After being named by Lonely Planet among the destinations not to miss in 2026, Sardinia receives a new recognition, this time from the world of luxury travel. For the first time, the island enters the Where to Go Destinations 2027, the selection of destinations recommended by Signature Travel Network, a US consortium of luxury travel agencies.
The list is curated by Ignacio Maza, one of the most authoritative names in luxury tourism in the United States. For more than twenty years, his analyses guide advisors and operators in the industry and, consequently, the choices of American travelers seeking exclusive experiences.
What is the prestigious “Where to Go” list
For those who work in American luxury travel, the Where to Go is one of the year’s most awaited events. Now in its second decade, the list is unveiled at Signature’s annual conference and brings together about a dozen destinations, each accompanied by practical guidance on what to see, what to do, and where to stay.
What lends it credibility is above all its methodology. Maza, who has traveled in more than a hundred countries across all seven continents, selects only places he has personally visited. At the base of the selections are then the analysis of global trends, a thorough research effort, and an assessment of how much each destination might appeal to the American traveler.
To understand the level of the selection, one only has to look at previous editions. In the 2026 list, among others, were the Japanese island of Kyushu, Madrid, Swedish Lapland, Sri Lanka, Tasmania, and Uzbekistan. A year earlier, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Marrakech, Peru, and Botswana were highlighted.
The entry of Sardinia into the list of destinations to discover in 2027 is also the result of collaboration between the regional tourism department, ENIT, and Signature. And the return goes beyond the island’s borders: such a heavyweight showcase in the American market strengthens Italy’s image as a leading luxury travel destination.
How Sardinia wins over luxury travel
For modern travelers, the real privilege is often access to certain types of experiences: a winery that opens its doors to only a few guests, a trail to be walked with no one else in sight, a table shared with the person who still makes pane carasau by hand. And it is here that Sardinia has much to offer, far beyond the glamour of Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda.
There is the sea, of course: the coves of the Gulf of Orosei reachable only by footpath or by boat, the La Maddalena archipelago, and the beaches of the western coast. But there is also an inland that surprises first-time visitors, with the Supramonte canyons such as the Gorropu Gorge and colorful towns like Bosa, perched along the Temo River. Then there is history: the island houses thousands of nuraghi, including the Su Nuraxi complex at Barumini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while in Cabras one can admire the Giganti di Mont’e Prama, stone statues among the oldest in the western Mediterranean.
Completing the picture are the enogastronomy, from Cannonau to Vermentino di Gallura, and the longevity of Ogliastra, one of the world’s first Blue Zones identified: a topic that has long fascinated the American public. All these elements fit with a concept of slow, tailored travel to be enjoyed even in spring and autumn, away from the crowds of the peak summer months.
