A gorgeous city in Atlantic Canada has earned a spot on a best-of list from one of the world’s most prestigious travel publications.
National Geographic has released its Best Places in the World to Travel list for 2027, marking the 15th anniversary of its annual travel rankings.
Of the 25 destinations selected by the magazine, only one Canadian city made the cut: Halifax, N.S.
The list highlights 25 must-visit destinations for the year ahead, with picks chosen by the magazine’s community of travel experts and editors around the world.
It’s no secret just how stunning Halifax is.
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The coastal city is home to one of the world’s longest downtown boardwalks, stretching 3.8 kilometres along the waterfront, and welcomes an impressive two million visitors from outside the province each year, according to its tourism board.
Besides the boardwalk, visitors usually visit Halifax to explore the historic Halifax Citadel, check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and, of course, snap photos of the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse just outside the city.
But National Geographic has its eye on one particular attraction that will give travellers another reason to visit in 2027: the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre.
“A new cultural centre in Halifax offers a fresh reason to visit the city in the Canadian Maritimes famed for its stunning scenery,” the publication writes.
Set to open in 2027, the 70,000-square-foot centre will primarily serve Indigenous communities, offering programs focused on healthcare and education. It will also give visitors a chance to learn more about the Mi’kmaw people, their culture and their connection to the region, which stretches back more than 10,000 years.
This won’t be your typical museum-style visit, though. Visitors will also be able to browse locally made beadwork and baskets at an artisan market, share bannock and tea with Elders, and gather around a sacred outdoor fire for spiritual healing.
It’s nice to see Canada represented on such a high-profile list.
Other destinations National Geographic insists are must-visit places in the new year include Niigata, Japan; Salvador, Brazil; Tricity, Poland; and Luxor, Egypt.
To view the full list and hopefully get some travel inspiration for your next trip, visit National Geographic’s website.