For years, JetBlue has been nudging open the door to Europe—first London, then Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Edinburgh. Now the airline is widening that doorway again, adding two more cities to its map.
This spring, the airline will launch new daily routes from Boston Logan International Airport to Spain’s Barcelona El Prat International Airport (starting April 16) and Italy’s Milan Malpensa Airport (launching May 11).
Both itineraries will be seasonal summer routes operated on JetBlue’s long-range Airbus A321 aircraft, which feature the carrier’s Mint suites (JetBlue’s version of business class with sliding doors, lie-flat seats, and restaurant-quality food) and a recently refreshed economy cabin with seatback entertainment and free Wi-Fi. The expansion builds on the airline’s growing transatlantic portfolio and will give legacy carriers more competition on two heavily trafficked corridors.
The timing isn’t accidental; 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for both European cities. Milan will serve as the host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics, sharing duties with Cortina d’Ampezzo and bringing an influx of new venues, cultural programming, and winter-sports energy to northern Italy. Meanwhile, Barcelona is slated to finally see the completion of the famed Sagrada Família, more than 140 years after Antoni Gaudí first began work on the basilica. The milestone is expected to draw record crowds, with celebrations planned throughout the city.
With two major events on the horizon, flights—and hotels—are likely to book quickly. If Milan or Barcelona are on your 2026 travel list, this is your cue to start planning.
Why go to Milan and Barcelona in 2026
You’ll find retro Milanese café style at Bar Luce, designed by Wes Anderson, in Fondazione Prada.
Photo by Andrei Antipov/Shutterstock
Milan
Milan’s 2026 moment is already taking shape. As one of the host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Milan will debut a slate of new and refreshed venues, including the Santa Giulia Arena and upgraded facilities around Porta Romana, where the Olympic Village is being built with an eye toward long-term residential use. Major museums are planning tie-in exhibitions: Triennale Milano is expected to spotlight Italian design’s influence on winter sports (as well as exhibitions on the Olympics official art posters and torches), while Fondazione Prada will mount a large-scale contemporary art program timed to the influx of visitors.
Outside the Olympic bubble, Milan continues to be one of Europe’s most dynamic design capitals. You can discover the latest in furniture, lighting, and interior decor at Salone del Mobile, which returns each April with citywide installations. Or stroll along Via Montenapoleone, where the city’s famed fashion houses stage increasingly elaborate displays.
If you work up an appetite while shopping, you won’t go hungry. Milan’s dining scene includes the ever-packed (and Michelin-recommended) Trippa, which turns humble cuts of tripe into cult dishes, and rising stars like Voce Aimo e Nadia and L’Alchimia, where artful, modern Italian plates are served in gallery-like interiors. With fast trains linking the city to Lake Como, Bergamo, and Valtellina ski towns, 2026 isn’t just a big year for Milan; it’s a chance to use the city as a springboard into some of northern Italy’s most beautiful lake and mountain landscapes.
Where to stay in Milan
Afar’s Italy-based contributor Laura Itzkowitz recommends Vico Milano, which she calls “a stylish seven-room hideaway on Corso Genova full of midcentury furnishings, Moroccan rugs, and bespoke design elements” and adds that “staying there feels more like visiting the home of your chic Milanese friends than checking into a typical hotel.” Another great option: Sina De La Ville Milano. Sitting in the heart of the city, each of the rooms at this art nouveau–inspired hotel is individually furnished. Some are dressed in jewel-toned velvets and carved wood headboards, others have more minimalist palettes and framed vintage prints—giving the hotel a vibe that feels more collected than uniform.
Gaudí’s Sagrada Família basilica is set to be completed in 2026, more than 140 years after construction began.
Photo by William Rudolph/Unsplash
Barcelona
Barcelona is heading into 2026 with a milestone more than a century in the making: the long-awaited completion of the Sagrada Família. After 144 years of construction, Gaudí’s basilica is expected to unveil its final towers and facade elements, a moment the city is planning to mark with festivals, architectural exhibitions, and expanded visiting hours throughout the year.
The milestone dovetails with a broader wave of urban improvements: continued expansion of the Superilla (superblock) pedestrian zones in the Eixample neighborhood, upgrades along the Sant Martí beachfront (including newly paved roads and spruced-up parks), and new crowd-management measures at Park Güell and La Rambla aimed at restoring breathing room for locals and visitors.
Meanwhile, the food world keeps pushing forward, from the boundary-bending tasting menus at Disfrutar (named the top restaurant globally by World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024) to destination wine bars like Monocrom. Add easy access to the Costa Brava, Montserrat, and Penedès wine country, and 2026 promises to be one of Barcelona’s most exciting years in recent memory.
Where to stay in Barcelona
There is no shortage of incredible hotels in Barcelona. Consider the Afar-favorite Casa Bonay, a 1869 neoclassical mansion turned 67-room boutique on the city’s Gran Via, where guest rooms have soaring ceilings, mosaic-tiled floors, and lots of local artisan touches. Another solid option—with views of the Sagrada Família from its buzzy rooftop restaurant, La Dolce Vitae—is Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona. The grande dame has been the standard-bearer of Catalonian luxury since it opened in 1918.
