Hydra, Greece. Photo: Pexels
What Are the Best Countries to Visit in 2026? The Readers' Choice Rankings from the US and UK Editions, Side by Side
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 15 October 2026
Greece is the best country in the world for UK readers in 2026 (98.14) and Japan is the best for US readers (95.52, a fourth year running); Japan and Italy are the only countries in the top three of both editions of the Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards. UK readers put Japan second and Italy third; US readers put Italy second, then Ireland, Cambodia and Spain. Costa Rica is the friendliest country in the world for UK readers, Ireland the friendliest in Europe, and Italy has the best food.
What are the best countries to visit in 2026?
Japan and Italy are the only countries in the top three for both US and UK readers in 2026; Greece is first for the UK and Japan first for the US. The table puts the two votes side by side for every country that reached either top ten. "US top 20" means the country is named in the US top 20 but its place was not in any report we could read.
| Country | UK readers (score) | US readers (score) |
|---|---|---|
| Greece | 1 (98.14) | US top 20, place not published |
| Japan | 2 (97.01) | 1 (95.52) |
| Italy | 3 (96.48) | 2 (94.80) |
| Ireland | Not in the top 20 | 3 (94.15) |
| Cambodia | 16 | 4 |
| Spain | 12 | 5 |
| Turkey | 4 (94.90) | Not named in the US top 20 |
| Portugal | 5 (94.64) | US top 20, place not published |
| Costa Rica | 6 | Not named in the US top 20 |
| Croatia | 7 | US top 20, place not published |
| Indonesia | 8 | Not named in the US top 20 |
| Kenya | 9 | Not named in the US top 20 |
| Thailand | 10 | US top 20 (92.89) |
| Vietnam | 14 (92.86) | 10 (92.99) |
Sources: Greek Reporter, Greek News USA, Daily Hive, Japan National Tourism Organization, CafeF, VietnamPlus, The Star.
The UK readers' top 20 countries for 2026
UK readers rank Greece the best country in the world for 2026, at 98.14, ahead of Japan (97.01), Italy (96.48), Turkey (94.90) and Portugal (94.64). Kenya, at ninth, is the highest-placed African country and South Africa is eleventh. Canada closes the top 20 at 88.97.
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece | 98.14 |
| 2 | Japan | 97.01 |
| 3 | Italy | 96.48 |
| 4 | Turkey | 94.90 |
| 5 | Portugal | 94.64 |
| 6 | Costa Rica | Not published |
| 7 | Croatia | Not published |
| 8 | Indonesia | Not published |
| 9 | Kenya | Not published |
| 10 | Thailand | Not published |
| 11 | South Africa | Not published |
| 12 | Spain | Not published |
| 13 | Norway | Not published |
| 14 | Vietnam | 92.86 |
| 15 | New Zealand | Not published |
| 16 | Cambodia | Not published |
| 17 | India | Not published |
| 18 | France | Not published |
| 19 | Qatar | Not published |
| 20 | Canada | 88.97 |
Sources: Greek Reporter, Greek News USA, Daily Hive, CafeF (Vietnam score).
The US readers' top countries for 2026
US readers rank Japan the best country in the world for the fourth year running, at 95.52, followed by Italy (94.80), Ireland (94.15), Cambodia and Spain; Vietnam is tenth at 92.99. The US survey drew 798,867 responses across all categories between 1 April and 30 June 2026.
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 95.52 |
| 2 | Italy | 94.80 |
| 3 | Ireland | 94.15 |
| 4 | Cambodia | Not published |
| 5 | Spain | Not published |
| 10 | Vietnam | 92.99 |
Also in the US top 20, places not published in the reports we read: Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (92.98), Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand (92.89). By score, South Korea and Thailand sit just below Vietnam.
Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization, CafeF, VietnamPlus, Travel Extra, The Star, Condé Nast Traveler, full results.
