The top 10 new travel gems for 2024

Wondering what holiday destinations are rising the most in popularity? Us too.

That's why we came up with the real-time destination leaderboard, which updates every week to show which places have grown the most in visitor numbers over the past year. We think it's a great way to discover up-and-coming destinations you might not have thought of, so you can book your trip there before they become too crowded.

Here are the top 10 biggest movers right now – get that holiday booked before everyone else does!

---

10. Colombo

Up until last year Sri Lanka was suffering a period of political unrest due partly to shortages of basic resources, and protests were common in the capital. Now the island is peaceful again but still very cheap to visit, so visitors are flocking back.

Fly into the capital Colombo and feast on kottu roti, the ultimate Sri Lankan street food that's a mish-mash of veg, roti, eggs and either meat or seafood. If fine dining is more your thing then head somewhere fancy for Sri Lankan crabs.

When you've had your fill and experienced the Gangaramaya Temple, museums and lively nightlife, hop on the scenic train to Ella. The trains are pretty slow but the views more than make up for it – as well as lush mountains, flowing rivers and tea gardens, the route passes through the famous Nine Arch Bridge. After spending some time in Ella, the train journey to Kandy is equally iconic.

---

9. Turin

Thanks to British Airways and Jet2 launching new flights to this Italian ski favourite, Turin is more popular than ever. The high altitude of the nearby Alps means snow conditions are pretty perfect during ski season, plus the slopes tend to be much quieter than in famous French resorts.

Before heading for the slopes you should check out the city first. It was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy and the first capital of a unified Italy, so there's plenty of history here. The Royal Palace of Turin and the Palazzo Madama are stunning, and the Shroud of Turin found in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is believed by some to be the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. Or simply indulge in the Gianduiotto chocolate the city's famous for – we won't judge.

Ski season in the nearby Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski area usually runs from December to April. Cesana Torinese is great for skiing and snowboarding and often fairly quiet, while Bardonecchia's slopes featured in the Winter Olympics, so you'd assume they're pretty good.

---

8. Singapore

Singapore was closed to visitors for such a long time during the Covid pandemic, so it's no wonder the city-state is way up in our numbers as travellers look to rediscover this gateway to Southeast Asia. Its airport is quite possibly the best in the world, and you could easily spend the best part of the day exploring everything there is to do here.

But if by chance you do fancy leaving the airport, you won't be disappointed with the rest of this island country. Singapore's a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and western cultures and has the neighbourhoods and cuisine to match. It's also one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the world, so you'll never be too far from a park or nature reserve. Our favourite is the Gardens by the Bay, a futuristic park full of forest and flower gardens right in the heart of the city.

Singapore is a perfect base for exploring the rest of the region, whether you fancy exploring Malaysia and the surrounding peninsula or heading all the way over to Australia and New Zealand.

---

7. The Maldives

The Maldives is one of the best-known luxury winter sun destinations, and it seems an increasing number of travellers have decided to tick this once-in-a-lifetime destination off their bucket list. And who can blame them? The peaceful resorts, tropical climate and secluded beaches are as romantic as it gets.

Loved-up travellers will want to make a beeline for the private, overwater bungalows and villas that offer direct access to the ocean below. Or if you're feeling super fancy, some resorts are on private islands, offering the most exclusive and tranquil of holiday experiences.

You should try snorkelling and scuba diving while you're there to see the beautiful coral reefs, colourful fish and turtles. You might even see a manta ray or a shark if you're lucky. And after all that exertion, treat yourself to an indulgent spa treatment or a spot of yoga in the most idyllic of settings.

---

6. Innsbruck

Winter sports are clearly as popular as ever, as Innsbruck in Austria is the second of three destinations loved by skiers to make our list of top-rising holiday spots. And this one's got a fair bit of pedigree in the area – Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics (in 1964 and 1976) and has earned the nickname 'Capital of the Alps'.

But what makes Innsbruck one of the best places in the world to go skiing? There are 13 different ski resorts you can visit from the city, and you can buy an affordable all-in-one ski pass that lets you visit as many as you want – so it's hard to beat the variety of different ski routes you can try in one trip.

The closest resort is Nordkette, which you can easily get to by taking the cable car from Innsbruck. The slopes are quite challenging, so we'd recommend heading somewhere like Schlick 2000 or Hochoetz if it's your first time skiing.

