Travel Agents 365

Travel guides & destination deep-dives

Insider guides to the cities, regions and countries our travellers love most — when to go, what to book, the neighbourhoods worth staying in, and the experiences locals actually rate.

Paris, France
France

Paris

City breakArt & cultureFood

Paris rewards travellers who slow down. Beyond the Louvre and Eiffel Tower, the city is a patchwork of villages — each arrondissement with its own rhythm. Spend mornings in Le Marais for independent boutiques and falafel on Rue des Rosiers, afternoons along the Canal Saint-Martin where Parisians picnic on the cobbled banks, and evenings in the 11th for natural-wine bars and bistronomy. Book the Musée d'Orsay before 10am to beat the queues, take the RER C straight to Versailles for a half-day escape, and use Vélib' bikes for the Seine — far faster than the Métro in summer. Stay in a boutique hotel near Place des Vosges for old-Paris charm, or a serviced apartment in the 10th for a more local feel.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Canal Saint-Martin
Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan
Japan

Tokyo & Kyoto

CultureFoodRail journeys

Japan rewards a two-city itinerary. Base in Tokyo for 4–5 nights — Shinjuku for nightlife and easy JR access, Shibuya for shopping and people-watching, or Yanaka for a quieter, old-Tokyo feel. Use the JR Pass to ride the Shinkansen to Kyoto in 2h 15m, where Gion's wooden machiya townhouses and the temples of Higashiyama are best explored at sunrise before the day-trippers arrive. Don't miss a ryokan stay in Hakone or Kanazawa for tatami rooms, onsen bathing and kaiseki dinners. Book popular restaurants (especially sushi counters and Michelin-starred kappo) at least a month ahead — most do not accept walk-ins.

Best time to go
Late March–April (cherry blossom) & November (autumn leaves)
Where to stay
Shinjuku or Shibuya in Tokyo; Gion or Higashiyama in Kyoto
Rome, Florence & the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Italy

Rome, Florence & the Amalfi Coast

HistoryCoastalMulti-city

The classic Italian trio still delivers, but timing matters. Rome in July is brutal — aim for shoulder season and pre-book the Vatican Museums, Colosseum underground and Borghese Gallery weeks in advance. From Rome, the Frecciarossa hits Florence in 1h 30m; stay in Oltrarno for artisan workshops and the best aperitivo views over the Arno. For the Amalfi Coast, skip Positano's crowds and base in Praiano or Ravello — both quieter, both with direct SITA bus access to Amalfi and Positano. Hire a private boat to Capri for the day rather than the packed ferries. For food: lunch is the main meal in central Italy, dinner on the coast.

Best time to go
May, early June, September
Where to stay
Trastevere or Monti (Rome); Oltrarno (Florence); Praiano (Amalfi)
Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the islands, Thailand
Thailand

Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the islands

BeachAdventureValue

A three-stop loop works best: 3 nights Bangkok, 3 nights Chiang Mai, 5–7 nights on the islands. In Bangkok, the riverside Mandarin Oriental and Capella set the standard, but Sukhumvit puts you closer to the BTS Skytrain and the best night markets. Chiang Mai's Old City is walkable and full of temples — pair it with an ethical elephant sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park is the gold standard) and a Thai cooking class. For islands, skip Phuket's busy west coast and head to Koh Lanta for long beaches, Koh Yao Noi for stilted overwater villas, or the Similan Islands for some of Asia's best diving. Internal flights on Bangkok Airways are cheap and reliable.

Best time to go
November–February (cool, dry season)
Where to stay
Riverside or Sukhumvit (Bangkok); Old City (Chiang Mai); Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi (islands)
Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley, Portugal
Portugal

Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley

WineCoastalAffordable

Portugal punches well above its weight on value. In Lisbon, stay in Alfama for fado bars and tile-clad alleys, or Príncipe Real for design hotels and the best brunch scene. Day trip to Sintra by train (book Pena Palace tickets online — gate queues are now 90+ minutes) and to Cascais for Atlantic beaches. Take the Alfa Pendular north to Porto in under 3 hours, base in Ribeira above the Douro river, and cross to Vila Nova de Gaia for the port cellars — Graham's and Taylor's both have excellent tours. From Porto, the Douro Valley is the world's oldest demarcated wine region; stay at a working quinta like Quinta de la Rosa or Six Senses Douro Valley for vineyard walks and river cruises.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
Alfama or Príncipe Real (Lisbon); Ribeira (Porto); a quinta in the Douro
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

LuxuryBeachStopover

Dubai works as both a long-haul stopover and a week-long beach holiday. Downtown puts you next to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall; Palm Jumeirah is the resort heartland (Atlantis The Royal, One&Only, Waldorf Astoria); and the older Deira and Al Fahidi districts offer the souks, the abra boats across the Creek, and the best Emirati food. A 90-minute drive south, Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island combines white-sand beaches with the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim. Don't miss a desert overnight in the Liwa or Al Wadi reserves — wildlife drives, dune dinners and silence you can't get in the city. Friday and Saturday are the weekend; book brunches early.

Best time to go
November–March (warm, dry)
Where to stay
Palm Jumeirah or Downtown (Dubai); Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi)
New York City, United States
United States

New York City

City breakCultureFood

New York is best tackled neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Base in SoHo or the West Village for cobblestone streets, brownstones and walkable access to the High Line, Hudson Yards and Greenwich Village jazz clubs. Cross the East River to Williamsburg for the best brunch, vintage shopping and skyline views back at Manhattan. Book Broadway via TodayTix lotteries, the Top of the Rock at sunset (better views than the Empire State because it includes the Empire State), and a weekday morning slot at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Use the subway — yellow cabs and Ubers crawl in midtown traffic. Save a full day for the Met and another for a slow walk across Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO for pizza at Juliana's.

Best time to go
April–June & September–early November
Where to stay
SoHo, West Village or Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
Reykjavík & the Ring Road, Iceland
Iceland

Reykjavík & the Ring Road

AdventureNatureRoad trip

Iceland is a road-trip country. A 7–10 day self-drive loop of the Ring Road (Route 1) takes in waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Dettifoss), black-sand beaches at Reynisfjara, the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón, the fjords of the east and the whale-watching capital Húsavík in the north. Base 2 nights in Reykjavík at either end — the 101 district has the design hotels, Icelandic wool shops and the legendary hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu. Book the Blue Lagoon or the newer, quieter Sky Lagoon in advance. For Northern Lights, September to March with a hire car gives you the flexibility to chase clear skies. 4x4 essential if you go in winter.

Best time to go
June–August (midnight sun) or September–March (Northern Lights)
Where to stay
Reykjavík 101 district; guesthouses around Vík and Akureyri
Barcelona, Madrid & Andalusia, Spain
Spain

Barcelona, Madrid & Andalusia

CultureFoodMulti-city

Pair the two big cities with a southern loop. In Barcelona, book Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló online weeks ahead — walk-ups are rarely possible. Stay in El Born for tapas bars and the Picasso Museum, or Gràcia for a more local feel. Take the AVE high-speed train to Madrid in 2h 30m for the Prado, Reina Sofía and the best late-night dining in Europe. From Madrid, fly or drive south to Andalusia: the Alhambra in Granada (tickets sell out 3 months ahead), Seville's Real Alcázar and flamenco in Triana, and Córdoba's Mezquita. End on the white-village trail through Ronda for cliff-edge views.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
El Born or Gràcia (Barcelona); Malasaña or Salamanca (Madrid); Albaicín (Granada)
Athens & the Cyclades, Greece
Greece

Athens & the Cyclades

BeachIsland-hoppingHistory

Two nights in Athens is enough — stay in Plaka for the Acropolis on your doorstep, or Koukaki for the new Acropolis Museum and a quieter local scene. Then island-hop. Santorini delivers the postcard caldera views (book a sunset dinner in Oia weeks ahead), but pair it with somewhere greener: Naxos for long sandy beaches and mountain villages, Milos for surreal volcanic coves only reachable by boat, or Folegandros for true quiet. Blue Star ferries are cheap and comfortable; Seajets are faster but pricier. Skip July–August if you can — temperatures hit 40°C and Santorini hotels triple in price.

