top places to go. Specifically, they recommend the province of Phu Yen, which has a number of resorts on the coast, and a new luxury train that passes through both the countryside and ruins of the ancient Champa Kingdom. The New York Times discusses the island of Con Dao off the southern coast of Vietnam, which is a blend of its horrific past as a prison and its current natural beauty.

Egypt

One of CNN’s top choices for 2021, Egypt is the land of the pyramids, and of millennia of history, be it ancient or from the past century. But ancient history is the biggest draw, and CNN mentions the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum which houses historical treasures, including newly discovered finds in Luxor and Saqqara. The New York Times recommends visiting the Siwa Oasis, in the western part of the country. The oasis is isolated in the Sahara Desert, and is the home to ruins of a temple of a Greek oracle Jupiter Amun and Ptolemaic tombs.

Sonoma Wine Country

Sonoma is one of the top wine regions in California, and one of the top places to visit if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area as a result. Like much of California, it’s been devastated by wildfires in recent years. A visit mean you will help the community survive and rebuild and get excellent wine in the process. NYT recommends Santa Rosa, where you can check of breweries downtown if you need a break from wine and visit nearby state parks. If you go up the 101 a few miles you hit Healdsburg, which is Conde Nast’s suggestion for the region.

Romania

Romania is more than just the home of vampires and Vlad Dracula, as it is in popular imagination. And it is one of the NYT recommendations. New York Times focuses on rural Romania, particularly the regions of Maramures and Bukovina, the landscape and the traditions that continue to this day. National Geographic also suggests going to rural Romania, but specifically in Transylvania. A place to hike in the Carpathian Mountains, visit small villages, and unplug from life for a bit.

Ghana

In 2019, Ghana launched a “Year of Return” initiative to inspire members of the African diaspora to visit and connect with the country and their history. Ghana intends to launch a similar initiative “Beyond the Return” in 2021, making it a top place to go according to Conde Nast and CNN. The country is due to be more accessible with United expected to launch non-stop flights to the capital city, Accra. While there you can enjoy culinary tours, visits to heritage sites, or go surfing at Cape Three Points.

Mexico

If you want to travel outside the US, but close and warm, one of CNN’s top destinations for 2021 is Mexico. CNN recommends visiting more under-touristed spots, focusing on the country’s natural beauty and coastline. Conde Nast recommends two different areas. One location is the state of Chiapas, which is home to numerous major Mayan sites, including the City of Palenque and has strong, ongoing roots in the regions indigenous peoples. They also recommend Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast, which is due to have a number of new resorts open and where the island of Mexcaltitan has been named a preserved area of cultural heritage known as a “Pueblo Magico.”

Japan

I was really excited to see that CNN recommended Japan as one the next places to go as I had planned on going to Japan in 2020 before COVID-19 hit. The 2020 Olympics were postponed for this year, at least for now, but all the infrastructure built for tourists is ready for when we can travel. Conde Nast recommends people focus on Kyoto, particularly the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been recently renovated. NYT suggests the island of Hokkaido, where travelers can enjoy onsen – geothermal bath houses – out in nature.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a popular destination for all sorts of reasons, from the beaches, to the rainforests, to the focus on sustainable tourism and limiting their carbon footprint, so it makes sense for it to be one of Lonely Planet’s top destinations. But Lonely Planet this year highlights the high levels of accessibly Costa Rica offers for disabled travelers, particularly those in wheelchairs. Poas Volcanoes National Park and Carara National Park have universal walkways and most of the country’s museums, markets, and restaurants are wheelchair accessible. The New York Times suggests Malpais, a town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast which is known for surfing, beaches, and gorgeous sunsets over the water. 

Australia

Australia is on most people’s bucket lists, so it’s no surprise it’s one of Lonely Planet’s recommendations for 2021. Australia is working of reforesting and rebuilding following the devastating fires last year and Lonely Planet emphasizes how tourists can help, including by taking tours that provide opportunities for helping with reforestation. The NYT recommends Yarra Ranges National Park, an hour and a half outside Melbourne, and Jimmy’s Beach in NBew South Wales. For travelers interested in going beyond the Australian mainland, Conde Nast recommends Tasmania, where there are not only national parks but an emerging food scene focusing on local ingredients and locally produced wine. National Geographic suggests Lord Howe Island, which is surrounded by coral reefs that contain hundreds of species of fish.

Spain

CNN calls Spain an “unmissable travel destination” and they are absolutely right on that point. Spain has so many famous sites. CNN focuses on those that have been overtouristed and will hopefully come back with a more sustainable tourism, such as the Balearic Islands and Barcelona. Top locations recommended by NYT are the pilgrimage route the Camino de Santiago, and the city of Cordoba in Andalucía. But not all the recommended sites are as famous. National Geographic suggests the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country, which in addition to being an historical, cultural crossroads, has an annual international jazz festival. And Lonely Planet recommends El Hierro in the Canary Islands, a Spanish possession off of Africa’s northwestern coast, which is a UNESCO Geopark.