Americans will be able to fly non-stop to these three lesser-known Mediterranean destinations by 2026

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Enough with the Barcelonas, Amalfis and Santorinis of the world.

If you’re dreaming of a Mediterranean holiday in 2026, but you’re fed up with the usual over-promoted, over-commercialized tourist hotspots where prices are through the roof, the crowds are insane and the locals aren’t even that nice to you, we have just now the triad that could save your next trip.

Oh, and guess what! You don’t even have to get on and off the plane two or three times to get there: they will host nonstop flights from major New York Metropolitan airports this year.

So what does pasta and some silky red wine overlooking the serene Adriatic Sea sound like?

Bari, Italy

Bari, a major port city on the Adriatic Sea, began hosting non-stop transatlantic flights in the summer of 2025, after Italy-based Neos launched the first-ever direct service between JFK and the local Karol Wojtyła Airport.

This year it is expanding its offering with United Airlines’ recently announced direct service from Newark (EWR), boosting connectivity between the broader New York region and the emerging Italian hub.

Bari itself is home to oe of the largest historical centers in southern Italy: the labyrinthine Bari Vecchia is crossed by cobbled alleys and dotted with Romanesque churches.

On Via Arco Bassotourists may look like talkative no to make orecchiettethe local ear-shaped pasta, and a nice stroll Lungomare Nazario Saurothe longest boulevard in the country, they find epic views of the Adriatic Sea and are family owned trattoria Handing out Italian delicacies.

Bari is also the gateway to the wider Puglia region, with its whitewashed towns clinging to dramatic cliffs, the UNESCO list trulli town of Alberobelloand pebble beaches surrounded by turquoise waters.

Sardinia, Italy

Everyone knows Sicily for its paradisiacal beaches, ancient cities and White Lotus-esque coastal towns, but how many of you have spent the entire time sleeping in equally stunning, subtropical Sardinia?

It is the second largest island in Italy full of Caribbean-like white sandbordered by some of the clearest seas you’ve ever seen, and the pastel-coloured, fortified coastal towns seem straight out of the pages of a storybook.

Despite its obvious summer appeal, Sardinia has never been served by a US airline, but starting this year Delta will take over the undiscovered but promising route and launch the first flights between New York and Sardinia.

More specifically, they will transport passengers from their JFK hub to Olbia (OLB) in northern Sardinia.

An interesting choice given that the capital of Sardinia, the lively Cagliari, is more than 250 kilometers away, but that makes perfect sense given Olbia’s proximity to the Costa Smeralda, home to the best beachesand the pristine Maddalena Archipelago.

Split, Croatia

After their successful service in Dubrovnik, she is about to enter her sixth In 2026, United saw fit to expand their offering in Croatia and add a trendy Split to their flight map.

It is a much larger city than Dubrovnik, and one of the fastest growing destinations in the Mediterranean, with a growing number of American visitors year after year. This city has been (strangely) ignored by transatlantic operators for years.

Good, no more.

Starting April 30, 2026, Americans will be able to fly directly to Split (SPU) from Newark and marvel at the UNESCO-protected Diocletian’s Palace and maze-like Old Town without unnecessary stops in Frankfurt and other European transit hubs.

Split is known for its ancient Roman history, its proximity to beautiful Adriatic beaches and its busy harbor with connections to islands such as Brač and Hvar, where even more pristine swimming spots and ancient culture await.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.