The 24 Best Places to Go in 2024

By CNT Editors

The 24 Best Places to Go in 2024

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This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024—find more travel inspiration for next year, organized by continent, here .

In considering the destinations that excite us the most for 2024, there’s an overarching sense of possibility.

When the last corners of Asia fully reopened their borders earlier this year, the pandemic's claim on our travels finally fell away. We, as travelers, are now more able to set our sights on the farthest-reaching adventures , to dust off our bucket lists—and in many cases, return to the places we love and miss. The world remains an unpredictable and complicated place in many ways. Yet, in being reminded that travel is the greatest of luxuries, we are forced to ask the question: What should we do with our enviable power to traverse the globe in 2024? Where, we wonder, will we go first?

There are so many compelling reasons to take travel far and wide in the year ahead. Emerging boutique hotels , wellness resorts , and expedition cruises , as they vie for travelers’ bookings with new offerings, are being forced to carefully consider what it means to be relevant and exciting, yes, but also sustainable. Destinations are setting their sights on everything from pioneering eco-tourism initiatives to restorative land stewardship efforts, handing back narratives to Native communities that thread their past with their future. As for us, travelers? We get to take our pick.

To help you find the trip worth your vacation days, we’ve collaborated with Condé Nast Traveler editors from around the globe. For months we have researched, debated, and vetted, from a large pool of fantastic cities, regions, and countries with new reasons to visit. The result is this: our definitive guide to the 24 best places to go in 2024. It includes extraordinary superblooms in a new national park in Chile , up-close encounters with wildlife alongside Inuit guides in Canada , and an exciting, community-led dining destination in Rwanda . This complete list, while an immense challenge to narrow down, mirrors just how big, beautiful, diverse—and ever-changing—our world is.

Here are the 24 places that we believe should be on every traveler's radar for the year ahead. We can’t wait to see where you go. — Arati Menon and Megan Spurrell

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Places to Go in 2024

Accra, ghana.

Go for: the heart of a pan-African cultural renaissance, Indigenous pop-up dinners, Afrobeats

Accra continues to draw travelers with a surge of cool new pop-up restaurants, museums, and the pilgrimage-worthy music festival, AfroFuture (previously Afrochella).

Accra has steadily been cementing its reputation as the continent’s capital of cool, and a reimagination of pan-African heritage has ignited the city’s foodies. Leading the way is the Ghana Food Movement , a network of food change makers intent on surfacing the sexy in sustainable food. With the May 2024 opening of its Link-up Kitchen in the buzzing Osu neighborhood, this meeting place–cum–test kitchen will house the Movement’s popular Dine and Dance series, where young chefs highlight local ingredients in multicourse dinners before getting down to beats by local DJs. The hub will also host pop-ups featuring up-and-coming chefs and Indigenous menus, such as those offered by Abena Offeh-Gyimah, whose food tours spotlight heirloom ingredients and a “reconnection to ancestral ways of eating.” This year also sees chef Selassie Atadika of Midunu resuming her Nomadic Dinners celebrating African ingredients , as well as quarterly chocolate tastings of her gorgeous bonbons inspired by flavors like beriberi chili and Cape Malay spice. After dinner, you’ll find the balmy West African capital’s electric club scene spoils you for choice. While the Grammys have just come to the party (the awards will feature a Best African Music Performance category for the first time, in 2024), locals have been lighting it up at festivals like Chale Wote Street Art Festival (August) and AfroFuture (previously Afrochella ; December) for years. Should you find time to sleep, the December 2023 opening of the 145-room Hilton Accra Cantonments marks the brand’s debut in Ghana.

Looking ahead: A state-of-the-art cultural institution is coming just outside the city as well. Enriched by voices from the diaspora, an overdue zeitgeist to reclaim African narratives finds a physical home in the Pan African Heritage Museum , which has begun construction and will open in 2025 or 2026. Located on 10 lush acres in Winneba (40 miles from Accra), the space’s first offerings will include a music amphitheater, a youth innovation center, and a food court. Like all its planned exhibits (you can digitally preview the collection), these will both showcase and connect the continent’s rich history and cultures to its contemporary global might. — Lee Middleton

For more inspiration, read our expanded list of the best places to go in Africa in 2024 .

Budapest, Hungary

Go for: a fresh take on the 150 year-old city

As the city of Budapest turns 150 an overwhelming sense of oldmeetsnew is inspired by historic attractions living...

As the city of Budapest turns 150, an overwhelming sense of old-meets-new is inspired by historic attractions living alongside just-opened hotels (such as the art deco-inspired W, above), and the futuristic House of Music Hungary.

Renowned for its architecture, the Hungarian capital is home to everything from art nouveau and neoclassical to gothic and baroque, with the Blue Danube connecting it all like a ribbon. And then there are the mineral-rich thermal baths, featuring ornate design flourishes. The city also buzzes with creativity, which spills over into the vibrant nightlife; the ruin bars district is a tangible example of crafting opportunity from the ashes of adversity following the brutality of Communist rule. November 2023 marks 150 years since the previously divided cities of Buda, Pest, and Obuda were unified, as well as a series of cultural events. The Chain Bridge—the city’s oldest and a “symbol of togetherness,” according to Mayor Gergely Karácsony—has fully reopened after a two-year restoration, granting excellent views of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building. New builds such as the spectacular House of Music Hungary and the National Athletics Centre (the central stadium for 2023’s World Athletics Championships) are testament to a city with optimism for its next 150 years. The art deco W Budapest —formerly a palace and on a UNESCO World Heritage-listed street—opened in July 2023 opposite the Hungarian State Opera. Also in the Marriott portfolio is the Dorothea Hotel , with its 216 rooms and glamorous rooftop restaurant. In keeping with the musical events celebrating the 150th anniversary, the 2022 opening of the Hard Rock Hotel—Eastern Europe’s first—combines musical memorabilia (Prince’s faux-fur coat in a shade of, unsurprisingly, purple) with an in-thick-of-it location on Nagymező Street, Budapest ’s legendary louche entertainment strip. — Sarah Rodrigues

For more inspiration, read our expanded list of the best places to go in Europe in 2024 .

The Cyclades, Greece

Go for: salty-air island-hopping made easier than ever

Stylish boutique hotel Kalesma Mykonos is opening a spa in 2024 marking a hotel boom throughout the cluster of islands...

Stylish boutique hotel Kalesma Mykonos is opening a spa in 2024, marking a hotel boom throughout the cluster of islands known as the Cyclades.

It will be easy to hop between Kalesma and islands like Mykonos Santorini Paros Milos and Ios thanks to new flights to...

It will be easy to hop between Kalesma and islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Milos, and Ios, thanks to new flights to and throughout the dazzling blue archipelago.

Is there anywhere more popular than the Greek islands right now? This past summer, the Cyclades—an island group that includes Mykonos , Santorini , Paros, Milos, and Ios—dominated social-media feeds with beautiful blue and white backdrops, thrilling beach clubs and nightclubs, and unparalleled shopping. With more smart stays being unveiled in 2024, as well as new flights, next summer is the time to make a Cyclades trip happen. Etihad, British Airways, and Saudia added new routes to various Greek islands in 2023, plus the 2022 launch of Cycladic , the first inter-island airline, means it’s easier than ever to get there. Hotel business is booming. Santo Pure in Oia on Santorini has just added 20 new suites, and next year it will be joined by sister hotel Santo Mine, a 37-suite luxury resort. Slick boutique hotel Kalesma on Mykonos will launch its spa for the 2024 season, including a hammam and cryotherapy area. Five-star, 80-acre Gundari Resort will open on Folegandros next May, while a new One&Only property will come to Kea in April. Such plush hotels are rare on these islands, expanding the options for luxury stays in the Cyclades. — Ali Wunderman

French Polynesia

Go for : Olympic surfing, sublime flora and fauna

An alternative Olympics experience can be found in Tahiti where skilled surfers will ride the waves at Teahupoo. Plan a...

An alternative Olympics experience can be found in Tahiti, where skilled surfers will ride the waves at Teahupo’o. Plan a 2024 trip to catch the action IRL, then kick back at one of several new and reopened hotels elsewhere in the territory.

All eyes may be on Tahiti this year as Teahupo’o, a village on the south coast and home to one of “the deadliest waves in the world,” gears up to host the 2024 Paris Olympics surf competition . Spectators can watch the event on giant screens at celebration sites across the island, such as Jardin de Paofai, Papara Beach Break, and Marina of Punui. The rest of French Polynesia , a sublime blue territory of 118 islands, is continuing its dedication to sustainability over mass tourism. Keen to bill itself as a regenerative destination, Coral Gardeners, an ocean conservation group, is in the process of planting one million heat-resilient corals worldwide by 2025. It’s also working on upcycling abandoned pearl farms for coral restoration on Ahe, an atoll northeast of Tahiti. Hotels across the jumble of islands are also getting spruced up, with a flurry of rejuvenations, starting in Bora Bora. In January 2024, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora will launch a botanical tour highlighting its carefully preserved native flora and fauna, followed by the reopening of Le Meridien as Westin Bora Bora in mid-2024.

Looking forward to 2025, on the Tuamotu Islands, Le Tikehau will reopen as a Relais Chateaux property, and the Kia Ora Resort & Spa in Rangiroa is renovating to include overwater bungalows. — Kaila Yu

Go for : new direct flights, luxe resorts, and a spicy carnival celebration

All-new direct flights will mean Grenada will finally get the attention it deserves—perfectly timed for the luxury hotels and resorts that are on their way in 2024.

While it may have traditionally been overlooked in favor of, say, St. Barts or Turks and Caicos , Grenada has more than proven itself a worthy contender—especially for travelers based on the East Coast. Starting in November 2023, JetBlue is making it easier to get there, with the launch of a direct service from Boston to join existing nonstops out of JFK. Air Canada also recently ramped up service and now has up to four flights per week between Toronto and Grenada.

Several new hotels and resorts are also on their way. Six Senses has picked Grenada for its first resort in the Caribbean: La Sagesse is set to open in early 2024 and will spread out over 38 acres of land with unparalleled access to the ocean and a range of adventures, from shipwreck dives to waterfall trails. Also in January 2024, Beach House by Silversands will open its doors to a mix of 28 beachfront and cliffside villas and suites ( Silversands Resort opened on the island in 2018 and boasts a 100-meter infinity pool, said to be the longest in the Caribbean). Further out, IHG has broken ground on a 150-room, 30-private-suite resort that will sit next to Six Senses and is projected to open in 2025.

August is a popular time to visit: Spicemas, Grenada’s Carnival and the island’s largest cultural event, shimmies in during this time and brings with it weeks of parades, food, dancing, and performances. This year, JetBlue added a second daily flight from JFK during the days of the festival to accommodate the diaspora and the growing number of travelers heading to the Spice Island. Things are only going to get busier in 2024. — Madison Flager

Go for: new cruises leading to ancient ruins, and a burst of artsy openings

Luna Zorro Studio which sells artisan textiles will open a boutique with a twobedroom casita for rent in October 2024 in...

Luna Zorro Studio, which sells artisan textiles, will open a boutique with a two-bedroom casita for rent in October 2024, in Antigua.

Across the country new art cultural and community spaces beg travelers to venture beyond ancient ruins like Tikal—and...

Across the country, new art, cultural, and community spaces beg travelers to venture beyond ancient ruins like Tikal—and stay awhile.

When National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions launch their new Belize to Tikal itinerary in January 2024, travelers may be tempted to tack on a few days ashore Belize’s white sand beaches and palm-dotted islands. But Guatemala , home to the jungle-shrouded Mayan ruins of Tikal, is the extension not to skip. The country’s mix of rich Indigenous and colonial history, staggering natural beauty, and now expanding infrastructure for tourism in the form of restaurants, hotels, and tours makes 2024 the year to explore Guatemala in earnest. In the charming city of Antigua, the world class MUNAG (National Museum of Art Guatemala) , which covers 3,000 years of heritage through a contemporary lens, is now open, and a second-phase unveiling is expected imminently. Nearby, the team behind Luna Zorro studio —known for merging traditional craftsmanship with modern textile design and crafting boutique trips throughout Guatemala in collaboration with El Camino Travel —is renovating a historic property into La Valiente: It will house a Luna Zorro boutique and a coffee-and-wine bar in the front, with a two-bedroom casita for rent in the back, all set to open in October 2024. Café No Sé , meanwhile, an anchor of the old city that’s touted as the first mezcal bar outside of Mexico , will continue to honor “20-ish” years of being in business with events and live music. A flush of new art spaces, like Aura Galerías , and innovative restaurants continue to characterize the capital of Guatemala City.

Air carriers have taken notice of the increasing interest in this destination—in December 2023, Alaska will begin daily service from Los Angeles to Guatemala City, marking a new year-round route for the airline. Delta is bumping up access to Latin America in general and upping the frequency of winter flights from its Atlanta hub to Guatemala. — Ali Wunderman

The Kimberley, Australia

Go for : pristine wilderness newly accessible by cruise, First Nations cultural immersions

The Kimberley's hard-to-reach waterways, spectacular coastlines, and ancient rock art sites will soon welcome fresh visitors, thanks to an influx of new cruise lines in 2024.

Western Australia’s remote Kimberley is one of the world’s last wild frontiers, known for its untouched wilderness of towering ocher cliffs, cornflower blue waters, and ancient Aboriginal rock-art sites. But it’s always been difficult to explore. That’s about to change, because in 2024, this region is set to welcome an influx of cruise lines, keen to make the most of the region’s hard-to-reach waterways. Seabourn will cruise the Kimberley for the first time with Seabourn Pursuit ; Ponant has deployed its all-new Le Jacques-Cartier to join sister vessel Le Lapérouse from May 2024; and from June 2024, Silversea will replace Silver Explorer with Silver Cloud to increase capacity. Not to be outdone, Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse II will become the only ship in the region with two helicopters onboard for flightseeing and excursions. Her first Kimberley voyage will take place in May.

In Broome, a coastal town and a gateway to the Kimberley, tourism projects are heating up too. Tipping its hat at the pearling history of the region, Salty Plum Social is making plenty of noise with its new Pearling Master’s Trek which, after its inaugural walk in 2023, kicks off with regular tours from April 2024. Plus, leading tour operators have joined forces to launch Aboriginal Culture Expedition , a four-night itinerary that includes participation in First Nations experiences in and around iconic Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay—the first of its 2024 tours debuts in May. A top tip: Relax with a native-ingredient craft beer, courtesy of the all-new part-Aboriginal-owned 4,500-square-meter Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach . Improving access to this incredible region is Nexus Airlines , which has joined Airnorth in servicing regional Western Australia with its first Broome-Kununurra-Darwin route—and with further services scheduled for 2024. — Dilvin Yasa

Kobe, Japan

Go for: high design with a sense of place

Kobe Japan is best known for its eponymous beef—and designforward spaces like the new Officine Universelle Buly skincare...

Kobe, Japan, is best known for its eponymous beef—and design-forward spaces, like the new Officine Universelle Buly skincare shop, are creatively building on this heritage.

Though Kobe's richest pleasures are earthly—beef sake and hot springs for starters—the view from Kobe Port Tower which...

Though Kobe's richest pleasures are earthly—beef, sake, and hot springs, for starters—the view from Kobe Port Tower, which will reopen in early 2024, lets travelers take the city in from above.

Sandwiched between steep mountains and sparkling seas in southwestern Japan , the port city of Kobe is seriously strengthening its design credentials. Taking centre stage is Vague Kobe , a new creative space by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio (TYS). Spanning the upper levels of an elegant former 1930s bank, it houses a gallery, bookstore, café, wine bar, flower shop, and design studio. In a perfectly measured showcase of contemporary Japanese design—and a reflection of Kobe’s seafaring heritage—renovated interiors combine crafted walls of traditional Japanese plasterwork and clean minimalist lines with large windows, stone floors, and ornate tilework.

Further proof of Kobe’s design ascendency was the arrival of French artisanal perfume and skincare brand Officine Universelle Buly in mid-2023, its shop and café interiors flamboyantly layered in signature style—from Kobe beef-inspired expanses of red-veined marble to chocolate-like lacquerware and “dripping” lamps. Recent plans by Trunk , arguably Tokyo’s hippest hotel group, to make Kobe the setting for its first hotel outside the capital is further evidence of the city’s prominence. And Kobe Port Tower —a panoramic observation deck on the shores of Osaka Bay—will reopen in early 2024 with a string of new facilities, including a new museum showcasing light-themed artworks and a fancy 360-degree revolving café bar. — Danielle Demetriou

Go for: new hiking and biking trails, pristine countryside views

Kosovo's untouched valleys offer the perfect canvas for multi-day hiking and biking trips—like the Trans Dinarica cycling route, opening in 2024, which will wind its way past rivers, markets, and via ferrata setups.

Tiny Kosovo lacks the stunning beaches of Albania and luxury resorts of Montenegro, but Europe’s newest country has sky-scraping peaks, pastoral countryside and heart-warming hospitality, a combination ideal for multi-day hiking and biking trips. 2024 will mark the 25th anniversary since the end of the Kosovo war, and there's much to discover in the region now. Following in the footsteps of cross-border adventure trails such as the Peaks of the Balkans and High Scardus, the Trans Dinarica cycling route opens in 2024, making its way past the minarets framing Prizren’s eponymous river, through the Ottoman market town of Gjakova, and on to Peja. Perched on the edge of the Rugova Gorge, Peja serves as base camp for the country’s many outdoor adventures, including via ferratas and spelunking. A new paved path will soon connect the Lumbardhi River Promenade with the popular Health Trail—the beginning of the south-to-west route through the inaptly named Accursed Mountains. Two additional forthcoming routes connect trails in the Rugova Mountains to the gushing White Drin waterfall and Radac cave. Steps from the waterfall, the sleek, modern Ujëvara e Drinit Resort specializes in rooms with a view and fresh trout dinners. Through-hikers can rest weary bones and fill hungry bellies further from town at rural guesthouses such as Ariu , where traditional Kosovar dishes include flija, made with dairy produced on-site. — Naomi Tomky

Go for: biodiversity, castaway vibes, and water sports

Miavana in Madagascar exemplifies the island's allure with water sports adventures through baobab forests and...

Miavana in Madagascar exemplifies the island's allure with water sports, adventures through baobab forests, and jaw-dropping views.

In 2024 it will become easier to travel between remote destinations across Madagascar thanks to a new flight circuit and...

In 2024, it will become easier to travel between remote destinations across Madagascar, thanks to a new flight circuit and cruise itineraries.

An otherworldly land of undiscovered species and bizarre biological riches, the rugged, remote Indian Ocean isle of Madagascar has always promised to upend visitors’ senses and logistical prowess. Happily, the latter is changing as the pioneers responsible for some of the continent’s finest conservation tourism offerings are upping the ante on the world’s fourth largest island. Located inside the essentially unvisited Namoroka National Park, Namoroka Tsingy Exploration Camp’s mid-2024 opening makes seven luxury safari tents your portal to a landscape of baobabs jutting from the formations of limestone knives known as tsingy and populated by lemurs that haven’t learned to fear people.

More of a coastal explorer? Look no further than Masoala Forest Lodge , which recently launched a Blue Lagoon Expedition trip in 2022. Paddling the breathtaking rainforest- and mangrove-fringed Antongil Bay, kayakers en route to a magical island campsite will share pellucid waters with migrating humpback whales and schools of reef fish. If that’s a touch too rugged, Time + Tide’s Miavana —arguably the Platonic ideal of exclusive island luxury—is launching a kiteboarding center and new mainland excursions (think quad biking through baobab forests), in January 2024 and March 2024 respectively, for those who enjoy a splash of adrenaline in their bliss cocktail.

Finally—and critically—2024 sees access to the Red Island expanding. Masoala Forest Lodge and Madagascar Classic Collection are starting a new flight circuit that will link choice remote destinations, like Andasibe, Namoroka, and Masoala parks, and luxe cruise lines like Silversea , Lindblad , Swan Hellenic , and Seabourne have added the country as a port of call on new voyages. — Lee Middleton

Magdalena River, Colombia

Go for: scenic river cruises with a big hit of culture

The Magdalena River, lined with history and charming towns like Mompox (pictured above), is about to become the buzziest river cruising destination in South America, thanks to two new itineraries from AmaWaterways launching in 2024.

Immortalized in Gabriel García Márquez’s classic Love in the Time of Cholera, the Magdalena River is Colombia’s largest and most important waterway. Running 930 miles from the snowcapped Andes through fertile valleys and into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean , it's the economic and cultural heart of the country. However, for many travelers, the mighty Magdalena has been off the radar.

But courtesy of luxe river-cruise company AmaWaterways , two different ships will kick off voyages in the future: AmyMagdalena , in November 2024, and AmaMelodia , in January 2025. Both ships will sail the Magic of Colombia itinerary, from Barranquilla to Cartagena , and the Wonders of Colombia itinerary, from Cartagena to Barranquilla—each taking passengers upriver to the UNESCO-designated city of Mompox , founded in 1540, where riverfront plazas and ornate churches await in this lost-in-time pueblo magico.

Along the way, the three-story ships, which come with rooftop sun decks and balconies, stop for birdwatching and hiking. What really sets this river sailing apart from those in the Amazon River , though, is its focus on culture: From musical explorations in the town of Palenque , the first “free” town founded by formerly enslaved people in the Americas, to jazz concerts in Mompox and a special Colombian Carnaval celebration in Barranquilla, this is a journey into the exuberant heart of Colombian life.

Fly via Cartagena, with its world-class beaches, dining, and nightlife—not to mention the new Casa Pestagua hotel , situated in a lavishly restored 17th-century palace—for a soft landing before or after the cruise. There are a number of existing nonstop flights from the US, including an increase in weekly flights from Atlanta via Delta as of October 2023. — Ocean Malandra

Go for: Indian Ocean waters, a museum, and dazzling beach villas

The recently opened House of Digital Art  brings contemporary art to a historic PortLouis building on the Indian Ocean...

The recently opened House of Digital Art (HODA) brings contemporary art to a historic Port-Louis building on the Indian Ocean Island.

After visiting HODA above head to the Intercontinental Slavery Museum opened in 2023 which inspects the island's...

After visiting HODA, above, head to the Intercontinental Slavery Museum, opened in 2023, which inspects the island's colonial history.

Mauritius’s heyday in the ’80s conjures images of striped parasols, a tanned Stéphanie de Monaco on water skis, and all of Europe’s jet set holed up in the few—but fabulous—hotels. Fast-forward three decades and the Indian Ocean island has even more to land itself on your travel list: A dynamic cultural scene and new wave of hospitality are unfolding on its shores. In the capital of Port Louis, the years-in-the-making Intercontinental Slavery Museum , located inside a restored 1700s military hospital, opened in September 2023, marking the nation’s first monumental step in making amends for its long colonial history. Culture buffs are also gravitating to the recently opened House of Digital Art (HODA) nearby: Old meets new in this historic Port-Louis building, housing a cutting-edge array of contemporary art installations. The Indian Ocean isle has always been renowned for its dreamy seaside resorts, but encouraging visitors to venture away from the beaches is the forthcoming Socio Tribeca (late 2024)—heralding the launch of a new hotel brand from the Lux Collective—which promises to be an impressive contemporary hotel with its finger on the pulse of the island. Muse Villas , a newcomer seeking to offer an elevated resort experience, enables travelers to stay on their own private islet. Meanwhile, legendary resorts Lux Belle Mare and Paradis Beachcomber just unveiled massive restorations in October, and Hotel Riu Palace Mauritius , a kitesurfers’ paradise, will emerge from its own facelift in May 2024. But beyond the well-trodden coastline of Mauritius, this may be the year its barely known little sister, Rodrigues, a speck of an island an hour-and-a-half flight east, gets its due. It’s long been a well-kept secret among even the most in-the-know travelers, but now a clutch of reimagined properties is adding a touch of luxury gloss: The island’s two historic hotels, Play Mourouk and Cotton Bay Resort & Spa , are reopening after months of renovation and reinvention (the first as of November 1, 2023; the latter in 2024). — Anissa Macaulay

Go for: improved access, unique cultural festivals, and unscripted adventure

The rich heritage and staggering landscapes of Mongolia have captured the hearts of many travelers—but new lodges...

The rich heritage and staggering landscapes of Mongolia have captured the hearts of many travelers—but new lodges, immersive cultural experiences, and the first-ever direct flight to the US, coming in 2024, prove that adventure doesn't always have to mean rugged.

Mongolia has long been the destination for thrill-seeking adventure travelers—as participants in the wonderfully chaotic Mongol Rally will attest—but the country is expanding beyond that niche as its tourism board sets its sights on attracting one million tourists per year. In 2023, the country launched visa-free travel for a further 34 nationalities—bringing the total up to 61—in a campaign that is set to run until 2025.

The launch of new luxury lodges, cultural tours, and the announcement of the country’s first ever direct US flight, coming in 2024 to the $650-million Chinggis Khaan International Airport, further signal Mongolia’s tourism ambitions.

Following the success of the rugged-but-chic Three Camel Lodge , Mongolia’s luxury accommodation options are expanding with places such as Yeruu Lodge , which opened in 2023. Offbeat cultural experiences are one of the most compelling reasons to visit the country’s vast, rugged expanses and local operator Breanna Wilson offers some of the best. After a successful season of horse trekking and the Naadam Festival—a colorful display of strength, horsemanship, and marksmanship—in 2023, Wilson is expanding her 2024 tours to include a digital nomad week, a women-only retreat in Orkhon Valley, and a three-day archery training session with Namnaa Academy , an organization that began reviving the ancient art of mounted archery in 2020. — Ali Wunderman

Northern Rivers, Australia

Go for : adaptive surfing, immersive hiking, and stylish ranches

A flurry of designled hotel openings in Byron Bay will follow the lead of Sun Ranch and range from equestrianstyle...

A flurry of design-led hotel openings in Byron Bay will follow the lead of Sun Ranch, and range from equestrian-style ranches to breezy seaside hideaways.

Spread across 55 acres in Byron Bay Sun Ranch pays homage to the iconic Californian ranch houses of the 1970s.

Spread across 55 acres in Byron Bay, Sun Ranch pays homage to the iconic Californian ranch houses of the 1970s.

Made up of a patchwork of coastal towns and linked via scenic drives that take you along stunning Pacific beaches, lush valleys, and rainforests, this region has long been a popular destination for road-tripping, surfing, and trekking. Though devastated by apocalyptic floods in 2022, this northeastern corner of New South Wales is making a comeback. The region’s recovery was boosted in 2023 with the opening of the first stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail , which, when completed in the coming years, will link Byron Shire with a string of hinterland towns via an 82-mile mixed-use pathway. Also threading through this abundant region shaped by a now-extinct volcano is a new multiday hiking trail. Slated for a mid-2024 opening, the 24-mile Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk (meaning “old people’s track” in the local Bundjalung Aboriginal language) will pass through ancient traditional lands forming part of the World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

A highlight in March: The wave-lashed town of Byron Bay is set to host the 2024 Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championship , the country’s first international event for surfers with disabilities. Supporting all of this is a flurry of hotel openings in the region. Following Swell Hotel and California-style Sun Ranch in Byron Bay, Copperstone by the Range Estates will open its equestrian-style ranch in nearby Bangalow in early 2024, while in Yamba on the southern fringe of the Northern Rivers, designer and stylist Sheree Commerford’s breezy seaside inn Il Delfino is slated to open early 2024. — Sarah Reid

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Go for: a watershed moment for exclusive camps in a unique landscape

A wave of new safari lodges—including a twoyearsonly temporary camp—make a visit to the Okavango Delta more desirable...