Best time to go
May–June & September (skip August crowds)
Where to stay
Plaka or Koukaki (Athens); Oia or Imerovigli (Santorini); Chora (Naxos)
Sydney, Great Barrier Reef & Uluru, Australia
Australia

Sydney, Great Barrier Reef & Uluru

AdventureBeachBucket list

Australia rewards travellers who commit to internal flights. Start in Sydney — climb the Harbour Bridge, ferry to Manly, and base in The Rocks for Opera House walks or Bondi for the coastal cliff walk to Coogee. Fly to Cairns and drive to Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef (Agincourt and Opal reefs on the outer edge are healthier than inshore sites). For the Red Centre, fly into Ayers Rock Airport — the Field of Light installation at sunset and a sunrise base walk around Uluru are unforgettable. Add Melbourne for laneway coffee culture, or the Whitsundays for sailing if you have two weeks.

Best time to go
September–November (spring) & March–May (autumn)
Where to stay
The Rocks or Bondi (Sydney); Port Douglas (reef); Ayers Rock Resort (Uluru)
Marrakech, Fes & the Sahara, Morocco
Morocco

Marrakech, Fes & the Sahara

CultureAdventureDesert

Morocco works as a one-week loop. Three nights in Marrakech — stay in a traditional riad inside the Medina walls (La Mamounia for grand colonial luxury, El Fenn for design-led boutique). Hire a guide for the souks on day one; you'll get lost otherwise. Drive or take a private transfer over the Atlas Mountains (Tizi n'Tichka pass) to the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, then on to Merzouga for a camel trek into Erg Chebbi and an overnight in a luxury desert camp. Fly or train back via Fes — its tannery and medieval medina are even more atmospheric than Marrakech's. Add the blue town of Chefchaouen if you have an extra two days.

Best time to go
March–May & September–November
Where to stay
A riad in the Medina (Marrakech & Fes); luxury desert camp (Erg Chebbi)
Cape Town & the Garden Route, South Africa
South Africa

Cape Town & the Garden Route

SafariWineCoastal

Cape Town is one of the world's great city breaks. Take the cable car up Table Mountain at sunrise to beat the wind, spend a day on the Cape Peninsula (Boulders Beach penguins, Cape Point, Chapman's Peak Drive), and a full day in the Cape Winelands — Franschhoek's wine tram is the easiest way to taste across multiple estates. Then drive the Garden Route east: Hermanus for whale-watching (June–November), Knysna for oysters and lagoons, Plettenberg Bay for beaches and the Tsitsikamma forest canopy walk. Finish with 3 nights in a private game reserve — Kruger-area lodges like Singita or the malaria-free Eastern Cape reserves both deliver the Big Five.

Best time to go
October–April (Cape summer)
Where to stay
Camps Bay or V&A Waterfront (Cape Town); Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route)
Hanoi, Hoi An & Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Vietnam

Hanoi, Hoi An & Ha Long Bay

CultureFoodValue

Vietnam works north to south in 10–14 days. Start in Hanoi's Old Quarter — chaotic, atmospheric, and the home of the best bún chả and egg coffee. From Hanoi, take a seaplane or private transfer to Ha Long Bay and overnight on a junk boat in the quieter Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long bays (Heritage Bình Chuẩn and Paradise Elegance both deliver). Fly south to Da Nang and base in Hoi An's lantern-lit Ancient Town for tailors, cycling through rice paddies and the empty beaches of An Bang. End in Ho Chi Minh City for rooftop bars, the War Remnants Museum and a Mekong Delta day trip. Domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo are quick and inexpensive.

Best time to go
February–April & October–November
Where to stay
Old Quarter (Hanoi); Ancient Town (Hoi An); overnight junk (Ha Long)
Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu, Peru
Peru

Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

AdventureHistoryBucket list

Most travellers rush Cusco and pay for it with altitude sickness. Reverse the classic route: fly into Cusco (3,400 m) and transfer straight down to the Sacred Valley (2,800 m) for 2–3 nights of gentle acclimatisation among the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Take the Vistadome or Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes, overnight, and hit Machu Picchu at the 6am opening with a licensed guide — afternoon entries miss the mist lifting off Huayna Picchu. Return to Cusco for San Blas's artisan workshops, ceviche at Chicha and a day trip to Rainbow Mountain or the quieter Palccoyo. Add the Amazon (Tambopata) or Lake Titicaca if you have a full two weeks.

Best time to go
May–September (dry season)
Where to stay
San Blas (Cusco); Urubamba or Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley); Aguas Calientes (1 night)
Bergen, the Fjords & Lofoten, Norway
Norway

Bergen, the Fjords & Lofoten

NatureAdventureScenic rail

Norway is one of the world's great scenic countries — and one of the most expensive, so book early. Fly into Bergen, walk the UNESCO Bryggen wharf, then take the Norway in a Nutshell rail-and-fjord route through Flåm and the Nærøyfjord to Geiranger. For something wilder, fly north to the Lofoten Islands — red rorbuer cabins in Reine and Hamnøy sit beneath jagged peaks straight out of the sea. In winter, base in Tromsø for Northern Lights chases, husky sledding and whale safaris in Skjervøy. Hire a car wherever possible; public transport outside the cities is sparse.

Best time to go
June–August (midnight sun); January–March (aurora & ski)
Where to stay
Bryggen (Bergen); Geiranger or Flåm (fjords); Reine or Hamnøy (Lofoten)
Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatán, Mexico
Mexico

Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatán

CultureFoodBeach

Mexico is having a moment — and it's earned. Start in Mexico City: base in Roma Norte or Condesa for tree-lined streets, mezcalerías and some of the world's best restaurants (Pujol, Quintonil, Contramar for lunch). Day trip to Teotihuacán's pyramids at sunrise. Fly to Oaxaca for markets, mole, mezcal distilleries in the valleys and the ruins of Monte Albán. Finish in the Yucatán — Mérida is the calmer, more cultural alternative to Tulum, with cenote swims, Chichén Itzá at opening time, and colonial haciendas converted into hotels. If you want beach, head to Holbox or Isla Mujeres rather than the over-built Riviera Maya.

Best time to go
November–April (dry season)
Where to stay
Roma Norte or Condesa (CDMX); Centro (Oaxaca); Tulum or Mérida (Yucatán)
Zermatt, Lucerne & the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Switzerland

Zermatt, Lucerne & the Bernese Oberland

Scenic railMountainsLuxury

Switzerland is built for rail travel. Get the Swiss Travel Pass and string together the Glacier Express (Zermatt–St. Moritz, 8 hours of panoramic windows), the Bernina Express into Italy, and the GoldenPass between Montreux and Lucerne. In Zermatt, the car-free village sits beneath the Matterhorn — ride the Gornergrat cog railway at sunrise for the classic view. The Bernese Oberland delivers the iconic alpine villages: Wengen and Mürren are both car-free, both with direct cable-car access to the Jungfraujoch ('Top of Europe'). Lucerne makes the easiest base for first-timers — central, lakeside and 1 hour from Zurich airport.

Best time to go
June–September (hiking); December–March (ski)
Where to stay
Zermatt village; Lucerne old town; Wengen or Mürren (car-free)
Buenos Aires, Patagonia & Iguazú, Argentina
Argentina

Buenos Aires, Patagonia & Iguazú

AdventureWineNature

Argentina is enormous — pick three regions, not ten. Base 3–4 nights in Buenos Aires: Palermo Soho for design hotels, parrillas and milonga tango halls, Recoleta for the cemetery and grand cafés. Fly south to El Calafate for the Perito Moreno Glacier (one of the few advancing glaciers on Earth) and on to El Chaltén, the trekking capital, for day hikes to Laguna de los Tres beneath Fitz Roy. Then fly north to Iguazú Falls — stay on the Argentine side at the Gran Meliá inside the national park for sunrise access before the day-trippers arrive. Add Mendoza for Malbec country if you have a spare 3 nights.

