Wanderlust travel report

For those preferring a staycation this year, our research also looked at the top trending British beaches.

Whether it’s natural phenomena or mind-bending architectural feats, landmarks frequently feature on our bucket lists, inspiring wanderlust from avid travellers everywhere.

India’s Taj Mahal comes first globally as the top trending landmark, with a staggering number of users dedicating Pinterest boards to the ivory-white mausoleum. Its stunning architecture is a regular feature amongst pinned pictures, showing the building reflected in the crisp water of the pools at its forefront.

The famed Burj Khalifa takes second place in the rankings. With its 828m height, the skyscraper is the tallest building in the world, sitting in the heart of Dubai and amassing an astonishing number of visitors each year. Regularly being shown in front of clear blue skies or the bright lights of Dubai at night, it’s no wonder so many travellers are pining to see the famous spot.

Machu Picchu in Peru – one of the Seven Wonders of the World – takes the third spot in our rankings. The famous citadel lies on the equally popular Inca Trail and is a must-see on many bucket lists, with iconic stone walls and glorious panoramic views across the canyon from the peak.

Our research also looked at the top trending UK landmarks, for those looking to explore what the UK has to offer.
 

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to stunning natural and man-made landmarks in the UK, so we’ve crunched the numbers to reveal which are attracting the most interest this year.

While exploring a city on foot is a great way to take in the sights on a smaller scale, embarking on a road trip allows you to get off the beaten path, covering greater ground and taking in more sights enroute. There’s no shortage of famous road trips such as Route 66 in the USA or Australia’s Great Ocean Road, but there are also many lesser-known road trips that’ll treat you to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

The top trending road trip and most popular for holiday inspiration is the Road to Hana in Hawaii. This scenic road trip takes a route through the northeast coastline of Maui on the Hana Highway, one of the most beautiful highways in the world thanks to its picturesque landscapes. We would recommend booking a bus tour operated by one of the many local tour companies, as it tends to be a safer way to enjoy the sights.

The Great Ocean Road in Australia cements itself as the second most popular road trip in the world. Known to provide one of the most breath-taking views globally, the Great Ocean Road route takes visitors along the south-west coast of Victoria, treating them to views of secluded beaches, sprawling countryside and jagged cliffs. Road trippers can visit the 12 Apostles and hot springs, whilst constantly catching sights of famous Australian wildlife.

The only British route to make the top ten road trips list is Scotland’s North Coast 500, which comes in third. The route takes visitors along a 516-mile loop beginning and ending at Inverness Castle around the north coast of Scotland. Treating visitors to many areas of the Highlands, it has often been referred to as the ‘Route 66’ of Scotland and has grown in popularity since its launch in 2015.

If you’re looking for road trip travel inspiration closer to home, the UK is home to some beautiful car rides – and we’ve revealed the top trending UK road trips for this year below.

For those looking to take to the roads this year, we’ve analysed some of the UK’s best and biggest road trips to reveal which ones are currently trending. Scotland’s North Coast 500 takes the top spot, whilst two other Scottish routes also feature in the top 10 – Kintyre 66 and the South West Coastal 300.

Feeling inspired by these trending destinations? Check out even more ideas for UK staycations and getaways over on our beach breaks pages and innspire your own wanderlust!