A wave of new safari lodges—including a two-years-only temporary camp—make a visit to the Okavango Delta more desirable, and pressing, than ever.

Go. Go now. Because if you’ve always dreamed of discovering Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where seasonal floodwaters transform parched sands into a filigree of shimmering channels, right now is when you’ll be spoiled for choice. A surge in demand, coupled with a proactive approach to developing community-owned concessions, has led to a flush of new lodges across the world’s largest inland delta.

Take Sitatunga Private Island , or Natural Selection’s North Island Okavango , where just three tented suites rest on an island beneath wild ebony trees. Natural Selection will add to their portfolio in May 2024 with a new build: Tawana . Set in the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve, this partnership with the chief of the local Batawana tribe will offer eight thatched suites amid the grasslands lining the perennial Gomoti River. Each stay is at least 1,000 square feet in size and comes with a private plunge pool and terrace.

Water is gold in the Delta, and this past year, African Bush Camps (ABC) opened the riverside Khwai Lediba . But our eye is really on Atzaro Okavango , slated for a March 2024 debut: It’s the third Icon camp in the Delta for ABC, with 10 lagoon-side suites promising impressive levels of Delta luxe and a strong sense of place through design (both markers of the Icon portfolio).

If you’re feeling adventurous, look east to the untapped Mababe marshlands and the brand-new Wilderness Mokete (opening mid-2024) for a fresh look at under-canvas exploration—out with plush campaign-style furnishings and in with geometric lines and contemporary decor. But be quick: Mokete will only stand for two years before being replaced by a new-build permanent camp set to open in 2026. — Richard Holmes

Quebec, Canada

Go for : off-the-beaten-track nature and cultural immersion

Come summer Inuitowned Ungava Polar EcoTours will explore unpopulated islands like Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay.

Come summer, Inuit-owned Ungava Polar Eco-Tours will explore unpopulated islands like Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay.

From musk ox sightings to some of the highest tidal elevations Quebec's northernmost regions offer unparalleled natural...

From musk ox sightings to some of the highest tidal elevations, Quebec's northernmost regions offer unparalleled natural immersion.

The largest of Canada’s 10 provinces, Quebec offers a vast stage for wide-ranging Indigenous-led experiences, from sipping beer at a Mohawk-run brewery near the US border to polar bear–watching with Inuit guides in the far north. Nunavik, Quebec’s northernmost region and homeland of the Inuit, has long been off most travelers’ radars, but new experiences offer immersion into both nature and culture.

Starting in summer 2024, Inuit-owned Ungava Polar Eco-Tours will offer five-day adventures to the uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay. There, visitors will be able to spot wildlife from polar bears to musk ox and caribou, as well as experience some of the highest tidal elevations in the world. Even more wildlife-viewing experiences will become available in the summer when the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation opens the Putep 't-awt observation site, providing a one-of-a-kind land-based location to view a beluga whale nursery on the St. Lawrence River.

Visitors to the Quebec City region can look forward to refreshed experiences in the Huron-Wendat community of Wendake, where, in summer 2023, the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations opened 24 new and renovated suites, and Sagamité restaurant in Old Wendake reopened after a nearly five-year closure and with plans to add a microbrewery and pub in 2024. While you’re in Quebec, definitely don’t miss the Contemporary Native Art Biennial , which will be held across Montreal throughout the year. — Karin Gardiner

Quito, Ecuador

Go for: a city on the rise

Quito is catching up to culinary neighbor Lima with spots like Nuema where awardwinning chef and coowner Pia Salazar...

Quito is catching up to culinary neighbor Lima with spots like Nuema, where award-winning chef and co-owner Pia Salazar blends sweet and savory ingredients.

Opposites also attract in the heart of Quito. Modern architecture lives alongside a UNESCOanointed colonial center—in...

Opposites also attract in the heart of Quito. Modern architecture lives alongside a UNESCO-anointed colonial center—in late 2023, an all-new metro will better connect the city's various parts.

Quito is finally getting its due. The city’s mile-high skyline got a lot higher thanks to the work of architects like Bjarke Ingels Group, whose 32-story IQON tower (completed in 2022) is now the city’s tallest. It's just one of several projects to come from Ecuadorian development firm Uribe Schwarzkopf , in its ongoing effort to mature the ancient Andean city into an unlikely new hub of contemporary architecture. That’s no small feat considering that Quito stands atop both the ruins of a pre-Columbian settlement and an earthquake-prone high plateau and is anchored by an untouchable colonial center with UNESCO status. But a new generation of Ecuadorian and international creatives are pushing the city toward the future—and not just for the sake of visitors.

Moving things along in that direction, an all-new metro system will be inaugurated in late 2023, with 15 stations spanning from Quitumbe in the southern part of the city to El Labrador in the north. New hotels have been slower to arrive, but one standout is the affordable 151-room Go Quito Hotel , which opened in June 2023 with a rooftop bar-restaurant, spa, sauna, pool, and airy rooms offering unbeatable views of the city. Meanwhile, Quito’s dining scene is finally catching up to culinary neighbor Lima . Buzzy new restaurants include Cardó , where Chef Adrián Escardó makes octopus bacon and suckling pig with naranjilla sauce; Aura , which leans into native Ecuadorian ingredients like Mashua honey and Manaba cheese from the coast; and Nuema , where chef and co-owner Pia Salazar’s sweet-salty hybrid desserts—think pastries with leek with lemon verbena and tonka bean, and white seaweed with black garlic—won her World’s Best Pastry Chef 2022, a first for Quito and Ecuador, and 2023. — Adam H. Graham

The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Go for: pristine nature, and a new take on sustainability

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea is home to an ambitious sustainable tourism development with sixteen hotels already up and...

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea is home to an ambitious sustainable tourism development, with sixteen hotels already up and running, and a Six Senses, Ritz Carlton, and St. Regis opening their doors to travelers in 2024.

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea has both untouched desert and vibrant coral reefs—both of which will be part of ambitious sustainable tourism development in the destination.Sixteen hotels are already open in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea, with a Six Senses, Ritz Carlton, and St. Regis opening their doors to travelers in 2024.

Creating a completely new tourism destination in an area of pristine natural beauty—including coral reefs that are home to critically endangered species, unspoiled desert, and dormant volcanoes—is a fine tightrope to walk. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea aims to navigate these challenges with ambitious efforts that will make it a center of regenerative tourism, powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Only 22 of the more than 90 islands in the area will be developed, and nine have been designated as protected conservation areas. While many of the sustainability efforts will be behind the scenes, some are visible—and visitable.

New mangrove parks will be populated with trees currently being grown in a mangrove nursery (the project aims to plant 50 million by 2030). The first phase of the destination, which includes 16 luxury hotels, is powered by 760,000 solar panels, and the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network has already been installed. Three resorts— Six Senses Southern Dunes ; Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve; and The St. Regis Red Sea Resort —are set to open in the coming months, each with its own strict program of sustainability measures, ranging from light-touch modular structures to intelligent landscaping, smart waste management, and local sourcing. Transport within the destination will be by e-vehicles, and hydrogen-powered seaplanes will eventually transport visitors between the islands. Whether a luxury tourist destination can ever truly be sustainable remains to be seen, but the efforts being made in the Red Sea are certainly testing the hypothesis. — Nicola Chilton

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Go for: stargazing, a luxe stay, and a superbloom in a new national park

San Pedro de Atacama is known for its geographical wonders from snowcapped volcanic mountains to shimmering lakes with...

San Pedro de Atacama is known for its geographical wonders, from snowcapped volcanic mountains, to shimmering lakes with flamingos—and now, a boutique hotel from Habitas complements the dramatic desert surrounds.

With its bronzed, dusty roadways and handcrafted adobe dwellings, Chile’s oldest village has captivated adventurous visitors for decades. But now, the soulful oasis of San Pedro de Atacama is securing the spotlight as Chile’s northern star, with a variety of travelers eager to experience its rugged-chic vibe. After all, this celestial city is a hotbed of geographical wonders, with snowcapped volcanic mountains in the world’s driest nonpolar region, high-altitude lagoons dotting the Andean desert, and dazzling salt flats.

Wildlife lovers flock to Los Flamencos National Reserve for up-close encounters with the world’s rarest flamingos and native vicuñas. And the surreal, dramatic scenery of the steaming El Tatio Geysers at sunrise can only be rivaled by the fiery palette of the Valle de Catarpe canyons at dusk. In 2024, El Niño is likely to spark an extraordinary Atacama superbloom inside Chile’s new national park, Desierto Florido .

Under the clearest skies on the planet, backyard astronomers can explore the cosmos on ethereal stargazing tours . The ALMA Observatory , poised at an atmosphere-topping 16,000 feet, promises expert-led interstellar experiences. But the most otherworldly excursion might be traversing the Valle de la Luna's inhospitable yet magically serene moonscape environment. Earthly travelers can seek solace in the area’s newest luxe property, Habitas Atacama . Opened in September 2023, the elite outdoorsy design guarantees a memorable stay before you jet off to glimpse Easter Island’s annular solar eclipse in October. — Colleen Kelly

Santa Fe, US

Go for : Indigenous design spotlights, a brand new museum, and the 100th anniversary of a beloved cultural event

Old Man Gloom meets his fiery end at the Burning of the Zozobra, a beloved annual cultural event in Santa Fe that turns 100 in 2024.

Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film Oppenheimer may have sparked new interest in Santa Fe , the closest town of note to Los Alamos, but the New Mexican capital has held its own for centuries. One of the oldest cities in the country, it’s known for its adobe-style architecture, storied arts institutions (including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum ), and vibrant mix of Native American, Mexican, and Spanish cultures.

Fresh art and cultural programming with an emphasis on Indigenous efforts makes 2024 a banner year to visit. From May 2 to 5, the Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts will launch the inaugural Santa Fe Indigenous Fashion Week to showcase Indigenous designers, artists, and runway models. Indigenous Art Fair Contemporary , a gallery show spotlighting present-day Native American art, is slated to roll out August 15 to 18 as well, timed to the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market; and a two-block walk away, FaraHNHeight , a Native American–, First Nations–, and Indigenous-forward gallery, is new on the scene and well worth a visit. Travelers visiting before the end of April can catch “Shadow and Light,” the debut exhibition at Vladem Contemporary , the first major museum building to open in The City Different in more than a decade. (Part of the New Mexico Museum of Art , the 38,000-square-foot space is the latest anchor to join the Santa Fe Railyard arts district.)

Furthermore, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Burning of the Zozobra , a beloved cultural tradition that brings to mock-trial a 50-foot effigy known as Old Man Gloom. The marionette, which is stuffed with paper “glooms” such as old love letters, speeding tickets, and divorce summons, is dramatically set ablaze after dark—a moment of catharsis that encourages locals and visitors alike to release their worries and start anew. — Ashlea Halpern

South & Central Sri Lanka

Go for: wellness retreats, a new food festival, and a nearly 200-mile nature trail

Kayaam House is one of several openings that signals the luxury and wellness boom marking Sri Lanka's tourism industry...

Kayaam House is one of several openings that signals the luxury and wellness boom marking Sri Lanka's tourism industry right now.

Built from scratch by a local architect Kayaam House settles into its coastal setting with earthy textures and teak...

Built from scratch by a local architect, Kayaam House settles into its coastal setting with earthy textures and teak furniture.

Rising from economic uncertainty, Sri Lanka ’s tourism industry is in the midst of a luxury and wellness boom—from its tea-filled highlands to its palm-fringed shores. In the south of the country, new luxury resorts continue to entice. Among them, Kayaam House and Ahu Bay by homegrown luxury travel specialist Resplendent Ceylon; a Hilton resort next to the Indian Ocean-bordering Yala National Park, one of the best places to spot Sri Lanka’s elusive leopards; and the art deco-inspired The Charleston, which opens in December in the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort. The already established Kalukanda House —a villa in surf town Weligama by British-Sri Lankan interior designer Dee Gibson—is making its mark with retreats centered on female empowerment, with yoga, breath work, reiki, and Ayurveda included.

A comprehensive renovation of the nine-room Meraki , which employs local women and offers yoga, holistic treatments, island-sourced vegetarian fare, and artisanal crafts in the Polhena Beach district of Matara, is set to be unveiled in early 2024; and luxury fitness getaway Makahiya is gearing up to launch its own brand of bespoke retreats.

In January, the Galle Literary Festival will return after a five-year hiatus, with appearances by literary figures such as Shehan Karunatilaka and Alexander McCall Smith, while Gourmet Galle , the country’s new food festival, will spotlight 12 chefs in 12 venues, ranging from beaches to paddy fields, over a 12-week period from January to March.

Inland, development of the Pekoe Trail , a new nearly 200-mile network of hiking routes that snakes its way through Sri Lanka’s highlands, continues. Traversing historic tea plantations, colonial estates, local villages, holy shrines, and forests brimming with biodiversity, it’s a novel way to experience Sri Lanka’s lush hill country, particularly when paired with stays at boutique properties such as W15 Hanthana , the luxurious Goatfell , or the Kelburne Estate, scheduled to open in December 2024. — Zinara Rathnayake

South Island, New Zealand

Go for : laid-back wilderness experiences, immersive Māori history

At the end of the year the ultraluxury Flockhill Lodge will unveil 14 new villas and an onsite restaurant under the...

At the end of the year, the ultra-luxury Flockhill Lodge will unveil 14 new villas and an onsite restaurant under the direction of an acclaimed chef.

With snowcapped peaks and 36000 acres of wilderness at its doorstep Flockhill is a fitting representation of South...

With snow-capped peaks and 36,000 acres of wilderness at its doorstep, Flockhill is a fitting representation of South Island's exceptional allure.

With its lush rainforests and aquamarine lakes framed by snowcapped peaks, New Zealand’s South Island is steeped in superlatives—and United Airlines’ new nonstop service from San Francisco to Christchurch starting December 1 will make it all the easier to immerse yourself in it. In October 2024, the 38-mile-long Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track will become New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk. Offering panoramic views of Fiordland, it features mountaintop accommodations, like Okaka Lodge and Port Craig Lodge, that offer amenities not always found on other Great Walks, including hot showers, king-size beds, and even pack transfers by helicopter.

In Queenstown, the nine-mile Wharehuanui Trail—set to open in late 2024—will connect the 19th-century gold-mining town of Arrowtown to the suburb of Arthurs Point. And on the West Coast, the multimillion-dollar project Pounamu Pathway , the driving route from Haast to Westport, will bring Māori history to life with four new immersive (and interconnected) visitor centers. Scheduled along the journey, they were developed by Wētā Workshop, the visual effects studio behind Lord of the Rings, and the Ngāi Tahu tribe. Launching in 2023 and opening in stages, the first to debut will be Māwhera/Greymouth in mid-December 2023, followed by Kawatiri/Westport in February 2024, Awarua/Haast in mid-2024, and lastly Hokitika in the final quarter of 2025.

Those looking for a more laid-back wilderness experience will find it here too. At the end of 2024, Flockhill , the ultra-luxury lodge in Arthur’s Pass, will expand on its offerings with 14 new villas and an on-site restaurant with acclaimed Kiwi chef Taylor Cullen at the helm. Until then, check in to one of the recently refurbished premium rooms at the historic Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park . — Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Upstate New York, US

Go for : bucolic lodging, winter adventures, and exceptional stargazing

Exceptional new lodgings like Wildflower Farms Auberge Resorts Collection make the Hudson Valley—once primarily an...

Exceptional new lodgings like Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection make the Hudson Valley—once primarily an escape for New York City dwellers—a top draw for travelers from further afield.

Sought out year-round for its vibrant small towns, nature preserves, culinary hot spots—and its proximity to New York City —the region is humming with new opportunities for travelers to surrender themselves to its legendary landscapes in 2024.

In the Hudson Valley , New York State Parks will celebrate the centennial of the founding of the statewide park and historic-site system. Community events and special performances are on the calendar, plus discounts on park admission fees and new opportunities to volunteer. Also in 2024, the much-loved Storm King Art Center debuts new hospitality pavilions, a conservation and fabrication facility, and ADA-accessible pathways. And in the summer, the 160-acre Klocke Estates will open its doors, with artisanal brandy and stunning views of the Catskills.

When it comes to exceptional lodgings, the Hudson Valley has seen a wave of hospitality projects since 2020. From the aesthetic delight that is Habitas-on-Hudson, near Rhinebeck, to Inness , the chic all-in-one getaway in Accord, to Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, a bucolic escape in the shadow of the iconic Shawangunk Mountains, the region has gone from being a New Yorker-favorite to a top draw for travelers from further afield. And there are fresh digs to look forward to in the year ahead. The Front Boutique Hotel in Port Jervis is opening in May with a 120-seat restaurant and easy access to 50 miles of trails; and in the spring, famed wellness haven The Ranch opens its first East Coast property.

About three hours away by car, the Adirondacks ' towering peaks replace the Hudson river valleys. Its majestic forests, farmlands, mountains, and meadows make up a fifth of the state, and the region will be in the path of totality of April’s solar eclipse. Go stargazing at the Adirondack Sky Center , or use the website of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism for self-guided viewing. You can also walk, bike, snowshoe, or snowmobile along the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail , which will be completed over the course of 2025. And on Whiteface Mountain, one of the five Adirondack High Peaks, a detachable quad lift launching just in time for ski season allows you to access more slopes than ever before. For a peaceful getaway, stay at the Lodge at Schroon Lake , which reopened in June 2023 after an extensive $21 million renovation, or NewVida Preserve , a new members club meets traveler’s oasis on 2,000 acres with 360-degree mountaintop views. — Robin Catalano

Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Go for: star chefs leading a foodie revolution

Picturesque scenery is complemented by a wave of memorable dining from Michelin starwielding chefs—and it's easy to stay...

Picturesque scenery is complemented by a wave of memorable dining from Michelin star-wielding chefs—and it's easy to stay awhile since the best new rooms tend to be directly above these must-visit restaurants.

For a bewitching break in 2024, go north. Yorkshire-born sculptor Henry Moore once said: “The observation of nature is part of an artist’s life.” And Yorkshire has some of the most seductive nature: sweeping landscapes like living oil paintings; undulating dales and peaks; deep-forested moors with big skies; heady lavender fields; lofty woodlands filled with birdsong; and golden sandy sweeps skirting the peppermint-blue sea. The Brontës’ romanticism is not lost. In 2024, go stargazing in Yorkshire’s national parks at the magical Dark Skies Festival . The Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta will return to its new home at Castle Howard in 2024, with rainbow-bright, early-morning mass balloon flights and night glows. There were plenty of Michelin mentions for the county in 2023, with keen eyes on the 2024 list, so restaurants with rooms are ramping up. Just up the road from The Black Swan in Oldstead, Michelin-lauded chef Tommy Banks’ latest outpost, The Abbey Inn , opened in May and its three luxurious bedrooms, care of Tommy’s mother, were launched in July. For the ultimate culinary sleepover, stay two nights and eat at both restaurants. Newbie Mýse , helmed by chef-and-sommelier couple Joshua and Victoria Overington, is a petite restaurant with rooms set among caramel-colored cottages in the sleepy village of Hovingham. Book in for its creative tasting menu, then retire upstairs to one of the cozy-cool rooms. In June, Middleton Lodge , a sustainable luxury retreat bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park, launched the Forest Spa in the heart of a serenely wooded estate. Don’t pass by honeycomb-hued Helmsley, with its emerging culinary scene and the recent opening of Pignut a restaurant with a sustainable focus and impressive casual and tasting-menu options. Expect plenty more magic in 2024. — Rachel Everett

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Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel

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This past year has been a time of regeneration, renewal and reckoning for travelers and the travel industry alike.

Travel has certainly resurged since pandemic-related restrictions were lifted ... but it is different from before.

Travelers faced new frustrations, whether it was higher prices, longer wait times or more crowds. Destinations eager to welcome back waves of visitors were confronted with obstacles like unprepared infrastructure, the impact of inflation on local populations and unforeseen environmental calamities. Hotels and airlines continued to struggle with staffing shortages, operational challenges and supply chain issues.

And yet, despite those hurdles, the desire to travel has never shone brighter. Intrepid adventurers journeyed to new (to them) corners of the globe in search of unique experiences. Folks who had perhaps put off a trip or two found reasons to take them. And all of us discovered the joy of reconnecting with loved ones near and far.

As we look ahead to next year, we are excited to share our list of the best places to go in 2024, drawing from our own editorial team's expertise and also that of our outstanding group of contributors from around the world.

We thought long and hard about things like new airline routes , fabulous hotel openings and events set to take the world stage by storm. But at The Points Guy, we also think why we travel is as important as where we travel.

Maybe you want to use your hard-earned points for an over-the-top flight in Singapore Airlines' Suites or just to get the family together at Grandma's house for an overdue visit. Perhaps you want a carefree all-inclusive beach vacation , or to get firsthand insights into a destination at the forefront of sustainability .

From the thrill of Olympic competition in France to the otherworldly landscapes of Bolivia, the wildlife-rich Bissagos Islands of Guinea-Bissau and the exciting design developments taking place in both San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico — whatever your travel goals or preferences, we've got an incredible roster of places just waiting to be explored next year.

Get ready for a few surprises, a dash of inspiration and a healthy helping of wanderlust as we share our most exciting places to travel to in 2024.

— Eric Rosen

cool places to travel 2024

Best for experiencing once-in-a-lifetime events on the world stage

Whether it's high fashion or haute cuisine, France is known for creating creme-de-la-creme experiences. But the sheer number of special events and exciting new developments expected to take place there in 2024 will have even the French exclaiming, "Sacré bleu!"

The marquee happening, of course, will be the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26-Aug. 11. The opening ceremony will take place along the Seine in the heart of Paris , but showstopping venues will include the magnificent grounds of Versailles for the equestrian events, various stadiums throughout the country, and even French Polynesia for the surfing competition. The stage is set for a truly spectacular set of games.

The Olympics have even displaced the Tour de France from its normal final stage along the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The alternate is, thankfully, a sun-splashed finish line along the Cote d'Azur in Nice . That's within easy driving distance of the relatively new Carlton Cannes , a luxurious reimagining of one of France's most iconic hotels courtesy of IHG. Hilton is also planning a vast French expansion with various branded properties in cities including Cannes, Dijon, Bordeaux and Marseille.

On a more somber note, June 6 will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, and the region is planning over 100 special events to commemorate this historic event, including a June 1 sound-and-light show using 2,500 drones over the five landing beaches. From March 22-Sept. 22, the region will also host the Normandy Impressionist Festival, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition. Events will include a major show of James Abbott McNeill Whistler at Rouen's Fine Arts Museum, while the Musee d'Orsay in Paris will host the "Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment" showcase of 130 masterpieces of painting, sculpture, photographs and more.

In the east, Strasbourg will be UNESCO's 2024 World Book Capital, with events organized around various themes like poetry, refuge, debate and more. The Alsatian capital is also home to one of Europe's most charming Christmas markets in the month leading up to the holiday , which is well worth a visit.

Wine lovers should head to Bordeaux for its famous Fete le Vin from June 27-30 to enjoy the region's famous vintages and gourmet delicacies, along with live music and other performances. They can even put their Accor points to use with a stay at a new Philippe Starck-designed, 97-room Mondrian constructed around a historic 19th-century building right in the city center, complete with an expansive open-air terrace. Now that's something worth toasting to.

TPG tip: Hotel reservations around the Olympics can be notoriously hard to confirm and Paris is cracking down on short-term rentals, so if you plan to attend the Games, prepare to pay high prices for an official package ... or take your chances trying to book something at the last minute.

San Diego, California & Tijuana, Mexico

cool places to travel 2024

Best for art and design lovers who appreciate cross-cultural collaborations

In a first, two neighboring cities in two different countries have been designated the World Design Capital for 2024: San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico. The World Design Organization accolade recognizes cities that effectively utilize design to enhance their residents' economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life. San Diego and Tijuana will celebrate the designation through unique experiences, from events and festivals to exhibitions and summits.

Community events scheduled throughout 2024 include Tijuana's World Design Street Festival (April 28), where travelers can attend concerts, public design workshops, exhibitions and design studio open houses. The Mingei International Museum in San Diego and the Centro Cultural Tijuana will simultaneously host an exhibition called "Frontera," focused on jewelry design. In September, both cities will host an interactive World Design Experience.

Aside from its WDO duties, San Diego has a lot going on. One of the West Coast's largest adaptive reuse projects, the 10-acre, sustainably designed Horton Campus , set for completion at the end of 2023, has transformed a former downtown shopping mall into a chic development with white-and-glass structures, parks, shops and lab space, each with either a green roof or solar panels.

San Diego's white-hot culinary scene continues to heat up, with Valle winning Oceanside's first Michelin star earlier this year. Restaurant openings to look forward to in 2024 include all-day cafe Wildflour from award-winning chef Phillip Esteban, the farm-and-vine-to-table Cellar Hand , and chef Brian Malarkey's highly anticipated French-inspired steakhouse, Le Coq, in the tony coastal enclave of La Jolla.

San Diego's hotel roster is also growing. The new owners of the historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park, which had fallen into disrepair, unveiled a stylish $31 million renovation this summer, and the bucolic Inn at Rancho Santa Fe will celebrate its 100th anniversary following the completion of multimillion-dollar renovations in 2024. The iconic Hotel del Coronado is in the throes of a wholesale revamp. The Beach Village at The Del will unveil a full makeover at the end of 2023, while its Victorian section will be renovated in 2025. A new 39-room boutique hotel in Coronado called The Bower is also slated to debut in fall 2024.

Tijuana got its own new hotel in 2023: Hotel Brecha , a boutique hotel with art-filled walls and nine sleek rooms. Recent bar and restaurant openings across the city's diverse culinary scene include the speakeasy-style Border Saloon and seafood spots Don Vergas Mariscos Tijuana and Don Timon .

TPG tip: Tijuana, which has been sorely lacking in green space, will have a new eco-park by the end of 2024, Parque Esperanto . The 320-acre plot will involve the reforestation of 15,000 trees and feature amenities like an open-air gym, sports fields, zip lines, children's play areas and a bicycle path.

— Devorah Lev-Tov

Assam, India

cool places to travel 2024

Best for lovers of tea and tigers keen to explore one of India's hidden corners

Home to a fascinating blend of Indigenous tribes, awe-inspiring landscapes, traditional mountain villages and UNESCO-inscribed national parks, the eastern Indian region of Assam has cultural and natural wonders just waiting for travelers to explore — without the crowds you might find in better-known South Asian destinations.

The region's main artery, the mighty 1,800-mile-long Brahmaputra River, runs from the Himalayan highlands of Tibet to Assam's wildlife-rich floodplains, bordered by lush, terraced tea plantations, ornate temples and riverside villages.

Even with just a week or 10 days for your journey, you can learn about tea cultivation in Jorhat (Assam produces over 50% of India's famed tea), marvel at imposing Ahom temples in bustling Sivasagar — the sacred former capital of Assam's Ahom kings — and learn about the socially inclusive religion of neo-Vaishnavism on Majuli, one of the world's largest river islands and a haven for birdlife.

