Summer’s over, the leaves are turning brown. Time to wrap your blanket closer and start planning your next vacation.

National Geographic has just released its 2026 Best of the World list, 25 must-visit destinations chosen by its international team of editors and explorers. CNN caught up with Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of the 137-year-old magazine, to find out what made the list and why.

Cities

“ Pittsburgh is a favorite city of mine in America,” says Lump. “It’s an easy long weekend.” This postindustrial city in Pennsylvania has a young, creative population and buzzing arts scene thanks to being a university town. Lump recommends its “fantastic” museums and “fun neighborhoods” with lots of quirky, independent shops.

Medellín in Colombia and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil are the pub

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