Copyright Boston.com
New Englanders can experience one of the planet’s trendiest travel destinations next year without traveling very far, according to Skyscanner. The U.K.-based travel agency named New Haven, Connecticut one of 10 trending destinations worldwide in 2026. The city ranked No. 8. “US travelers are turning their attention to smaller, lesser-known destinations that fly further under the radar but offer something fresh beyond the big-name spots,” wrote Skyscanner. Here’s what Skyscanner wrote about New Haven: Acclaimed for its pizza and cultural scene, New Haven offers museums, architecture, and diverse cuisine, plus a surge in visitors this fall as ‘Gilmore Girls’ fans celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary in nearby Stars Hollow-inspired Connecticut. To comprise the list, Skyscanner determined which destinations saw increases in flight searches between Jan. 1 and June 30 for travel throughout 2025, compared to the same time period in 2024, and then selected the top 10 destinations for “travel suitability.” New Haven saw a 39% increase in flight searches, according to Skyscanner, and is one of just two U.S. destinations on the list. The other is Vail, Colorado, which ranked No. 5. Limon, Costa Rica, was the No. 1 trending destination, with a 286% increase in flight searches. Other destinations on the list include Jaipur, India; Bodrum, Turkey; and Madeira, Portugal.
