Are you as excited as we are about the wide range of new nonstop flights hitting runways in 2026? This year marks a major expansion of routes to Europe, giving U.S. passengers faster and easier access to some of The Continent’s most iconic locales, from the Highlands of Scotland to the castles of Poland.

For the first time, travelers will be able to fly nonstop from Newark to Santiago de Compostela, Spain—an addition that reflects growing interest in trips that combine hiking, culture, and spiritual journeys. The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sardinia will be reachable nonstop from New York’s JFK, as will Bari, Italy—the gateway to Puglia and its whitewashed hill towns—from Newark. And a new route from San Francisco to Warsaw, Poland, will be the first nonstop between northern California and that part of Central/Eastern Europe.

More debuts include the first-ever pairing between the U.S. West Coast and Africa—a route from Los Angeles to Casablanca, Morocco, to meet demand juiced by the 2026 FIFA World Cup—and the debut of Delta’s nonstop from Atlanta to Riyadh, which will mark the first direct flight to Saudi Arabia by any U.S. airline.

Other new international routes for 2026 include:

• Athens from Dallas Fort Worth
• Barcelona from Boston
• Budapest from Philadelphia
• Dublin from Pittsburgh and Raleigh-Durham
• Edinburgh, Scotland, from New York (JFK)
• Glasgow, Scotland, from Newark
• London from Seattle and St. Louis
• Madrid from Boston
• Milan from Miami
• Nice, France, from Boston
• Paris from Las Vegas
• Porto, Portugal, from New York (JFK)
• Prague from Philadelphia
• Rome from Houston and Seattle
• Seoul, Korea, from Newark
• Split, Croatia, from Newark
• Zurich from Dallas Fort Worth

You’ll find many more choices on our continuously updated list of Nonstop Flights to Make Your Travels Easier.

To ensure you ace your trip by using the right local fixers for your specific travel goals, feel free to ask us via the black button below. And read on for reports and intel from WOW List travelers just back from several of these cities, to see how they got maximum value.

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SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AND BEYOND: “The grand plaza is strikingly empty at night, allowing the grandeur of the cathedral and plaza to dominate…”

The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela dates to the ninth century. Photo: Alamy

“We had previously been to Spain and Portugal, so our goal was to visit some of the towns that were lesser known to us. We could never have seen as much as we did, and been so satisfied with those choices, without Joana’s guidance.

In northern Spain, the biggest highlight for us was our visit to Santiago de Compostela, the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route dating back to the ninth century. The massive and elaborate cathedral dates back to the ninth century too. The grand plaza is full of hikers, cyclists, and pilgrims by day…and strikingly empty at night, allowing the grandeur of the cathedral and plaza to dominate. We also did a rooftop tour of the cathedral, giving us great views of the town. But don’t do it if you are fearful of heights!

Traveler Mary Herne hiked part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail with family.

Our first stop in Portugal was the fabulous Douro Valley. The wine tasting, private boat ride and grandeur of the valley itself was fabulous. Another Portugal highlight was our visit to Coimbra and the UNESCO-recognized University of Coimbra. Observing the great tradition of black-robe-adorned students and the Baroque Biblioteca Joanina, considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, was an unexpected stunner.

In the Algarve, we took a day trip to hike part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail along the coast. Starting at Praia da Marinha, we marveled at the most amazing seascapes—coves, arches, beaches…oh my!” —Mary Herne

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MALTA AND BEYOND: “Meeting an artisan boat builder and having a lovely lunch alongside the harbor…”

Malta’s Marsaxlokk Harbour is a riot of floating color. Photo: Exclusively Malta

“Our trip to Malta and Gozo was extraordinary. We were there from December 25-31, so had time to see a lot—and we did! We were blessed with perfect weather every day in the low to mid-60s, so it’s a great time of year to go.

Our trip planner was Damon. He gave us an itinerary that was just right for us. We were picked up every morning at 9:00 or 9:30 and spent the day with either our guide—the amazing and wonderful Martin, himself a member of the Knights of St John, and therefore full of inside information and general historical knowledge—or just our driver. We traveled either on foot or by car, or sometimes a combination of the two. We requested full days, and we got them!

Damon was also able to add a last-minute request of ours, to see the Hypogeum, which is difficult to get into and was one of the best visits of our trip. Also really special were our visit to a farm and an outdoor farm-to-table lunch there, a visit to a church in Mdina where we met the organ player/restorer deep in the recesses of the church, a visit to an archivist and also to a marvelous historical townhouse, and another day meeting an artisan boat builder and having a lovely lunch alongside the harbor. The people we met were all so special. Taking the ferry to Gozo and touring the island was a wonderful contrast.

I’m hugely grateful for Wendy’s recommendation. Damon was helpful and responsive in every way, and he even popped into our restaurant on our last night to say goodbye.” —Susanna Porter

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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CASABLANCA AND BEYOND: “We watched the sun set over the sand dunes after a late-afternoon camel ride…”

Traveler Brian Branagan, wife Rissa Sanchez, and friends enjoyed a sunset camel ride in the Sahara.

“Each destination of the itinerary planned by Hicham and Sara revealed the rich culture of Morocco. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was the perfect introduction to the importance of Islam and art in Moroccan culture. Our first ‘aha’ moment was the charm of Chefchaouen and a hike to God’s Bridge in the Talembote Valley with local hiking guide Yousef, after which we enjoyed the first of many delicious Moroccan salads and tagines at the waterfalls of Akchour.

The drive to Fes included a stop at the Roman legacy of Volubilis and a gourmet lunch at Villa Volubilia winery, setting the stage for the marvel of historic Fes and a delightful and tasty food tour in the medieval medina. From there, we drove through the Rif and Atlas mountains with their unique biodiverse flora to the edge of the Sahara Desert, where we watched the sun set over the sand dunes after a late-afternoon camel ride.

On our way to Marrakech, we took a side trip to the Dadès Gorge and Monkey Fingers hike, with an overnight stay at the Eden Boutique Hotel. Our visit there was graced by time spent with Ishmael, the owner, designer, and host extraordinaire. We could have spent days there—Ishmael and the Eden were extraordinary.

Hicham and Sara delivered an unforgettable WOW experience by concluding our amazing journey with a final two nights at Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot hotel. They arranged for a final hike in the foothills of the majestic snow-capped Mount Toubkal, followed by a visit with a Berber family, where we feasted on freshly baked bread with nut-honey butter.” —Brian Branagan

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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