The top countries, and when to go
Each country below is in the top five of at least one edition, or the highest-placed in its region. The months are the usual best window for a first visit; check the official tourism site for festivals and closures in the year you travel.
GreeceUK 1st (98.14) · US top 20
- When to go
- Late May to June and September to early October. July and August are the busiest and hottest months on the islands, and many island hotels close from November to April.
- Best for
- Islands and food: UK readers also rank Greece second for food (96.72), and Hydra first among European islands.
- Also on this site
- Italy, France, Spain, Portugal or Greece?
- Not the fit if
- You want the Cyclades quiet in high summer: ferries and hotels on Santorini and Mykonos are at their fullest in July and August.
JapanUS 1st (95.52), fourth year · UK 2nd (97.01)
- When to go
- Late March to early April for cherry blossom, and November for autumn colour in Kyoto. June to mid-July is the rainy season, and high summer is hot and humid.
- Best for
- Cities and culture: US readers also put Tokyo second and Kyoto tenth among the world's big cities.
- Also on this site
- Best luxury tour operators for Japan, the JR Pass, the best eSIM for Japan
- Not the fit if
- You want cherry blossom without crowds: the peak blossom weeks are the busiest of the year in Kyoto and Tokyo.
ItalyUK 3rd (96.48) · US 2nd (94.80)
- When to go
- April to June and September to October. August is hot, and around Ferragosto on 15 August many Italians are on holiday themselves.
- Best for
- Food: UK readers rank Italy first in the world for food (96.92), and Sperlonga first among Europe's beaches.
- Also on this site
- Best luxury tour operators for Italy, the best eSIM for Italy
- Not the fit if
- You only have August: the coast is at its most crowded and some city restaurants close for the month.
IrelandUS 3rd (94.15) · not in the UK top 20
- When to go
- May to September, for the longest days. Rain is possible in any month.
- Best for
- Friendliness: UK readers rank Ireland the friendliest country in Europe, at 98.39.
- Also on this site
- Best family travel destinations
- Not the fit if
- You need reliable sun: the weather changes by the hour, even in summer.
CambodiaUS 4th · UK 16th
- When to go
- November to March, the dry and cooler season; Angkor is busiest from December to January. May to October is the wet season.
- Best for
- Angkor and Phnom Penh, which US readers rank third among the world's big cities.
- Also on this site
- Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos?
- Not the fit if
- You can only travel in April: it is the hottest month of the year.
SpainUS 5th · UK 12th
- When to go
- April to June and September to October. July and August are very hot inland, in Seville and Madrid.
- Best for
- Cities and food; Madrid is 17th in UK readers' list of the world's best cities.
- Also on this site
- The best eSIM for Spain
- Not the fit if
- You plan to tour Andalusia in midsummer: afternoon heat closes the day for sightseeing.
TurkeyUK 4th (94.90)
- When to go
- April to June and September to October; Istanbul works all year.
- Best for
- Istanbul, which UK readers rank third among the world's cities, and the coast: Iztuzu Beach is in the 2026 world beach list.
- Also on this site
- The best eSIM for Turkey
- Not the fit if
- You want Cappadocia's balloons on a fixed date: flights are cancelled in high wind, so allow two mornings.
PortugalUK 5th (94.64) · US top 20
- When to go
- March to June and September to October; June to September for Algarve beaches.
- Best for
- Lisbon and Porto: Porto is first and Lisbon second in UK readers' friendliest cities in Europe.
- Also on this site
- Italy, France, Spain, Portugal or Greece?
- Not the fit if
- You want warm sea swimming in spring: the Atlantic stays cool until summer.
Costa RicaUK 6th · friendliest country in the world (98.67)
- When to go
- Mid-December to April, the dry season on the Pacific side; May to November is the green season, with afternoon rain.
- Best for
- Wildlife and friendliness: UK readers rank it the friendliest country in the world.
- Also on this site
- Best family travel destinations
- Not the fit if
- You travel at Christmas or Easter on a budget: those weeks are the most expensive of the year.
