How we will rest in 2026: an overview of new tourist trends
The features that shape modern tourism are increasingly shifting the focus from "where" to "why". People are looking not just for new cities, but for the experience they want to live: a day in nature, exploring local cuisine, scientific discoveries, or working in a relaxed environment. In 2026, this approach will shape the majority of trips. Accor hotels in Russia are ideal for this format: they provide a convenient base, familiar service and infrastructure around which it is easy to build a trip of any type.
From country selection to format selection
The development of new trends in tourism affects how travelers choose routes. They start not only from geography, but from the very idea of the trip: a nature vacation, a cultural route, a working week outside the home or exploring the local cuisine. The city and the hotel are selected later, according to the task and convenient logistics.
This approach also changes the preparation for the trip. Instead of a general "where to go", a person formulates a more precise request: what kind of experience he wants to get, how to fill the days, how much time and resources he is willing to invest. The route is going around this.
Digital detox and return to nature
The constant stream of news and work notifications increases fatigue, which is why digital detox is becoming a noticeable trend in tourism. People choose routes where they can put down their smartphone and spend time in nature: they walk in national parks, choose quiet trails by the water, combine walks and outdoor recreation.
The approach is based on simple rules: limit the use of social networks, warn colleagues in advance about possible poor communication, and plan a schedule so that some tasks can wait until they return. This format is suitable for solo trips, family outings, and short trips with friends.
Accor hotels provide the very "anchor point" that is often lacking when traveling. During the day — active walks, in the evening — a room where you can relax and get a good night's sleep. In the morning, there will be enough strength to get back on the route. At the same time, the connection does not disappear: the hotels have stable Wi-Fi, so you can answer an important message at any time and continue your vacation.
Gastronomic tourism
Interest in gastronomy is becoming an important part of travel. Tourists like to taste local products, seasonal dishes and explore the cuisines of different regions.
Gastronomic routes are often combined with visits to markets, workshops and small family cafes — such points help to feel the city not only through the sights, but also through its tastes and habits.
In Kaliningrad, guests of ibis Kaliningrad Center get acquainted with dishes based on Baltic fish and find out where to try Koenigsberg klops or seasonal products from local fairs.
In Sochi, guests of Swissotel, and in Krasnaya Polyana — ibis Styles, Movenpick, Novotel and Rixos can taste Black Sea cuisine: nearby there are establishments with fresh fish, local vegetables and fruits.
The Accor hotel staff helps you navigate the city: they will tell you what time the markets are open, where to go for authentic dishes and which cafes should be included in the itinerary to get to know the region better.
Travels for an Inquisitive Mind
Educational tourism is developing and is gradually moving beyond the usual museums. People choose cities where they can see scientific centers, technology parks, industrial facilities and modern exhibition spaces. Interest is shifting to how real processes work.: how research laboratories work, what engineering solutions are used in different regions, how natural phenomena are studied or new technologies are created.
Today, cities with a strong scientific and educational environment are among the most popular destinations in tourism for the curious. In Kaluga, travelers are attracted by the Museum of Cosmonautics and objects related to the history of space exploration. In Novosibirsk, special attention is paid to the atmosphere of Akademgorodok and institutes that conduct research in various fields, from physics to biology. St. Petersburg offers a wide variety of scientific museums, historical collections, a planetarium and modern exhibition venues. In Kazan, you can study objects related to engineering, technology and IT infrastructure - the city is actively developing in these areas. Such trips allow you to see the city alive, working, with its scientific objectives and achievements — not only as a tourist destination.
Freelance community and travel work
Remote work has long been a part of everyday life. People combine work tasks and trips, choose cities with convenient infrastructure and relax after working online meetings and face-to-face events. This format is now called bleisure-tourism (from English business + leisure — combining business and travel). This is how a new recreation area is being formed, where work and travel exist within the same scenario: in the morning — calls and tasks, in the evening — walks, on weekends — small trips or general activities.
Sometimes small teams, freelancers and colleagues from the same field agree to spend several days or a week in the same city: they work during the day, discuss projects and share experiences, and in the evening they walk and get acquainted with the local environment. These are informal work trips and mini-retreats that the participants organize themselves. This format helps to change the situation, reset your head and not fall out of work tasks.
