The new-age travel bucket list

Futuristic or nostalgia, supermarts or romantasy, themes that are redefining wanderlust

- VAISHALI DAR

THE NEW-AGE traveller is looking beyond just sightseeing, to include experiences focused on personal tastes. The travel bucket list now spans supermarket aisles, cosmic calendars, sci-fi homes, glow-up escapes and memory-driven pilgrimages. Here's a list that's redefining wanderlust.

Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2026 suggests 'shelf discovery'has become a global phenomenon, where travellers explore a country through its snack shelves, chilled beverage fridges, local ingredients and artisan staples. The Skyscanner report estimates nearly 8 in 10 Indian travellers visit local supermarkets when travelling abroad, while 73% make a stop at convenience stores to discover local staples. And for the aficionados (60%), it's more than just shopping, it's the ultimate cultural deep dive, a sensory adventure where every shelf tells a story and every flavour becomes a memory. So from regional KitKat in Japan, tapas in Spain, gourmet cheeses and skincare in France, olive oil and pasta in Italy, fiery dips in northern Thailand, or teas and ayurvedic products in India, supermarkets are must stops.