Best time to go
October–April (Patagonia in summer); year-round for BA
Where to stay
Palermo Soho or Recoleta (BA); El Calafate & El Chaltén (Patagonia)
Bali, Ubud & the Gili Islands, Indonesia
Indonesia

Bali, Ubud & the Gili Islands

BeachWellnessSurf

Bali rewards travellers who skip the Kuta–Seminyak strip. Start in Ubud for rice-terrace walks at Tegallalang, the Sacred Monkey Forest, and yoga at The Yoga Barn; stay at Bambu Indah or Como Shambhala for the full jungle experience. Move south to Uluwatu for clifftop sunset bars (Single Fin, El Kabron) and the world-class surf at Padang Padang, or Canggu for the digital-nomad café scene. Boat across to the Gili Islands — Gili Air for the balance of quiet and decent restaurants, Gili Meno for honeymoon silence, Gili Trawangan for nightlife. Lombok and the Nusa islands (Penida, Lembongan) are easier day trips and far less developed.

Best time to go
April–October (dry season)
Where to stay
Ubud (jungle); Canggu or Uluwatu (surf & sunset); Gili Air (islands)
Cairo, Luxor & a Nile cruise, Egypt
Egypt

Cairo, Luxor & a Nile cruise

HistoryCruiseBucket list

Egypt is best done with a guide and in the cooler months — summer temperatures in Luxor and Aswan regularly top 45°C. Spend 2–3 nights in Cairo: stay on the Giza side at the Marriott Mena House for pyramid views from your balcony, and don't miss the new Grand Egyptian Museum, finally open and home to the full Tutankhamun collection. Fly south to Luxor for the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Hatshepsut's temple, then board a small dahabiya sailboat (not a 300-cabin Nile cruiser) for 4 nights down the Nile to Aswan via Edfu and Kom Ombo. End with a flight to Abu Simbel for sunrise at Ramses II's colossi.

Best time to go
October–April (cooler temperatures)
Where to stay
Giza-side hotel (Cairo); Sofitel Winter Palace (Luxor); dahabiya for the Nile
Dubrovnik, Split & the Dalmatian Islands, Croatia
Croatia

Dubrovnik, Split & the Dalmatian Islands

CoastalIsland-hoppingHistory

Croatia's Adriatic coast is best explored by ferry. Fly into Dubrovnik for two nights inside the medieval walls — walk them at sunrise before the cruise crowds dock. Take the catamaran to Hvar for lavender fields and the buzziest harbour nightlife, then on to Vis for empty coves and the Blue Cave at Biševo. Split makes the perfect northern base: sleep inside the 1,700-year-old Diocletian's Palace, day trip to Krka waterfalls, and ferry to Brač for Zlatni Rat beach. Skip July–August unless you book 6 months ahead.

Best time to go
May–June & September
Where to stay
Inside the Old Town walls (Dubrovnik); Diocletian's Palace (Split); Hvar Town
Istanbul & Cappadocia, Turkey
Turkey

Istanbul & Cappadocia

CultureAdventureBucket list

Three nights in Istanbul covers the highlights: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar from Sultanahmet, then cross the Galata Bridge to Karaköy and Beyoğlu for rooftop bars and modern Turkish cuisine. Fly 75 minutes to Kayseri or Nevşehir for Cappadocia — book a cave hotel in Göreme or Uçhisar and the sunrise hot-air balloon at least 3 months ahead (it's the single most photographed experience in Turkey for a reason). Add the travertine pools of Pamukkale or the Lycian coast at Kaş if you have a week.

Best time to go
April–May & September–October
Where to stay
Sultanahmet or Karaköy (Istanbul); cave hotel in Göreme (Cappadocia)
Dublin & the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
Ireland

Dublin & the Wild Atlantic Way

Road tripCultureCoastal

Two nights in Dublin for Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College's Long Room and a Literary Pub Crawl, then hire a car and drive the Wild Atlantic Way. The Dingle Peninsula edges out the Ring of Kerry for fewer coaches and better pubs; further north, the Cliffs of Moher and the lunar Burren make a great day. End in Galway for trad music sessions, or push north to Connemara and Westport for the empty west.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Temple Bar or Merrion Square (Dublin); Dingle or Westport (west coast)
Edinburgh & the Highlands, Scotland
Scotland

Edinburgh & the Highlands

Scenic railWhiskyNature

Edinburgh is one of Europe's most walkable capitals — base in the Old Town for the castle, Royal Mile and Arthur's Seat. Take the Jacobite Steam Train (the Hogwarts Express) over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, then drive north through Glencoe to Skye for the Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools. Add a Speyside whisky distillery loop (Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour) if you have a spare day.

Best time to go
May–September; December for festive markets
Where to stay
Old Town (Edinburgh); Inverness or Portree (Skye)
Berlin, Munich & the Bavarian Alps, Germany
Germany

Berlin, Munich & the Bavarian Alps

CultureHistoryMountains

Berlin and Munich are different countries in spirit. Berlin in Mitte and Kreuzberg delivers Cold War history, techno clubs and a thriving food scene; don't miss the Reichstag dome (free, book ahead) and a day at Sachsenhausen. Take the ICE south to Munich for beer halls, the Englischer Garten and Oktoberfest if you're there in late September. From Munich, drive the Romantic Road to Neuschwanstein and on to Garmisch for the Zugspitze cable car.

Best time to go
May–September; late November for Christmas markets
Where to stay
Mitte or Kreuzberg (Berlin); Altstadt (Munich); Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Amsterdam & beyond, Netherlands
Netherlands

Amsterdam & beyond

City breakCyclingArt

Skip the Red Light District hotels and base in the Jordaan for canal-side cafés or De Pijp for the Albert Cuyp market. Book the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum weeks ahead — walk-ups are not possible. Rent bikes and cross to Amsterdam Noord on the free ferry for NDSM Wharf street art. Day trips: Keukenhof in April for tulip fields, Utrecht for a quieter canal city, and Rotterdam for cutting-edge architecture.

Best time to go
April (tulips) & May–September
Where to stay
Jordaan or De Pijp (Amsterdam)
Bruges, Ghent & Brussels, Belgium
Belgium

Bruges, Ghent & Brussels

City breakFoodHistory

Bruges is the postcard but books out fast — stay overnight to enjoy the canals after the day-trippers leave. Ghent is the local favourite: more student energy, better restaurants, and the Van Eyck Mystic Lamb altarpiece in St Bavo's Cathedral. Brussels gets unfairly skipped — the Grand Place by night, Belgian beer cafés in Saint-Géry and chocolate shops at Sablon are all worth a stop. Trains link all three in under an hour.

Best time to go
April–October; December for markets
Where to stay
Inside the canal ring (Bruges); Patershol (Ghent)
Prague & Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Czech Republic

Prague & Český Krumlov

City breakHistoryValue

Prague packs Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau into a tight, walkable old town. Climb the Astronomical Clock tower at sunrise to beat the queues, walk Charles Bridge at dawn or after 10pm, and book a chamber concert in the Klementinum's Mirror Hall. Day trip or overnight to Český Krumlov, a UNESCO-listed riverbend town with a castle straight out of a fairy tale. Czech beer is the cheapest in Europe and arguably the best.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October; December for markets
Where to stay
Malá Strana or Old Town (Prague)
Budapest, Hungary
Hungary

Budapest

City breakWellnessValue

Budapest is two cities stitched by the Danube — hilly, residential Buda and flat, lively Pest. Base in Pest's District V for ruin bars (Szimpla Kert), the Great Market Hall and Hungarian fine dining. Soak at the grand Széchenyi or the Art Nouveau Gellért thermal baths, take the funicular up to Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion at sunset, and book a Danube dinner cruise to see the Parliament lit up.

Best time to go
April–October; December for markets
Where to stay
District V (Pest) or the Buda Castle district
Geneva, Montreux & Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Switzerland

Geneva, Montreux & Lake Geneva

LakeWineLuxury

The French-speaking Riviera of Switzerland is gentler than the alpine east. Base in Montreux for Belle Époque lakefront hotels and the Chillon Castle, take the Lavaux vineyard train through UNESCO-listed terraces, and visit Chaplin's World above Vevey. Time it for the Montreux Jazz Festival in July if you can. Geneva works as a quick add-on for the Jet d'Eau, the Old Town and easy onward connections to Chamonix.