Straddling the border with Bhutan, UNESCO-listed Manas National Park is a biodiversity hot spot known for its sightings of buffaloes and rhinoceroses that graze in forests that surround the Manas River. The highlight of any visit, though, is a Jeep safari to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kaziranga, which provides sanctuary to endangered one-horned rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, panthers, bears, gaurs (Indian bison) and myriad other species.

Next year, several new cruise itineraries will make the region more accessible to travelers keen to get off the beaten path without sacrificing creature comforts. Banyan Tours will operate four-, seven- and 10-night Assam cruises from Kolkata aboard the luxurious ABN Charaidew II and the more intimate 12-cabin ABN Sukhapa . Both ships feature spacious, beautifully appointed cabins, large sun decks, small spas, a library, gourmet cuisine and onboard naturalists. Guests can spend time in between excursions scouring the waters for species such as the endangered Ganges river dolphin and the smooth-coated otter.

TPG tip : For travelers looking for rare tiger and mammal encounters across several Indian regions, in January, andBeyond will offer a 16-day limited-edition Project Tiger Expedition that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of India's renowned tiger conservation initiative. The itinerary begins in Delhi before visiting three of India's most iconic national parks: Kanha, Kaziranga and Ranthambhore.

— Caroline Lascom

cool places to travel 2024

Best for an affordable Mediterranean beach getaway

Turquoise Mediterranean waters lapping beautiful beaches? Check. Picturesque hilltop villages? Check. Forest-covered mountains and mouthwatering food and wine? Check and check. Albania has all the attributes of more popular Southeastern Europe destinations like the Greek islands but without the crowds and the high price tag.

Begin your adventure in Tirana, the capital city, where Brutalist architecture blends with charming, tree-filled neighborhoods. Take a cable car ride up Mount Dajti for panoramic views of the city and stay at the sophisticated Tirana Marriott , though IHG loyalists might want to hold out for the opening of the InterContinental in 2025.

Just an hour southwest from Tirana International Airport (TIA), check in to the newly opened Melia Durres Albania, a luxurious beachfront retreat in a dreamy beach town offering stunning Adriatic Sea views and an opportunity to unwind.

Heading south along the coast, enjoy picturesque beaches while exploring charming towns like Dhermi and Jale, and savor the local cuisine, renowned for its fresh seafood and Mediterranean spices.

Then, immerse yourself in the country's vibrant summer music scene . The weeklong Kala Festival in early June features house, disco, soul and funk music across five intimate stages along the pristine shores of the Ionian Sea.

Back in the hinterlands, you can delight in mouthwatering delicacies at the AgriTourism Huqi farm located a short drive from the capital, like slow-cooked lamb (mish ne pus), and sample a variety of flavorful cow and goat cheeses. Don't forget to try local wines like the tangy white ceruja and full-bodied red kallmet at the family-run Nurellari Winery, less than a half-hour from the 13th-century fort city of Berat.

For an even deeper glimpse of the country's rich heritage and archaeological sites, wander its many ancient settlements, like Butrint, which played host to the Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. Even with all that history, Albania feels exciting and new once again, and you won't have it to yourself for much longer.

TPG tip : Fly into a major European gateway like Frankfurt or Paris and then connect to Tirana via air. From there, book a one-way car rental to the port city of Sarande so that when your time in Albania is over, you can catch a 30-minute ferry to Corfu, Greece, where you have even more history and beaches to explore, and many low-cost flight options to major European airports.

— Matt Moffitt

cool places to travel 2024

Best for epic wildlife and sustainable travel

One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, framed by rugged Pacific and Caribbean coastlines and home to magical cloud forests, picture-perfect volcanoes and extraordinary marine reserves, Costa Rica has long captivated wild-at-heart travelers.

An eco-tourism pioneer in the 1990s, and dubbed the "Switzerland of South America" due to its mountainous green landscapes and political stability in a sometimes volatile region, Costa Rica continues to raise the bar with its commitment to environmental protections; over 25% of its land is national parks and reserves.

For travelers looking to combine sustainable outdoor adventures with sumptuous accommodations, 2024 is when it all comes together. A flurry of exciting new hotels are set to debut, including Nekajui, just the sixth of Marriott's ultraexclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserves . Designed with a light environmental footprint on a pristine swath of the Papagayo Peninsula, the 107-key resort takes inspiration from a traditional stone Costa Rican hacienda surrounded by treehouse-style buildings tucked discreetly into steep hillsides.

Nearby, the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Residences Guanacaste will be the brand's first Costa Rican outpost, embodying the "pura vida" lifestyle with a holistic wellness center and cenote-inspired spa. Elsewhere, the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo comes back online following a multimillion-dollar renovation with a new beach club and expanded wellness offerings.

For travelers looking for a low-key retreat with easy airport access, as well as proximity to San Jose's cultural attractions, the new Hyatt Centric in Escazu — another brand first for Costa Rica — will offer World of Hyatt loyalists an ideal bookend to a Costa Rica road trip.

The wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula is more accessible (and especially alluring to points enthusiasts) these days thanks to the recent opening of Botanika, part of Hilton's Curio Collection. The eco-chic property places travelers within striking distance of Corcovado National Park, one of the best places on the planet to view sloths, toucans, giant anteaters, howler monkeys and ocelots.

Visit the region from August through December to witness one of the world's greatest natural attractions: humpback whales migrating to Golfo Dulce, one of just four tropical fjords on the planet. The habitat, critical for the survival of the whale species, was awarded Whale Heritage Site status in 2023, one of only eight such sites worldwide.

TPG tip : U.S. airlines are adding new flights to Costa Rica, including Delta Air Lines, which will boost its service from Atlanta with three additional flights per week to both San Jose and Liberia (for Papagayo) from Jan. 13. Flights on the Liberia route are currently available this winter starting at 26,000 Delta SkyMiles or $421 round-trip.

South Korea

cool places to travel 2024

Best for glimpsing the future while exploring the past

The "Korean Wave" — a tide of global popularity the country's cultural economy has created thanks to K-pop music, K-dramas on television and movies — has swept the world in recent years. In fact, youth tour company Contiki has announced the first K-Wave trip to South Korea to showcase local pop culture.

However, South Korea's entertainment culture is just one of a long list of reasons this Asian sensation should be on your 2024 travel list.

Four distinct seasons provide stunning backdrops year-round, so there's no wrong time to visit. Spring brings the magic of Jinhae's cotton candy-pink cherry blossoms while crimson and cadmium foliage frames the historic temples of Naejangsa and Taeansa during fall.

The past and the future intersect in the capital, Seoul, where heritage sites like the 14th-century Jongmyo Shrine coexist with futuristic architecture, including the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the striking Seoul City Hall, with its seven-story vertical garden and prismatic glass facade.

Set to open in late 2024, the Seoul Robot and Artificial Intelligence Museum will showcase science and technology through interactive exhibits featuring AI and virtual reality. Robots aided in the museum's construction and will participate in its day-to-day operations, including welcoming guests and leading tours.

New spaces and exhibitions await visitors at the Busan Museum of Art, which showcases modern Korean artwork. Renovations begin in 2024 and will add high-tech features like evolving 3D projections.

A luxury clifftop island retreat overlooking the East China Sea, the stunning JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, designed by Bill Bensley, debuted in 2023. And though it will be a while, in 2025, the luxury chain Capella Hotels and Resorts is set to open its first Korean property, Capella Yang Yang, near Songjeong Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, where travelers can explore the region's famous pine forests and enjoy its ultrafresh seafood.

TPG tip: Travelers eager to explore South Korea's assorted allures can take advantage of increased airlift from the U.S. United Airlines has upped its frequencies between Incheon International Airport (ICN) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to 12 flights weekly. By the end of 2023, Air Premia will add flights between Seoul and Honolulu, too.

— Kristy Tolley

Eclipse path, United States

cool places to travel 2024

Best for travelers who want to see a rare total solar eclipse in their own backyard

On April 8, some 31.5 million Americans will be able to witness a total solar eclipse from their doorstep when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely blocking the sun's face. The heavenly event will cut its way across North America, passing through Texas, the Midwest and some Eastern states. It's a sight you won't want to miss — the next total solar eclipse won't be visible from the contiguous United States for another 20 years.

Parts of San Antonio will experience about two minutes of midday darkness, making it the largest U.S. city along the path of totality. The 15-mile-long San Antonio River Walk is just south of the path, so visitors there will only see a 99% partial eclipse. Nevertheless, many hotels and restaurants are hosting viewing events, including a Solar Brunch at The Moon's Daughters , where guests and locals can see the eclipse unfold from the indoor-outdoor perch on the 20th floor.

An hour northwest of San Antonio, the town of Kerrville, Texas, one of NASA's Primary Eclipse Partners, will have over four minutes of darkness. The Texas Hill Country community's Schreiner University will host a weekendlong festival with celestial yoga, trail walks and observatory tours.

With renowned institutions known for cutting-edge research in space science and technology — and expecting four minutes of totality — Dallas will be one of the best eclipse destinations. At the Perot Museum of Nature and Science , 20 astronomers will answer questions. The city's many hotels, meanwhile, plan to offer stylish viewing, like Virgin Hotels Dallas, which will host a lively rooftop pool party.

This will be Indianapolis' first total solar eclipse in more than 800 years, and the town is going all-out with a citywide party to celebrate its 3 1/2 minutes of totality, including events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (NASA will broadcast live from the venue) and the Indianapolis Zoo.

In Cleveland, another NASA partner city, a natural phenomenon known as a lake effect (where cool air blows away clouds from the shoreline of Lake Erie) will allow visitors to view the eclipse for nearly four minutes. Downtown, The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland is offering a solar eclipse package with club-level accommodations for two and celestial-themed cocktails. The Great Lakes Science Center and NASA's Glenn Research Center are hosting Total Eclipse Fest from April 6-8, with science activities for kids and a classical music concert.

Buffalo will experience just under four minutes of totality, with the best vantage points found inside Niagara Falls State Park, while the Sheraton Niagara Falls is offering a two-night package , including eclipse viewing glasses and breakfast.

In Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort will whisk skiers and snowboarders via gondola to the top of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, for high-altitude views during the nearly three minutes of totality the town is set to experience.

TPG tip: Holland America has put together a 22-day Solar Eclipse cruise , where guests will depart from San Diego and experience the eclipse off the coast of Mexico.

— Casey Hatfield-Chiotti

Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau

cool places to travel 2024

Best for intrepid naturalists seeking an under-the-radar destination

Sandwiched between Guinea and Senegal, Guinea-Bissau is one of West Africa's lesser-visited destinations, but that's what has helped keep the 88-island Bissagos archipelago 31 miles off its coast so untouched.

This astonishingly wildlife-rich island chain — often dubbed the Galapagos of Africa — is an idyll of empty white-sand beaches, thick mangroves, teeming lagoons and dense palm and cashew forests. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Bijagos (as they're also known) are home to thriving populations of saltwater hippopotamuses, manatees, dolphins, green sea turtles, flamingos, rays, sharks and around 175 fish and 500-plus bird species.

And you won't be vying for sightings with other safari vehicles or Zodiac boats. These paradisiacal islets are home to just 33,000 or so residents who hew to their traditional matriarchal society, and there are no formal resorts or ecolodges.

The archipelago has also been quite difficult to reach. However, a handful of luxury and small-ship cruises have begun to call at the islands. Ponant Cruises has just opened sales for its first dedicated nine-day "Adventure in the Bissagos Islands" itinerary (April 7-15, 2025) on Le Lyrial, which starts and ends in Dakar, Senegal. During the journey, guests can expect to spy towering baobabs and flocks of migratory birds, playful vervet monkeys and vividly colored lizards, and take part in ancient ceremonies alongside the Bijago people.

On board MS Spitsbergen, Hurtigruten now offers a 14-day "West Africa Archipelago" cruise (paired with Cape Verde), which includes four days of deploying small rigid inflatable boats and sea kayaks to navigate the islands and channels for awe-inspiring wildlife sightings. The line also arranges encounters with the islanders, who have acted as custodians of this wonderfully biodiverse and pristine part of Africa, and who dedicate some 100 days per year to sacred rites and ceremonies such as fanado and difuntu .

Swan Hellenic's Ghana-to-Senegal "Crucibles of West Africa" trip, on the new 152-guest SH Vega, has two days scheduled in this off-the-grid sanctuary, where shore excursions include explorations of Orango National Park's mangrove thickets and savannah as well as trekking through traditional villages on Canhabaque.

As with many of the world's island paradises, the clock is likely ticking down on the Bissagos remaining immaculate and undeveloped, so if you hope to see them as they are, 2024 is the year to go.

TPG tip: Non-cruisers can visit the islands by first flying into the capital, Bissau, from Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal. Alternatively, Delta Air Lines has daily direct flights from New York to Dakar, from which there are daily connections on Air Senegal to Bissau. From Bissau, hire a speedboat for the hourlong journey to Bubaque, where the affordable Saldomar guesthouse and Hotel Kasa Afrikana make great home bases for daytrips to islands like Rubane, Orango and Canhabaque.

— Kathryn Romeyn

Quebec, Canada

cool places to travel 2024

Best for pristine landscapes and rich Indigenous cultures

Quebec has long attracted travelers with its cosmopolitan towns , distinctly French flair and untouched wilderness. Thanks to a bold commitment to supporting Indigenous tourism, in 2024, the Canadian province will also provide new and meaningful ways to experience its natural beauty, its people and its culture.

Travelers can take in the aurora borealis while learning about Inuit traditions in Quebec's Arctic region of Nunavik, scan for beluga and blue whales with an Innu guide in Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, or forage for mushrooms and berries in the Laurentian mountain range. Across Quebec, there are now abundant opportunities to delve deeper into the ancestral traditions of the area's First Nations, Innuit and Metis people.

The recent addition of Anticosti Island to Canada's cache of UNESCO-protected heritage sites will draw wilderness seekers to its otherworldly canyons, primordial forests and cascading waterfalls. The island's 1,440 known fossil species offer the most "complete and best preserved paleontological record of the first mass extinction of animal life, 447-437 million years ago," according to UNESCO, providing a unique window into our planet's past.

For urbanites, Quebec City's lamplit, cobblestone streets have never been a hard sell for a weekend getaway, but now there are even more reasons to linger. Join one of Cicerone 's locally led walking tours, shop for regional artworks along Rue du Tresor, see Inuit art at the Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec (a new exhibit starts in February) and then dine on inventive boreal cuisine at Indigenous-owned restaurant Sagamite, whose owners have added two boutique hotels to their portfolio and will open a new microbrewery in 2024.

Head just outside the city's 400-year-old walls to Canada's only recognized Huron-Wendat community. Here, the superb First Nations-owned Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations was recently revamped with luxe suites and rooms appointed with Indigenous artworks and textiles with First Nations motifs. The hotel's restaurant, La Traite, helmed by much-lauded chef Marc de Passorio, provides a magical initiation into ancestral flavors with standout dishes like local tomatoes with sage and Quebec buffalo mozzarella and hearty bison medallions with beet puree and thyme juice.

TPG tip : Bookend your trip with a stay in Montreal , where the hotel scene is buzzing. There's the new art deco-inspired Honeyrose Hotel, Montreal, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, where Marriott points will come in handy, and the iconic Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown, an elegant retreat on Montreal's Golden Square Mile which has been revamped and is now part of Hilton's Curio Collection.

Queensland, Australia

cool places to travel 2024

Best for travelers Down Under looking for the right mix of urban and wildlife adventures

Best known for one of Earth's natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef , there's a lot more to this northeastern Australian state (though a visit to the reef is still top of the list while you still can — climate change and other factors are having increasingly adverse effects on much of the aquatic ecosystem).

In the capital, Brisbane , once-gritty environs like Howard Smith Wharves have been revitalized with trendy bars and restaurants. However, one of the biggest redevelopments is still on the horizon. The $2.6 billion Queen's Wharf precinct is nearing completion on 30 acres of prime riverfront land with not one but three hotels planned, plus over 50 dining and drinking venues, a huge footprint for retail and tons of outdoor spaces like a 100-meter-high sky deck with 360-degree views. In October, the city will also host the first annual Melt Open festival celebrating queer art and culture.

Down south in the blingy surfer haven of Gold Coast, travelers will be able to check in to a sleek new twin-towered Mondrian hotel and residences, while north along the Sunshine Coast, the tourism industry is taking the lead in regenerating bush once used for cattle grazing with native subtropical rainforest, which visitors can enjoy by staying at the avant-garde new Kurui Cabin at the base of the Cooroy Mountains.

In an effort to cultivate Indigenous-owned and -operated tourism businesses, the state has already invested 7 million Australian dollars in the Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund. What's more, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island — the world's largest sand island and a habitat for diverse wildlife where you can also swim with migrating humpback whales — has officially reverted to its traditional Butchulla name, K'gari.

Speaking of islands, luxury travelers can have an entire one to themselves along the Great Barrier Reef thanks to the November opening of Pelorus Private Island in the Great Palm archipelago off the Townsville coast. The nearly 1,000-acre paradise has just a single four-suite residence designed in a traditional, breezy Queenslander style, where guests can customize their entire experience from days out yachting between islands or exploring the island's teeming fringe reefs to enjoying leisurely meals prepared by a private chef.

TPG tip: It's getting even easier to travel from the U.S. directly to Queensland since United increased its frequencies between San Francisco and Brisbane from three times per week to daily in October and will launch three weekly nonstops between Los Angeles and Brisbane in December.

Train travel

cool places to travel 2024

Best for high-velocity thrills or romantics looking to slow things down

Trains revolutionized travel in the 19th century, but 2024 might just be a rail renaissance thanks to new, thrilling high-speed routes, plush overnight sleepers and lavish itineraries on par with the world's best hotels.

Global developments in high-speed rail are coming to a pitch, with various highly anticipated routes finally entering operation. In Florida, the long-awaited Brightline has opened up an efficient new corridor between two major U.S. cities that are favorites with tourists. The service, which tops out at 125 miles per hour, connects Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Miami in just three hours (with 15 daily departures) and also courses between Miami and West Palm Beach via Aventura and Fort Lauderdale.

In Europe from late 2024, the ultraquiet Frecciarossa train will zip from Paris to Barcelona in just seven hours, shaving two hours from current travel times. In time for the Summer Olympics , Spanish rail company Renfe also plans to extend its daily Madrid-Marseille service through to Paris.

If you're craving tropical surroundings, Belmond's Eastern & Oriental Express returns to Southeast Asia in February after a pandemic hiatus. The restyled trains feature eight sleeper cars, two restaurant cars, a piano bar and an open-air observation car. The three-night "Essence of Malaysia" itinerary will operate from November to February from Singapore to Penang, with stops in Kuala Lumpur and the island of Langkawi (via private boat). Operating from March to May and August to October, the "Wild Malaysia" experience steams from Singapore along the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula, with stops to spot wildlife at Taman Negara National Park and Penang before returning to Singapore.

Later in 2024, Orient Express will debut its opulent La Dolce Vita trains with lavish art deco cabins, haute cuisine and world-class bartending. The eight itineraries span one to two nights and include a Sicilian service starting and ending in Palermo via Agrigento and Taormina with a whiz-by of Mount Etna. Other standout itineraries include from Rome to Sicily (via a ferry) and a romantic circular route from Rome to Venice with a stop at Siena.

Finally, Europe continues its relative boom in new sleeper train services . Leading the way is Nightjet, which already connects major cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Zurich. In 2024, the Austrian train operator will expand its Belgian routes from Brussels to Dresden and Prague. Additionally, Deutsche Bahn and SNCF will introduce a high-speed seven-hour service between Paris and Berlin, including stops in Strasbourg on the night route.

TPG tip: Use a Eurail pass (from $208) to explore multiple European countries using rail operators like Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and Trenitalia. Note that high-speed or sleeper options like Nightjet and Eurostar have extra reservation fees (typically $10-$20), but it's still much cheaper than buying individual tickets.

— Jordan Waller

cool places to travel 2024

Best for beach and nature lovers who want to avoid crowds

Many travelers make the trek to South Africa for its spectacular wildlife and vibrant cities, but few hop across the border to Mozambique. Though the country has experienced ongoing conflicts in the far north, the central and southern parts remain relatively insulated from internal struggles.

Getting there is easier than you might think, too — Airlink offers direct flights to Vilankulos along the coast from Johannesburg , and more recently, the airline launched a nonstop flight between Cape Town and the capital, Maputo. While some travelers tend to skip the city, if you do make use of that route, consider a layover for a night or two. Maputo is a hub of activity with oceanside restaurants serving ultrafresh seafood with icy 2M beers and bakeries proffering crispy, creamy pasteis de nata, a holdover from Portuguese rule. The city's music scene is also buzzing, with bars and clubs playing everything from reggaeton to marrabenta (a hybrid of Mozambican dance with Portuguese folk music).

The main reason people come to the country is for the untouched Indian Ocean beaches along its 1,700-mile coast, which are lapped by aquamarine waters that rival the Caribbean. Over the past few years, a cluster of hotels have opened along the coast, including Kisawa, a design-focused property with 11 villas on a 740-acre sanctuary on Benguerra Island in the ecodiverse Bazaruto Archipelago.

Around two hours from Vilankulos on the mainland and set on a peninsula along a sheltered saltwater lagoon, Sussurro is an intimate pared-back lodge whose sandy-hued rooms are filled with artisan-made baskets and wooden furniture. Next year, Banyan Tree is expected to open Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, which promises to be an uberluxury spot, on a private island north of Beira.

For safarigoers, Gorongosa, a national park that has been undergoing a two-decade-long rehabilitation, has become a beacon of regeneration and economic activity in an area where tourism was entirely decimated by civil war. This year, Muzimu Lodge, a tent camp, opened on the banks of the Mussicadzi River. Wildlife is not as abundant as in nearby Kruger National Park (though you can expect to see huge packs of wild dogs and teeming herds of antelope), but the biodiversity is some of the richest in the world, with nearly 500 species of birds. Indelible landscapes like chalky limestone gorges dotted with vegetation and inky caves, woodland savannah and giant "Jurassic Park"-like forests with sausage trees and native Borassus palms will leave you awestruck.

TPG tip : Ensure you allow ample time for your visa application. The process has moved online, which makes it infinitely swifter than previously, but the application time can still take up to a month and costs $160 or more depending on the type you apply for.

— Mary Holland

Note from TPG editors : Due to an ongoing terrorist insurgency in the far north of Mozambique, the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 2 warning advising travelers to exercise increased caution when traveling in the Cabo Delgado province. The country also recently experienced some unrest following local elections, so be sure to investigate the current situation before booking a trip.

cool places to travel 2024

Best for food lovers and thrillseekers looking for something out of this world

Arriving in Bolivia can feel like you've landed on the moon. Have you seen the magnificent Salar de Uyuni? It's a vast salt pan with 3,900 square miles of desertlike cracked earth punctuated by cactus-covered rock piles. Though this parched corner of the earth draws visitors from around the globe, high-end accommodations have been lacking, but that's been changing quickly. In 2022, the Chilean hospitality brand Explora unveiled an intimate six-room mountain lodge set in a slick, glass-fronted building with snug, wood-lined rooms overlooking the flats.

Guests can partake in excursions, but the property also forms part of a greater six-night odyssey: a nomadic expedition where guests journey from Chile's Atacama Desert to Salar de Uyuni, stopping off at Explora's other "Mountain Lodges" along the way. Loads of thrilling activities are on offer, such as biking explorations across the Salar, through quinoa fields and beyond, as well as hikes across the largest islands and up into a village to see ancient Andean burial sites.

Whether you decide to begin your journey in the Atacama or Uyuni, don't miss Bolivia's capital La Paz, which sits in a bowl at a (literally) dizzyingly high elevation of 11,975 feet. The city's restaurant scene is arguably one of the most exciting in South America. Make a reservation at Gustu and enjoy a multicourse extravaganza of local delights including alligator and creamy aged corn. Hailed as one of Latin America's best restaurants, it was founded by Noma's Claus Meyer and is now helmed by chef Marsia Taha Mohamed. Also snag a table at Ancestral, where chef Mauricio Lopez (former head chef of Gustu) roasts vegetables and osso buco over an open flame, served alongside Bolivian wines.

The same team that opened the design-driven Atix Hotel (long a favorite among international visitors) unveiled the new Met Hotel last year in a soaring charcoal building with traditional Bolivian arts and crafts highlighted throughout its interior spaces. If you're traveling after July 2024, be sure to check out Altu Qala, a hotel set in a restored neoclassical building with wood-paneled walls and handmade cabinets in upcycled wood. The owner is also behind The Writer's Coffee, a cafe serving artisanal brews in the city, perfect for combating altitude fatigue.

Finally, for the best views of La Paz, take a trip on Mi Teleferico, the cable car transit system that's been expanding its network with various routes and now has 30 stations and 10 lines. Climb into the plastic bubbles, filled with locals whizzing across the city, and head up to El Alto, which sits at a staggering 13,325 feet.

TPG tip: If you really want to soak up the food and wine scene in La Paz, add in an extra few days to acclimatize. It's the highest capital in the world (11,975 feet) and altitude sickness is a high probability, so whizzing in and out is not recommended.

Bali, Indonesia

cool places to travel 2024

Best for sustainability searchers who also crave cultural connection

Bali is an island of contradictions. It's home to a majority Hindu population but part of predominantly Muslim Indonesia. Visitors in the millions come both to sunbathe and party on its beaches while also seeking spiritual awakenings through wellness retreats. After decades of overtourism, Bali is also pioneering responsible, lower-impact ways for visitors to enjoy its natural wonders and renowned hospitality.

In 2024, the government will levy a $10-per-person fee on international tourists that will directly fund cultural and environmental protection, such as waste management. It's an incremental but important step toward becoming a more sustainable destination.

Luxury resorts are also leaning into the trend. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay recently debuted Telu, a bar constructed entirely of upcycled materials that serves cocktails made with sustainable ingredients. In early 2024, Ayana Estate will open Museum Saka, a breathtaking 50,000-square-foot gallery showcasing the work of Balinese artists, historians and scholars, all of which is meant to bestow guests with a deeper understanding of the community's vibrant heritage.

At Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape , about an hour from Ubud, chef Eka Sunarya began experimenting with hypercreative and ultralocally sourced menus. He has since decamped to nearby Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve , where he continues to highlight seasonal Balinese cuisine with a no-waste philosophy.

Seminyak's Desa Potato Head — with its beach club and pair of striking, sustainably designed hotels that all together send just 3% of their waste to landfill — continues to be a regenerative tourism pioneer. In 2024, the resort is opening an ambitious Collective Waste Centre that will radically reduce landfill waste from eight nearby resorts, beach clubs and restaurants through high-efficiency sorting, processing and reuse practices.

A slew of exciting all-new hotels beckons design lovers and wellness seekers to Bali, too. Part of Hilton's LXR Resorts & Hotels, Umana Bali is expected to open in November 2023, a brand first in Southeast Asia. Guests will enjoy not only epic vistas from its 72 clifftop pool villas but also next-level cultural programming emphasizing legacy crafts and spa treatments utilizing ancient healing techniques.