KenyaUK 9th, the highest-placed African country
- When to go
- July to October for the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara; January to February is also dry.
- Best for
- Safari: Kenya is the only African country in UK readers' top ten.
- Also on this site
- The best time for a Kenya safari, what a Kenya safari costs
- Not the fit if
- You want river crossings on a fixed week: the herds move with the rain, and no month is certain.
Top countries for food and friendliness in 2026
UK readers rank Italy the best country for food (96.92), just ahead of Greece (96.72), with Thailand eighth; Costa Rica is the friendliest country in the world (98.67) and Ireland the friendliest in Europe (98.39).
| Rank | Friendliest countries in Europe | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | 98.39 |
| 2 | Portugal | 96.67 |
| 3 | Italy | 96.54 |
| 4 | Greece | 96.31 |
| 5 | Spain | 96.63 |
| 6 | Turkey | 95.59 |
| 7 | Estonia | 93.84 |
| 8 | Slovenia | 92.37 |
| 9 | Croatia | 92.18 |
| 10 | Austria | 91.49 |
Spain's score is higher than Greece's although it is placed fifth; that is the order and the scores as reported.
Sources: Irish Central, Greek Reporter, Pattaya Mail (Thailand for food), Travel Extra.
How the vote works, and what it does not measure
- Who votes: readers of each edition. The US edition, the 39th, drew 798,867 survey responses between 1 April and 30 June 2026; the UK edition, the 29th, about 300,000 readers between April and June.
- How it is scored: readers rate places on a five-point scale from excellent to poor; the ratings are converted to a percentage and averaged.
- What it is not: a measure of cost, safety, visas or the weather in the month you can travel. It records how much readers who went liked it.
- Why the editions differ: distance and habit. Ireland is third for US readers and outside the UK top 20; Turkey and Kenya are in the UK top ten and outside the US top 20.
- A note on the coverage: some reports attach the US vote count to the UK list. The counts above are each edition's own.
Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization, Daily Hive, Irish Central.
Best countries to visit in 2026: the questions people ask
What is the best country to visit in 2026?
By readers' vote in the 2026 Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards, Greece is the best country for UK readers (98.14) and Japan for US readers (95.52). Japan and Italy are in the top three of both editions.
What are the top 10 countries to visit in 2026?
UK readers' top ten for 2026: Greece, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Costa Rica, Croatia, Indonesia, Kenya and Thailand. US readers' top five: Japan, Italy, Ireland, Cambodia and Spain, with Vietnam tenth.
Which country won the Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards 2026?
Japan won the US edition for the fourth year running, at 95.52. Greece won the UK edition at 98.14.
Which is the friendliest country in the world?
Costa Rica, at 98.67, in UK readers' 2026 vote. The friendliest country in Europe is Ireland, at 98.39, followed by Portugal and Italy.
Which country has the best food?
Italy, at 96.92 in UK readers' 2026 vote, with Greece second at 96.72 and Thailand eighth.
Is Japan the best country to visit?
For US readers, yes: Japan has been their No. 1 country for four years in a row, at 95.52 in 2026. UK readers put it second, behind Greece.
Why do the US and UK lists differ?
Each edition is voted on only by its own readers, and they travel to different places. Ireland is third for US readers and not in the UK top 20; Turkey, Costa Rica and Kenya are in the UK top ten but not named in the US top 20.
When is the best time to visit Greece?
Late May to June and September to early October, when the sea is warm and the islands are less crowded than in July and August. Many island hotels close from November to April.
Read next
The rankings on this page are Condé Nast's readers' votes, reported as published; this site adds no score of its own. Condé Nast Traveler's site could not be read directly, so every place and score comes from the reports and tourism-board releases cited under each table, read 15 October 2026. Where a place was not published there, the page says so rather than guess. The travel months are this site's general guidance. There are no affiliate links and no paid placements. How this site earns · How we work.