Best time to go
May–September; July for jazz
Where to stay
Lakeside in Montreux or Vevey
Helsinki & Lapland, Finland
Finland

Helsinki & Lapland

AuroraAdventureFamily

Helsinki is Scandinavia's most underrated capital — saunas at Löyly, design shops in Punavuori and ferries to the Suomenlinna sea fortress. Fly 90 minutes north to Lapland for the real reason most travellers come: glass-roofed igloos under the aurora, husky sledding, reindeer farms and Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Kakslauttanen and Levin Iglut are the best-known igloo resorts; book a year ahead for Christmas week.

Best time to go
December–March (aurora & husky); June–August (midnight sun)
Where to stay
Design District (Helsinki); glass igloo in Saariselkä or Levi
Stockholm & the archipelago, Sweden
Sweden

Stockholm & the archipelago

City breakNatureDesign

Stockholm spreads across 14 islands. Base in Södermalm for the coolest cafés and rooftop bars or Gamla Stan for the medieval old town. Don't miss the Vasa Museum (a perfectly preserved 17th-century warship) and the Fotografiska photography museum. Take a ferry into the 30,000-island archipelago — Sandhamn for sailing energy, Grinda for car-free quiet, Vaxholm for a half-day taste.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Gamla Stan or Södermalm (Stockholm)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark

Copenhagen

City breakFoodCycling

Copenhagen runs on bikes and hygge. Rent one on day one and ride the harbour loop past the Opera House and the Little Mermaid. Eat your way through Torvehallerne market, book months ahead for Noma or Geranium (or settle for their alumni: Barr, 108, Hart Bageri). Tivoli Gardens is worth the entry even as an adult, especially lit up in December. Day trip to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art up the coast — one of the world's most beautifully sited galleries.

Best time to go
May–September; December for Tivoli at Christmas
Where to stay
Nyhavn, Vesterbro or Nørrebro
Banff, Lake Louise & the Rockies, Canada
Canada

Banff, Lake Louise & the Rockies

NatureAdventureScenic drive

Fly into Calgary and drive 90 minutes to Banff. The classic 5-day loop: Banff town, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (the shuttle is mandatory in summer — book ahead), the Icefields Parkway with stops at Peyto Lake and the Athabasca Glacier, ending in Jasper. Bear spotting is best at dawn along the Bow Valley Parkway. In winter, the ski trio of Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mt Norquay shares one lift pass.

Best time to go
June–September (hiking); January–March (ski)
Where to stay
Fairmont Banff Springs; Chateau Lake Louise
Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island, Canada
Canada

Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island

NatureFoodAdventure

Vancouver mixes mountains, ocean and one of North America's best food scenes. Base in Gastown for craft cocktails and Granville Island for the public market. Drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler — ski in winter, mountain bike or hike in summer. Ferry to Vancouver Island for Victoria's Inner Harbour and on to Tofino on the wild Pacific Rim coast for storm watching, surfing and old-growth rainforest hikes.

Best time to go
June–September; December–March (ski)
Where to stay
Gastown or Yaletown (Vancouver); Whistler Village; Tofino
California Coast: SF, Big Sur & LA, USA
USA

California Coast: SF, Big Sur & LA

Road tripCoastalBucket list

The Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles is one of the world's great drives — 7 days minimum to do it justice. Start with 3 nights in SF (cable cars, Alcatraz booked weeks ahead, dim sum in Chinatown). Drive south via Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz to Monterey for the aquarium, then the iconic Bixby Bridge into Big Sur. Overnight at Post Ranch Inn or Ventana for clifftop hot tubs. Continue via Hearst Castle and Santa Barbara into LA — Santa Monica for beach energy, West Hollywood for nightlife.

Best time to go
April–October (Big Sur fog clears September)
Where to stay
Nob Hill (SF); Post Ranch or Ventana (Big Sur); Santa Monica or West Hollywood
Southwest National Parks loop, USA
USA

Southwest National Parks loop

Road tripNatureAdventure

Fly into Las Vegas and drive a 10-day loop through five of the country's best national parks: Zion (the Narrows wade hike), Bryce Canyon (sunrise at Sunset Point — counterintuitive but correct), Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands around Moab, and the Grand Canyon's South Rim for sunset at Hopi Point. Add Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page. Summer is brutal — aim for shoulder season and book in-park lodges 13 months ahead the day they open.

Best time to go
April–May & September–October
Where to stay
El Tovar (Grand Canyon); Amangiri or Under Canvas (Utah)
Hawaii: Maui, Kauai & Big Island, USA
USA

Hawaii: Maui, Kauai & Big Island

BeachAdventureNature

Pick two islands per trip, not all four. Maui balances beach resorts in Wailea with the Road to Hana's waterfalls and the sunrise at Haleakalā volcano (reservation required). Kauai is the wild garden isle — the Nā Pali Coast by catamaran, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay's crescent beach. The Big Island delivers active volcanoes at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, black-sand beaches at Punaluʻu, and manta-ray night dives off Kona.

Best time to go
April–May & September–November
Where to stay
Wailea or Hana (Maui); Hanalei Bay (Kauai); Kona (Big Island)
Arenal, Monteverde & the Pacific coast, Costa Rica
Costa Rica

Arenal, Monteverde & the Pacific coast

WildlifeAdventureBeach

Costa Rica packs more biodiversity into a small country than almost anywhere on earth. The classic loop: 3 nights at Arenal Volcano for hot springs and hanging bridges, 2 nights in the Monteverde cloud forest for the Sky Walk and resplendent quetzals, then 4 nights on the Pacific — Nosara for surf and yoga, Manuel Antonio for sloth-spotting beaches, or the wilder Osa Peninsula at Lapa Rios for true rainforest immersion.

Best time to go
December–April (dry season)
Where to stay
Nayara Tented Camp (Arenal); Monteverde Lodge; Nosara or Manuel Antonio
Rio de Janeiro & the Northeast beaches, Brazil
Brazil

Rio de Janeiro & the Northeast beaches

BeachCultureAdventure

Base in Ipanema or Leblon for the safest beach neighbourhoods, the morning runners on the calçadão and the best botecos for caipirinhas. Take the train up to Christ the Redeemer at opening time and the cable car to Sugarloaf at sunset. From Rio, fly north to Jericoacoara for dune buggies and lagoons, or to Fernando de Noronha — Brazil's protected island archipelago and one of the world's great diving and snorkelling destinations.

Best time to go
December–March (summer); February (Carnival)
Where to stay
Ipanema or Leblon (Rio); Jericoacoara or Fernando de Noronha
Cartagena, Medellín & the Coffee Triangle, Colombia
Colombia

Cartagena, Medellín & the Coffee Triangle

CultureAdventureCoffee

Colombia is now one of Latin America's safest and most exciting destinations. Start in Cartagena: stay inside the 16th-century walled city for sunset on the ramparts and dinner in Getsemaní. Fly to Medellín for the cable cars up to Comuna 13, the Pablo Escobar history tour and the spring-like climate. Bus or fly to the Coffee Triangle — base in Salento, hike the Cocora Valley wax palms and tour a working finca like Hacienda Venecia.

Best time to go
December–March & July–August
Where to stay
Inside the walled city (Cartagena); El Poblado (Medellín); Salento (coffee)
Santiago, Atacama & Patagonia, Chile
Chile

Santiago, Atacama & Patagonia

AdventureNatureWine

Chile's geography is absurd — 4,300 km from the driest desert on earth to glacial Patagonia. Two nights in Santiago for Lastarria's restaurants and a Maipo or Casablanca wine tour, then fly north to Atacama for moon-landscape lagoons, geyser fields at El Tatay and the world's clearest night skies. Fly south to Puerto Natales for Torres del Paine — the W Trek over 4 days or refugio-to-refugio with porter support if you want fewer logistics.