Expected to debut in spring 2024, IHG's Regent Canggu will feature 150 suites and villas in one of Bali's hottest beach locales. Architecture by WATG and interior design by HBA will blend contemporary Indonesian fashion and cultural influences with traditional design motifs. Slated for late 2024, Kimpton Naranta Bali will bring boutique vibes to the Nusa Dua resort scene in the reimagined former Amanusa resort, designed by Kerry Hill.

TPG tip: Some of Bali's best points hotels offer deep cultural dives into Balinese village life. At Alila Manggis (from 3,500 World of Hyatt points per night), guests can take part in water purification rituals, visit the Indigenous Bali Aga tribe and trek to the "Gateway to Heaven" temple. At The Laguna, part of Marriott's Luxury Collection (from 33,000 Bonvoy points per night), exclusive experiences include lunch with the seventh generation of Kerambitan's royal family.

Cairo, Egypt

cool places to travel 2024

Best for ancient treasures in a modern metropolis

Few destinations offer the same look at the mysteries of the past quite like Cairo. While this desert city has long been a magnet for those intrigued by the wonders of ancient Egypt and its former rulers, new attractions and highly anticipated hotel openings will draw even more travelers to this bucket list destination in 2024.

With that in mind, Cairo's most exciting addition will be the long-awaited reopening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which, after years of delays , is on track to welcome visitors by early 2024. A colossal project that began more than 20 years ago, this massive repository — the largest archaeological museum ever built — will house over 100,000 Egyptian artifacts, including 5,000 relics found in famous pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb.

Recently discovered artifacts from the Saqqara — an expansive necropolis located within Egypt's UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient capital of Memphis — are also expected to be added to the museum's collection in due course. The treasures include multiple tombs, ancient workshops and burial shafts full of priceless antiquities, such as a mummy believed to be the most complete one ever found in Egypt.

To accommodate the influx of tourists expected in 2024, Cairo's hotel scene is rapidly expanding, too. Among the new properties currently in the pipeline are points-friendly accommodations like a Hyatt Centric, a Hilton and a Waldorf Astoria, plus the luxurious rebranding of the historic Shepheard Hotel into the Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo.

Unsurprisingly, Cairo's prime position on the Nile and proximity to other historic destinations also make it an excellent place to embark on a river cruise , especially in 2024. Several top river cruise lines offer itineraries that start or end in the city, making it possible to tack on visits to other ancient sites like Luxor and Aswan, Egypt. New standout ships to consider include Viking Aton (the fourth of six ships Viking expects to be sailing the Nile by late 2025) and AmaLilia (AmaWaterways' second ship devoted to Nile River cruises).

TPG tip: It should become easier than ever to reach this historic metropolis thanks to more nonstop routes from the U.S. to Cairo in the works. In addition to adding new nonstop flights from Newark to Cairo this past summer, Egyptair has filed a request with the Department of Transportation to launch service between Los Angeles and Cairo in the coming months. If approved, service on the Star Alliance carrier would give visitors yet another convenient way to reach the ancient city.

— Christine Gallipeau

Note from TPG editors : We want to acknowledge that all eyes will be on the widening conflict in the region as we end 2023 and look ahead to next year. Before planning your own trip to Egypt, stay up to date on State Department advisories , current events and the unfolding situation in neighboring Israel and beyond .

The Bahamas

cool places to travel 2024

Best for rediscovering paradise right on our doorstep

Dazzling white- and pink-sand beaches; calm, clear seas shaded in myriad hues of blue; and easy access from various U.S. hubs have long made the Bahamas a top tourist destination. Expect 2024 to be an extra-buzzy year for this Caribbean nation, though, thanks to new hotels, exciting cruises and more flights from major airlines.

Goldwynn Resort & Residences on Nassau's famous Cable Beach was 2023's big hotel debut, offering 81 studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites just a short drive from the airport so visitors could be on the beach within an hour of landing. Set to open mid 2025, the ultraluxurious Montage Cay will occupy a 48-acre private island in the Abacos. The $352 million project will feature 50 oceanfront suites with private plunge pools and outdoor showers. The property will also comprise villa residences and a 47-slip marina for private yachts.

The Bahamas are drawing even more interest from major cruise lines, too. Norwegian Cruise Line christened its exciting Norwegian Viva megaship with a short cruise to its Bahamian private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in November 2023. The line's second Prima Class vessel, Viva, boasts the "fastest slides at sea," a three-level go-kart racetrack and millions of dollars of art on board. Royal Caribbean's new Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas , is also set to start sailing short new cruises focusing on the Bahamas in 2024.

Cruise lines are adding new private-island experiences, too. Slated to open in summer 2024, Disney's Lighthouse Point in Eleuthera will offer amenities ranging from an adults-only beach to a family water play area and food hall-style dining. The destination is being designed with the environment in mind, too — about 90% of its electricity will be provided via solar panels.

TPG tip : Getting from the U.S. to the Bahamas will be easier than ever in 2024, especially from the West Coast. Alaska Airlines is adding seasonal nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) four times weekly and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) three times weekly to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS). The services will run from Dec. 15, 2023, to April 9, 2024. JetBlue is launching its own new flight between Nassau and Los Angeles beginning in November 2023 that will fly once per week on Saturdays. Delta debuted a new nonstop from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Nassau this fall as well.

— Becca Blond

A wide river runs through the base of an immense canyon, which steeps cliffs leaving down to the water far below. The sky is a gradient of blues and pinks, and the light colors the canyon walls, giving the entire picture a rich and warm tone.

The Path of Totality North America

Dance, gawk or run in the dark, but don’t look directly at the sun.

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From the beaches of Mazatlán, Mexico, to the rugged coves of Maberly, Newfoundland, the sky will be the stage on April 8 as a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America. This year, the moon will be near its closest point to Earth, resulting in an unusually wide swath and long-lasting totality.

Mexico, Canada and 13 U.S. states will greet the darkness with celebrations. The Portal Eclipse Festival in Mazatlán promises “spiritual growth” through D.J.s, yoga and more. NASA will be broadcasting from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where $15 will get you admission to a festival and eclipse glasses called, fittingly, the Greatest Spectacles. On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Cosmologists Without Borders will offer space-themed programs. And if you’re game to run with a headlamp, consider a race in Millinocket, Maine.

You can find an interactive map at eclipse2024.org and a list of activities at nationaleclipse.com .

— Danielle Dowling

Paris France

Preparing for the olympics, and millions of sports lovers.

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Already one of the most visited cities in the world, Paris is preparing to welcome millions of travelers this summer as host of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games . It will be the biggest sporting event in the city’s history, and to mark the occasion many well-known monuments are being transformed into sports and entertainment venues.

In a first, the Olympics opening ceremony will not be held in a stadium but outdoors, along the River Seine and near the Eiffel Tower. Outdoor swimming and the para-triathlon will be set against the backdrop of the Pont d’Iéna. The Grand Palais , renowned for its vast glass dome, is undergoing an extensive renovation to stage the fencing and taekwondo events. The grand gardens of the Château de Versailles, just outside Paris, will be transformed into a gallery and course for the equestrian events. La Concorde will stage the Olympic debut of break dancing and other sports like skateboarding and three-on-three basketball.

If that weren’t enough, Paris, along with Normandy, is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition. “Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment” will feature 130 works at the Musée d’Orsay (March 26 to July 14), tracing the artistic movement and how it captured a changing city. The reconstructed Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was ravaged in a fire in 2019, is also scheduled to open to visitors on Dec. 8, 2024.

— Ceylan Yeginsu

Yamaguchi Japan

Savor the temples and the cuisine and skip the crowds.

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Yamaguchi is often called the Kyoto of the West, though it’s much more interesting than that — and it suffers from considerably less “tourism pollution.” A compact city of about 190,000, it lies in a narrow valley between the Inland and Japan seas.

With its impeccable gardens and its stunning five-story pagoda , Rurikoji Temple is a national treasure. The city’s small winding lanes offer an assortment of experiences: pottery kilns like Mizunoue , situated on the grounds of Toshunji Temple; chic coffee shops like Log and Coffeeboy , and older-style options like Haraguchi ; and wonderful counter-only shops that serve oden, or one-pot dishes. Just a 15-minute walk south is the hot-springs village of Yuda Onsen.

Given the tourist crush in Kyoto, Yamaguchi has also been offering a smaller scale — but no less historic — alternative to Kyoto’s Gion summer festival for some 600 years. Yamaguchi’s Gion Festival, which features parades, costumes and dancing, also takes place in July; 2024 will be its first year operating again at full tilt since the pre-Covid era.

— Craig Mod

New Zealand by Train

Riding the rails through vineyards, volcanoes and snow-capped peaks.

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Road-tripping across New Zealand via camper van is a free-spirited traveler’s dream. But a simpler and more sustainable way to go is by train. Opt for a 17-day journey on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains offered by Great Journeys , the tourism division of KiwiRail, New Zealand’s national rail operator.

The journey starts in Auckland and explores transcendent sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum . Guests ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island and board the Coastal Pacific for a ride through world-class vineyards and along the jagged coast, stopping to whale- and dolphin-watch before ending in Christchurch. The last leg on the TranzAlpine starts on the lush Canterbury Plains then climbs over the Southern Alps, with views to white-capped peaks, rushing rivers and alpine lakes. Accommodations are in four-star properties at stops along the way. Coming in spring: carriages with luxurious reclining seats, panoramic windows and partial glass ceilings.

— Stephanie Pearson

Maui Hawaii

A mindful resurgence of tourism after a catastrophic fire.

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Maui, Hawaii’s second largest island and one of its most popular among visitors, was dealt a devastating blow last summer when wildfires blazed across its western shores , killing at least 100 people and razing the town of Lahaina . Nonessential travel to the affected areas was paused for two months; with such tragedy came concerns among travelers and residents about the resurgence of tourism, Maui’s top economic sector.

Though Lahaina remains closed, the island is once again welcoming visitors and still brimming with an abundance of activities and lush landscapes to enjoy: In the community of Kihei, Kamaole State Beach Park is ideal for snorkeling and spotting sea turtles. Farther north in Kapalua, a gentle walking trail meanders through lava fields and along the sea. And some of Maui’s most cherished natural attractions, like Haleakala National Park , are far removed from the fire zone. Travelers can also go a step further by volunteering to help people displaced by the wildfires.

— Christine Chung

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Arizona

Honoring the sacred indigenous land around the grand canyon.

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While Grand Canyon National Park is no stranger to travel bucket lists, there’s a new reason to visit the southwestern United States. The recently designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni , or Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, now conserves around 900,000 acres of plateaus, canyons and other land surrounding the Grand Canyon. Considered the ancestral homelands of more than a dozen Indigenous tribes, the monument also preserves more than 3,000 Native cultural and historic sites, reflecting the area’s deep spiritual and sacred significance.

Support the local Native American community by booking a Colorado River adventure with the Hualapai River Runners , a white-water rafting company led by Hualapai Tribe river guides. But whether above or below the rim, be sure to look up: The California condor, the largest bird in North America and once facing extinction, now has a population of more than 100, thanks to recent conservation efforts.

— Gina Rae La Cerva

New hotels and advanced biometric technology enhance visits

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Singapore hasn’t stopped racing toward modernization since its independence in 1965. Now the cosmopolitan city-state, already known for its cuisine , architecture and world-class airport, is transforming itself with a luxury hotel boom. Edition recently opened a 204-room property in the downtown Orchard Road district, while the Standard will open later this year. Famed hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt , which closed in recent years for major renovations, will also return.

Changi Airport has also undertaken a major expansion. In November, Terminal 2 fully reopened with new automated check-in kiosks, bag drops and immigration lanes, more than quadrupling the terminal’s capacity to 28 million passengers per year. And many passengers will be moving through Changi even more efficiently this year, as the airport plans to adopt the latest biometrics and facial recognition technology for passport-free departures.

O’Higgins Chile

Sample delectable local foods while connecting with rural farmers.

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This overlooked region south of Santiago has been facing a changing climate, wildfires that are threatening hundred-year-old grapevines, frequent earthquakes and undervalued traditions. So a group of local cooks, winemakers and artisan growers have joined to preserve their campesino, or rural farmer, identity. In late 2023 their initiative, known as Ruta de los Abastos, began offering rural culinary experiences to connect visitors to local beekeepers, oyster farmers and other producers.

Markets and restaurants — like El Abasto in the city of Rancagua and the vineyard-based restaurants at Food and Wine Studio and Viña Vik — are highlighting regional ingredients like locally raised lamb, salt from the coast at Cáhuil and a rustic, low-alcohol wine called chacolí, produced by area growers. On the coast around Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos, amid minimalist beach lodges like Hotel Alaia , locavore seafood with natural wine lists — like those found at Mareal — dominates the scene.

— Nicholas Gill

Ladakh India

Trek to mountaintop monasteries and savor a stark and rugged landscape.

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Ladakh, a mountainous region known as the Land of High Passes, is nestled between the Himalayas to the south and the Karakoram range to the north. This rugged land, with its stark beauty and remote villages, is a place where time seems to have stood still.

In recent years, though, administrative changes have greatly improved infrastructure and accessibility. The Atal Tunnel , a remarkable feat of engineering, allows visitors to sidestep the infamous Rohtang Pass , turning a treacherous ride — lasting several hours in the best of weather — into a brisk 20-minute one. That makes it easier than ever for visitors to experience the area’s stunning landscapes, pristine lakes, Buddhist monasteries and other cultural attractions, which in Leh (Ladakh’s largest city) include markets, several museums and an extraordinary nine-story palace . New hiking and trekking routes in Leh and the Zanskar Valley round out the options for those in search of adventure.

— Poras Chaudhary

Geneva Switzerland

Satisfy your curiosity about quantum physics, and your cravings for chocolate.

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The tiniest bits of nature are the biggest attraction at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, and its 17-mile-long particle accelerator on the outskirts of Geneva. But until recently, visitors had limited options for nerding out. Open since October, the family-friendly, Renzo Piano-designed CERN Science Gateway changes that with activities like quantum karaoke, quantum air hockey and miniature magnetic accelerators modeled after the Large Hadron Collider, where in 2012 physicists discovered the elusive Higgs boson , seen as a key to understanding the universe’s origins.

Less mind-blowing but still satisfying to hungry scientists and laypeople alike, the Choco Pass , a self-guided chocolate tour that debuted in 2022, lets visitors sample Geneva’s famous truffles, bonbons and pralines. And if you want to explore the nature of time — or timepieces — book a table at Breitling Kitchen , the Swiss watch brand’s fourth crossover restaurant, which features menus designed by Juan Arbelaez of “Top Chef.”

— Adam H. Graham

Dominica The Caribbean

A bird’s-eye view of rainforests, reefs and a boiling lake.

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A patchwork of volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls and hot springs has earned Dominica, a 290-square-mile independent nation in the West Indies, the nickname the Nature Island. Later this year, visitors will be able to get a bird’s-eye view of the wild landscape thanks to a $54 million, 4.1-mile cable car line that will whisk passengers from the lush Roseau Valley up to Boiling Lake , a roughly 200-foot-wide fumarole flooded with nearly 200-degree water, which currently requires a demanding hike to reach.

The island is also a playground for eco-adventurers: Hiking trails crisscross its three national parks , its crystal cascades make for ideal waterfall rappelling , pristine coral reefs offer some of the best diving in the world, and more than 20 species of whales and dolphins abound along the island’s west coast — including a resident population of sperm whales, which will get their own dedicated sanctuary this year.

— Nora Walsh

Manchester England

New concert venues open in a music-mad city.

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Music has long been at the core of Manchester’s gritty soul, from Joy Division and the Stone Roses to Oasis and, now, Harry Styles, who is backing Britain’s largest new music arena, Co-op Live , set to open in April. Stars like Liam Gallagher, Eric Clapton and Barry Manilow are booked to inaugurate the 23,500-capacity space, which will complement the reopening of concert halls like the post-punk incubator Band on the Wall and New Century , where the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner have all graced the stage.

For those interested in emerging talent, the city will host two major music conferences this year, including Worldwide Music Expo , a behemoth packed with concerts, speakers, films and an awards ceremony, and Beyond the Music , a smorgasbord of performances, parties, workshops and more. In November, Laurie Anderson will headline the Factory International arts center with “ARK,” a multimedia “dark comedy for the end of the world.”

Craters of the Moon Idaho

Celebrate a centennial amid cinder cones and star parties.

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Between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago, outpourings of lava blanketed what would become eastern Snake River Plain in Idaho, creating a surreal landscape with gaping craters, steep-sided cinder cones and underground lava tubes. President Calvin Coolidge established the area as a national monument in 1924; for its centennial, Craters of the Moon will unveil new and rehabilitated trails, wayside exhibits developed in partnership with Shoshone-Bannock tribal elders, and a packed calendar of events.

Marvel at this Dark Sky Park at a centennial Star Party with telescopes from the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society, or camp out under one of the largest remaining “pools” of natural nighttime darkness in the United States. And enjoy it all in relative solitude. Expanded to 750,000 acres to cover the Great Rift, a 52-mile-long crack in the Earth’s crust, Craters of the Moon is about the size of Yosemite National Park but receives just 6 percent of the visitors.

— Ratha Tep

Baltimore Maryland

Explore urban waterways and an array of native artwork.

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It’s an enormous year for Charm City. The 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act is bringing in a new Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center ; the Baltimore Museum of Art is increasing the presence of Native artists with solo shows, thematic exhibitions and changes to displays and labels across the museum; and Baltimore Peninsula , a place for visitors and locals to shop, dine and play, will breathe new life into a long-neglected port area.

For outdoor enthusiasts, a network of waterways called the Baltimore Blueway — open to kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and rowboats — will connect visitors throughout the waterfront to cultural, historic and natural sites. And movie buffs take note: The director John Waters will be in his hometown shooting a film based on his first novel, “Liarmouth.”

— Daniel Scheffler

Salar de Uyuni Bolivia

Crunching or splashing across the world’s largest salt flat, under starry nights and mirrored skies.

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Like all the best places, Salar de Uyuni, 12,000 feet high in the Andes, can be demanding. Getting there means a rough overland journey, nights in dusty hotels and the threat of altitude sickness, but when you walk on the world’s largest salt flat, your crunching footsteps are often the only sound on this blanched, 4,000 square miles of salt crust, left behind when prehistoric lakes evaporated. Geometric striations lace the crystalline surface, while the rainy season only amps up the wonder, turning the salt flat into a liquid mirror that reflects otherworldly cloud formations, sunsets and starry nights.

There’s also an appetite for what lies beneath it: Earth’s second-largest stash of lithium. Demand for the “white gold” — used in electric-car and smartphone batteries — is surging. Last year Bolivia authorized two Chinese companies to begin extracting about 50,000 tons annually from the Uyuni salt flats. The mining efforts could affect the area’s beauty and ecosystem. Better go to the Salar soon.

— Lucinda Hahn

Negombo Sri Lanka

A fishing village with stunning temples and plenty of seaside delights.

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Tourism in Sri Lanka has long focused on Dambulla’s astonishing cave temple and the beaches of the southern coast. But travelers in search of less-trafficked destinations are paying newfound attention to Negombo, a fishing village. Less than 25 miles up the western coast from the capital, Colombo, the village of Negombo offers a nearby international airport, hiking and plenty of beaches.

Had enough sun? Visit stunning temples and landmark cathedrals then unwind in one of the dozens of seafood restaurants — chefs here make good use of local prawns and crabs — in the charming downtown, known for its colonial-style buildings and Dutch canals.

Sustainability is a focus for businesses, especially the just-opened Uga Riva , a luxe hotel in a refurbished manor house that once welcomed Mohandas K. Gandhi and diplomats from around Asia. Tourism in Sri Lanka took a hit in recent years because of political unrest, followed by the coronavirus pandemic — but the country is back on track, and your money goes a long way.

— Liza Weisstuch

Massa-Carrara Italy

See the home of the marble that makes the masterpieces.

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In an effort to reduce the crowds that fill the galleries of the Uffizi in Florence , the renowned museum has been transferring some of its masterpieces to lesser-known locales across Tuscany. As part of the latest initiative in the ever-expanding program known as Uffizi Diffusi , a collection of works, including paintings from the studio of the Italian Baroque painter Carlo Dolci, will be exhibited this spring in the town of Massa, at the Palazzo Ducale , which also houses the government offices of the Massa-Carrara province in northwestern Tuscany.

Art enthusiasts can also explore the surrounding Apuan Alps from which the marble for so many masterpieces — including Michelangelo’s David — was sourced, tour marble quarries and maybe even meet a working sculptor carving on the side of the road.

— Ingrid K. Williams

Bannau Brycheiniog Wales

Conserving welsh culture among scenic mountains.

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Reclaiming the name Bannau Brycheiniog for a beloved national park in Wales last year was more than a linguistic change to Welsh from English ; it was a shift to spotlight the Welsh culture of the 520-square-mile park, formerly known as Brecon Beacons. The park’s emphasis on the relationship between nature and local culture is also shown in a new logo. Instead of the burning brazier of Brecon Beacons, the logo now has an ancient Welsh crown set within a green forest under stars, a reflection of the park’s commitment to a future where planting native trees restores temperate rainforest, the revegetation of peatland captures carbon and the dark sky is protected from light pollution.

While visiting Bannau Brycheiniog, “the peaks of Brychan’s kingdom,” make use of the park’s public transport and bike rentals, including the Explore Wales Pass for trains and buses, or take in the views by hiking through waterfall country from the village of Pontneddfechan.

— Susanne Masters

Support local recovery in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake

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Before the earthquake that killed almost 3,000 people in September, the Ourika Valley in Morocco seemed like the dreamiest of escapes: silvery-green olive groves that give way to the dramatic reddish ridges of the Atlas Mountains, simple guesthouses and luxurious boutique hotels, farm-fresh cuisine, hiking, horseback riding — and all just an hour’s drive from Marrakesh.

Those retreats are staffed almost entirely by people who live in the valley’s villages, which have long experienced government neglect. The earthquake pulverized mud-brick homes around Ourika, killing many residents. Nearly all hospitality workers were forced to move into makeshift tents, yet within days they were back on the job at several lightly damaged hotels.

That’s because the whole region depends on tourism, and it — along with Marrakesh and Morocco as a whole — needs visitors now more than ever. But locals hope visitors will understand that there’s more to Morocco than its glossy surface. Khalid Ait Abdelkarim, a hotel worker whose home was destroyed, said Ourika welcomed tourists because “that’s what Moroccan people do.” But, he added, “We also deserve good lives.”

— Vivian Yee

Valencia Spain

Contemporary art with a side of paella.

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Spain’s third-largest city has long been overshadowed by Barcelona, despite sharing similar characteristics: miles of velvety sand beaches along the country’s east coast, a vibrant cultural scene and a rich gastronomic tradition (Valencia is considered the birthplace of paella). But Valencia, which was named the European Commission’s “ green capital ” for 2024 — an award that recognizes cities for their environmental efforts — stands apart for travelers seeking more sustainably minded, less crowded destinations. The city has been revitalizing its historic center with leafier, pedestrian-only spaces, most recently with Plaza de la Reina , its lively public square, and is on track to be climate-neutral by 2030.

Valencia’s cultural landscape has also received a major boost with the Hortensia Herrero Art Center. Opened in November in the restored Valeriola Palace, the space houses the Spanish billionaire Hortensia Herrero’s private contemporary-art collection and includes more than 100 works by artists like Anish Kapoor , Andreas Gursky and Mat Collishaw .

— Vivian Song

Kansas City Missouri

Women’s soccer takes center stage in a heartland hub.

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No doubt, soccer reigns supreme: In March, the Kansas City Current will unveil the first stadium built for a National Women’s Soccer League team, and Kansas City holds bragging rights as the sole Midwestern host for the FIFA World Cup 2026 . But other headliners abound, with new lures for budding bookworms and adventurers.

Opening in March, the Rabbit hOle museum will showcase a century’s worth of American children’s literature with immersive and interactive exhibits. (In the case of the towering installation for “The Funny Thing,” by Wanda Gág, children will be scrambling to feed “jum-jills” to the “aminal.”) Young thrill-seekers can soar up the new 150-foot-tall KC Wheel at Pennway Point , a new entertainment district. And beginning in April, visitors can get their kicks at Rock Island Bridge , a reimagined railway bridge that will offer dining above with kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding below.

Antananarivo Madagascar

Textiles and contemporary art flourish on an island known for natural wonders.

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Most tourists to Madagascar come to see wildlife or luxuriate on the beautiful islands off its northern coast, but the country’s teeming capital is developing a vibrant arts scene, and La Fondation H , a contemporary arts center that opened last April, was created to showcase Malagasy talent. It occupies a restored French colonial brick building, and the first exhibit is dedicated to one of the world’s greatest textile artists: Madame Zo, who died in 2020 and whose weavings were inspired by traditional Malagasy fabrics and basketry.

La Fondation H is the latest addition to Madagascar’s rapidly growing number of institutions specializing in contemporary art, including the Musée de la Photographie de Madagascar and Hakanto Contemporary , an arts center with a calendar of group shows and solo exhibitions by artists from Madagascar and beyond and also an artists-in-residence program. Maison Gallieni , which also houses the consulate of Monaco, offers four comfortable rooms in a house in a pretty garden with a pool.

— Alexander Lobrano

Yucatán Peninsula Mexico

A new train makes remote sites more accessible.

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The Maya Train , a new service that began partial operations in December, will connect popular destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula — including beachy Cancún, historical Mérida and the Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá — to more distant sites, like Calakmul, a once powerful and still relatively intact Maya city near the Guatemalan border, and Palenque, gateway to the famous archaeological park in Chiapas state.

While the estimated $20 billion project, which began in 2020, has been criticized for threatening water quality and wildlife habitat, it is hoped that the service will benefit less-touristy destinations like the gulf port town of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its 16th-century fortifications. Intended to bring jobs and investment and spread tourism beyond Mexico’s Caribbean beaches, the train will eventually ring the peninsula, traversing five states over nearly 1,000 miles of track and connecting directly with the new airport in Tulum.

— Elaine Glusac

Lake Toba Indonesia

Bask in the serenity of the world’s largest crater lake.

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The value of simply sitting in a vast hole in the earth and stirring condensed milk into a cup of Sumatran coffee is difficult to overstate. About 74,000 years ago, one of the planet’s most significant volcanic explosions blew a 60-mile-wide gash into Sumatra, creating the foundation for Lake Toba, the world’s largest crater lake. It is curious to consider that a place where one can listen to the clink of a spoon inside a coffee cup once rocketed ash and gas 30 miles into the stratosphere.

Unlike Indonesia’s more popular destination, Bali, Lake Toba is without the crowds. It’s also far from the din of the country’s audacious plans to move its sinking capital . On the Tuk-Tuk peninsula, where most travelers base themselves, take a hike to learn about the Batak people who call the area home. Pass terraced rice paddies and churches with rusty sheet-metal roofs and then dive into the lake — into this cathartic space that once knew cataclysm but now knows calm.

— Joel Carillet

Almaty Kazakhstan

Luxe baths, kaleidoscopic cathedrals and hyper-contemporary food.

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Kazakhstan’s largest city, with a population of two million, has the feel of a peaceful but active rural town. The underground metro gleams with intricate tile work. The Arasan baths are the apotheosis of bathing pleasures: massages atop marble slabs, cold plunges, unbearably hot saunas. Walk the leafy streets in an attentive mood and you’ll find endless delights — like a mustachioed man playing the accordion in front of the kaleidoscopic Ascension Cathedral .

