Our Favorite 50 Destinations

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege to explore the world, appreciate different cultures, and immerse ourselves in the destinations we visit. In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we’re sharing 50 of our favorite destinations to visit with our guests around the world.

Favorites for Summer
Looking for your perfect summer vacation? Considering journeying to one of these five picture perfect summer spots. Consider the relaxing lake town of Lucerne, Switzerland or the oceanside getaway of Biarritz, known as “queen of the beaches, and beach of kings.” Stroll the harbor village of Honfleur. Ride a cheery yellow cable car in Lisbon. Journey to Maderia Island for a blissful escape that captures the island’s dramatic landscapes and distinctive local culture.

Favorite Off-the-Beaten Path Discoveries
Looking for something a bit more extraordinary? See Komodo dragons in their natural habitat at the Komodo Islands in Indonesia. In Aswan, embark on a scenic bird-watching excursion aboard a small motorboat on the Nile. Explore colorful markets in the Balinese capital of Ubud. Visit the incredible agricultural terraces of Peru’s Sacred Valley. Stay at the iconic Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, floating in the middle of Lake Pichola.

Favorite Wine Stops
Delightful wines can be found anywhere, but these five towns give you the chance to sample wines from some truly exquisite vineyards. Try Saint-Emilion for bold Bordeaux blends in a historic setting. Sample prestigious port wines in Barca D’Alva, or head into the atmospheric cellars of Vienna’s Klosterneuburg Abbey. Take a Masterpiece Collection tour by VW Bulli through 6 Moselle wineries. In Tain-L’Hermitage, you can hike through a vineyard-lined hillside to reward yourself with a wine-tasting and an unbeatable view.

Favorites for Active Travelers
If you like to get up and move on vacation, explore these cities by bike, foot, or gondola. Volkach is home to the Mainschleife Nature Reserve, the perfect place to go canoeing. Bike along Porto’s coastline past a fisherman’s village and beautiful beaches. In Venice, try your hand at rowing your own gondola in the iconic lagoon. Venture out on a jungle walk through the San Pedro Forest in Peru to explore the Amazonian wildlife. Go golfing in the Bordeaux region at two magnificent courses.

Favorite Under-the-Radar-Destinations
If you’ve already seen all the tourist hotspots, try visiting one of these more authentic, local destinations. Cruise the Mekong to visit Wat Hanchey, a small village where you can receive a traditional water blessing from local monks. Explore the Belogradchik Red Rock Valley’s astonishing rock formations. Enjoy a traditional meal in Osijek. See the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana before its picturesque charms are discovered by mass tourism. Soak in the scenery of Bernkastel, a picture-perfect town overflowing with scenic streets, taverns, and vineyards.

Favorites for the Winter
Traveling in the colder months? Nuremberg is renowned for having the grandest Christmas Market in all of Germany. Paris takes the “Season of Lights” to a whole new level. Engelberg is an alpine village surrounded by snowy mountaintops. Brussels boasts elaborate Christmas displays and delicious chocolate treats to warm you up. For warmer climes, winter is an excellent time of year to travel to Egypt—mornings and nights are cool, but days are still warm enough to take a dip in the pool.

Favorite Family-Friendly Places
If you’re traveling with the family, there are many places filled with wonder and excursions that everyone, young and old, will love. Cairo boasts museums filled to the brim with exciting Egyptian artifacts. Rome is a treasure trove of history from the Colosseum to Vatican City. Passau’s history is waiting to be uncovered via an interactive Scavenger Hunt tour. Embrace your inner artist and take a Van Gogh Painting class in Arles, or soar over the Rhine by cable car in Rüdesheim.

Favorite Milestone Stops with Special Excursions
Milestone moments call for memories that matter. The Amazon is the perfect adventure for new graduates. Celebrating a wedding anniversary? Intrepid couples will never forget kayaking the crater of an extinct volcano at Saleh Bay, while couples who prefer to relax and indulge may enjoy a Masterpiece Collection truffle hunting and tasting experience in the Provençal village of Grignan. For a transformative retirement trip, visit the sacred city of Varanasi. And for a memorable birthday, check the journey to Kinderdijk Windmills off your bucket list.

Favorites for the History Buffs
When you explore a destination with a local expert, you learn how to translate the sights into a unique story. For the history lovers who know what we mean, we have a few ideas just for you: At the D-Day memorials of Normandy, you can pay homage to the fallen heroes of the day that turned the tide of WWII. In Cologne, a Jewish Heritage tour will tell you about a community that dates to at least 321 CE. New Delhi’s captivating architecture tells a tale of Mughal and British rule. The golden city of Salamanca is home to Spain's oldest University. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can climb inside the Cú Chi Tunnels, dating back to the Vietnam War.

Favorite Stops for Foodies
There are few better ways to get to the heart of a destination than through its flavors. Amsterdam is famous for its delicious stroopwafles and savory bitterballen. Italy is known for its incredible pastas—even better piled with seafood fresh from local markets like the famed one on the fisherman’s island of Chioggia. Pair a delicious selection of cured meats with Douro Valley sparkling wine in Lamego. Devour frankfurters in Frankfurt—with apple wine to top it off. Wash down fresh oysters with a crisp glass of local white wine in Médoc.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Uniworld itineraries and inclusions are subject to change at any time.