Best time to go
October–April (Patagonia summer)
Where to stay
Lastarria (Santiago); Tierra or Explora (Atacama); Torres del Paine lodges
South Island self-drive, New Zealand
New Zealand

South Island self-drive

Road tripAdventureNature

Fly into Christchurch and drive a 10-day loop through the South Island. Highlights: punting on the Avon, the alpine crossing at Arthur's Pass, glacier hikes at Franz Josef, the lake-and-vineyard town of Wanaka, and Queenstown for bungy, jet boats and Fiordland day trips to Milford Sound. Add the Catlins for sea lions and the Otago Peninsula for royal albatross if you have a week extra. Hire a 4WD in winter.

Best time to go
December–March (summer); July–September (ski)
Where to stay
Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef & Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan, India
India

The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan

CultureHistoryLuxury

First-timers should do the Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra, Jaipur — over 7 nights with a private car and driver. The Taj Mahal at sunrise is non-negotiable. Then extend into Rajasthan: Udaipur for lake palaces, Jodhpur for the indigo-blue old city beneath the Mehrangarh Fort, and Jaisalmer for camel treks into the Thar Desert. The Oberoi and Taj groups deliver world-class hotels at a fraction of European prices.

Best time to go
October–March (avoid the summer heat)
Where to stay
Oberoi or Taj properties throughout
Kerala backwaters & Goa, India
India

Kerala backwaters & Goa

WellnessBeachCulture

Kerala is the gentle, green South. Start in Fort Kochi for Chinese fishing nets and old spice-trade architecture, then board a private houseboat through the Alleppey backwaters for a night or two of slow canal cruising. Pair with the tea plantations of Munnar or a yoga retreat in Varkala. Fly north to Goa for Portuguese-influenced beach towns — Assagao, Vagator and Morjim for boutique stays, Palolem in the south for quieter sands.

Best time to go
November–March
Where to stay
Kochi heritage hotels; Alleppey houseboat; North Goa beach resorts
Tea country, ancient cities & the south coast, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka

Tea country, ancient cities & the south coast

CultureScenic railBeach

Sri Lanka punches well above its size. The Cultural Triangle delivers Sigiriya rock fortress at sunrise, the cave temples of Dambulla and the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa. Take the train south from Kandy to Ella — widely rated the world's most scenic rail journey — through tea plantations and waterfalls. End on the south coast: Galle Fort for Dutch colonial architecture, Mirissa for whale watching, and Tangalle for empty crescent beaches. Add a Yala safari for leopards.

Best time to go
December–March (west & south); May–September (east)
Where to stay
Heritance Kandalama (Cultural Triangle); Ceylon Tea Trails (hills); Galle Fort
Siem Reap & Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Cambodia

Siem Reap & Angkor Wat

HistoryCultureBucket list

Three nights in Siem Reap covers the temples without burning out. A great 3-day Angkor itinerary: Day 1 the small circuit (Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm); Day 2 the grand circuit and Banteay Srei's intricate pink sandstone carvings; Day 3 the remote Koh Ker or Beng Mealea. Hire a knowledgeable guide for at least day one — the iconography is dense. Pair with Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and Tuol Sleng museum, or fly to the islands of Koh Rong for a beach finish.

Best time to go
November–March (dry, cooler)
Where to stay
Park Hyatt or Belmond La Résidence d'Angkor (Siem Reap)
Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea, Jordan
Jordan

Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea

HistoryAdventureDesert

Jordan delivers more per square kilometre than almost any country. A 6-day loop: Amman briefly, the Roman ruins of Jerash, two nights at Petra (one for the Treasury via the Siq, one for the harder hike up to the Monastery), a night in a Wadi Rum bubble camp under Mars-like skies, and a finish floating on the Dead Sea. Hire a private guide and driver — distances are short, roads are good, and the context massively improves the experience.

Best time to go
March–May & September–November
Where to stay
Mövenpick Petra; luxury bubble camp in Wadi Rum
Masai Mara, Serengeti & Zanzibar, Kenya & Tanzania
Kenya & Tanzania

Masai Mara, Serengeti & Zanzibar

SafariWildlifeBeach

The classic East African safari pairs Kenya's Masai Mara with Tanzania's Serengeti to follow the Great Migration. July–September the herds are crossing the Mara River — book mobile tented camps that move with the wildlife (Asilia, &Beyond, Singita all deliver). Add the Ngorongoro Crater for guaranteed Big Five in a single morning. End with a beach week on Zanzibar — Mnemba Island or the quieter north coast at Matemwe for diving and dhow sails at sunset.

Best time to go
July–October (Great Migration river crossings)
Where to stay
Mobile tented camps following the herds; Mnemba or Zuri (Zanzibar)
Okavango Delta & Chobe, Botswana
Botswana

Okavango Delta & Chobe

SafariLuxuryWildlife

Botswana is the high-end safari destination — low-volume, high-cost permits keep camps small and the wildlife uncrowded. The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world; combine a water camp (mokoro canoe trips, hippos at the boat) with a land camp for big game drives. Add Chobe for the world's largest elephant population, especially at sunset along the river. Fly between camps on small Cessnas — drives are too long.

Best time to go
May–October (dry season & peak game viewing)
Where to stay
Mombo, Vumbura Plains, Jao or Duba Plains (Wilderness Safaris)
Singapore, Singapore
Singapore

Singapore

City breakFoodFamily

Singapore packs a continent into a single island. Start at Marina Bay Sands' infinity pool for the skyline shot, then walk the Gardens by the Bay Supertree Grove at the 7.45pm light show. Eat your way through the Michelin-starred hawker stalls at Maxwell and Tiong Bahru, ride the Night Safari, and end with a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Use the MRT — it's spotless, cheap and reaches everything.

Best time to go
February–April (driest months)
Where to stay
Marina Bay or Tiong Bahru
Seoul & Busan, South Korea
South Korea

Seoul & Busan

CultureFoodCity break

Seoul fuses palaces and K-pop. Base in Myeongdong for shopping or Hongdae for nightlife, walk Bukchon's hanok village at sunrise, and book a temple stay at Jogyesa for a real cultural pause. Take the KTX bullet train south to Busan in 2h 30m for Gamcheon's painted hillside village, raw fish at Jagalchi market and Haeundae beach. Add Jeju Island for volcanic coastline if you have a spare 3 days.

Best time to go
April–May (cherry blossom) & October (autumn foliage)
Where to stay
Myeongdong or Hongdae (Seoul); Haeundae (Busan)
Taipei & Taroko Gorge, Taiwan
Taiwan

Taipei & Taroko Gorge

FoodNatureValue

Taipei is one of Asia's most underrated food cities — Din Tai Fung's original, the Shilin night market and beef-noodle shops in every alley. Soak at Beitou's hot springs, ride the Maokong gondola for tea fields, then take the train down the east coast to Hualien for the marble walls of Taroko Gorge. End in Tainan for the country's oldest temples and best xiaochi (small eats).

Best time to go
October–April
Where to stay
Da'an or Xinyi (Taipei); Hualien for Taroko
Palawan & Cebu, Philippines
Philippines

Palawan & Cebu

BeachDivingIsland-hopping

Palawan delivers the postcard limestone karst lagoons — base in El Nido for island-hopping tours A and C, or Coron for WWII wreck dives. Fly via Manila to Cebu for whale-shark snorkelling at Oslob (choose ethical operators), the Kawasan Falls canyoning and thresher-shark dives off Malapascua. Add Bohol for the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers.

Best time to go
December–May (dry season)
Where to stay
El Nido or Coron (Palawan); Bantayan or Malapascua (Cebu)
Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Borneo, Malaysia
Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Borneo

FoodWildlifeCulture

KL is the easy launch pad — Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, and street food at Jalan Alor. Fly to Penang for George Town's UNESCO shophouses and arguably Asia's best food scene (Gurney Drive, Chulia Street). Then cross to Borneo for orangutans at Sepilok, Mount Kinabalu climbs and Kinabatangan river safaris with proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.

