Okay, let’s pause. “2020.” That year is a punchline. A global pause button. A year of cancelled plans and closed borders. Talking about its top travel destinations feels… surreal. Like recommending the best spots on the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.
But that’s exactly why we should look back. Not for vacation planning, but for perspective. 2020’s “top destinations” reveal something deeper than a trendy hotspot. They show us what we valued right before everything changed. They’re a time capsule of our travel dreams. And in their dramatic absence, they taught us what travel actually means.
Let’s open that capsule. Not to book a trip, but to understand one.
The Pre-Pandemic Dream List: What Was On The Table
In late 2019, the buzz for 2020 was building. The lists were published. Based on trends from Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure, and booking data, the top contenders weren't shocking. They were the culmination of a decade of wanderlust:
- Kyoto, Japan: For the 2020 Olympics, yes, but also for a timeless contrast to Tokyo's frenzy.
- Salzburg, Austria: A Mozart anniversary year was driving cultural tourism.
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Eco-tourism and a sense of "see it before it changes" was at a peak.
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: Game of Thrones tourism was still in full swing, blending medieval history with Adriatic glamour.
- Maine, USA: Domestic "slow travel" and road trips were gaining steam as an antidote to overtourism.
These places shared a theme: Experiential, immersive, often Instagrammable, but with a layer of cultural or natural legitimacy. We were collectors of places. The goal was to be there.
Then, March 2020. The lists didn't just become irrelevant. They became cruel reminders of a world that had suddenly vanished.
The Actual "Top Destinations" of 2020: Your Living Room, The Kitchen, The Local Park
Overnight, the geography of our lives shrank to a few square miles, if we were lucky. The "top destinations" became:
- The Couch to The Fridge: A well-trodden path of anxiety.
- The Local Trail You’d Never Noticed: Suddenly, every tree, every squirrel, was a landmark on a vital expedition for sanity.
- Your Friend’s Backyard, Six Feet Apart: The most exclusive, precious social venue on earth.
- The Zoom Background: A curated slice of your home, suddenly your portal to the world.
This was the Great Reset. We weren't traveling to consume a place. We were navigating our own interior and immediate landscapes just to stay grounded. The "sights" were the first buds of spring in your own neighborhood. The "culture" was the book you finally read, the bread you learned to bake.
The Lesson: What We Learned About Travel When We Couldn't
This is the real reveal. 2020 didn't just take away destinations; it gave us a brutal, clear-eyed audit of why we traveled.
We learned travel wasn't about the "where." It was about the "how" and the "why."
- The "Checklist" Mentality Died: No one was ticking "Galápagos" off a list. We missed connection, not conquest.
- We Craved Space & Safety: Not just physical space, but mental space. A destination's appeal became "Can I breathe there? Literally and figuratively?"
- Hyper-Local Became Hyper-Significant: We discovered the value of what was already within reach. The local bakery, the regional park, the day-trip town we'd always bypassed.
- Travel Was a Feeling, Not a Pin on a Map: The feeling was freedom. The simple, profound freedom to move, to explore, to be somewhere else. We didn't miss the souvenir; we missed the sensation of arrival.
The 2020 Time Capsgle: What It Means For Your Travel Future
So, what do we do with this old list? We don't throw it out. We read it as a historical document that makes our future travel smarter and more meaningful.
When you look at "Kyoto, 2020," don't just see a city. See the lesson it now represents:
- Overtourism is a Choice: The images of silent, empty Venice canals and clear Himalayan views were shocking. They proved our impact. The destinations of our future need to be visited with more care, on off-seasons, with a mindset of stewardship, not just consumption.
- Depth Over Breadth: The dream of hitting ten countries in two weeks feels hollow now. The future is about one place, longer. A rental apartment, not a hotel room. Learning a few phrases of the language, not just passing through.
- The "Why" is Everything: Are you going to relax? To learn a skill? To visit a specific friend? To hike one famous trail? Your reason should dictate your destination, not the other way around.
Your Action Plan: Use 2020 as Your Travel Compass
- Find Your Old List: Dig up your 2020 Pinterest board, your saved Instagram posts, your scribbled "someday" list. Look at it not as a checklist, but as a mood board. What feeling were you chasing? Tranquility (Kyoto)? Adventure (Galápagos)? Cultural connection (Salzburg)? Identify the core desire.
- Apply the "Local Test": Can you fulfill 20% of that desire within 50 miles of home this month? A Japanese garden? A wildlife sanctuary? A classical music performance? This isn't a downgrade. It's training yourself to find the essence of travel anywhere.
- Plan Your Next Trip Backwards: Start with your post-trip self. "I want to come home feeling _________ (rested, inspired, stronger, connected)." Then, and only then, ask: "What place, and what style of travel, will most likely create that outcome?" Let that guide your destination choice, not a trending headline.
- Build in Space & Slack: Never plan a trip at 100% capacity again. Build in empty days, long lunches, time to get lost. The value is in the experience, not the efficiency.
The top travel destinations of 2020 are a monument to a world paused. They remind us that travel is a privilege, not a given. That a destination is just a container—what we pour into it (our curiosity, our respect, our presence) is what makes it matter.
The next time you plan a trip, don't just ask "Where should I go?" Ask, "Who do I want to be when I get there?" That’s the 2020 lesson. And it's one we can't afford to miss.
FAQs: 2020 Travel Destinations
Why even discuss 2020 travel destinations now?
As a historical and psychological marker. It helps us understand how much our travel values have shifted. Analyzing what we wanted then versus what we experienced highlights the difference between superficial trend-following and the core human needs travel fulfills—needs we became acutely aware of during lockdowns.
Did any 2020 destinations actually become popular... in later years?
Yes, but in a different way. The domestic, nature-focused, and space-rich destinations saw a massive boom first. Places like Maine, national parks, and rural cabins became the only options and remained intensely popular as people prioritized safety and open air. This accelerated the "slow travel" trend that was already on the 2020 lists.
What was the biggest mistake in pre-2020 travel planning that this revealed?
Packing itineraries to the point of exhaustion. We confused movement with experience. 2020 proved that the most meaningful travel moments often come from stillness—sitting in a plaza people-watching, having a long conversation, or simply breathing in a new place without rushing to the next photo op.
How do I avoid overtourism now when visiting these popular places?
- Go Off-Season: Visit Kyoto in February, not April for cherry blossoms.
- Go Beyond the Iconic Spot: In Croatia, skip Dubrovnik's walls at midday and explore the island of Vis or the Pelješac peninsula.
- Book Local & Small: Stay in a family-run guesthouse, hire a local guide, eat at restaurants not in the old town center. This distributes economic benefit and reduces pressure on honeypot sites.
- Be an Ambassador, Not a Consumer: Travel with the mindset of leaving the place better. Pick up litter, respect quiet hours, shop locally.
Is the "dream destination" list dead?
No, but it's been humbled. It's now a source of inspiration, not a prescription. A list should start conversations: "Why is this place special? What can I learn there? How can I visit responsibly?" instead of "I need to go here because it's ranked #1."
What's the #1 takeaway from 2020 for a traveler today?
Intentionality. Never travel on autopilot again. Choose your destination, your pace, and your activities with clear purpose. The gift of 2020 was the reset button. It showed us that travel is precious. Don't waste it on a trip you don't actually want to take.