Almaty’s status as a cultural hub, though, is increasingly evident in its food scene. “Neo-nomad” cuisine — focused on flour, water and meat — is being championed in hyper-contemporary style; sample it at Auyl or Tör . Cuisine from northwest China is on offer at Lanzhou Noodle , and great coffee at Sensilyo Coffee or JumpinGoat . Gaze upon the patchwork quilt of fruits and nuts splayed out at the Green Bazaar — and then try PlatformA , a large food hall that recently opened inside a Soviet Modernist building.

Quito Ecuador

Ride a brand-new metro line through nearly 500 years of history.

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Updated Jan. 10, 2024: Ecuador declared a nationwide state of emergency . Please heed travel warnings, including advisories from the U.S. Department of State , before visiting.

When the brand-new 14-mile Metro line in Quito, Ecuador’s high-altitude capital, becomes fully operational this year, its 15 stations will connect the city from north to south, making it easier for travelers to explore — from the exquisitely preserved churches of the UNESCO-listed historic center to modern districts flaunting avant-garde towers designed by the likes of Bjarke Ingels and Moshe Safdie .

Although parts of Ecuador have made headlines for cartel-related violence , crime rates in Quito are down, according to the National Police, and a dedicated police force patrols areas popular with tourists. Check out San Francisco Market in Old Town to see traditional curanderas (female healers) who offer cleanses (from stress relief to fertility support) using bouquets of flowers and herbs. And grab a table in the hip La Floresta neighborhood, where homegrown chefs like Rodrigo Pacheco, whose farm-to-table restaurant Foresta is set to reopen after a hiatus, are getting creative with Ecuadorean ingredients.

Mingan Archipelago Quebec

Sea-sculpted monoliths, puffins and indigenous heritage.

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In the wild Côte-Nord region of Quebec, the Mingan Archipelago , a national park reserve on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, unfolds ethereally. Hike amid Canada’s largest concentration of erosion-sculpted monoliths, which rise like fossilized works of art; kayak on the misty sea; and explore secluded beaches framed by marshes and forests. And watching over the land are the people of the Innu First Nations group .

Last summer, the Canadian government pledged to create new initiatives to support the Innu connection with the lands and waters, and to ensure the transfer of knowledge between generations. Visitors can share in that knowledge with new programs offered by the Mingan reserve, including spiritual and wellness workshops led by the Innu Nutashkuan community . For full coastal immersion, head to the Île aux Perroquets , where you can watch puffins and bed down under handcrafted quilts in a lighthouse keeper’s quarters.

— AnneLise Sorensen

Montgomery Alabama

A new sculpture park is dedicated to both slavery and emancipation.

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When it comes to conversations about race in America, few destinations are as engaged as Montgomery, the former capital of the Confederacy and the birthplace of the civil rights movement. In 2018, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice became the first site of its kind to address racial terror across America, represented by 800 suspended steel pillars, one for each county where a lynching was known to have taken place.

This year, the Equal Justice Initiative, the nonprofit that opened the memorial, will debut a companion site: Freedom Monument Sculpture Park . On the banks of the Alabama River, the 17-acre park will exhibit works by Kehinde Wiley and Theaster Gates; artifacts, including dwellings relocated from a cotton plantation and a pen where enslaved people were held; and the 43-foot-tall National Monument to Freedom. Dedicated to the millions of enslaved Black people who were emancipated at the end of the Civil War, the steel-walled monument, which resembles an open book, will be engraved with more than 120,000 of their surnames.

Tasmania Australia

Where foraging for ingredients is part of the local flavor.

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Venture outside and help protect vulnerable species in Tasmania, Australia’s southernmost state, with several new guided walks . Tasmanian Walking Company , in partnership with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, offers a three-day trek across rugged Bruny Island to map flora and collect seeds for the garden’s seed bank.

To get a taste of the island’s Indigenous culture, join members of the local Palawa community on multiday treks through the powder white sands of Wukalina (Mount William National Park) and orange-lichen-covered rocks of Larapuna (Bay of Fires). Or to get an actual taste of the island, forage for ingredients like wattle seeds and pepperberries with guides from Palawa Kipli , a company that is Indigenous-owned and operated — the experience ends with a tasting menu that includes smoked payathanima (wallaby).

Locavore menus are the norm throughout Tasmania, and the chef Analiese Gregory , a wild-cooking expert, will be showcasing ingredients like hand-gathered abalone and sea urchin at her yet-to-be-named restaurant set to open early this year.

Waterford Ireland

Viking history and a newly expanded rail path.

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Yes, Waterford is synonymous with crystal, but the city, founded in 914, also sparkles with history and natural treasures. In the Viking Triangle, Waterford’s cobblestone core, a new digital story trail brings the past to life at stops like the medieval landmark Reginald’s Tower . The city also offers less-ancient attractions, including the new Irish Wake Museum , dedicated to the funeral ritual, and the Irish Museum of Time , which showcases grandfather clocks, watches and more.

Waterford’s natural riches rival its historical ones, notably the Copper Coast, hemmed by towering cliffs and scalloped coves. The coast forms part of the Waterford Greenway , a nearly 30-mile path along a disused rail line. In 2023, a new section linked the Greenway to the center of Waterford. Top off your Greenway adventure with afternoon tea amid one of Ireland’s largest collections of plants at Mount Congreve Gardens , which reopened in 2023 after a multimillion-dollar refurbishment.

Tsavo National Park Kenya

Celebrate africa’s most successful elephant rehabilitation program.

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In 2021, African savanna elephants went from vulnerable to endangered , putting them on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list for possible extinction. But in Kenya, the elephant population has grown by 21 percent since 2014, to a total of 36,280. Almost half live in Tsavo, home to Africa’s most successful elephant rehabilitation program, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust .

At its heart are several core conservation projects, including an elephant orphanage, rehabilitation units and mobile veterinary clinics that have treated more than 11,000 animals, including some 3,500 elephants, since 1977. The organization has rehabilitated and released 200 elephant orphans (120 are still in their care) and runs anti-poaching teams, builds water sources and secures vulnerable boundaries. The wildlife trust also manages six small eco-lodges, which provide local jobs and help its conservation work. In 2024, the trust will open the first lodge next to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary , dedicated to saving the critically endangered black rhino.

— Danielle Pergament

Brasília Brazil

A modernist capital reopens its architectural gems.

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Brasília, Brazil’s capital since 1960, is often overshadowed by more flamboyant destinations like Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. But Brasília, a planned city famous for its futuristic, Modernist white buildings that rise from the Brazilian highlands, is opening up in new ways. The Palácio da Alvorada , the presidential residence, which had been closed to visitors for a decade, will reopen early this year.

Another symbolic change is the recent removal of the barriers that since 2013 had surrounded the Palácio do Planalto , the presidential office, offering greater access to its reflecting pools and arches. The Planalto was one of the government buildings stormed by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro last year. Its expanded accessibility signals a return to the original vision of Brasília’s architects, Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, of an open and integrated city.

— Paulo Motoryn

El Salvador

Savor local flavors of corn, coffee and more in a fast-changing country.

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While questions remain about how it was accomplished , El Salvador’s security situation has drastically improved, opening up large areas of the country. Long-ignored hotels and restaurants are experiencing renewed interest along the Ruta de las Flores, a 20-mile string of rural villages in the western highlands that are surrounded by coffee fincas and pine forests, culminating in the ever-expanding night market in Nahuizalco, home of the Nahua, an Indigenous group.

In San Salvador, the capital, the dining scene is charging beyond fast-food chains, led by the fine-dining hot spot El Xolo , which champions local varieties of corn in its restaurant inside the Museo Nacional de Antropología . Coffee shops like Carajo and Crafters promote small farms growing native varieties like pacamara.

Along the coast, government initiatives like the new pier and seafood market at Puerto de la Libertad receive the most attention, but more deserving are the riverbed oyster bar Chepe Aleta , in the town of El Zonte, and the beach camps and eco-lodges outside the Playa El Tunco surf bubble.

Koh Ker Cambodia

A vast 10th-century temple complex gains unesco status.

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For anyone put off by the constant throngs and overly Instagrammed images of the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia — a bucket list destination for seemingly everyone on Earth — a millennium-old sprawl of ruins in a nearby region offers a more remote and adventurous alternative. Built in the 10th century, some two centuries before Angkor Wat, the sacred city of Koh Ker was recognized with UNESCO World Heritage status in the fall of 2023.

The heart of the site is a 4.5-square-mile cluster of temples — notably a seven-tiered pyramid known as Prasat Thom — along with statues, stone carvings, artificial ponds and vast trees whose roots entwine many of the crumbling structures.

Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second-largest city, is the best base for travelers. Roughly 70 miles from Koh Ker (around two hours by taxi), Siem Reap is home to a brand-new international airport and a crop of stylish new homegrown crash pads like Babel Boutique Hotel . And if you’re not intimidated by the crowds, Angkor Wat is just down the road.

— Seth Sherwood

Vestmannaeyjar Iceland

Take a battery-powered boat to the world’s largest puffin colony.

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A new electric ferry has helped connect Iceland’s mainland to this small archipelago — also called the Westman Islands — off the country’s south coast, where the world’s largest puffin colony has turned many residents into active conservationists . (The archipelago was unaffected by the mid-December volcanic eruptions elsewhere in Iceland.)

From May to September, Heimaey, the main island, becomes a favorite weekend destination for Icelanders, who fill up sleek new villas during the frequent concerts and festivals, while cruise ship passengers can be seen racing around the outer islands on rib boats, visiting the Beluga whale sanctuary and riding A.T.V.s into the crater of the Eldfell volcano, which nearly wiped out the town during a 1973 eruption. Home to one of the country’s most important fishing communities, with a new seafood festival and a wave of culinary offerings like an artisan bakery and a craft brewery , Vestmannaeyjar has been hailed by the local media as the “ food capital of Iceland .”

Montevideo Uruguay

South america’s most laid-back capital turns 300.

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Although it is the capital of one of South America’s most progressive nations (weed and same-sex marriage are legal, and its electrical grid is almost entirely powered by renewable sources ), Montevideo has a reputation for being on the quieter side. But as the city of 1.4 million celebrates 300 years , this is a perfect time to fall for Montevideo’s more subtle, easygoing charms.

Among the tree-lined boulevards of Pocitos, Cordón and Centro, shuttered neighborhood diners that once served simple Uruguayan fare are being lovingly restored as stylish yet affordable eateries. One is Pantagruel , a corner bar that preserved its midcentury furnishings when it reopened last year (try a glass of tannat , Uruguay’s specialty wine). Montevideo also has the world’s longest Carnival, with 40 nights of parades and block parties, from Jan. 25. It’s more affordable and family-friendly than Rio’s, and no less glittery.

— Laurence Blair

Mustang Nepal

A remote citadel of tibetan culture cracks open the gate.

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Nestled high on the Tibetan plateau in the northern reaches of Nepal, the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Mustang is a bastion of traditional Tibetan culture, preserved for centuries by its remoteness. Now, a new 183-mile road linking the region to China as well as the gleaming but debt-saddled and increasingly contentious international airport in Pokhara — both projects backed by Beijing — will give travelers easier access to sites like the well-preserved medieval fortress of Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang, which was a restricted area for tourists until the early 1990s.

Wilderness treks through the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges traverse river gorges, glacial lakes and rugged trails dotted with yaks and sheep. While budget-friendly hotels abound, the new, luxury Shinta Mani Mustang makes Nepal’s new trekking rules , which require hikers to use a local licensed guide or porter, easier to follow by offering a range of tours with certified guides.

Vienna Austria

A grand reopening in the city where the waltz became famous.

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After a three-year, 100-million-euro makeover, the Wien Museum , dedicated to Vienna’s history, recently reopened with a free permanent exhibition that chronicles its hometown’s rise from a Roman military camp to an imperial capital to a city that consistently ranks among the world’s most livable . Along with additional floors, there’s a new entrance, a plaza, a Viennese restaurant and a terrace overlooking Karlsplatz, a square with connections to the painter Gustav Klimt .

Fans of Johann Strauss, who composed “The Blue Danube,” an unofficial anthem of the city, can waltz over to the House of Strauss, a sparkling new museum opened on Oct. 25, what would have been Strauss’s 198th birthday. And for the competitive dancers, July’s EuroGames , one of several L.G.B.T.Q. events planned in the city this year, will draw thousands of queer athletes to face off in the ballroom as well as in other sports like tennis and basketball.

Brisbane Australia

Food, art and vertiginous views in a city gearing up for its olympic moment.

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Scheduled to host the Summer Olympics in 2032, Brisbane is undergoing a face-lift with a $3.6 billion expansion of the Queen’s Wharf area, set to partly open in 2024. The development includes the restoration of historic buildings, four new hotels, parks and public spaces, and an 820-foot-long Sky Deck with bars and restaurants overlooking the Brisbane River.

But there’s more than big development: At Agnes, a restaurant with a rooftop bar, chefs are renowned for their skill in cooking over an open flame. The Calile Hotel, with balconied rooms overlooking a palm-lined pool, feels like an oasis in the middle of the city. Rounding out the cultural experience is Brisbane Powerhouse, a 1920s power station reborn as a cultural hub, the site of the Melt Open , a celebration of queer arts and artists, and Vertigo , a restaurant where harnessed and clipped-in diners eat while dangling four stories above the ground. After dinner, they can abseil down the building’s exterior.

Pasadena California

An artsy, walkable corner of los angeles county that’s worth the metro ride.

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Pasadena’s natural beauty is clear as soon as you roll into town — maybe on the Los Angeles Metro, where the just-opened Regional Connector project makes possible a one-seat ride from the sands of Long Beach to the stands of the Rose Bowl. The San Gabriel Mountains preside over Pasadena like a sylvan crown, and hiking and biking trails framed by forested valleys and tumbling waterfalls abound in places like the Angeles National Forest .

The leafy city center is eminently strollable, with a vibrant main street and the nearby Norton Simon Museum , which features a sculpture garden inspired by Monet’s grounds at Giverny. The Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse offers serious drama as well as youth-focused programming. And PST Art , a Getty museum project, will include exhibitions at Pasadena museums and art centers this year. To fuel up, try the innovative newcomer Bar Chelou (its name means “weird” in French) or a new wave of Asian restaurants, notably the Cantonese-influenced Colette .

Hurghada Egypt

Dive in the rich underwater world of the red sea.

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An hour’s flight from Cairo and just off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt, the Great Fringing Reef remains an abundant marine ecosystem that includes 40 types of sharks and 400 coral species.

The reef’s resiliency is often credited to the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association , a nongovernmental organization founded by divers in 1992. The group has since installed one of the world’s largest mooring systems (to reduce the harms of dive-boat anchors), instituted a local ban on single-use plastics and made snorkel tours and beach cleanups social events for residents and tourists. Last year, the organization opened three long-awaited dive sites to help minimize the impact on other reefs.

On land, the recently opened Serry Beach Resort , overseen by one of Egypt’s first female hotel directors, offers 453 rooms and suites decked out in locally made textiles fronting an infinity pool and the crystalline Red Sea. Egypt remains a relatively safe destination despite its proximity to the Israel-Hamas war.

— Michele Bigley

Boundary Waters Minnesota

A protected watershed, but for how long.

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Last January, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order that bans toxic mining on 225,504 federal acres within the Rainy River Watershed in northern Minnesota for 20 years. That was good news for the 150,000 annual visitors who paddle the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a network in the watershed of more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes that connect 1,100 freshwater lakes.

This roadless wilderness is pristine, a place to fish for walleye, hear the haunting call of a loon and camp in thick boreal forest — it’s also a habitat for bears, wolves and lynx. A suit by a local conservation group seeks to expand the ban on mining. But the area’s future remains uncertain: A bill has been introduced in Congress to reverse the order, and a subsidiary of a Chilean mining company has received approval to conduct exploratory drilling on state land next to the wilderness.

Thessaloniki Greece

An ancient seaside city gets decked out in rainbows.

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The squat, round White Tower is to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, as the Acropolis is to Athens. The structure, built in the 15th century under Ottoman rule and once known as the Tower of Blood, was renamed and painted white in the late 1800s by a prisoner in exchange for his freedom. The tower will glow with rainbow colors representing a different kind of liberation this year as thousands of L.G.B.T.Q. travelers gather from June 21 to 29 to celebrate EuroPride — the city’s chance for a redo after the pandemic scuttled its turn to host the event in 2020.

Thessaloniki, founded in 316 B.C. and named for a sister of Alexander the Great, is renowned for its Byzantine mosaics as well as its clubs, cafes and bars. Savor a glass of ouzo along the bay — unlike Athens, Thessaloniki is right on the water — and see if you can spot Mount Olympus.

— Danial Adkison

Normandy France

Celebrating a region’s role in the impressionist art movement.

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The revolution began quietly, a century and a half ago, with a canvas depicting a port in this region in northern France. Painted in 1872 by Claude Monet and displayed two years later at a pioneering Paris exhibition of iconoclastic artists — including Renoir, Degas and Pissarro — “Impression, Sunrise” was a hazy, color-soaked view of Le Havre that gave birth to perhaps the 19th century’s most famous artistic style. For the 150th anniversary of that show, the Normandy Impressionist Festival (from March 22 to Sept. 22) will celebrate the region’s centrality in the lives and works of the movement’s major figures. (Paris will also host numerous events.)

Rouen, whose cathedral was famously portrayed by Monet , will take center stage. Events there will include a lighted projection on the cathedral’s facade by the avant-garde stage director Robert Wilson and an exhibition of the painter David Hockney’s Normandy-inspired work at the city’s Musée des Beaux-Arts . Impressionist-themed exhibitions and events are also expected in Giverny (where Monet lived), Honfleur (home to the Eugène Boudin Museum ), Le Havre and other Normandy spots.

Grenada The Caribbean

White sands and underwater art on an island of timeless charm.

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More flights from JetBlue , Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada promise easier access to this Caribbean island nation, but you may never want to leave. Grenada’s verdant terrain, bountiful farms and uncrowded white-sand beaches entice with culinary delights, natural attractions and new luxury accommodations.

The 28-room Silversands Beach House will open in February on Portici Beach, and later this year, the Six Senses La Sagesse will offer 56 suites and 15 villas, each with a private pool. All the better to relax after a submarine visit to Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park , the first of its kind, where a recent upgrade includes 31 new pieces of art .

Grenada and its smaller islands, Petite Martinique and Carriacou, offer plenty of places to snorkel, fish, dive and sail, but don’t miss a tour of a rum distillery , chocolate company or spice garden : There’s good reason Grenada, which celebrates 50 years of independence this February, is known as the Spice Isle.

— Elisabeth Goodridge

El Camino de Costa Rica

A coast-to-coast trek with cloud forests, local chocolate and more.

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With new signage, the Camino de Costa Rica , a 174-mile cross-country hiking trail that connects the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, became easier to navigate last year. Organized into 16 sections, the trail knits together 25 rural communities and terrain that ranges from beaches to cloud forests. The full hike can take from 11 to 16 days, and along the way, travelers passing through Indigenous areas can hire members of the Cabécar community as guides. The trail also traverses national parks and sanctuaries that host dazzling birds like the resplendent quetzal .

Trekkers can camp, book hotels or stay overnight with families, sampling homegrown coffee and chocolate as well as dishes like a variety of gallo pinto made with beans, rice and coconut milk that’s often enjoyed on the Caribbean side of the trail. Local outfitters offer custom itineraries, including accommodations and luggage transfers, and activities like rafting, horseback riding and canoeing — all ways to help support areas off the tourist track.

Albanian Alps

Rugged peaks where hikers wander and shepherds roam.

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The remote mountain range in northern Albania, known as the Accursed Mountains, or the Albanian Alps (although it also reaches into Montenegro and Kosovo), has for years entranced hikers seeking serenity among its peaks. It may not be peaceful for long: Budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz announced new routes to Albania, making its glassy lakes and miles of relatively untouched trails more accessible for explorers looking for an affordable paradise.

Once reachable only with a four-wheel drive, northern villages like Theth are now accessible by a narrow but paved mountain road, although drivers may still need to wait for a passing cow or two. Visitors can stay with locals in guesthouses or farm stays to get a glimpse of rural life before hiking the Valbona Pass within a national park encompassing some 200,000 acres to gaze across wildflower-strewn valleys and see shepherds tending to their flocks.

— Isabella Kwai

Whitehorse Yukon

For northern lights viewers, a warm welcome in a remote capital.

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In the current 11-year solar cycle, magnetic activity in space will peak between January and October, expected to prompt more frequent and active northern lights. In the clear skies around Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon territory in northwest Canada, aurora-viewing tours have become a draw, taking place via canoe, snowshoe and fat-tire bike.

Surrounded by mountains and boreal forests, Whitehorse offers a warm welcome from the wilds in flourishing small businesses, including Yukon Brewing , offering “beer worth freezin’ for,” Gather Cafe & Taphouse , which shares space with a glassblowing studio, and Woodcutter’s Blanket , serving craft cocktails and microbrews in a 1930s log cabin.

Nature is never far from the city, where you can stay in a cabin built to blend into the landscape at Black Spruce resort, or soak under starry skies at Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs .

Choquequirao Peru

An archaeological wonder reachable only on foot, for now.

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As its tourism industry was recovering from pandemic losses, Peru was gripped by antigovernment protests that led to the shutdown of Machu Picchu , the country’s most famous attraction, and caused travelers to leave or cancel trips in droves. Now, as tourism is rebounding, efforts are gaining steam to direct visitors to lesser-known archaeological sites .

One site being considered for expanded tourism infrastructure is Choquequirao . Another spectacular Incan citadel, it receives fewer than 10,000 visitors a year. The catch: It’s a three- to four-day trek to get there. The government last year announced a $200 million investment in the site, with a plan to build a cable car and improve trails to boost tourism. A window may slowly be closing to reward a spirit of adventure with an enigmatic, ancient complex, surrounded by snowy peaks and wilderness, that feels entirely your own.

— David Feliba

Dresden Germany

Romantic landscapes and an avant-garde treasure trove in a city long on the mend.

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All but leveled in the Allied firebombing of 1945, Dresden has been rebuilding for decades. Now, with the historic center’s major restoration projects nearly complete, the city is ready to fete a favorite son: the archetypal Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich .

Born 250 years ago in September, he’s being celebrated across Germany, though Dresden — where he spent most of his creative years — is throwing the biggest party. Starting in August, the Albertinum and the Kupferstich-Kabinett museums will pay tribute with a joint exhibition. Serious fans — whether of his work in particular or Romantic landscapes in general — will want to follow in his footsteps along the Elbe Valley’s trails with Friedrichian-lore-loving guides.

If your tastes lean modern, no fewer than 1.5 million works of 20th-century art await at the Archiv der Avantgarden-Egidio Marzona , set to open May 5, in the restored Blockhaus, a new raw-concrete jewel housed in an opulent 18th-century shell.

— Abbie Kozolchyk

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Mexico

Welcoming endangered insects in verdant forests.

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As many as a billion monarch butterflies overwinter every year in this green forest of fir, juniper and pine trees in Central Mexico. After decades of falling population numbers , the beloved black, orange and white insect was classified as endangered in 2022 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

This 139,000-acre reserve has six sites where visitors can hike into the forest and see the clusters of butterflies perched high in the tree canopy. Each sanctuary has a different appeal: The Rosario sanctuary is near the historic mining town of Angangueo, with quaint hotels like Rancho Cumbre Monarca , while Piedra Herrada is a two-hour drive from Mexico City.

Overwinter season is from November to March, and the ideal time to visit is midweek, when the sanctuaries are less crowded and less noisy, so you may be able to not only see the butterflies, but also hear their collective flutter.

— Jorge Valencia

Flamingo Florida

Rediscover a beloved lodge in the heart of the everglades.

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The vast beauty of the Florida Everglades is perhaps best appreciated at night, when the national park is all constellations and creatures. But for those who don’t care to brave the elements (or the mosquitoes) while camping outside or in an R.V., it has been impossible to stay anywhere with air-conditioning since two hurricanes destroyed the park’s only hotel in 2005.

That changed in November with the reopening of the Flamingo Lodge , now elevated and made out of sturdy shipping containers. A renovated visitor center and restaurant have been built to better withstand sea level rise caused by climate change.

The return of the beloved facilities, along with glamping “eco-tents,” has given birders, stargazers and anglers a reason to reconnect with the outpost of Flamingo, on mainland Florida’s southernmost tip and less than two hours by car from Miami.

And if you’re lucky, you may spot flamingos in Florida Bay.

— Patricia Mazzei

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The 23 Best Places to Travel in 2024

Our expert travel writers circled the globe to find the next-best destinations to explore—and why to go now.

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Puerto Rico beckons with beautiful waters, like those at Peña Blanca beach; the colorful cityscape of Aguadilla

Puerto Rico

Why Now: After rebounding from a series of devastating earthquakes in 2019 and 2020—and Hurricane Maria in 2017—this U.S. territory (read: no passport required for Americans) quickly became one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean. Although it has long been a favorite with surfers, 36 years have passed since Puerto Rico hosted the sport’s world championships. But in February, the Atlantic town of Arecibo, an hour west of the capital city of San Juan, welcomed the 2024 International Surfing Association’s World Surfing Games, the final qualifier in the run-up to the Summer Olympics , putting its shores’ serious swells back on the map. It’s easier to get there now, too. In recent months, three affordable carriers have begun nonstop service to San Juan—Avelo Airlines, from Philadelphia and New Haven, Connecticut; JetBlue, from Raleigh, North Carolina (and from Tampa, Florida, to Aguadilla, on the west coast, not far from the low-key surf scene in Rincón); and Spirit, from Fort Myers, Florida. Southwest is expected to join the bandwagon with direct flights from Austin, Texas, starting March 9.

Adventure Intel: In sunny San Juan, Surf with a Pro offers everything from beginner lessons to guided tours of breaks at Playa El Escambrón and Isla Verde. For a different kind of paddling, take a short flight from the capital to the charming island of Vieques to kayak the glowing waters of Mosquito Bay, a natural reserve offering one of the brightest bioluminescent displays in the world. Pirate Bio Bay Tours leads groups in clear-bottomed kayaks. Vieques is also an idyllic place to stay for a couple of nights; its white-sand beaches are always stunning. Or keep to the mainland and head for the interior: at El Yunque National Forest, you can hike past waterfalls and ancient petroglyphs to take a dip in the swimming hole at El Hippie. The Ritz-Carlton San Juan, closed since Hurricane Maria hit, is slated to reopen in the beachfront Isla Verde zone in late 2024. Or opt for a more local, artsy vibe at the year-old (and already award-winning) Don Rafa Boutique Hotel in Miramar. Can’t decide? Travel the island’s entire 110-mile coastline at your own pace via the Puerto Rico Sunshine Route, stopping at any number of gorgeous beaches, like eastern Fajardo, secluded Aguadilla, and the pink salt flats of Cabo Rojo.

Local Tip: La 8 Surf Shop, known locally as La Ocho, across from the San Juan beach Escambrón, rents boards and will give you advice on where to go, says Surf with a Pro founder Alejandro Moreda. After surfing, “Get yourself a mofongo, a traditional dish made from fried plantains,” at cozy La Casita Blanca. — Megan Michelson

A women walks down a desert trail at Arizona’s Saguaro National Park.

