Always check government guidelines before booking and before travelling. There are, of course, countless spaces to explore on this planet, and many ways in which to do so, but this is our carefully curated selection of those spots coming into their own in 2022 – in no particular order, and including an insider tip on where to book to stay if we have personally already tested somewhere we'd like to recommend to you. So however you picture your own travel landscape, there’s something on this list to satisfy all inclinations. Big global events, such as the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, will certainly hold sway, but there are quieter stories to be told too, from family-run farms packing a real foodie punch, to festivals dedicated to the healing properties of the Earth.

Evergreen spots such as Edinburgh and Thailand will be singing louder than ever, while others – Jersey and New Orleans – are shining a light on their own untold histories. On the list you’ll find destinations varied in character and geography, from north-east Australia to the very best places to visit in Europe. We’ve taken great care in selecting places to suit all travel appetites, taking our cue from those in the know – the surfers, the food-truck vendors and the museum curators. Which is why this year, our list of top holiday destinations is perhaps more important than ever. We’ll be reminded often of why we travel those sparks of curiosity and adventure will be fanned to roaring flames, and as travel steadily finds its way back into our lives, we’ll appreciate every moment that comes with it – every hidden street-food shack, every quiet beach gilded by the low sun, every slow and magnificent swoop of a train journey. As the green shoots of travel turn to tall, towering oaks, 2022 is a chance for us to reconnect to the best holiday destinations in a deeper, more authentic way.

Mount and blade villages