Best time to go
December–February (peninsula); March–October (Borneo)
Where to stay
Bukit Bintang (KL); George Town (Penang); Kota Kinabalu or Sepilok (Borneo)
Luang Prabang, Laos
Laos

Luang Prabang

CultureWellnessSlow travel

Luang Prabang is one of Southeast Asia's most serene towns — French colonial shophouses, gilded wats and a slow Mekong rhythm. Watch the dawn alms procession of saffron-robed monks, kayak to the Pak Ou caves, and swim at the turquoise Kuang Si waterfalls. The new China–Laos railway makes Vientiane and Vang Vieng easy add-ons.

Best time to go
November–March
Where to stay
Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao or Amantaka
Bagan & Inle Lake, Myanmar
Myanmar

Bagan & Inle Lake

HistoryCultureBucket list

Bagan's 2,000+ temples scattered across a dusty plain are best seen by e-bike at sunrise and from a hot-air balloon at dawn. Pair with Inle Lake's stilted villages and one-legged fishermen, and the colonial hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin. Check current travel advisories before booking.

Best time to go
November–February
Where to stay
Aureum Palace (Bagan); Inle Princess Resort (Inle Lake)
Kathmandu & the Annapurna, Nepal
Nepal

Kathmandu & the Annapurna

AdventureMountainsCulture

Kathmandu's Durbar Squares and the stupa at Boudhanath give a powerful first 48 hours. Fly to Pokhara for the Annapurna views over Phewa Lake — short treks like Poon Hill (4 days) deliver the panorama without the altitude commitment of Everest Base Camp. Add Chitwan National Park for jungle safaris and one-horned rhinos.

Best time to go
October–November & March–April
Where to stay
Dwarika's (Kathmandu); Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Thimphu, Paro & the Tiger's Nest, Bhutan
Bhutan

Thimphu, Paro & the Tiger's Nest

CultureAdventureLuxury

Bhutan still runs on a high-value low-impact tourism model with a daily Sustainable Development Fee. Spend a week valley-hopping from Paro to Thimphu, Punakha and the Bumthang heartland. The pilgrimage hike to the Tiger's Nest monastery clinging to a 900m cliff is the iconic moment. Hotels are few but world class.

Best time to go
March–May & September–November
Where to stay
Six Senses, Amankora or COMO Uma circuits
Malé atolls, Maldives
Maldives

Malé atolls

BeachLuxuryHoneymoon

Pick by atoll, not by brand. North Malé is closest and reachable by speedboat; Baa Atoll is a UNESCO biosphere with the famous Hanifaru Bay manta aggregations; Laamu and Noonu in the south are quieter, with the best surf and house reefs. Seaplane transfers add cost but the aerial view is half the magic. Combine with a few nights in Sri Lanka for contrast.

Best time to go
November–April (dry season)
Where to stay
Soneva Fushi, Cheval Blanc Randheli or Six Senses Laamu
Mahé, Praslin & La Digue, Seychelles
Seychelles

Mahé, Praslin & La Digue

BeachLuxuryNature

Granite boulders, blinding-white sand and turquoise water — Seychelles is the indulgent alternative to the Maldives with more to do on land. Hop the three main islands by ferry: Mahé for jungle hikes in Morne Seychellois, Praslin for the prehistoric Vallée de Mai palm forest, and La Digue for Anse Source d'Argent — frequently voted the world's most photographed beach.

Best time to go
April–May & October–November
Where to stay
Four Seasons or North Island (Mahé); Raffles (Praslin); ox-cart guesthouses (La Digue)
Mauritius, Mauritius
Mauritius

Mauritius

BeachFamilyCulture

Mauritius blends Indian, Creole, French and Chinese cultures with reef-protected lagoons. The southwest at Le Morne is best for kite-surfing, the east coast for calm family beaches and the north (Grand Baie) for nightlife. Inland, Black River Gorges National Park has waterfalls and the seven-coloured earths of Chamarel.

Best time to go
May–December
Where to stay
Constance Belle Mare Plage or LUX* Le Morne
Antananarivo & the Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Madagascar

Antananarivo & the Avenue of the Baobabs

WildlifeAdventureBucket list

Madagascar is biodiversity central — 90% of wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Combine the lemurs of Andasibe and Ranomafana parks, the sandstone tsingy of Bemaraha and the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset near Morondava. Internal flights are essential; roads are slow. Finish on Nosy Be or Sainte-Marie for whale watching (July–September).

Best time to go
April–November
Where to stay
Anjajavy le Lodge or Miavana on Nosy Ankao
Volcanoes National Park & Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park & Kigali

WildlifeConservationLuxury

Rwanda is the premium gorilla-trekking destination — permits are pricey but the lodges, road access and conservation outcomes are exceptional. Allow 2 treks (different families) and pair with golden monkey trekking on Mount Sabyinyo. Kigali itself is clean, safe and home to the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial. Add Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzees and a canopy walk.

Best time to go
June–September & December–February (drier)
Where to stay
Singita Kwitonda, Bisate Lodge or One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Sossusvlei, Damaraland & Etosha, Namibia
Namibia

Sossusvlei, Damaraland & Etosha

Road tripSafariNature

Namibia is built for the self-drive 4x4 traveller or the fly-in safari purist. Climb the orange dunes at Sossusvlei before sunrise, track desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland, hit the Skeleton Coast for shipwrecks and seal colonies, and finish at Etosha's salt pan for waterhole game viewing. Stargazing in the NamibRand reserve is world class.

Best time to go
May–October
Where to stay
Little Kulala, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Onguma the Fort
Victoria Falls & South Luangwa, Zambia & Zimbabwe
Zambia & Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls & South Luangwa

SafariAdventureBucket list

View Victoria Falls from both sides — the Zimbabwe side gives the panorama, the Zambia side lets you walk to Devil's Pool on the edge in low water (Sept–Dec). Combine with a walking safari in South Luangwa, the birthplace of the format, where guided foot tracking of leopards and lions is unmatched.

Best time to go
May–October (dry); April for peak falls flow
Where to stay
Royal Livingstone (Zambia); Victoria Falls Hotel (Zimbabwe); Time + Tide Chinzombo (South Luangwa)
Lalibela & the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Lalibela & the Simien Mountains

HistoryAdventureBucket list

The 12th-century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are one of Africa's most extraordinary sights — eleven monolithic churches carved downwards into solid bedrock. Pair with the Simien Mountains for gelada baboon trekking on the escarpment edge, and the Danakil Depression's lava lakes for the truly intrepid.

Best time to go
October–March
Where to stay
Mountain View Hotel (Lalibela); Limalimo Lodge (Simiens)
Tunis, Sidi Bou Said & Djerba, Tunisia
Tunisia

Tunis, Sidi Bou Said & Djerba

HistoryBeachValue

Tunisia delivers Roman ruins (Carthage, Dougga, El Jem's colossal amphitheatre), Mediterranean beach towns and Saharan dunes in a single short flight. Base in Tunis for the medina and the Bardo's mosaics, day trip to cliff-side Sidi Bou Said, then fly south to Djerba for beaches or Tozeur for desert and Star Wars filming sets.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
Dar El Jeld (Tunis medina); blue-and-white guesthouses (Sidi Bou Said)
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & the Dead Sea, Israel
Israel

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & the Dead Sea

HistoryFoodCulture

Two nights in Jerusalem's Old City for the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa, then drive an hour to Tel Aviv for Mediterranean beach, Bauhaus architecture and one of the Middle East's best food and nightlife scenes. Add Masada at sunrise and a Dead Sea float, and Bethlehem or the Galilee if time allows. Check current travel advisories.

Best time to go
March–May & September–November
Where to stay
American Colony (Jerusalem); The Norman or The Setai (Tel Aviv)
Muscat, the Hajar Mountains & Wahiba Sands, Oman
Oman

Muscat, the Hajar Mountains & Wahiba Sands

AdventureCultureLuxury

Oman is the quiet, cultural alternative to Dubai. Muscat's Grand Mosque and souks, then drive into the Hajar Mountains for the dramatic Jebel Akhdar plateau, wadi swims at Wadi Shab, and a night in the Wahiba Sands desert camp. Finish on the Musandam fjords or the turtle nesting beach at Ras al Jinz.

