9 September 2026 – Liepāja, Latvia, has been named in Intrepid Travel’s annual Not Hot List, recognising ten of the world’s most exciting, under-the-radar destinations to watch in 2027. Developed by the world’s largest adventure travel company Intrepid Travel, the annual list highlights 10 destinations that are ready to welcome more visitors, with compelling new experiences and developments, and strong potential for tourism to deliver positive benefits for local communities.
The 2027 Not Hot List highlights destinations that are overlooked by mainstream travellers but poised for gradual, responsible tourism growth. Each destination was assessed against three key criteria: being less-visited than comparable destinations; demonstrating tourism readiness, including the infrastructure, community alignment and sustainable destination planning needed to welcome growing visitor numbers responsibly; and offering something new in 2027, such as major events, improved connectivity, cultural milestones or infrastructure developments.
For Liepāja, European Capital of Culture 2027 provides a compelling reason to visit in the year ahead. Known as Latvia’s seaside city and described by Intrepid as the “Baltic Mediterranean”, Liepāja combines an eight-kilometre stretch of white-sand beach with a distinctive cultural scene, architectural heritage and military history. In 2027, the European Capital of Culture programme will bring more than 500 cultural events to Liepāja and neighbouring South Kurzeme and Kuldīga Regions, including international exhibitions, concerts, theatre, festivals and public art installations, alongside new walking routes and community-led cultural experiences.
Liepāja’s inclusion also reflects one of the qualities at the heart of the Not Hot List: the ability to welcome more travellers while retaining the sense of space and authenticity that is increasingly difficult to find in Europe’s best-known destinations. In 2025, 119,840 tourists stayed overnight in Liepāja – demonstrating an established visitor economy while leaving considerable room for sustainable growth. Combined with strong tourism infrastructure and the city’s cultural and natural offer, Liepāja gives travellers the opportunity to experience a European coastal destination without the pressures of overtourism.
The Not Hot List is developed using a combination of tourism data, infrastructure and connectivity indicators, economic context, media analysis and insights from Intrepid’s local experts, national tourism organisations and travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender. Destinations are assessed not simply for their potential to attract more travellers, but for their readiness to manage tourism growth responsibly, including infrastructure, accommodation capacity, community alignment, accessibility and environmental protections.
Over the years, the Not Hot List has built a reputation for identifying destinations on the rise before they enter the global spotlight. Featured destinations have gained significant international exposure and subsequently appeared in major global travel recommendations. Previous selections including Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan and Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan Mountain Range went on to feature in The New York Times’ prestigious “52 Places to Go” lists. Intrepid also recorded significant year-on-year booking growth following their inclusion, with Pakistan up 67% and Kyrgyzstan 62% – illustrating the tangible impact international recognition can have on emerging destinations.
Liepāja joins an exclusive group of ten destinations recognised by Intrepid as destinations to watch in 2027. Alongside Liepāja, this year’s list includes Dalsland (Sweden), Mestia (Georgia), Alonnisos (Greece), Northern Highlands (Jordan), Samburu National Reserve (Kenya), Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada), Dili (Timor-Leste), the Pekoe Trail (Sri Lanka) and Carretera Austral (Chile).
The full Intrepid Travel 2027 Not Hot List is available here.
Foundation Liepāja 2027
Head of International Relations
Elizabete Hartmane
Phone: + 371 25 99 33 99
E-mail: elizabete.hartmane@liepaja2027.lv
In August 2027, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the international “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” will take place in Southern Kurzeme, conceived as a space for dialogue and collaborative artistic activity.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is inviting everyone regardless of age or place of residence to take part in the creation of “Fabrics of Reality”, a new work by the internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota (塩田千春), by writing a personal letter that will become part of the finished installation. Letters will be accepted until 30 November 2026.
To strengthen public participation in cultural life, support the delivery of a diverse events calendar, encourage international cooperation and exchange, and help people build new skills, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation is inviting to join its volunteer programme, “Mission (Un)rest”. Applications will be open from 8 to 28 September 2026.