Greater Tucson, Arizona

Why Now: Saguaro National Park was recently certified as one of nine Urban Night Sky Places around the world, and Kitt Peak National Observatory recently reopened with a revamped overnight observation program. The region’s already awesome trail system has expanded, letting hikers into a previously private, geologically rich slice of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Adventure Intel: The first time I visited Tucson , my rental car sat unused. The city’s 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop makes it possible to bike the entire metro area, and satellite lanes extend to more than 40 parks. There are also hundreds of miles of singletrack. Rent wheels from Transit Cycles and saddle up at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort to explore the Starr Pass Trail System’s mix of smooth and technical terrain. Hiking options are equally endless and now include an eight-mile network in a boulder-strewn section of Texas Canyon Nature Preserve, an hour’s drive east of the city. The Colossal Vail 50/50 ultra race, held on the Arizona Trail between Saguaro National Park and the Santa Rita Mountains, was put on runners’ radars by the Native-produced documentary Run to Be Visible ; in 2023, the race hosted a record number of Indigenous participants, and it will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year.

Local Tip: Moniqua Lane, owner of the Downtown Clifton Hotel, prefers to forgo hikes in the crowded western section of Saguaro in favor of adjacent Tucson Mountain Park. Her favorite route is the three-mile out-and-back Hidden Canyon Trail. — Jen Murphy

Swimmers frolic in the waves of New York’s Camp Hero State Park.

New York State Parks

Why Now: New York State Parks and Historic Sites—a 360,000-acre network of beaches, forests, lakes, campgrounds, trails, and other natural and cultural attractions—is celebrating its 100th anniversary with 100 activities. Participate in as many as you can during the yearlong Centennial Challenge for the chance to win prizes like a multi-season Empire Pass to New York parks (a $205 value). Activities range from hiking to camping at one of more than 8,500 campsites.

cool places to travel 2024

Adventure Intel: The park system encompasses a variety of beautiful landscapes, from the Allegheny Mountains in the west to the beaches at Camp Hero State Park in the east. Among the best known is the 24,000-plus-acre Minnewaska State Park Preserve, home to the Shawangunk Mountains (a.k.a. the Gunks in climbing circles). In 2023, the park’s historic 2.8-mile High Point Carriage Road opened following a 14-month renovation, easing access to Minnewaska’s forested interior. Hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers can now enjoy 35 miles of carriage paths and 50 miles of trails. New to the area are Wildflower Farms, a 65-cottage resort, and Inness, an inn with 12 guest rooms, 28 cabins, and an organic farm on 220 acres. Both properties are less than ten miles from the park’s main gate.

Minnewaska State Park mountain biking trails

Local Tip: “Park at Lake Minnewaska and cycle out on Castle Point or Hamilton Point Carriage Road,” says Gregory Kanter, a guide and an employee at the outfitter Rock and Snow, in New Paltz. “You ride out on one and come back on the other, and you’re on a cliff top the whole time, looking straight down into the Hudson Valley.” — Ryan Krogh

A group of hikers stretch out atop Divide Peak in Denali National Park, Alaska, with an incredible view over the peaks.

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Why Now: A landslide halfway up Denali Park Road—the primary route bisecting the six-million-acre park and preserve —cut off access to the terminus community of Kantishna in 2021. While construction of a bridge over the problem area continues, the only way into Camp Denali is a 55-minute flight that departs near the park’s entrance and includes a scenic flyby of North America’s highest peak. Which is why this is the year to capitalize on the lack of crowds.

Adventure Intel: Fly into Kantishna and you’ll be privy to gravel grinding, bear viewing, and hiking that visitors who explore via vehicle can’t reach. You can still stay at Camp Denali; its 19 cabins are tucked among boreal forest west of the landslide and afford awesome views of the mountain. Even before it became marooned, the camp had exclusive rights to offer naturalist-guided hikes into the wilderness to spy grizzlies, caribou, and wolves. But the atmosphere was different back then, with abundant visitors and tour vans. “Being the only ones on the road and the only people in the backcountry has been a marvel,” says co-owner Jenna Hamm. “We can park in the middle of it and take half an hour with a spotting scope.”

Local Tip: Technically, you can bike into Camp Denali. “I’ve seen intrepid bikepackers ride the road from the east, walk their bikes along the gravel bar below the landslide, and then continue west,” says Hamm. — Tim Neville

The pristine waters off Virgin Gorda are ideal for snorkeling.

British Virgin Islands

Why Now: Hurricanes Irma and Maria obliterated every major marina in these islands in 2017. But parks and ports are flourishing again, an inaugural sailing adventure is up and running, there are new places to stay, and legendary watering holes have reopened.

Adventure Intel: The Nomada at Sea , a 62-foot catamaran based in Nanny Cay, Tortola, has begun welcoming up to ten passengers for weeklong trips around the islands. Stops may include Anegada Island, famous for fresh lobster and an array of beaches to explore. Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, where surrounding landforms stifle swells but the trade winds blow unabated, is a paradise for wing foiling, kiteboarding, and windsurfing. For après, hit the Bitter End Yacht Club, established in 1969. The well-regarded resort was flattened in the storms, but after a four-year renovation, it’s as good as new and has retained its inclusive vibe, appealing to sailing bums and superyacht owners alike. The club’s second-floor mariners’ lounge offers 180-degree views of North Sound, and its two marina lofts are the only over-the-water bungalows in the BVI. The Bitter End plans to add more accommodations in 2024. Elsewhere, on Jost Van Dyke, the swim-in Soggy Dollar Bar has reopened. And throughout the islands, nature reserves have healed. Head out for a trail hike at Sage Mountain National Park in Tortola and snorkel among the reefs off Anegada, where marine life has returned.

Local Tip: “Mount Sage, the highest point in the islands at 1,780 feet, includes the only true rainforest we have, and it bounced back extremely quickly after the hurricanes,” says Mervin Hastings, a guide at Eco Adventures BVI. “Thetrail to the summit has reopened, so you can enjoy views across the islands.” — Kelly Bastone

Cafe tables with umbrellas are set up alongside Berlin’s Spree Riverfront.

Why Now: There’s no fest like a German fest, but things will get über exciting when one of the continent’s largest sporting events, the UEFA European Football Championship, kicks off across ten German cities in June. The tournament features 24 teams and begins in Munich, which also serves as the departure point for a new cycling route in upper Bavaria.

Adventure Intel: Looking to feed off the energy of two ecstatic fan bases? Head to Munich to catch three-time champion Germany’s opening bid against a proven Scottish squad. (The Viktualienmarkt beer garden, with some of the country’s best schweinebraten mit sauerkraut, is worth a visit, too.) Also, don’t miss the city’s whopper of a climbing gym: the German Alpine Club’s Climbing and Bouldering Center, with 60,000 square feet of walls, boasts some 500 routes, a few as high as 80 feet. If the Bavarian countryside exerts more pull, sightseeing on two wheels is never a bad idea. The new 115-mile Blue Rider route skirts Lake Starnberg and Lake Kochel, in a region with more than 100 miles of hiking trails. Alternatively, ride the 173-mile Hop Loop north to Ingolstadt, spinning past castles like Nymphenburg Palace and cooling off in Lake Radersdorf.

Local Tip: Jana Meier Roberts, a Munich-based graphic designer, recommends taking a dip in the Isar River near Praterinsel before heading to the Muffathalle Biergarten. “The food there is superior to most Munich biergarten food. From there you can walk to the Deutsches Museum to finish the night at the rooftop bar.” —T.N.

Surfers in Jupiter, Florida

Florida’s Brightline

Why Now: This high-speed train debuted in September, carrying passengers the 156 miles from Orlando to Miami in 3.5 hours. An eco-friendly mode of transportation, the trains run on clean biodiesel.

Adventure Intel: The Brightline is the first private rail line in the U.S. in 100 years, with stations centrally located in six cities along the route. From these you can Uber or even bike to the coast. Embark in Orlando, the northern terminus, and make your first stop Boca Raton. It’s just two miles from sandy public beaches. Check out Red Reef Park, home to hundreds of species of fish and an easy place to snorkel. Aventura Station, north of Miami, is just 4.5 miles from Oleta River State Park; there you can rent a paddleboard and cruise through a mangrove forest. At the railway’s southern terminus in downtown Miami, hail a rideshare for the 40-mile drive south to Biscayne National Park . From the park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center, join the Biscayne National Park Institute’s guided kayak trips to Boca Chica Lighthouse, for views of the Miami skyline, or through remote seagrass canals. Camp at Boca Chita Key—its sites are the best in the park. For an adventure closer to the station, head ten miles south to Key Biscayne and walk with peacocks in Crandon Park or relax on the two-mile-long beach in the shade of coconut palms.

Local Tip: “Check out Tam Tam, an amazing Vietnamese restaurant two blocks from the Miami station,” says Eric Barton, a Miami-based cyclist and foodie. “Like all the best restaurants, it has a karaoke machine in the bathroom. Get the wings. They’re incredibly crispy and covered in a caramel fish sauce.” — Graham Averill

Two mountain bikers explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island.

New Zealand’s South Island

Why Now: United Airlines started offering nonstop service from San Francisco to Christchurch, on the South Island , a year ago, putting this place of superlatives within easier reach of American travelers. Cementing its reputation as an adventure mecca are new cycling and hiking trails—notably the latest installment of its Great Walks hikes—while the burgeoning culinary hub of Arrowtown is shining a spotlight on a compelling food and wine scene. Dozens of new lodges have opened, including two from high-end adventure collective Eleven. And on the multimillion-dollar Pounamu Pathway project, a collaboration between the Poutini Ngai Tahu people and the Weta Workshop (the company behind the visual effects for the Lord of the Rings movies), visitor centers highlighting Maori history are opening on the west coast.

Adventure Intel: The 38-mile Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, a three-day hike along the south coast, is slated to be designated New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk in October. The loop’s two backcountry lodges already attract 3,500 hikers a year; the track’s new status is expected to double that number, so reserve now for prime trekking season (October to April). In Queenstown, the ten-mile Wharehuanui Trail is on schedule to be completed by year’s end. It will connect the suburb of Arthurs Point, where Cargo Brewery’s new brew hall will open in June, to the mining burg of Arrowtown, hipper than ever thanks to Ayrburn Farm, a historic site repurposed as a gastro hub. Ayrburn recently opened a wine and cocktail bar; a pizzeria, butcher shop, and bakery are in the works. For a biking and hiking combo, sign up for Adventure South NZ ’s new multi-activity itinerary up north: you’ll bike the 124-mile Great Taste Trail, hike in both Abel Tasman and Queen Charlotte National Parks, and visit craft breweries, wineries, and farmers’ markets. If it’s angling you’re after—New Zealand is considered the trophy-trout capital of the world—two legendary fishing lodges are now run by Eleven: the four-room Cedar Lodge on the Makararoa River, and the six-cottage Owen River Lodge in the Nelson Lakes district. And on the west coast, two of the 186-mile Pounamu Pathway’s four connected towns—Mawhera (Greymouth) and Hokitika—have opened museums with amazing light and sound displays; the towns of Awarua (Haast) and Kawatiri (Westport) will open similar experiences in mid-2024 and late 2025, respectively.

Local Tip: For Philip Wyndham, general manager of Adventure South NZ, the 34-mile Lake Dunstan Trail in Central Otago is a favorite for cycling: “It traverses rocky bluffs on cantilever bridges above the Clutha River, and huge rideable swing bridges span chasms. The trail finishes at the historic gold-rush town of Clyde, where I grab a post-ride beer at Olivers Brewery.” —J.M.

A woman on a yoga platform starts her dawn practice at Mongolia’s Three Camel Lodge.

Why Now: The Mongolian government has declared 2024 the year of tourism, with ambitions of attracting one million visitors and working to establish the first-ever direct flight between the U.S. and the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. New lodges and cultural tours make it more feasible to discover the nation’s immense wilderness, along with honored traditions like horse racing and eagle hunting.

Adventure Intel: Pioneering tour operator Nomadic Expeditions now has two camps of traditional ger (yurts). Three Camel Lodge is in the southern Gobi Desert, where I stayed last fall to explore the Flaming Cliffs—one of the world’s greatest fossil sites—and nearby Singing Dunes. Then there’s Three Eagle Camp, in the westernmost Bayan-Ulgii province (hop a 90-minute flight from the capital), home to some 200 Kazakh eagle hunters. Nomadic Expeditions’ Mongolian-American founder, Jalsa Urubshurow, launched the Golden Eagle Festival here 25 years ago, and trips to the festival in October, and lead-up events in September, spotlight the ancient form of falconry. In the northern region of Selenge, the year-old Yeruu Lodge offers kayaking and horseback riding and is a convenient base to experience the Naadam Festival, a competition of horsemanship, archery, and wrestling held each July.

Local Tip: Observing that Mongolian meals are heavy on meat, paleontologist Minjin Bolortsetseg says that when she craves vegetables, she goes to Agnista, a vegan restaurant in Ulaanbaatar, close to the University of Science and Technology. —J.M.

A man rides a mountain-bike trail outside Park City, Utah.

Park City, Utah

Why Now: These days, people of all abilities can better enjoy Park City Mountain Resort, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in February. For 26 years, the National Ability Center —a Park City nonprofit focused on adaptive outdoor recreation—ran its winter operations out of a double-wide trailer at the base of the resort. But in October, the NAC opened the 9,400-square-foot McGrath Mountain Center, adjacent to the First Time chairlift, to offer more high-quality accessible space for its participants.

Adventure Intel: The NAC is best known for its alpine-skiing and snowboarding programs (instructors teach 4,000 lessons annually), but adaptive athletes can also sign up for nordic skiing and sled hockey in the winter, mountain biking and watersports in the summer, and more. The center’s 26-acre Park City Ranch, just east of town, has a 25-room, ADA-approved lodge, access to 56 miles of outstanding trails, an equestrian facility, and a climbing gym. Additionally, Park City’s free bus system offers door-to-door paratransit service.

Round Valley mountain biking trails

Local Tip: “My favorite activities are hiking and biking the Round Valley trail system with my husband, a former Paralympian, and our three kids,” says Tracy Meier, the NAC’s chief program and education officer. “There are both paved and dirt trails offering incredible views of the mountains.” —M.M.

A panoramic view of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Michigan’s Lower Peninsula

Why Now: The Detroit Riverwalk, the city’s crown jewel, now connects to nearby Belle Isle, the southern terminus of the nearly completed 2,000-mile Iron Belle Trail. The statewide project, with hiking and biking paths to the Upper Peninsula, is over 70 percent ready following new route additions in 2023. Up north, Traverse City celebrated the advent of a lakeside loop 30 years in the making, and new lodgings opened in the state’s renowned national lakeshore.

Adventure Intel: The expansion of the Detroit Riverwalk—a 3.5-mile riverfront promenade voted one of the nation’s most beautiful—means easier access to Belle Isle, a 982-acre park. In the food and brew hub of Traverse City, the four-mile Boardman Lake Loop lets you bike, fish, and kayak just minutes from downtown. Thirty miles west, on the beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the 150-year-old Sleeping Bear Inn is being revitalized and is expected to open this summer with eight rooms. Off the northern tip of the peninsula, no-cars-allowed Mackinac Island is home to one of my favorite Midwest cycling routes, the M-185 lakefront loop. Park near mile marker one and ascend the 200 stairs to the Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock, opening this spring. And stargazers, take note: Beaver Island is in the final stages of becoming the state’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Local Tip: “Many rides, runs, and hikes start at Detroit’s Eastern Market,” says Todd Scott, of the Detroit Greenways Coalition. “Cutter’s is my go-to for a cold beer and pub grub in a relaxed environment that typifies Detroit.” — Stephanie Vermillion

Sunrise at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho

Why Now: Craters of the Moon, protecting the largest lava field in the lower 48, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with new and updated trails to welcome visitors. The preserve is also a designated International Dark Sky Park and the perfect spot to witness two large meteor showers, in August and December.

Adventure Intel: Imagine 750,000 acres of crusty lava with exposed fissures, craters, and lava-tube caves. The seven-mile Loop Road is a popular path to viewpoints and hikes up cinder cones (small dormant volcanoes). While most of the 500 caves are closed to protect native bats, you can get a free permit to explore 800-foot-long Indian Tunnel, where stalactites cover the ceilings and lava flows left tidemarks on the walls. Strike out on the four-mile Wilderness Trail, which passes Big Cinder Butte and rises 700 feet from the valley. With a free backpacking permit, you can keep going after the trail ends, following the 52-mile-long Great Rift—a crack in the earth’s crust preserved by lava. Craters also has some of the darkest skies in the park system. Show up in mid-August for the Perseid meteor shower or in mid-December for the Geminids—both promise up to 100 streaks of light per hour.

Local Tip: Ted Stout, author of Craters of the Moon, says that one of his favorite campsites is inside Echo Crater: “The incredibly high walls create a natural amphitheater that blocks the wind, and you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the amazing night skies.” —G.A.

A large wave crashes on the beach at Makena Beach in Maui, Hawaii.

Maui, Hawaii

Why Now: For years, the Hawaii Tourism Authority talked about embracing a more regenerative approach that promotes locally owned, Native-led outfitters and properties. On Maui, these goals are now paramount in the wake of August’s devastating fires.

Adventure Intel: The island is still healing after the loss of life caused by the blazes. Historic Lahaina remains off-limits to tourists as residents rebuild, but the rest of Maui is open , and many businesses need tourism dollars to survive. One of the biggest ways to help is by choosing locally owned restaurants, accommodations, and guiding outfits. As Kevin Shenk, owner of Helewai Eco-Tours, says, “There’s no better way to connect with a place than through its people.” His company’s two-mile Honolua Ridge Hike on the west side educates visitors about island ecology while providing them with stunning views. At the doorstep of Haleakala National Park , Kula Lodge—one of Maui’s few independent hotels—has been refreshed by new owners. Continue a local-focused itinerary by joining a hike of Haleakala Crater with Humble Tours, or rent a mountain bike at Maui Cyclery in Paia or Krank Cycles in Makawao or Kahului and tackle the 6.8-mile Haleakala Maui Skyline Trail. And offer to volunteer: you might harvest at Hua Momona Farms or plant taro at Na Mahiaio o Keanae. Both distribute food to those in need. GoHawaii also just launched the Malama Hawaii dashboard in partnership with Kanu Hawaii, which allows visitors to search for and sign up for volunteer experiences online and find ways to donate to nonprofits. Local Tip: Skip Starbucks and get your caffeine fix at Akamai, a local coffee franchise, says Riley Coon, director of sustainable tourism at Sail Trilogy. —J.M.

Taking a dip in the Caribbean waters surrounding Panama’s San Blas Islands

Why Now: Panama’s new Sustainable Network of Rural and Community Tourism project connects travelers with locals in the country’s most far-flung forests and along its coastlines. Last year Panama also kicked off its 1,000 Kilometers of Trails initiative—a push to create over 600 miles of land and water paths by 2030—with 18 miles open to trekkers around the dormant El Valle stratovolcano. Copa Airlines eases the way with direct flights to Panama City from Austin, Texas, Baltimore, Toronto, and Montreal.

Adventure Intel: Squeezed between the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, amid one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, Panama is wild with flora and fauna—more than 10,000 species. During a one-week trip, I accompanied sea turtle conservationists on moonlit beach walks and floated the Teribe River between Naso villages on a traditional balsa raft. Hiking is another Panama staple, notably the 16-mile round-trip trek up 11,400-foot Baru , Panama’s highest peak. Myriad marine animals are on view in the diving hub of Bocas del Toro. And the adults-only Nayara Bocas del Toro recently added treehouse digs and scuba, snorkel, and surf lessons.

Local Tip: George Hanily, executive director of the conservation group ANCON, recommends that birders book a stay at Los Quetzales Ecolodge and Spa in the Cerro Punta highlands. “It’s the easiest place in Central America to spot the spectacular resplendent quetzal,” he says. “You will find lovely cabins and trails.” —S.V.

Croatia’s “Eye of the Earth” spring

The Balkans

Why Now: Construction of the final segments of the Trans Dinarica Cycling Route , linking eight Balkan countries, is wrapping up. All 1,250 miles are expected to be fully connected by July, offering new opportunities to visit national parks and heritage sites across this little-visited region.

Adventure Intel: Born from years of collaboration, the Trans Dinarica is designed to lead travelers off the beaten path, through fairy-tale forests and small villages between Slovenia’s Soca Valley, on the Italian border, and Lake Ohrid, a Unesco World Heritage site on the Albanian–North Macedonian border. If you want to DIY, plan to ship your bike and to ride between 25 and 40 miles per day, with anywhere from 1,600 to 3,200 feet of elevation change, says Jan Klavora, one of the project’s masterminds. Suggested stops include a stay at Hisa Franko in Kobarid, Slovenia, whose Michelin-starred restaurant serves farm-to-table meals; Rijeka, Croatia, where you can dine on fresh fish beside the Adriatic Sea; and Lake Skadar, Montenegro, home to abundant carp and eel and some of Europe’s last pelicans. There are also easy detours to national parks like Montenegro’s Durmitor and Serbia’s Tara, both in the Dinaric Alps. Want help planning? Ljubljana-based Visit GoodPlace leads a nine-day gourmet food and cycling tour and a 15-day mountain-biking tour through Slovenia and Croatia. Or book Sarajevo-based Green Visions ’ eight-day highlands mountain-bike traverse through Bosnia and Herzegovina. For inexpensive flights to the region, check out Ryan-air’s routes into Croatia and Albania.

Local Tip: Bojan Senkinc, a Croatian guide with Promotiv Travel Outdoor, recommends exploring the Velebit Mountains, renowned for their cliffs, caves, and panoramas of the Adriatic. The Trans Dinarica passes through the Velebit, where recent rewilding efforts have bolstered populations of chamois, red deer, wolves, and lynx. — Delilah Friedler

A walk amid Madagascar’s massive baobabs

Why Now: Daunting logistics have long deterred travelers from visiting the world’s fourth largest island, but new internal flights and conservation-focused lodges are making this otherworldly place more accessible. And trust me: it’s worth it to experience mind-blowing safaris and activities like kayaking and kitesurfing in some of the world’s most gorgeously multihued water.

Adventure Intel: I’ve visited Africa more than a dozen times, and Madagascar has truly unbelievable biodiversity and adventure potential. In the northeast, Masoala National Park protects the island’s largest remaining rainforest and endemic species like the red ruffed lemur. I stayed at the park in one of Masoala Forest Lodge’s seven treehouses. Co-owner Pierre Bester is a fanatical kayaker and partnered with Wild Expeditions , a collective of owner-run African safari camps, to offer 10- and 11-night paddling expeditions between his lodge and its new two-story Crusoe’s Cabin, on an island off Cap Masoala. Namorokoa National Park in the northwest is also incredible, notably for its tsingy limestone pinnacles, towering baobab trees, ancient burial sites, and 100-plus bird species. The nonprofit Wildlife Madagascar is opening a tented camp midyear to give travelers a better base to roam from. Off the west coast, luxury property Miavana opened a kitesurfing school on Nosy Ankao, with helicopter trips to far-flung sites like the Red Tsingy Reserve.

Local Tip: Bester sends strong paddlers from Crusoe’s Cabin to a sacred point where the Malagasy ask their ancestors for blessings. A local guide meets them and shares insight about beliefs and taboos. “It’s a humbling and spiritual experience,” Bester says. —J.M.

Summer at Campfire Ranch Wash Gulch, in Crested Butte

Why Now: The Centennial State continues to woo travelers with improved adventure options. The first thing that caught our eye was San Juan Mountain Guides’ Million Dollar Trek , which debuted last year as a five-day hut-to-hut hike; from July through September, you can head out from Ouray and overnight at three full-service backcountry lodges. It’s never been easier to plan an EV-powered road trip through Colorado’s most beautiful places: in 2024, you’ll find charging spots on 14 of the state’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, with more on the way. On June 1 and 2, don’t miss the new Outside Festival (brought to you by Outside Inc., this magazine’s parent company) in Denver’s Civic Center Park. It will feature headline musical acts, a films and ideas summit, climbing walls, and gear demos.

Adventure Intel: Populus , the country’s first carbon-positive hotel, is on track to open in downtown Denver this summer with a distinctive design: its white exterior and windows are meant to look like notches in an aspen tree. The southern Colorado town of Trinidad is quietly becoming a hot spot for gravel cyclists; it hosts September’s Rad Dirt Fest race, with three courses through the Spanish Peaks. Hikers are heading to Fishers Peak State Park for its new 16-mile round-trip trail to the eponymous 9,633-foot summit. (Note: the top of the trail is closed from March until August for raptor nesting, so bring your binos if you’re a birder.) From Trinidad it’s about two hours to Great Sand Dunes National Park , where the startup Ramble recently installed 25 spacious campsites, with kitchens and shared showers, and a stargazing area with hammocks. Rent a sandboard while you’re at it. Ramble is also opening a campground near Mesa Verde National Park later this year. Other new stays around the state include the Campfire Ranch Wash Gulch in Crested Butte; it requires a four-mile approach in winter, but the payoff is incredible ski touring and summer hiking. Campfire Ranch also operates a campground, open from May through October, on the Taylor River in nearby Almont; there are sleeping bags, coolers, and tents for rent. The staff will teach you how to set up camp, and a concierge can organize fly-fishing and mountain-biking outings. In Aspen, the 68-room Mollie Hotel opened in December with a rooftop pool; from there it’s a ten-minute walk to Aspen Mountain, which expanded its terrain by more than 20 percent over the winter, with 26 new chutes and trails, the majority expert-level.

Local Tip: Sam Degenhard, founder of Campfire Ranch, sends intermediate-to-advanced mountain bikers to Doctor Park , northeast of Almont. “It’s a Colorado classic, with eight miles of flowy downhill,” he says. “Afterward, get green chile tamales at Teocalli Tamale.” —M.M.

An adaptive cyclist heads up one of the new Gateway Trails in Old Fort, North Carolina.

Old Fort, North Carolina

Why Now: A former manufacturing town on the edge of Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort was down on its luck until the local community started building mountain-bike routes. The Gateway Trails were the first to open, in 2022. And thanks to a $2.5 million grant, the G5 Trail Collective will construct 42 miles of flowy singletrack in the next few years, nine of which are already done. The burgeoning system has boosted the economy; in the past two years, 13 businesses have opened, including a number of breweries, the Old Fort Bike Shop, Mountain Top Shuttles, and Gogo’s Cinnamon Rolls.

Adventure Intel: My son and I love to hammer downhill laps on the new trails, and there’s an easy gravel climb directly out of a trail hub with bathroom facilities. In the backcountry, I like to ride the months-old Bernard Mountain Trail , where a lonely ascent rewards you with three miles of sidecut singletrack dropping almost 1,000 feet. I’m also excited about the new three-mile Lower Heartbreak Trail , which connects with existing routes to form an 11-mile adventure from Blue Ridge Parkway at the base of Mount Mitchell that drops more than 3,400 feet to the edge of Old Fort.

Bernard Mountain Road multi-use trail

Local Tip: Jason McDougald, founder of the G5 Trail Collective, raves about Abbiocco, the new pizza truck at the Whaley Farm Brewery. “It’s the real deal,” he says, “run by a chef from Asheville who imported the pizza oven from Italy. There’s always pepperoni on the menu, but go with one of the seasonal pies, like the fall pizza with butternut squash and pine nuts.” —G.A.

