Here are some of the most highly-anticipated tourist attractions around the world that’ll open in 2021 – which one will you add to your 2021 travel list?

Whilst many countries around the world still have strict border control measures, we can all agree that we’re itching to travel again. Most of us would have fond memories of visiting stunning landmarks like the Grand Canyon or Great Wall of China.

Once restrictions are lifted, we can also look forward to a ton of new tourist sites and attractions that are waiting to be enjoyed. These include stunning national parks, adrenaline-inducing theme park attractions, and museums with fascinating artefacts. 

The launch of many of these sites have been delayed due to COVID-19, but we’re happy to report that construction is still in progress. We will get to visit them − it’s just a matter of when. 

Already excited? Here are 10 exciting attractions we can’t wait to explore:

1. Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park

What’s so special about the Avengers Campus: Avengers fans assemble! You’ll have lots to look forward to when the Avengers Campus − an all new themed area − opens at Disney California Adventure Park. The opening date is still under wraps, and will likely be announced in late 2020. 

Park-goers can expect rides such as Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure – an interactive screen ride that’ll see Tom Holland reprise his role as Spider-Man. Riders don 3D glasses and will get to fire “webs” to wrangle Spider-bots run amok.  

There’s also Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, an accelerated drop tower ride where you join the film character Rocket in an attempt to rescue his Guardian pals. 

Other crowd-pullers include a mysterious Sanctum featuring Doctor Strange, a WEB Suppliers store with the latest Marvel memorabilia and the Avengers Headquarters where you can see your favourite superheroes at work! 

When will the Avengers Campus open: The opening date is still under wraps, and will likely be announced in late 2020. 

How much are Avengers Campus tickets: Tickets for Disney California Adventure Park can go up to US$124 (~S$169.50), depending on dates of visit. Parks are still closed, so check out their website for more updates. 

Where is the Avengers Campus located: Disney California Adventure Park, 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States

2. Expo 2020 Dubai

What’s so special about Expo 2020 Dubai: World expos are one of the oldest international events, and have seen the launch of game-changing inventions like the telephone, the X-Ray machine, and even the ice cream cone! 

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first one to be held in the Middle East, and will showcase the best examples of collaboration and innovation from around the world. 

Themed around opportunity, mobility and sustainability, the family-friendly expo will feature pavilions from 192 countries. The Czech Republic Pavilion, for instance, will showcase new technology that can turn a desert into fertile land. 

Attendees can also enjoy interactive exhibits, live entertainment, fun hangout spaces and gourmet offerings from every culture imaginable.

When will Expo 2020 Dubai open: The opening date has been postponed to 1 October 2021, and the event will run until 31 March 2022. 

How much are Expo 2020 Dubai tickets: Ticket purchases and prices are currently on hold and have yet to be confirmed. Do visit their website for updates. 

Where is Expo 2020 Dubai located: Expo Road, Dubai South, Jebel Ali, P.O. Box 2020, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

3. Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Ireland

What’s so special about the Game of Thrones Studio Tour: If you’re a Game of Thrones fanatic, you’re probably still having withdrawal symptoms following the final season last year. 

Well, the Games of Thrones Studio Tour is coming to Westeros − I mean Northern Ireland. It’ll feature numerous props, sets, and costumes from the series, located at Linen Mill Studios at Banbridge. The town was one of the principal filming locations when the show was in production. 

You’ll get to immerse yourself in sets like Dragonstone’s Throne Room, Castle Black’s Mess Room, Winterfell and Cersei’s Courtyard in King’s Landing, all of which have been restored by the show’s construction crews and artists. Needless to say, we’re raring to set foot in this magical kingdom! 

When will the Game of Thrones Studio Tour open: Previously scheduled to launch in November 2020, the tour’s debut has been delayed and a new launch date is still in the works. 

How much are Game of Thrones Studio Tour tickets: Pricing packages have yet to be revealed. Check out the studio’s webpage for updates.  