Best time to go
October–March
Where to stay
Chedi Muscat; Alila Jabal Akhdar; Desert Nights Camp
Tbilisi, Kakheti & Svaneti, Georgia
Georgia

Tbilisi, Kakheti & Svaneti

WineAdventureValue

Georgia is the world's oldest wine country and one of Europe's best-value adventures. Tbilisi's sulphur baths and old town, the qvevri wineries of Kakheti, and the medieval stone tower villages of Svaneti high in the Caucasus deliver three completely different trips in one country.

Best time to go
May–June & September–October
Where to stay
Stamba (Tbilisi); Schuchmann Wines (Kakheti); Mestia guesthouses (Svaneti)
Yerevan & the monasteries, Armenia
Armenia

Yerevan & the monasteries

HistoryCultureValue

Yerevan's pink-stone Republic Square and cafe culture make a relaxed base. Day trip to the cliff-carved Geghard Monastery, the pagan temple of Garni, and Khor Virap for Mount Ararat views. The drive south via Tatev's aerial tramway — the world's longest reversible cable car — is unforgettable.

Best time to go
May–October
Where to stay
The Alexander or Tufenkian Historic (Yerevan)
Baku & Sheki, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan

Baku & Sheki

CultureArchitectureCity break

Baku is a striking mix of medieval walled city and futuristic Zaha Hadid skyline above the Caspian. Drive west to the silk-road caravanserais of Sheki, the mud volcanoes of Gobustan and the fire temple of Yanar Dag. A quick add-on after Georgia.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
Four Seasons Baku or Fairmont Flame Towers
Bucharest & Transylvania, Romania
Romania

Bucharest & Transylvania

HistoryRoad tripValue

Skip the Bucharest-only weekend and drive Transylvania. The fortified Saxon villages around Sibiu, Bran (Dracula's) Castle, Peleș Castle in Sinaia and the painted monasteries of Bucovina deliver Central Europe at a fraction of the cost. Add the Transfagarasan Highway in summer for one of Europe's great mountain drives.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Brasov, Sibiu & Sighișoara guesthouses
Sofia, Plovdiv & the Black Sea, Bulgaria
Bulgaria

Sofia, Plovdiv & the Black Sea

HistoryCoastalValue

Plovdiv — Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city — is the highlight, with a Roman amphitheatre still in use and a colourful old-town quarter. Pair with Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Rila Monastery day trip, and a few nights on the Black Sea at Sozopol for sandy bays and grilled fish.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Sense Hotel (Sofia); Hebros (Plovdiv)
Krakow, Warsaw & Gdansk, Poland
Poland

Krakow, Warsaw & Gdansk

HistoryCultureValue

Krakow is the cultural heart — the Cloth Hall on the medieval Main Square, the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz and a respectful day at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Warsaw's rebuilt Old Town and powerful museums (Warsaw Uprising, POLIN) give context to the 20th century. Add the Baltic Hanseatic port of Gdansk for amber and beaches.

Best time to go
May–September; December for markets
Where to stay
Old Town or Kazimierz (Krakow)
Ljubljana, Lake Bled & the Soča Valley, Slovenia
Slovenia

Ljubljana, Lake Bled & the Soča Valley

NatureAdventureLakes

Slovenia is the green, walkable alpine alternative. Ljubljana's car-free centre and dragon bridges, Lake Bled's island church and clifftop castle, Lake Bohinj for fewer crowds, and the turquoise Soča River for rafting and the Vršič Pass drive — all reachable inside an hour. Add Postojna Cave or the Lipica stud farm.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Vila Bled or Hotel Triglav (Bled)
Bay of Kotor & Durmitor, Montenegro
Montenegro

Bay of Kotor & Durmitor

CoastalNatureValue

The Bay of Kotor is Europe's most southerly fjord, ringed by Venetian walled towns. Stay in Perast or Kotor for boat trips to Our Lady of the Rocks, drive up to Lovćen for the Njegoš mausoleum, then push north to Durmitor National Park for the Tara Canyon — Europe's deepest — and rafting trips.

Best time to go
May–June & September
Where to stay
Aman Sveti Stefan area; Boutique stays in Kotor
The Albanian Riviera, Albania
Albania

The Albanian Riviera

BeachValueAdventure

The Albanian Riviera is the Mediterranean's last frontier — crystal coves at Ksamil, Greek-island vibes in Himara and Dhërmi without the Greek-island prices. Pair with the UNESCO Ottoman cities of Berat and Gjirokastër and the Roman ruins of Butrint. A 4–6 hour drive links them all.

Best time to go
May–June & September
Where to stay
Ksamil, Dhërmi or Saranda
Tallinn, Riga & Vilnius, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania

Tallinn, Riga & Vilnius

HistoryCity breakValue

The Baltic capitals link beautifully by bus or self-drive over a week. Tallinn's perfectly preserved medieval Old Town, Riga's Art Nouveau quarter and Vilnius's baroque churches all sit inside compact, walkable centres. Add the Curonian Spit dunes in Lithuania or Estonia's Lahemaa National Park for nature.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Hotel Telegraaf (Tallinn); Grand Hotel Kempinski (Riga)
Paphos, Limassol & the Troodos, Cyprus
Cyprus

Paphos, Limassol & the Troodos

BeachHistoryWine

Cyprus mixes Byzantine churches, Greco-Roman ruins and very good beaches. Paphos for the Tombs of the Kings and Aphrodite's Rock, Limassol for restaurants and big resorts, and the cooler Troodos Mountains for painted UNESCO churches and the wine villages of Omodos and Vouni.

Best time to go
April–June & September–November
Where to stay
Amara or Parklane (Limassol); Anassa (Polis)
Valletta, Mdina & Gozo, Malta
Malta

Valletta, Mdina & Gozo

HistoryCoastalShort break

Valletta packs a UNESCO baroque capital into a peninsula you can walk in an afternoon — St John's Co-Cathedral's Caravaggios alone justify the trip. Day trip to the silent walled city of Mdina, the prehistoric Hagar Qim temples and the Blue Grotto. Take the ferry to Gozo for empty coves and the Ggantija megaliths.

Best time to go
April–June & September–October
Where to stay
The Phoenicia or Iniala Harbour House (Valletta)
Kazakhstan: Almaty & Charyn, Russia (alternative)
Russia (alternative)

Kazakhstan: Almaty & Charyn

AdventureCultureValue

Almaty sits beneath the snow-capped Tien Shan and combines Soviet boulevards with leafy parks and an outsized food scene. Day trip to the turquoise Big Almaty Lake, the Charyn Canyon (Central Asia's Grand Canyon) and Medeu's high-altitude skating rink. Add the futuristic capital Astana for architecture.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Ritz-Carlton Almaty
Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan

Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva

HistoryCultureBucket list

The Silk Road in three cities. Samarkand's blue-tiled Registan square is one of the world's great architectural ensembles; Bukhara's old town is a living museum of caravanserais and madrasas; Khiva's walled city of Itchan Kala looks almost untouched by time. High-speed Afrosiyob trains link Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara.

Best time to go
April–May & September–October
Where to stay
Hotel Bibikhanum (Samarkand); Old Bukhara guesthouses
The Gobi & the steppe, Mongolia
Mongolia

The Gobi & the steppe

AdventureCultureNature

Mongolia is empty in the best sense — twice the size of France with three million people. Combine the dunes, flaming cliffs and dinosaur sites of the Gobi with the rolling green Orkhon Valley, the Karakorum monasteries and the Naadam horse-and-archery festival in July. Internal flights cut huge driving days.

Best time to go
June–September
Where to stay
Three Camel Lodge (Gobi); ger camps across the steppe
Baja California Sur, Mexico
Mexico

Baja California Sur

WildlifeBeachAdventure

Baja's southern tip mixes desert-meets-sea drama with whale shark snorkelling at La Paz, grey whale calving lagoons at Magdalena Bay and surf-and-yoga magic in the arts town of Todos Santos. Los Cabos delivers the resort hit; an hour's drive in any direction delivers everything else.