In the cities where Accor hotels operate, such trips are easier to arrange. Adagio, Novotel, Mercure and Movenpick offer stable internet, convenient workplaces and meeting spaces. Restaurants serving international cuisine are available to guests, and a gym, hammam and saunas help to recover from a busy day. A well-developed infrastructure and a predictable level of service remove everyday issues, leaving more energy for work, communication and exploring the city.
Architectural tourism
Architectural walks are becoming a new interesting type of tourism. People go to cities to see how different eras coexist: ancient streets, early 20th century neighborhoods, modernist residential areas, former industrial facilities, and new public spaces. In this format, it is easier to feel the character of the city, study its history and look at familiar places differently.
The route usually consists of several districts. First, they walk through the historical center, then move on to areas of later development, where you can find constructivism, Soviet modernism or unusual examples of industrial architecture. In the evening, they often choose modern embankments, renovated squares or cultural clusters that appeared after the renovation of urban areas. This approach makes the walk lively and diverse: each area tells its own story.
Travelers mark buildings on the map in advance that preserve details of their time, old depots, factories, communal houses, river stations, and rare examples of Soviet resort architecture. Along the way, they stop at photos, visit small museums, read plaques with the history of houses, and discuss what they saw.
Environmental care
A conscious attitude towards the environment is becoming a noticeable trend in tourism in 2026. Many travelers choose routes and hotels so as not to create unnecessary stress on nature. It's about simple things: saving resources, reducing the amount of single-use plastic, choosing places where the natural environment is respected and local initiatives are supported. This approach helps us to relax comfortably and at the same time take care of what surrounds us.
Eco-thinking is also reflected in travel planning. More and more routes are being built around nature parks, local farming projects, small museums, and urban spaces that develop without harming the environment.
The Accor network supports this approach and implements environmental practices in its hotels. All hotels have a Green Key certificate confirming their work according to international standards of sustainable development. Lighting control systems are being used, water consumption is being optimized, plastic is being gradually reduced, reusable accessories are being introduced, fewer textiles are being washed, and kitchen services operate according to the principles of careful consumption. The hotels have waste sorting, organic recycling, and cooperation with local suppliers.
In individual brands, environmental solutions manifest themselves in special details. For example, in ibis hotels, guests are given wooden key cards upon arrival, and paper receipts are offered to be recycled. Movenpick in Moscow prints children's coloring pages on eco-friendly paper and gives kids eco-toys to guests with toddlers.
Micro-trips and the discovery of neighboring regions
Short trips for one or two days have become another modern trend in tourism. Many people choose several small trips throughout the year instead of one long vacation. This format provides a change of scenery without complicated preparation, long flights and a lot of time.
Micro-trips are especially convenient for residents of large cities. From Moscow, you can go to Tula, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Ryazan or the Kaluga region on weekends. From St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, cities of the Leningrad region. From Yekaterinburg to Perm, Tyumen or Chelyabinsk. Accor brand hotels operate in some of these cities, which helps to quickly resolve the issue of accommodation and not waste energy on a long search for options.
Short trips help you plan your budget flexibly. Transportation and accommodation are cheaper than on a long trip, while still feeling like a rhythm change and a reboot. Accor hotels offer different room categories, which allows you to choose an option for a specific trip and financial opportunities.
How to choose the ride format
The variety of options can be confusing, so it's useful to start with a simple step — to understand what kind of result you want to get. To recover, to change the situation, to learn new things, to work in a different environment — the duration, budget and rhythm of the trip depend on it.
To narrow down the selection, a short checklist helps:
- how many days can you set aside;
- what level of activity is comfortable;
- are there any health restrictions;
- how important is the local cuisine;
- do I need a working infrastructure and stable internet;
- is it comfortable to communicate a lot or is a quiet format better?
When planning, it is worth considering seasonality and logistics: urban formats are more comfortable in winter, natural routes in summer.
Conclusion
Travel in 2026 is becoming more conscious and personal. Someone is looking for silence and nature, someone wants inspiration in cities, someone is interested in the tastes of the region or new knowledge. The formats are changing, but the general principle remains: rest should support a person and help them live what they really need right now.
Accor hotels are a comfortable base for any holiday scenario. Choose the appropriate option on our website and start your journey the way you want.