Where is the Game of Thrones Studio Tour located: Linen Mill Studios, 245 Castlewellan Rd, Banbridge BT32 3SG, United Kingdom

4. Museum of Underwater Art in Australia

What’s so special about the Museum of Underwater Art: Fancy visiting a museum 60 feet under the sea? Queensland’s Museum of Underwater Art takes divers and snorkelers down under (literally) to explore the underwater art installation. 

Situated on the Great Barrier Reef, the museum’s highlight is the John Brewer Reef Coral Greenhouse. Created by renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the site features 20 figurative sculptors studying and tending to coral. Through the exhibition, Taylor hopes to educate visitors on the importance of reef conversation. 

Around the museum’s reef, you’ll also get to see tons of ocean life such as black tip reef sharks, turtles, and stingrays.

When will the Museum of Underwater Art open: The museum has officially opened its doors (or waters) on August 1 2020. 

How much are Museum of Underwater Art tickets: Snorkel and scuba tours are priced up to A$299 (~S$295.20). A day visit can be booked with licensed tour operators such as Adrenaline Snorkel and Dive or Yongala Dive, departing from Townsville or Magnetic Island .

Where is the Museum of Underwater Art located: John Brewer Reef, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

5. M+ Museum in Hong Kong

What’s so special about M+ Museum: Similar to museums such as MoMa in New York and Tate Modern in London, M+ will feature visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Currently under construction in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, it overlooks the famous Victoria Harbour. 

Works on display will be created by both local and international artists, encompassing a wide spectrum of media. Expect to see everything from sketches and electronic media to paintings, photography and sculptures. 

For a sneak peek at the collections, you can check out its website too. Over 5,000 objects have been uploaded, with a heavy focus on Hong Kong and Asian culture.

When will M+ Museum open: The museum is scheduled to open in 2021, with an official date yet to be announced.

How much are M+ Museum tickets: Tickets prices are still unconfirmed. For updates, check out the museum’s website. 

Where is M+ Museum located: West Kowloon Cultural District, Art Park, West Kowloon, Hong Kong

6. Patagonia National Park in Chile

What’s so special about Patagonia National Park: If turquoise lakes and snowcapped mountains are your thing, you wouldn’t mind the two-day long flight from Singapore to Chile’s Patagonia National Park. 

Though remote and only accessible by car, the country’s newest national park is worth the inconvenience. Start off at the Valle Chacabuco Visitor Center, which houses the park’s interactive museum and info on the best trails. 

For unbeatable views, we recommend the Douglas Tompkins Mirador Hike overlooking Cochrane Lake and a couple of islands. Along the way, you’ll be greeted by wild guanacos, a South American member of the camel family. Keep your distance though, as most are afraid of being chased by humans.

Park accommodation includes the upscale Lodge at Valle Chacabuco, or more economical Westwind campsite near the visitor center. 

When will Patagonia National Park open: The Patagonia National Park was opened in 2018, with only select areas available to visitors. Tourist infrastructure, including lodges, cabins and campsites have been developing since then, and will be available for your convenience in 2021.

How much are Patagonia National Park tickets: Entry to the park and Valle Chacabuco Visitor Center is currently free-of-charge. 

Where is Patagonia National Park located: Cochrane, Aysén Region, Chile

7. Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan

What’s so special about Super Nintendo World: Old-school gamers − this one’s for you! This new themed-area at Universal Studios Japan is entirely based on Nintendo video games, with the highlight being the Super Mario series.

Full details have yet to be released, but we know there are rides themed around Mario Kart and Yoshi. The park will also be giving out Power Up Bands, wearable wristbands that can sync with your smartphone app and track activities. Guests can collect digital coins and even compete against fellow park attendees in challenges. 

You can also snap selfies with various Mario characters, and visit restaurants and retail outlets in the area. 

When will Super Nintendo World open: Super Nintendo World’s opening date will be revealed this fall, and the attraction is also planned for parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Singapore in future.  