---

5. Chambéry

As promised, here's the third and final ski destination that's growing in popularity – Chambéry in the French Alps. Once fairly hidden, the city is now a well-established starting point for snowy escapes to the likes of Alpe d'Huez, Paradiski and Val d'Isère.

Chambéry itself has lots of historical charm, from the beautifully preserved old town with winding cobbled streets and pastel buildings to the Château de Chambéry Cathedral where the Dukes of Savoy used to live (before Turin, Chambéry was capital of the Duchy of Savoy). The food's unique too – specialities include tartiflette, raclette, and cheeses like Reblochon, Beaufort, and Tomme de Savoie.

---

4. Poznań

By now Poland is well-established as an affordable and rewarding European getaway. Most travellers' first port of call is Kraków, Warsaw or even the Polish Riviera (Sopot, Gdynia and Gdańsk), but Poznań is emerging as a new favourite as savvy travellers look for somewhere under the radar.

Poznań makes for the perfect Eastern European city break. The old town and its Renaissance architecture, lively cafes and restaurants is gorgeous, and there are plenty of historic sites to explore. Make sure to visit Ostrów Tumski – the island is the oldest part of the city and features the impressive Poznań Cathedral.

---

3. Marrakech

Reliably warm winter city breaks are on the up, and city breaks don't get much more chaotic than Marrakech. We mean that in the best possible way, of course.

Morocco's fourth-largest city promises a sensory overload of bustling souks, horse-drawn carriages, street performers and market vendors all vying for your attention. But that's all part of the charm. After fully immersing yourself in these chaotic souks, you can always relax in the country's best hammams or public baths. Travel in spring, autumn or winter to avoid the sweltering heat of summer.

Morocco unfortunately ranks very poorly on our Good Trip Index, the Holiday Extras guide to travelling ethically, sustainably and well. Many of the laws here are very different to the UK, and homosexuality is illegal. If you'd prefer to travel somewhere else that's equally exotic, take a look at our favourite winter sun destinations that score highly on our Good Trip Index.

---

2. Seville

Speaking of reliably hot city breaks, Seville seems to be even more popular than Morocco at the moment. Seville boasts 300 sunny days a year and is warm pretty much all year round, so there's never a bad time to enjoy some tapas in one of its many outdoor cafés or to amble through its beautiful gardens.

The Alcázar of Seville is probably the pick of the bunch when it comes to ambling through gardens. This royal palace and UNESCO World Heritage site was originally built as a Moorish fort and is renowned for its stunning Mudéjar architecture, intricate tiles and peaceful gardens. Perfect for a picnic. You'll also recognise the palace from Lawrence of Arabia if you watched it, or more recently as the Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones.

There are plenty of great places for a day trip nearby too that are easily accessible by car or train. Head to port city Cádiz to see the coast, or Córdoba for more stunning alcázars and Renaissance architecture.

---

1. Greek islands – Kefalonia, Zante & Crete

Coming out first, second and third on our list of top-rising travel gems for 2024 are three Greek islands – Kefalonia, Zante and Crete. And they're in the lead by quite some distance, as our data has shown Kefalonia to be up by as much as 1,600% in 2024 compared to 2023.

Greek islands have been much more popular since the summer of 2020, when (almost) everywhere else was locked down by the UK's traffic light system. At the time each island was treated as a separate destination, so some of them were open the whole time. That meant loads of UK travellers went, got a taste, and kept going back.

Kefalonia, Zante and Crete all offer travellers something different. Kefalonia boats dazzling beaches, enchanting caves and a laid-back vibe, and the fresh seafood is delicious whether you're eating in traditional tavernas or fancy seafront restaurants.

Zante's well-known as a party island, and if that's your thing you'll have a great time in Laganas. There's more to the island than that though. Navgio Beach is the island's most iconic spot, featuring a rusted shipwreck on a white pebble beach surrounded by towering cliffs and, most likely, influencers looking for the perfect holiday snap. Or go turtle spotting on Marathonisi, a small island that's known as a nesting area for endangered loggerhead sea turtles.

Like Kefalonia and Zante, Crete has no shortage of amazing beaches. Travellers should head here if they want to see some of Greece's best historic sites as well as that all-important laze on the beach. It's the mythical birthplace of Zeus, and the capital Heraklion is home to one of Greece's best archaeological museums.

Last summer wildfires, floods and scorching temperatures struck some islands, making them less attractive as a high summer choice. Instead, travellers are heading there in the shoulder seasons – it'll still be hot but not too hot, and the crowds will be fewer too, so we'd say spring or autumn is a great choice.

Top