Best time to go
November–May (whale season Jan–April)
Where to stay
One&Only Palmilla or Las Ventanas (Los Cabos); Todos Santos boutique hotels
Pacific Northwest: Seattle & the Olympic Peninsula, USA
USA

Pacific Northwest: Seattle & the Olympic Peninsula

NatureFoodRoad trip

Seattle for Pike Place coffee culture, the Chihuly glass garden and a ferry to Bainbridge Island. Then loop the Olympic Peninsula for the Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach's sea stacks and Hurricane Ridge. Add a couple of nights in Portland for food carts and a Columbia Gorge waterfall drive.

Best time to go
June–September
Where to stay
The Edgewater (Seattle); Lake Quinault Lodge
New England in autumn, USA
USA

New England in autumn

Road tripNatureBucket list

The classic foliage loop: fly into Boston, drive the Mohawk Trail across western Massachusetts into Vermont (Woodstock, Stowe), cross to New Hampshire's White Mountains and finish on the Maine coast for lobster rolls and lighthouses. Book inns 9–12 months ahead — leaf-peeper demand is brutal.

Best time to go
Late September–mid October
Where to stay
Boston, Stowe (VT), Kennebunkport (ME)
New Orleans & the Deep South, USA
USA

New Orleans & the Deep South

MusicFoodCulture

New Orleans for jazz on Frenchmen Street, beignets at Cafe du Monde and a Mississippi paddle steamer. Drive the Great River Road past antebellum plantation museums to Memphis (Sun Studio, Stax, Beale Street) and Nashville's Music Row, or south into Cajun country at Lafayette for crawfish and zydeco.

Best time to go
October–April (avoid summer humidity)
Where to stay
Hotel Peter and Paul or Soniat House (NOLA)
Mendoza & Colonia, Argentina & Uruguay
Argentina & Uruguay

Mendoza & Colonia

WineBeachSlow travel

Pair Mendoza's Malbec country at the foot of the Andes with a ferry across the Río de la Plata to Uruguay — the colonial port of Colonia, design-minded José Ignacio (the calmer alternative to Punta del Este) and a tasting tour of the Bodega Garzón. A perfect 10-day add-on to Buenos Aires.

Best time to go
October–April
Where to stay
Cavas Wine Lodge (Mendoza); Casa Zinc (José Ignacio)
Quito & the Galápagos, Ecuador
Ecuador

Quito & the Galápagos

WildlifeCruiseBucket list

Two nights in colonial Quito (the world's first UNESCO city), then fly to the Galápagos. Small-ship cruises (16–48 passengers) reach the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina that day-tour boats can't — blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, sea-lion snorkels and giant tortoises within touching distance. Add the Avenue of Volcanoes train south to Riobamba.

Best time to go
Year round; June–November for cooler Galápagos seas
Where to stay
Casa Gangotena (Quito); small-ship live-aboards (Galápagos)
La Paz & the Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
Bolivia

La Paz & the Uyuni Salt Flats

AdventureNatureBucket list

La Paz drops 1,000 m of elevation across the city — ride the Mi Teleférico cable-car network for the easiest tour in South America. Fly south to Uyuni for the world's largest salt flat: 4WD circuits to Incahuasi's cactus island, red lagoons and flamingos, and the white salt mirror after rain. Acclimatise first; the salar sits at 3,656 m.

Best time to go
May–October (dry) for sharp horizons; January–March (wet) for mirror effect
Where to stay
Atix (La Paz); Kachi Lodge or Hotel Luna Salada (Uyuni)
Panama City & San Blas, Panama
Panama

Panama City & San Blas

CultureBeachAdventure

Casco Viejo's revived colonial old town, a Miraflores Lock viewing of the Panama Canal in action, and a short flight or 4x4 to the indigenous-run San Blas archipelago for postcard palm-fringed islets. Add the cloud forests of Boquete and the surf of Bocas del Toro for a longer loop.

Best time to go
December–April
Where to stay
American Trade Hotel (Casco Viejo); Yandup Island Lodge (San Blas)
Havana, Viñales & Trinidad, Cuba
Cuba

Havana, Viñales & Trinidad

CultureMusicBeach

Two nights in Havana for the classic-car ride along the Malecón and live son in Plaza Vieja, then bus or private transfer to the tobacco fields and limestone karsts of Viñales. Finish on the south coast in colonial Trinidad and the white sands of Playa Ancón. Cash is king — bring euros or pounds, not dollars.

Best time to go
December–April
Where to stay
Casas particulares in Havana Vieja; boutique stays in Trinidad
Treasure Beach, Port Antonio & the Blue Mountains, Jamaica
Jamaica

Treasure Beach, Port Antonio & the Blue Mountains

BeachMusicSlow travel

Skip the all-inclusive strip and see the real Jamaica. Treasure Beach on the south coast is sleepy and bohemian; Port Antonio on the wild northeast has the Blue Lagoon, Frenchman's Cove and river rafting on the Rio Grande; the Blue Mountains above Kingston produce the world's most expensive coffee and the best sunrise hike.

Best time to go
December–April
Where to stay
Jakes (Treasure Beach); GeeJam (Port Antonio); Strawberry Hill (Blue Mountains)
Samaná & Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic

Samaná & Las Terrenas

BeachWildlifeBoutique

The Samaná Peninsula is the DR's quieter, prettier side — boat to Cayo Levantado, hike to El Limón waterfall, and time it for January–March when humpbacks calve in Samaná Bay. Las Terrenas keeps a French-Italian expat boutique-hotel feel that the Punta Cana mega-resorts lack.

Best time to go
December–April; January–March for humpback whales
Where to stay
Sublime Samaná or Peninsula House (Las Terrenas)
Antarctic Peninsula expedition, Antarctica
Antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula expedition

WildlifeExpeditionBucket list

The classic 10–12 day voyage sails from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula — Zodiac landings among gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies, kayaking through brash ice and humpback whale encounters. Pay the supplement for a sub-150 passenger ship — IAATO rules cap shore landings at 100 at once, so smaller ships maximise time off the boat.

Best time to go
November–March
Where to stay
Small expedition ships (Aurora, Quark, Silversea, Ponant)
Svalbard expedition cruise, Arctic
Arctic

Svalbard expedition cruise

WildlifeExpeditionAurora

Svalbard sits at 78°N — closer to the North Pole than to mainland Norway. June–August expedition cruises circumnavigate Spitsbergen for polar bears on the pack ice, walrus haul-outs and 24-hour daylight. Land-based stays in Longyearbyen add husky tours and the world's northernmost brewery.

Best time to go
May–September
Where to stay
Funken Lodge (Longyearbyen); expedition ships
Mamanuca & Yasawa Islands, Fiji
Fiji

Mamanuca & Yasawa Islands

BeachHoneymoonFamily

Fly into Nadi and transfer by speedboat or seaplane to the Mamanucas (closer, livelier, family-friendly) or the wilder Yasawas (further, quieter, the Blue Lagoon). The warmth of the Fijian welcome is the real reason to come — kava ceremonies, village visits and some of the South Pacific's best house reefs.

Best time to go
May–October (drier and cooler)
Where to stay
Tokoriki, Vomo or Six Senses Fiji
Bora Bora, Moorea & the Tuamotus, French Polynesia
French Polynesia

Bora Bora, Moorea & the Tuamotus

BeachHoneymoonDiving

Combine three islands for the full experience: Moorea for jagged-peak landscapes and snorkel swims with reef sharks and rays, Bora Bora for the postcard overwater villas and turquoise lagoon, and a Tuamotu atoll like Tikehau or Fakarava for world-class diving with sharks, mantas and dolphins. Air Tahiti island passes save serious money.

Best time to go
May–October (dry)
Where to stay
Four Seasons Bora Bora; Brando (Tetiaroa); Tikehau Pearl Beach