The Seven Stars pub, south of Liverpool, England

Why Now: Whether you go for football on the telly or a full English brekky on the terrace, pubs are an integral part of life in the UK. Yet recent economic pressures have threatened the beloved institutions: in 2022, an average of 32 closed every month. However, the campsite-booking company Pitchup is pairing with country pubs that have scenic grounds where campers can spend the night. “Pubs are landmarks in their own right,” says Pitchup founder Dan Yates, who notes that such reservations searches on the site were up 10 percent from 2022. “Being able to sleep at one offers a truly one-of-a-kind camping experience.” For pub owners, campsite fees are a vital new revenue stream, and most guests enjoy the food and drink as well.

Adventure Intel: Currently, 128 pubs offer a place to either pitch your tent or park your trailer. (Use its  pub campsite filter  to get pub listings.) Prices average $40 per night and usually include amenities like Wi-Fi and a hot shower. I’ve got my eye on the Ring, a 19th-century stone building on Wales’s rugged Anglesey peninsula, just off the stunning 870-mile Wales Coast Path.

Local Tip: At the George in Gloucestershire, walk the nearby 17-mile Jubilee Way and then dig into the “banging carvery,” as one reviewer put it. The Gaggle of Geese, in the Dorset hamlet of Buckland Newton, is nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; you might spend time on the premises playing with pygmy goats or testing the pins on its skittles alley (a lane for bowling, not a pathway lined with candy). — Tom Vanderbilt

Northern lights over Nunavik, northern Quebec

Quebec, Canada

Why Now: NOAA recently predicted that the current solar cycle, which began in 2019 and will run until 2030, is likely to peak from now until October. What does that mean for those of us who travel to witness the wonders of the night skies? More chances to see a bright aurora borealis.

The latitude of northern Quebec’s Gyrfalcon Islands falls within the auroral oval—a ring above the geomagnetic poles where more activity happens—making it a good area for sightings, says Shawn Dahl, of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. A Native-run expedition that combines sky gazing with wildlife watching is one of the better ways to make the most of your time in these remote reaches, while two small-town destinations along the Saint Lawrence River offer new opportunities to explore the province’s under-the-radar outdoor settings.

Adventure Intel: In 2022, James May and Jonathan Grenier, Inuit guides from the small northern Nunavik town of Kuujjuaq, started Ungava Polar Eco-Tours . In August and September (the best months for the northern lights, according to Dahl), they offer a half dozen seven-day adventures on six-mile-long Tiercel Island in the Gyrfalcon archipelago, just below the Arctic Circle. You’ll explore by foot, fat bike, ATV, and boat—the latter of which requires experience in this corner of Ungava Bay, where the tidal range can be as much as 63 feet. Sightings of birds and seals are guaranteed, but there are also walruses, a variety of whales—minke, humpback, beluga, and orca—wolves, foxes, and polar bears. Guests are housed in insulated fiberglass domes that can withstand bumps by a disgruntled beast and winds up to 155 miles per hour. May and Grenier harvest caribou, musk oxen, arctic char, Canada geese, and berries throughout the year, and send their bounty to the renowned Quebec chef Kim Côté, who prepares traditional Inuit meals for guests. If you can’t make it to the wilds of northern Quebec, two destinations along the Saint Lawrence have ample dark skies, stunning scenery, and attractions with affordable overnight accommodations. Attitude Nordique , a year-round adventure park in Baie-Comeau, has a new zip line and suspension bridge, plus kayaking, climbing, and canoeing, as well as beachfront lodging and campsites. On the river’s southern shore, in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, gaze at the heavens from one of seven Panora seaside pods, each with a hot tub and deck. The property is just 27 miles from Gaspésie National Park, known for its hiking and an abundance of moose and caribou.

Local Tip: When the aurora borealis—known as aqsarniit by the Inuit—appears, Grenier recommends whistling. “In our culture, they teach us that when you whistle at the lights, they move even more,” he says. “It brings a joyful mood.” — Stephanie Pearson

Hikers amble through Valley of the Winds in Australia’s Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park.

Australia’s Red Centre

Why Now: Located smack-dab in the middle of the country’s outback, the Red Centre is climbing the ranks of many travelers’ lists. A flourishing LGBTQ+ festival in Alice Springs is drawing enthusiastic crowds, while visitors interested in Indigenous tourism now have easier access to Uluru, the iconic sandstone formation, thanks to direct Virgin Australia flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Ayers Rock Airport, 20 miles from the site.

Adventure Intel: Alice Springs is the final destination of road-tripping drag queens in the 1994 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and each spring the outpost hosts the four-day FabAlice festival . This year it expects 25 percent more revelers—upwards of 5,000 people—to celebrate the cult classic’s 30th anniversary, with performances, a parade, and other gatherings at the new Priscilla Bar at Lasseters Hotel Casino (featured in the movie). Hikers will head out for a trek at Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which includes the Priscilla’s Crack lookout. Uluru, 200 miles southwest, is a different kind of mecca—Aboriginals believe that the distinctive formation was created by their ancestors. To see more of the region, sign up for Indigenous-operated 100% Finke River Culture and Adventure’s five-day cultural-immersion tours across the Red Centre, which include treks to sacred sites and evenings around a campfire eating Aboriginal cuisine.

Kings Canyon Rim Walk near Alice Springs

Local Tip: Alice Springs may be remote but it doesn’t lack worldly fare: Stuart Ord, volunteer chair of FabAlice’s board, recommends dining at the Alice Vietnamese Restaurant. You can also find Turkish, Chinese, Korean, and Italian eateries in town. —D.F.

Lobster for lunch is nearly a given during Maine’s summer season. Although harvested year-round, more are pulled from offshore waters between June and December.

Why Now: The Pine Tree State is on a roll, with an expansion at its largest ski resort, the ongoing renaissance of once down-and-out mill towns, and the opening of hotels close to outdoor recreation. Did we mention the solar eclipse on April 8? A swath of Maine will be in the path of totality.

Adventure Intel: Sugarloaf Mountain has increased its terrain by 10 percent; additions include 12 trails, a high-speed quad, and, this summer, a lift-served mountain-bike park. Saddleback Mountain cut the ribbon on a midmountain restaurant with a ski-up bar and views of Rangeley Lake; the resort is also expanding its network of lift-accessed singletrack. Portland’s new Longfellow Hotel is a mile from the terrific restaurants of the Old Port, while in nearby Biddeford, a revitalized former textile town with its own buzzy dining scene, an 1850s mill is now the 33-room Lincoln Hotel. To the north, in Skowhegan, the River Fest, held in August, will highlight the ongoing downtown River Park project, with an adjustable wave for surfing and paddling. (Borrow kayaks and other gear from Skowhegan Outdoors.) Way north, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, and its visitor center, set to open on August 17, tells the story of the area through the eyes of the Penobscot and other local Native tribes.

Local Tip: Brian Catapang, co-owner of the Magnus on Water restaurant in Biddeford, says, “Pick up a cold-brew at Time and Tide Coffee on Main Street—it’s so good we use it in our espresso martinis—before heading to Fortunes Rocks, the best surf spot around.” — Meg Lukens Noonan

Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring

Wyoming’s Yellowstone Highway

Why Now: Part of the historic Yellowstone Highway is turning 100. The anniversary celebrates my favorite two-lane ribbon of asphalt anywhere in the world, which cuts 300 miles from Shoshoni through an especially scenic section of Wind River Canyon before continuing into Yellowstone National Park and then Grand Teton National Park. The trip is all the better this year when you factor in the new planetarium, with one of the state’s largest telescopes, near Yellowstone’s south entrance, new park trails, and a new zip line and new bike-park features at the two ski resorts in Jackson Hole, where the highway ends.

Adventure Intel: Fly into Casper on a one-way ticket and rent a four-wheel drive (to return later in Jackson). Then head west 100 miles to Shoshoni, the start of the Yellowstone Highway, and drop a line in Boysen Reservoir, teeming with trophy-size trout and walleye. Continue north to Thermopolis via the 34-mile Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway , flanked by 2,500-foot-high rock walls and the Bighorn River that carved them. Hot Springs State Park, which has added and updated six miles of hiking and biking trails, has a thriving bison herd and a free bathhouse where you can soak in a 104-degree mineral spring. Hit the highway again, and in three to four hours you can be kayaking across high-alpine Yellowstone Lake with the naturalist guides at Shurr Adventures . Or cruise south toward the Tetons for the climbing and hiking around Jackson Hole. It’s pricey, but I like to crash at the Cloudveil, right on the Town Square. (The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa is aiming to reopen in late May, too.) Pro tip: for the best views of the Town Square or Snow King Mountain, request a room facing Center Street. Last September, I ventured onto Snow King’s new zip line; with a 36 percent grade, it’s the steepest in North America. In June, the resort will open a $5 million mountaintop planetarium. At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, while traversing the via ferrata, I watched construction workers put the finishing touches on the Grand Teton Skywalk, at 10,450 feet. This summer, the resort’s bike park will debut a new jump line codesigned by pro freerider Cam Zink; après at the renovated Spur Restaurant and Bar at the base of the mountain. Hikers, take note: four-legged friends will finally be allowed on the gondola.

Local Tip: “Grab a trail map from the chamber of commerce and check out the awesome trails on the high points overlooking Thermopolis,” says Dusty Lewis, owner of the outfitter Rent Adventure. “If you’re worried about the climbs, they’re e-bike-friendly. And a spicy blackened burger from One-Eyed Buffalo Brewing always hits the spot.” — Katie Jackson

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Where to Go in 2024

The 25 most exciting places around the world to visit next.

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A grid of travel images with the text AFAR where to go in 2024

From a British city reimagining its industrial past and a laid-back Kenyan island free of cars to the best place in North America to see the total solar eclipse, our 25 picks for where to go next year have several traits in common: Each is an awe-inspiring, joy-inducing destination where human connection and creativity define the travel experience. These 25 places (listed in no particular order) offer ample opportunities for conscientious, sustainable exploration—exactly what AFAR’s travelers who care are seeking right now. Cheers to a year of getting out there. —The Editors

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Friendly reef sharks swim among guests at Vomo Island.

Courtesy of Vomo Island Fiji

Fiji ’s marine life is famously beautiful: a colorful show of turtles, rays, and sharks swirling amid sun-dappled shades of green and blue. The main stage for this dazzling performance is its array of coral reefs—fragile ecosystems in which the symbiotic relationship between plants and fish plays out daily, their delicate dance a microcosm of our ever more stressed planet.

For the full story from Tim Chester, read: In Fiji, A Vivid Underwater World Awaits .

People climbing the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House turned 50 in October 2023. Celebrations will continue into next year.

Photo by Michelle Heimerman

2. Sydney, Australia

Best known for its looming concrete “shells,” the Sydney Opera House is a master class in modern expressionist design. The iconic building turned 50 in October 2023 to great fanfare. Enjoy dinner at Midden , the new Indigenous restaurant located within the compound; the next day, wake up early for an exclusive Backstage Tour , which will take you through corridors to rehearsal spaces and the orchestra pit. Check out the Opera House’s 2024 special programming throughout the year, including the London International Animation Festival in January and an evening with author Fran Lebowitz in February. Or consider a trip in May or June for the annual festival Vivid Sydney , when art and light installations transform the harbor into a mind-bending light show. —Michael Callahan

Colorful rooftops in Tangier against a blue sky.

In 1956, Tangier was reintegrated into the newly independent Moroccan state.

Photo by Stephanie Foden

3. Tangier, Morocco

With a skyline that resembles a handful of dice tossed haphazardly on the cliffside, Tangier has long stood apart from other Moroccan cities. For several decades in the 20th century, it was administered by a cluster of foreign countries, including Italy and Spain. It lured writers and artists from Europe and the United States, imparting a cosmopolitan vibe that lingers today. In the past five years, though, Morocco’s northernmost city has reconnected with its national roots.

In 2018, Africa’s first high-speed train line linked Tangier with Casablanca. The journey now takes two hours. It was part of an extensive infrastructure investment to bolster the region. The arrival of new luxury hotels is a boon, including the 133-room Fairmont Tazi Palace and the boutique Villa Mabrouka , a 12-room makeover of Yves Saint Laurent’s onetime home by fashion designer Jasper Conran. Waldorf Astoria will join them, likely in early 2025.

The city’s two main squares, the Grand Socco and Petit Socco, showcase the talent of creative Moroccans. Alma Kitchen , owned by a local jeweler and her photographer husband, serves dishes such as charred eggplant and anise-and-cardamom-spiced potatoes. Idle over a coffee at Cinémathèque de Tanger on the larger square, a historic cultural venue that first opened in 1938 and was refurbished in the mid-2000s by French Moroccan artist Yto Barrada . Just outside the medina, Las Chicas focuses on Moroccan-made homewares, clothing, and organic wellness products by the women-owned Zoā Beauty ; linger for a mint tea, or atay , here, too.

Stop by El Morocco Club , a piano bar and restaurant inspired by, and named after, the louche New York City nightclub that opened in the 1930s. Today the club—with its monochromatic photos and zebra-print sofas—is the perfect shorthand for old and new Tangier in one. —Mark Ellwood

An old-fashioned Ford pickup truck driving past a field of wildflowers in Texas.

With hilly terrain ribboned with spring-fed rivers, the Hill Country is arguably one of the prettiest places in Texas.

Photo by Wynn Myers

4. The Texas Hill Country

This year, all eyes are turned to the Texas Hill Country, since it falls smack-dab in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse on April 8. As the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, the day will turn to night. North America saw a total eclipse in 2017, but the last time the land now known as Texas experienced one was back in 1397. Visibility will depend on two things: location (the Hill Country will get close to four and a half minutes of totality, out of a possible seven and a half) and weather (Central Texas’s annual average of 300 sunny days bodes well).

For the full story from Mae Hamilton, read: A Total Eclipse, Fresh Peaches, and Small-Town Charm: Why This Destination Is Worth a Trip This Year .

Left: A plate of food at Anima, a restaurant at the Rome Edition hotel. Right: A doorman waits outside of the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel.

From left: The restaurant Anima at the Rome Edition hotel serves regional fare; The Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel combines traditional Italian architecture with elevated cuisine.

From left: Photo by Nikolas Koeni; Courtesy of Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome

5. Rome, Italy

The meal started with octopus carpaccio, wagyu beef gyoza, and yellowtail sushi. After my husband and I polished that off, the waiter set down Ibérico pork marinated in soy and truffle. Seated on a snaking banquette at Seen by Olivier, the rooftop restaurant at the new Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel, we enjoyed dish after dish. When I first moved to Rome in 2009, I was hard-pressed to find such globally inspired fare; though it is a major European capital, it had tended to the traditional. But the Eternal City is changing.

For the full story by Laura Itzkowitz, read New Hotels, Restaurants, and Experiences: Why Now Is the Time to Book a Trip to Rome .

A few alpacas grazing at Machu Picchu

Intrepid Travel now offers a way for visitors to experience a lesser-seen side of Machu Picchu.

Photo by Amanda Villarosa

6. Machu Picchu, Peru

Peru’s most popular attraction can sometimes seem to buckle under the weight of its visitors. Now, Intrepid Travel is offering a way to experience a lesser-known side of the Sacred Valley , using not the popular Inca Trail but a route based on the Quarry Trail. Its new itinerary features the dramatic Perolniyoc Cascade waterfall; an Inca quarry that gave the original trail its name; and a viewpoint, called Wayrapunku, that overlooks the village of Ollantaytambo, whose ruins include the 900-year-old Temple of the Sun. —Michael Callahan

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In 2024, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book Jaws in Martha’s Vineyard.

Photo by Lachlan/Unsplash

7. Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

It was the book that made people afraid to go into the water: Jaws . Celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024 with a tour of sites on Martha’s Vineyard where the movie was filmed in 1974. Beyond the realm of the great white shark, explore the quintessential New England beauty of the 87-square-mile island: the dramatic clay cliffs of Aquinnah that appear to change color throughout the day; Offshore Ale Company , which serves malty fish and chips; and the 147-year-old carousel in Oak Bluffs , the oldest in the country. Visits in the “shoulder seasons,” late spring and early fall, come with mild weather and a respite from the island’s infamous summer traffic. —Michael Callahan

Woman in long orange dress on narrow street (L); a dhow with 1 large triangular sail on the water (R)

Lamu hosts several events a year, including competitive dhow races and a yoga festival.

From left: Photo by Khadija M. Farah; Eric Lafforgue

8. Lamu, Kenya

Walking the sandy, winding streets of Shela—a village on the southeastern coast of Kenya’s Lamu Island —is an exercise in trusting the process. The island is essentially free of motor vehicles, and the alleyways are only wide enough for pedestrians and donkeys. Even after visiting a dozen times, I take it as a given that I will get lost. I also trust that Shela is small enough that I will eventually stumble upon that patch of fiery fuchsia bougainvillea I had passed earlier, or that carved wooden door, or that mosque with the atonal call to prayer singer, and I will find my way once again.

For the full story from Sarika Bansal, read: On this East African Island, Getting Lost Is Half the Fun .

Left: a Buddhist temple in Bhutan. Right: Aerial view of person crossing small bridge over river in forest

The 250-mile-long Trans Bhutan Trail passes through villages and valleys, alongside dozens of Buddhist stupas and temples.

Photos by Ken Spence Photography

The last remaining Buddhist kingdom in the world is not easy to reach, but that’s what makes arriving even more rewarding. After our pilot landed between 18,000-foot Himalayan peaks at Bhutan’s Paro International Airport (which looks more like a temple), I soon realized I was in a place unlike anywhere else.

Bhutan only opened its doors to tourism in 1974 and has put measures in place to make sure that tourists don’t overrun its pristine nature or long-preserved culture. With a strong conservation mindset, it is the world’s first carbon-negative country : 60 percent of its landscape must be covered in forest, and tourists have always been required to pay a daily fee. Since 2022, the fee has supported local community and conservation projects.

In September 2023, Bhutan halved its tourist fee to $100 per day to attract more travelers. Visitors are encouraged to stay longer to experience the country’s new and renovated five-star hotels, such as Zhiwa Ling Heritage , andBeyond Punakha River Lodge , and Pemako Punakha , all of which are required to be built in the traditional Bhutanese style. And with the restoration of the Trans Bhutan Trail, visitors can explore new parts of the country.

Soon after it reopened in 2022, I hiked the historic pilgrimage route, which dates to the 16th century, on a G Adventures trip . We were some of the first foreigners to walk through remote villages on our way to see fortresses and stupas.

It was easy to understand Bhutan’s deep reverence for nature as we trekked through thick pine forests and fog-blanketed mountains—some with peaks that have never been scaled to avoid disturbing spirits. Hearing that made walking under their shadow feel only more sacred. —Kathleen Rellihan

A bowl of Japanese-inspired food in Philadelphia

Philadelphia took home more James Beard Awards in 2023 than any other city.

Photo by Ted Nghiem Photography

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Travelers who love food and art should make a beeline to Philly this year. The city garnered more restaurant and chef awards than any other at the 2023 James Beard Foundation competition . Make time to try the seasonal tasting menu at Friday Saturday Sunday, which won Outstanding Restaurant, or Thai cuisine at Kalaya , where Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon won Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic . On the art side, the Rodin Museum is hosting a sculpture exhibition, Rodin’s Hands , and the Philadelphia Museum of Art will feature the photographic exhibition In the Right Place , recognizing the pioneering photographers Barbara Crane, Melissa Shook, and Carol Taback. —Amy S. Eckert

People standing outside a cafe in Paris

Paris, long known for its arts and culture scene, will be taking on the sports world in 2024.

Photo by Nico Knaack/Unsplash

11. Paris, France

The City of Light has been preparing to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the Paralympics with signature French élan. (Swimming events in the Seine! BMX freestyle on the Place de la Concorde!). “There is much to consider if you want to be in Paris for the Olympics,” says Martha King , whose namesake agency is helping travelers who want to attend the Games. There are over 3,500 combinations of Olympic events and sessions; hopeful attendees should act quickly, King says. The city is, of course, festive throughout the year and worth a visit any time. Visitors before April 2 may enjoy the Mark Rothko exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton ; afterward, go for a champagne spritz and Eiffel Tower views on the rooftop of the recently opened Hôtel Dame des Arts . —Michael Callahan

A group of women taking a selfie at Lemon Grove, a restaurant in Los Angeles.

Lemon Grove at the Aster hotel is a new addition to L.A.’s rooftop dining scene.

Photo by Emil John Ravelo

12. Los Angeles, California

Growing up in Los Angeles, I always felt it was so spread out that nothing quite tempted me to leave my neighborhood. Now, as an adult who recently returned from living in New York, I’m willing to battle traffic and get to know more of the city. From contemporary art exhibits at The Broad downtown to sunny afternoons spent at Hollywood’s new rooftop garden atop the Aster hotel , L.A. offers cultural and outdoor experiences all year round.

The largest public art project devoted to Black artists in the United States will open in the city in 2024. The 1.3-mile-long open-air museum, called Destination Crenshaw , will be filled with permanent and temporary outdoor installations featuring works by more than 100 Black artists displayed across four acres of green space. Established and emerging artists will include painter Kehinde Wiley , artist and sculptor Melvin Edwards, and graffiti artists the RTN crew.

“The creative energy of the Black community in South L.A. drives popular art that’s born locally, copied nationally, and consumed globally,” says Jason Foster, Destination Crenshaw’s president and COO. “Nonetheless, these artists have received neither the public acknowledgment nor economic advantage from decades of creative productivity. Destination Crenshaw powerfully makes this case, visually stamping South L.A. as the West Coast’s cradle of Black creativity.”

The city’s food scene is thriving, too—a reflection of its diverse residents. Chef Rashida Holmes’s pop-up, Bridgetown Roti , will open its first brick-and-mortar location in 2024, bringing Caribbean cookery to East Hollywood. Row DTLA downtown, meanwhile, is a one-stop shop for global fare, including omakase at Hayato and wood-fired creations at Chris Bianco’s celebrated Pizzeria Bianco . More than enough reason to explore the city more deeply—and venture further afield. —Kristin Braswell

A pedestrian-only street in Manchester, with people sitting at outdoor café tables

Manchester is a city of firsts: the first women’s vote in the UK, the world’s first professional soccer league, the first Rolls Royce, the first passenger railway, and it’s also where Oasis (and countless other bands) played their first gig.

Photo by Wambam Photography

13. Manchester, England

Let’s start by saying that you know more about Manchester than you think you do—that the northern England city of red-brick Victorian buildings, old universities, and public squares already lives in your pop-culture subconscious, the backdrop for era-defining events that outshone the city itself.

For the full story from Billie Cohen, read: This Northern English City Has Been Nurturing Its Arts Scene for Years—and It’s Paying Off .

2 large fish-shaped kites being launched

Weifang, China, prides itself on being the World Kite Capital.

Photo by Laurence Coulton

14. Weifang, China

This eastern Chinese city between Beijing and Shanghai is often proclaimed the kite capital of the world , thanks to its annual international kite festival each April that draws tens of thousands of people, and the Weifang World Kite Museum , where five exhibition halls explore the craftsmanship and folklore of kites. But Weifang works to protect all of its cultural heritage, with a focus on preserving traditions that earned it status as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2021 and as a 2024 Culture City of East Asia. For example, Shihuyuan Intangible Cultural Heritage Park teaches visitors about art forms, including clay modeling and paper cutting, as well as kites. Travelers can try their hand at kite-making and wood-block printing at Yangjiabu Folk Art Grand View Garden . A thriving evening food market scene ensures a delicious end to a day; try barbecued seafood or chao tian guo , a dish of pork offal and pickled vegetables wrapped in a thin pancake. Wild China can arrange a custom itinerary that includes Weifang. —Tim Chester

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Long known for its stunning Caribbean landscapes, the island of St. Kitts is also embracing its storied history of rum making.

Courtesy of St. Kitt’s Tourism Authority (L); Photo by Tom Philips

15. St. Kitts

St. Kitts , in the eastern Caribbean, is an island of thick rain forests and sunny beaches. But during its early colonial era it was blanketed with sugar plantations that were farmed by enslaved African people. Much of the crop was turned into rum, creating a lucrative business for the British. After St. Kitts gained independence in 1983 and shut down its cane sugar production in 2005 (it couldn’t compete with the global industry’s turn to beet sugar), the legacy of Kittitian rum was not forgotten. Now two locally owned companies are reviving the island’s distilling heritage with a proud Kittitian spin.

“We have a tradition of making rum called hammond, or bush rum,” says Roger Brisbane, the founder of Hibiscus Spirits and owner of beachside restaurant Spice Mill . “People made it in the mountains. This was roots-style, over a coal pot with contraptions to distill the alcohol from the molasses.” Today, his company blends regionally sourced rum with tart hibiscus, a nod to a Caribbean Christmas drink called sorrel.

Jack Widdowson is also building on the island’s history. Archaeologists unearthed a 17th-century distillery on the former plantation where he grew up, and in 2020, he founded the Old Road Rum Company there. For now he’s blending signature bottles (using molasses-based rum from other Caribbean countries) while renovating the distillery so it can produce 100 percent Kittitian rum again.

The Kittitian RumMaster experience from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority introduces visitors to both projects. But as Widdowson explains, “A visit to Old Road Rum is not merely a historical tour or tasting session. It’s an opportunity to be part of an evolving narrative that respects the past while shaping a new chapter for rum production in St. Kitts.” —Rosalind Cummings-Yeats

People at the beach in Valencia, Spain

Valencia’s beaches spill into the Mediterranean Sea on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Photo by Charlie Gallant/Unsplash

16. Valencia, Spain

Valencia, the 2,150-year-old city on Spain’s east coast, earned the title of European Green Capital 2024 by passing muster in 12 categories, including air, noise, nature and biodiversity, and energy efficiency. See this in action with a stroll through the city center’s old town (home to Valencia Cathedral , which is said to house the Holy Grail). Or wander Turia Garden , nearly six miles of green space along a former riverbed crossed by bridges built in various centuries. Cyclists can see the city from 125 miles of bike lanes. — Billie Cohen

The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul towers above Brno.

Vetsiges of the old city and fresh elements of modern culture intermingle in Brno, Czechia.

Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer/Unsplash

17. Brno, Czechia

Pronounced Burr-NO, ideally with a luxuriously rolled “r,” Czechia’s second-largest city is roughly a quarter the size of Prague and receives almost none of its international tourists. Yet it is Brno, not the capital, that has been named one of UNESCO’s Cities of Music , honoring its thriving network of bars, clubs, and concert spaces, along with its world-class festival calendar. The scene here offers everything from the banjo punk of homegrown band Poletíme to JazzFestBrno, whose 2024 performers include Grammy Award–winning singer Samara Joy. Between the golf ball–shaped and acoustically advanced Sono Centrum venue and the imposing medieval walls of Špilberk Castle (where the city’s philharmonic performs), there are few spots in Brno that aren’t pressed into musical service.

For the full story from Emma John, read: This Music-Filled City Is Stepping Out of Prague’s Shadow .

Part of downtown Detroit skyline

New developments are slowly breathing life back into Detroit.

