A quick guide to some of the places we think will be influential and important for leisure travellers in 2026

Switzerland is famous for its mountains, lakes and immaculate towns, but it also has a remarkable collection of historic hotels. On a journey through the country I discovered some wonderfully atmospheric places to stay, from grand lakeside hotels to remote mountain retreats. These are the Swiss Historic Hotels that took me back into another era of travel.

Explore St Moritz and the higher Engadine in Switzerland, from the famous 1864 wager that created its winter reputation to its Alpine scenery, skiing, sunshine and White Turf horse racing.

A winter journey through Lucerne and the Swiss mountains, taking in the Lilu Festival, Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne, Vitznau, Weggis and spectacular Alpine scenery.

What happens when devoted Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts gather in the Swiss Alps? Join me on an unforgettable literary pilgrimage to Meiringen and the Reichenbach Falls, where fiction, history and spectacular mountain scenery come together in one remarkable adventure.

What happens when a lifelong non-skier tries to learn at Laax in Switzerland? Martin Hesp discovers beginner slopes, spectacular Alpine scenery, snow walks, sledging and the joys of the Swiss mountains.

A poetic recollection of Vitznau on Lake Lucerne, inspired by Mark Twain and Martin Hesp's own memories of dining beside the lake beneath the Swiss Alps.