How much are Super Nintendo World tickets: Prices for a one-day pass to Universal Studios Japan start from JP￥7,800 (~S$100) for adults and JP￥5,400 (~S$49) for children. 

Where is Super Nintendo World located: Universal Studios Japan, 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan

8. The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt

What’s so special about the Grand Egyptian Museum: We love ourselves some history and culture, especially that of a vibrant ancient civilisation like Egypt. 

Touted as the world’s largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum is definitely on our bucket list. At 480,000 square metres., the site’s even bigger than the Vatican City!

Its star attraction is the Tutankhamun collection, consisting of 5,400 objects from the iconic pharaoh’s tomb. It’ll also house restaurants, retail outlets, a cinema, and a conference centre, catering to an estimated 5 million visitors a year when it opens in 2021. 

Located outside central Cairo, the site also looks over the famous Giza pyramids. So don’t forget to hop on over for a visit after you’re done admiring the exhibits!  

When will the Grand Egyptian Museum open: Construction is projected to finish end 2020, and the museum will debut sometime in early 2021. 

How much are Grand Egyptian Museum tickets: Ticket prices have yet to be released. Do visit the website for updates. 

Where is the Grand Egyptian Museum located: Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt

9. White Sands National Park in the USA

What’s so special about White Sands National Park: Located in Southern New Mexico, White Sands National Park is the United States’ newest national park. 

It gained national park status in 2019, after researchers discovered its large collection of fossilised footprints dating back to the ice age. Thousands of tracks from woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and giant sloths were found in the park’s lake beds. 

Whilst the collection isn’t accessible to visitors, the park itself is a beauty to behold. It’s characterised by other-worldly, wave-like dunes of white gypsum sand, and is the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. 

Visitors can engage in activities like hiking, backcountry camping, and sand-sledding down the dunes. The closest city is Alamogordo, a 20-minute drive from the park’s visitor centre. 

When will White Sands National Park open: The area was designated as the newest US national park in December 2019, but was closed shortly after due to COVID-19. It’s currently undergoing a phased reopening with limited activities, and you should be able to enjoy its full operations in 2021.

How much are White Sands National Park tickets: Entrance fees are priced up to US$25 (~S$34.20) per vehicle, and valid for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.

Where is White Sands National Park located: 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310, United States. 

10. Wonder of the Seas Royal Caribbean Ship

What’s so special about Wonder of the Seas: I’ve always loved cruising with Royal Caribbean, as the line is known for its delicious food, load of activities, and high-tech features like a Bionic Bar tended by robots! 

Wonder of the Seas is the next vessel to join Royal Caribbean’s lineup, and is currently being built in France. She’ll also feature new interior designs and concepts to appeal to the Chinese market. 

The new vessel will have a unique seven-neighbourhood concept. Neighbourhoods include: Central Park, an outdoor garden featuring thousands of lush plants, the Boardwalk, an open area home to new attractions like the AquaTheater and a full-sized Carousel, as well as the Pool and Sports Zone with four multi-storey waterslides.

When will Wonder of the Seas debut: Initially reported to be delivered in 2021, the ship’s arrival in China has been delayed until further notice. Visit its webpage to register for updates. 

How much will Wonder of the Seas sailings cost: No price packages have been announced, but an average 4-night Royal Caribbean cruise from Shanghai currently costs around S$692. 

Where will Wonder of the Seas be located: She’s scheduled to homeport in Shanghai, and will likely set sail on a series of Asia-based itineraries. Cruises typically depart from Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, No.1 Baoyang Rd, Shanghai. 

Feeling the Wanderlust yet?

We’re pretty sure you’re as excited as we are, to take to the skies and visit these upcoming attractions. No matter which new attraction you’re planning to conquer, always be sure to have your trusty YouTrip card with you to utilise YouTrip’s Wholesale Exchange Rates for maximum savings!

_{Top banner image adapted from Disney/ Marvel 2020 artist concept}

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