Photo by Lex Brisbey/Unsplash

18. Detroit, Michigan

Detroit’s Michigan Central , a Beaux-Arts former train station, has been reimagined as a transportation R&D lab with retail, dining, and community spaces—just one example of how everything old is new again in this city. The Motown Museum will roll out a $65 million upgrade throughout 2024 that includes performance spaces, interactive exhibits, and a music education center. The hip Cambria Hotel (in a 1936 radio broadcasting building by Albert Kahn, one of Detroit’s great architects) is the latest in a string of landmarks refashioned as boutique hotels. And a new glass-and-steel tower on the site of the 1927 Hudson’s store will open a 48th-floor observation deck in 2024. —Amy S. Eckert

The gold-colored IMAX dome at the Cultural Center of Tijuana

San Diego and Tijuana are strengthening their bond with one another through arts and culture.

Photo by Robert Briggs/Shutterstock

19. San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico

Cross-border collaboration is the theme here, as these two cities, just 20 miles apart, share the biennial designation as the World Design Capital of 2024 . That translates to a series of events in both places. La Frontera , an exhibition focused on jewelry design, will take place January 27 to August 4 at San Diego’s Mingei International Museum and February 16 to June 9 at the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT). In September, the week-long World Design Experience , an interactive showcase of design, will appear at various venues in San Diego. Additional travel-worthy art and architecture await: In San Diego, seek out the Salk Institute , a landmark of modern concrete buildings, or the University of California San Diego’s geometric Geisel Library (named for Dr. Seuss); in Tijuana, visit CECUT for its dramatic dome and garden full of replica Mesoamerican sculptures. —Tim Chester

Aerial view of the fjords around Bodo, Norway.

Surrounded by fjords and home to a thriving Arctic creative scene, Bodø is a 2024 European Capital of Culture.

Photo by Tim E. White/Getty Images

Norway is a great place to feel the awe of nature, and that experience is getting even better. Starting in 2024, there will be more opportunities to take in the beauty and bounty of the country—and, in true Norwegian style, these travel adventures are also kinder to the Earth.

For the full story from Laura Hall read: Why This Nordic Country Should Be at the Top of Your Travel Bucket List.

Two people hugging near the docks in Charleston, South Carolina.

The International African American Museum was built where Gadsden’s Wharf was once located. The Wharf was the disembarkation point of an estimated 40 percent of all enslaved persons in the United States.

Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto

21. Charleston, South Carolina

When the International African American Museum opened in 2023, Charleston put itself at the top of must-see lists for 2024 and beyond. Exhibitions share the many facets of the African American story, delving into slavery and the civil rights movement along with modern-day challenges and triumphs. A genealogy center helps families search for their histories too. Overnight at one of two new additions to the city: the Palmetto Hotel , where the contemporary decor is accented by works from Charleston artists of the early 1900s; or the Pinch , a stylish boutique property with a bike-share program, sailing tours, and a kitchen in every room. —Amy S. Eckert

An aerial view of vineyards in Maldanado, Uruguay

Historically, Uruguay’s winemaking has been centered in Montevideo and the Canelones province, but today Maldonado is producing its own compelling vintages.

Photo by William Hereford

22. Maldonado, Uruguay

There’s something in the air in Piriápolis. There always has been: Alchemist Francisco Piria founded his Belle Époque seaside resort town here in the 1890s, because he loved the supposedly cosmic energy. And visitors have long flocked to the Maldonado region as a whole for its world-class beach towns: flashy Punta del Este and its bohemian cousin, José Ignacio . Today, though, a visit is all about the wine. Travelers can stroll through family owned vineyards that unfurl toward the ocean; drink Uruguay’s gutsy tannat reds and signature albariño whites, and pair them with the melt-in-your-mouth steaks the country is famous for.

Uruguay’s viticulture scene is thriving, and Maldonado on the Atlantic coast is its fastest-growing wine region. In fact, Montevideo’s best-known winemaker, Bodega Bouza , has opened the hilltop restaurant Las Espinas here, and is adding a winery in 2024. It’s not the only one. Cerro del Toro —whose tannat varietal was recently dubbed Uruguay’s “discovery of the year”—will also open a winery next year.

In this part of Uruguay, enotourism means intimate vineyards and bucolic outdoor tastings. At Bodega Garzón , visitors can ride e-bikes around the sprawling estate to find a spot to savor wine with a picnic. On a rocky bluff with the Atlantic hazy in the distance, the Alto de la Ballena estate hosts tastings of its bottles, including a fresh tannat-viognier blend.

“Most of our wineries are boutique or family owned, and the owners are directly involved in every step of the process,” says José Ignacio–based sommelier Soledad Bassini, who has worked in the industry for 25 years. “That brings the wine a lot of character, and for visitors it’s like entering someone’s home and sharing their routine, traditions, and history.”

The abundance of wine experiences led Bassini to create the Mapa del Vino , a map that details Uruguay’s boutique vineyards. “Maldonado has everything,” she says. “Terroir, ocean, beaches—it’s the whole package.” —Julia Buckley

Tartu's pink town hall, with outdoor cafe on right

Tartu’s Town Hall Square is perhaps best known for the Kissing Students fountain, which is said to bestow luck on newlyweds.

Photo by Riina Varol

23. Tartu, Estonia

Tartu’s cobblestoned, café-filled town square is just the start of its charm. One of three European Capitals of Culture for 2024 , it has plenty to offer any year—from professional productions at Estonia’s oldest theater (est. 1870) to pop-up bars and art shows in the Soviet-era “garage box” sheds still found behind homes. But the 2024 celebrations are even more reason to visit the southern Estonian city: a show of Soviet-era DIY inventions (April 24–December 31); an Estonian folklore concert by the Paris Philharmonic choir (June 15); and events that showcase the region’s forests, hills, and lakes, including an outdoor sculpture exhibit near the town of Otepää, about 30 miles south (May 25–September 15). — Billie Cohen

A woman in a flamboyant bright green costume for Carnival in Toronto

Almost 6 percent of Toronto’s population has Caribbean roots, celebrated at the annual Carnival.

Photo by Itsik Marom/Alamy

24. Toronto, Canada

By most measures, Toronto is more diverse than any city in the world , including New York City and London. More than half of its population of 3 million was born outside of Canada and upwards of 180 languages are spoken here. The city’s multicultural identity has been further solidified with the 2023 mayoral election of Olivia Chow , the first woman of color to hold the post. “It’s important to reflect who we’re representing,” she said when she won. “It’s saying to every Torontonian, ‘Doesn’t matter where you came from, what your skin color is, faith—if you have the passion and ideas to contribute to the city, please, the door’s open.’”

For the full story from Anna Kim, read: Why You Should Visit Toronto, the World’s Most Diverse City

The exhibit "Social Narratives" at the Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum operates its main museum in downtown Seattle as well as the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Courtesy of Seattle Museum of Art

25. Seattle, Washington

In a city known for the outdoors, Seattle’s cultural offerings take the spotlight in 2024. The Museum of History and Industry uses games, videos, and other interactive displays to examine the confluence of tradition and modernism in Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge . Shared Science (through March 3). The Seattle Art Museum pays homage to Alexander Calder with Calder: In Motion , an exhibition that spans the sculptor’s career (through August 4). Henry Art Gallery on the University of Washington campus showcases multimedia and social-justice artist Hank Willis Thomas in Loverules (February 24–August 4). And the Seattle Aquarium ’s redesigned Ocean Pavilion will open summer 2024, featuring sharks, rays, coral, and mangroves in a reef ecosystem. —Amy S. Eckert

From top left, header photos by Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto, Ken Spence, Vomo Island, Michelle Heimerman, Amanda Villarosa, Eric Lafforgue, Nikolas Koenig, Wynn Meyers, Stephanie Foden, Emil John Ravelo, Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, Alex Brisbey/Unsplash, Ted Nghiem, Laurence Coulton, Jenny Sathngam, Leonhard Niederwimmer/Unsplash, Itsik Marom/Alamy, Charlie Gallant/Unsplash

Hot air balloons floating over high desert peaks in Cappadocia

  • BEST OF THE WORLD

20 of the coolest travel adventures for 2024

From a horseback safari in Kenya to river rafting in West Virginia, here’s our ranked list of the top travel experiences right now.

This page is a portal.   No, really, it is: Our annual Best of the World feature is a gateway to the streets of Paris , the snowy Caucasus Mountains of Georgia , the ancient rock art of Algeria . To help us engage with places more deeply and meaningfully, we drew on National Geographic’s global community of experts to create the following ranked list of 20 great adventures for 2024. Read on and you’ll discover that this page is also a celebration—of travel’s power to transform us and our connections with one another.

#1: Go on horseback safari in Kenya

Guide Hamprey Mweterwa, and riders Llewellyn, Eloise and Tatiana Rose Dyer, watch a herd of zebra from atop their horses in Borana Conservancy, Kenya

A safari in Africa usually conjures an image of mud-spattered 4x4 vehicles bouncing through the bush. But there’s another way to travel: on horseback .  

Although horse safaris originated in Kenya in the 1970s, they’re a perfect fit for today’s growing number of travelers looking for more engaging, sustainable wildlife encounters. At the 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy , two stables house thoroughbreds and ex-polo ponies for riders of all skill levels. Visitors can book half-day, full-day, or overnight rides. July through September is the prime time to go.

Since wildlife perceive equines as just another animal, exploring the landscape atop a horse makes for an intimate experience. “To journey on horseback is to break down the walls—meant to protect but also to separate—between oneself and the natural world,” says Nichole Sobecki , a photographer and equestrian who’s ridden in Borana. “Your horse is a translator, responding to the low growl of the lion, the soft scent of a herd of elephants.” A horse’s ears are an advance warning system, she says, helping knowledgeable guides navigate routes.

#2: Run an Olympic marathon in Paris

Silhouettes of runners pass in front of the Eiffel Tower during the 45th edition of the Paris Marathon

For the first time, members of the public will be able to run their own marathon during the 2024 Summer Olympics , in Paris, France , just one initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive Games.  

Travel gear you'll want to pack in 2024

National Geographic’s top travel products for 2024 run the gamut from customizable bags and backpacks to a recyclable jacket

Slated to be held the evening of August 10, between the men’s and women’s official races, the Marathon for All will allow 20,024 qualifying lottery winners on the 26.2-mile route that links Paris and Versailles , a loop beginning at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and passing through nine arrondissements before finishing at Les Invalides on the banks of the Seine. Before or after the big event, learn the route to follow in their tracks.  

#3: Ski tour UNESCO sites in Georgia

Long a means of transportation, exploration, and hunting, skiing is still a way of life in the mountainous republic of Georgia. Now visitors can enjoy some of the nation’s best backcountry skiing in the Caucasus with the help of outfitters such as Svaneti Ski and Georgia Ski Touring . In Svaneti, excursions may lead skiers through panoramic Gvibari Pass or to medieval Ushguli villages, among the highest continuously inhabited in Europe. The best times to experience this are December to April.

#4: Bear watch in Katmai National Park

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) graze on sedge grass in Hallo Bay in Alaska's Katmai National Park

Alaska ’s Katmai National Park is home to one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Far from the crowded viewing platforms of the Brooks Camp Visitor Center, a guided trip along the Katmai coast with outfitters like AK Adventures reveals a different side of the park.

Here, the bears feast on a diversity of foods: sedges, grasses, razor clams, salmon. “For me, seeing a single brown bear in the wild is meaningful because it is a sign that the landscape is healthy enough to support it,” says Alaska photographer Acacia Johnson , a frequent National Geographic contributor.

#5: Hear legendary live music in Kyoto

A singer on stage rocks out with a guitar

Guidebooks speak of Kyoto as frozen in time, with hushed temples and meditative gardens. But after hours, Japan ’s former imperial capital reveals a live music scene that can be loud and irreverent. At venues like Jittoku and Field , rock, swing, and even Irish music echo into the night. Whatever you’re into, from jazz to punk, there’s a community to share your jam. “This is what happens in Japan when the mask comes off,” says Kyoto guide Van Milton.

#6: Cruise an epic river in Colombia

A view down onto the Magdalena River

About 80 percent of Colombia ’s population lives in the river basin of the Magdalena, which flows for nearly a thousand miles from the Andes to the Caribbean. AmaWaterways’ new cruises on the river—said to be the first by a major cruise operator—take seven-night trips from Cartagena via Mompós to Barranquilla. Stops at colonial towns, performances of vallenato   and cumbia music, and visits to a stilt-house village highlight the region’s culture along this mighty waterway.

#7:   Road trip Route 66 in New Mexico

A ballon festival in Albuquerque at dusk

For nearly a century, Route 66 has beckoned to travelers. A trip along the Mother Road through New Mexico hits timeless landmarks , such as quirky motels and curio shops in and around Tucumcari and symbolic etchings in Petroglyph National Monument . In Gallup—mentioned as one of the places to “get your kicks” in Nat King Cole’s 1946 hit song “Route 66”—you can take in performances featuring Zuni, Lakota, and Diné (Navajo) dancers.  

Some 18 miles of the highway traverse Albuquerque , the longest urban interlude of the route in the United States. And it’s getting a half-million-dollar glow-up with the ongoing restoration of vintage neon signs along Central Avenue.  

While cruising down the brightened strip, stop at the new West Central Route 66 Visitor Center , with its museum and outdoor amphitheater. The center will host events like lowrider car shows, drive-in movies, and artisan markets.

#8: Explore ancient art in Algeria

A guide, wearing the traditional robes and shesh headscarf of the nomadic Tuareg tribe, stands on an outcrop at Adrit.

Algeria is home to Africa’s largest national park, which holds one of the world’s greatest concentrations of ancient rock art. Tassili n’Ajjer National Park is a geologic wonderland of sandstone towers, arches, and sculpted outcrops. But these rock forests are only half the story.  

Neolithic herders and hunter-gatherers carved 15,000 petroglyphs here, including images of elephants, giraffes, and rhinos. These animals are more commonly associated with sub-Saharan Africa—a hint that this arid wilderness was once a grassland crisscrossed by waterways. Five- to seven-day guided tours with Fancy Yellow take in the most spectacular works of Tassili’s art, like the “Crying Cows,” engraved at the base of a stone pinnacle 7,000 years ago.  

Travelers with more time might want to combine a trip to Tassili with a visit to the Algerian Sahara’s other great geologic marvel: the extraordinary mountain range of Ahaggar National Park .

#9: Dive with sharks in Western Australia

cool places to travel 2024

Stretching almost 700 miles along the Indian Ocean north of Perth, Western Australia’ s Coral Coast is studded with natural wonders. But Ningaloo Reef is the star. Here, you can dive with giants: Some 300 to 500 whale sharks ,   one of the largest congregations on Earth, gather along the reef each year between March and July. Ethical outfitters ensure divers give the sharks space and avoid feeding them or using flash photography.  

Even more megafauna abound from July to October, when about 40,000 humpback whales migrate along the Coral Coast. You can also commune with more than 10,000 dugongs in Shark Bay or swim with manta rays at Coral Bay.  

#10: Hike a volcano in Panama

A sustainability leader, Panama recently launched its “1,000 Kilometers of Trails” project , which seeks to bring outdoor recreation and green tourism to rural communities and protected areas.

First out of the gate is the Ruta de la Caldera , a system of five trails around the extinct Valle de Antón volcano . The treks take in waterfall-speckled landscapes, according to photographer Rose Marie Cromwell , who hiked sections of the Ruta de la Caldera over five days.

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“There were some spectacular views on top of the volcanic crater—interesting land formations covered in so much green,” she says.

#11: Catch the eclipse at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, a boat of tourists, and a rainbow as seen from Niagara Falls, Ontario

Directly in the path of totality, Niagara Falls will offer views of a total solar eclipse, which won’t occur again in the contiguous U.S. until 2044. For about three and a half minutes, beginning at approximately 3:18 p.m. on April 8, the sky will darken over the thunderous cataract as the moon crosses between Earth and the sun.  

On the U.S. side of the falls , Terrapin Point, Prospect Point, and the Observation Tower will be prime viewing areas (if clouds stay away). From the Canadian side, an excellent vantage point is Table Rock. A side bonus: The sunny-day rainbow that hovers above the falls will become pink.  

#12: Trek a glacier in Chile

In Chilean Patagonia‘s Laguna San Rafael National Park , visitors can trek to glaciers, taking in a panorama of pale blue ice massifs and glacial waterways. Some 17,300 glaciers still cover the whole of Patagonia’s ice fields, but rising temperatures are rapidly melting them. Climate scientists say sustainable tourism , such as hikes with Chilean outfitters like Turismo Valle Leones , supports local communities and inspires travelers to learn more about how to protect glaciers.

#13: Step back in time on Menorca

the archeological site of Naveta des Taudons lit up by a sky of stars

Spain ’s Balearic Islands are best known for the jet-set beach destinations of Ibiza and Mallorca . But quiet, less developed Menorca has a unique mother lode: The archipelago’s greatest repository of ancient architecture.

In an area of just 270 square miles, Menorca has a total of 1,574 inventoried archaeological sites , ranging from the foundation blocks of small dwellings to well-preserved village centers that existed long before the Roman Empire. Most striking are the navetas,   megalithic tombs dating back to 1600 B.C.; talayots, watchtowers built from mortarless blocks of limestone; and   taulas,   shrines exclusive to Menorca that evoke Stonehenge pillars. These remnants of the Talayotic Menorcan culture, the first civilization to inhabit the island, have now been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List .  

The open-air monuments are easy to visit; the island’s Me-1 road passes by some of the best-preserved sites, including the settlements of Talatí de Dalt, Naveta des Tudons, and Taula de Torretrencada.

Reenter the 21st century at the new Hauser & Wirth gallery in the picturesque town of Mahón. Housed in repurposed 18th-century hospital buildings, the cultural venue presents contemporary art exhibits and has an outdoor sculpture trail with works by Louise Bourgeois and Joan Miró.

#14: Ride classic rails in Scotland

A view from inside the Royal Scotsman as it drives through the Highlands

Exploring Scotland ’s wild, scenic Highlands doesn’t have to mean roughing it. The Royal Scotsman train glides among the moody lochs and dramatic peaks in style. New suites debuting in May 2024 sport interiors that reflect the compelling landscapes through dark woods, wool tweeds , and richly patterned bespoke tartans crafted by Scottish brand Araminta Campbell . After a day spent hiking to waterfalls or playing rounds of golf (a sport inextricably tied to the nation), guests can wind down with a massage at the onboard spa.

Departing Edinburgh ’s Waverley Station, the two- to seven-night rail journeys cross the heart of the Highlands, from Perthshire to Inverness to the rugged west coast. During stops guests can tour castles, stargaze in Cairngorms National Park , sample whisky at revered distilleries, and even take a dip in a loch.

#15: Find authentic flavor in Thailand  

An overhead view of a plate of Northeastern style Thai cuisine

The Isaan region in northeastern Thailand is known for its distinctive cuisine that reflects influences from bordering Laos and Cambodia. “Isaan is a hidden gem of Thailand,” says Weerawat “Num” Triyasenawat, the chef at Samuay & Sons , a Michelin Guide -recommended restaurant in the Isaan city of Udon Thani.

One key ingredient of the region’s delicious food is pla ra, a fermented-fish seasoning that boosts umami flavor. Local dishes include laab   (minced meat salad), traditionally served during celebrations.

#16: Wander tea trails in Sri Lanka

View over the tea plantations near Kotagala on stage 7 of the Pekoe Trail

Sri Lanka is virtually synonymous with tea. The island nation is one of the world’s top producers of tea leaves. British colonists introduced the first bushes about 200 years ago. Now visitors can trace the footsteps of historic planters on the new, nearly 200-mile Pekoe Trail , the country’s first long-distance walking route.  

Starting just outside Kandy, the trail follows the 19th-century tracks upon which workers and horse-drawn carts transported freshly plucked leaves. Hikers pass through hill towns and tea estates and can stop to take a cooking class or savor a cup of aromatic Ceylon tea.

#17: Gallery hop in São Paulo

Aerial view of the São Paulo Museum of Art (MAP) illuminated at night

São Paulo, Brazil ’s largest city, is an art lover’s paradise, home to numerous galleries, exhibitions, and street murals. The crowning jewel is the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), which is expanding to showcase more of its 11,000-plus artworks, from pre-Renaissance paintings to contemporary sculptures. Departing from the usual model of exhibiting works on walls, MASP hangs some pieces against clear panels, allowing visitors to view the art from all angles.

#18: Raft the rapids in West Virginia  

An overhead view of people rafting the Gauley River in Gauley River National Recreation Area

Despite its name, West Virginia ’s New River is actually one of the oldest on Earth, perhaps as old as 360 million years. The river falls 750 feet in only 50 miles between sandstone cliffs. It eventually merges with the Gauley River.   Outfitters such as ACE Adventure Resort can arrange whitewater rafting trips here on Class III to V rapids through the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachians.  

#19: Go antiquing in Hudson Valley

Shoppers congregate inside the Basilica Hudson

The bucolic Hudson Valley is booming, thanks to an influx of New York City residents during the pandemic. But it’s long been a mecca for creatives: Its landscapes inspired America’s first artistic fraternity, the Hudson River School. Antique collectors will be drawn to the hundreds of stores, boutiques, craft shops, and flea markets that sell everything from colonial furniture and rare books to mid-century modern decor. For vintage finds, head to the Antique Warehouse in Hudson, Sister Salvage in Catskill, and Opera House Co. in Athens.

“There’s a common denominator here—the charming historic villages,” says Sarah Gray Miller, owner of Coxsackie antique store UnQuiet . From Stuyvesant to Saugerties, these towns “share a strong commitment to preservation.”

#20: Sleep on the water in British Columbia

The exterior of the Tofino Wilderness Resort reflected in the lake

The newly reopened Tofino Wilderness Resort , owned by the Ahousaht First Nation, is an idyllic base from which to explore the western coast of British Columbia ’s Vancouver Island. In the heart of Clayoquot Sound, the luxury floating lodge was renovated with lumber cut from timber which fell on-site. Through guided whale-watching trips or visits to the Freedom Cove artists’ sanctuary, the Ahousaht share with guests their philosophy, hishuk ish tsawalk (“everything is one”), celebrating the interconnectedness of people and nature in a land they’ve occupied for thousands of years.

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AD ’s 24 Best Places to Travel in 2024

By Nick Mafi , Elizabeth Fazzare , and Laura Itzkowitz

Best Places to Travel

In a world that seems more connected than ever, an age-old question persists: Where are the best places to travel to next ? And perhaps, after a horrifying global pandemic uprooted our ability to explore, this question is all the more pertinent. We are, after all, living through a time that has revealed a newfound drive to see the world.

As such, AD has scoured the globe to find what we believe to be the most intriguing places to visit in 2024. Our selection includes a few tried-and-true locations, and we provide reasons why this coming year is the best time to go there. Readers will also find certain lesser-known locales—that we believe are well-poised to become great tourist destinations—on the list. Exciting design and architecture activity, cutting-edge cultural events, and other factors are putting all of these places on the map.

Nevertheless, before booking your next flight, train , or cruise line tickets, be sure to ask yourself the following: What do I want to experience with my next trip? Is it stunning landmarks? The thrill of adventure? Different cultures? The beauty of natural landscapes? Whatever the reason, rest assured that this year’s list features all of those elements, and more.

Best Places to Travel

While travelers flock to India, the neighboring island of Sri Lanka has remained under-the-radar, but it abounds in natural beauty, wildlife, and culture. Opening in spring 2024, Kotiyagala is an environmentally conscious hotel with elevated villas spread out over a seven-acre estate. A stay there includes a guided safari tour of Yala National Park, which has one of the world’s highest concentrations of leopards. You could combine that with a few days on the beach at Karpaha Sands, which starting in 2024 will offer horseback riding both in the jungle and on the beach.

Best Places to Travel

Antwerp, Belgium

This small Belgian city has an outsized impact on European fashion and design—just think of fashion designers like Dries Van Noten and architects like AD 100 Hall of Famer Alex Vervoodt . This is a city where burgeoning designers thrive and the city’s cultural institutions and hotel scene are catching up. Go to see the recently renovated ModeMuseum , which reopened in 2021 and just debuted a new café, or the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp , which reopened last year after an 11-year-long closure. Check into the Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp , a member of the Leading Hotels of the World in a 15th-century monastery with three Michelin-starred restaurants and a luxurious spa.

Best Places to Travel

New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand’s South Island has long been known for its pristine, natural landscapes, including the Southern Alps, glacial lakes, beaches, and fiords, but now it’s coming onto the radar as a destination for eco-chic resorts and hotels. Flockhill Lodge —a 36,000-acre sheep station in the Southern Alps—will debut its main lodge with accommodations for 28 guests, a fine-dining restaurant, spa, vegetable garden and greenhouse. And for travelers who want to reconnect with nature, Drift Off Grid offers eco-glamping in the stunning Golden Bay. It will be easier to get there, too, thanks to new direct flights from San Francisco to Christchurch on United Airlines.

Best Places to Travel

Detroit, Michigan, USA

A host of urban regeneration projects are transforming the Motor City and increasing its appeal. One of the most ambitious projects is the rebirth of downtown’s historic Book Tower, designed in the early 1900s. Detroit-based real estate developer, Bedrock, has converted the former office building into the city's newest landmark destination, with the support of Method Co. who recently opened ROOST Detroit , a long-stay hotel with apartment-style accommodations and an array of restaurants and bars, including a Parisian-inspired brasserie, a rooftop bar, and a forthcoming subterranean izakaya. 2024 will also see the restoration of the iconic Michigan Central Station and the completion of the new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park Development.

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Best Places to Travel

Singapore Design Week in October is one of the most forward-looking design events on the calendar, with the 2023 edition showing 500 contributors’ projects, including a 3D-printed pavilion of compostable sugar-building material. The island country has long been a destination for thoughtful innovation, particularly in contemporary architecture and sustainable design, but it is also the perfect place for a cultural recharge. Singapore’s hawker street food was recently UNESCO protected, joining its World Heritage Site designated Botanical Gardens. A variety of new hotels allows visitors to choose their own vibe, from the Standard Hotel’s first Singapore property and the all-villa beachside Raffles hotel and spa on Sentosa Island (both opening in 2024) to the Edition and Mandarin Oriental, opened this fall. Flying into the country’s international Changi Airport is always a luxe treat, and a significant expansion of Terminal 2, including gardens, massive digital decorations, and increased infrastructure, will greet the millions of visitors expected next year.

Best Places to Travel

Safari is an experience like no other. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking offers a unique opportunity to see primates in your camp’s backyard. Choosing where to lodge is an important first step. Next year, two of the country’s luxe tented wilderness camps—Magashi and Bisate—will inaugurate ultra-elite branches, offering only four rooms each and distinctive food and services for travelers looking for an even more private adventure in nature. Set on Lake Rwanyakazinga, Wilderness Magashi Peninsula will take advantage of access to both water and savannah with private boating, 360-degree vistas, and ample opportunities to see gorillas as well as big game animals in a guests-only area of Akagera National Park. Wilderness Bisate Reserve is located at the edge of Volcanoes National Park for prime mountain gorilla treks before retiring to villas with butler service and private hot tubs. Both are dedicated to conservation, sustainable tourism, and engaging local guides.

Best Places to Travel

London, United Kingdom

There’s never a bad time for design lovers to visit London, but 2024 will be particularly exciting. Newson’s Yard will open as a new hub for retail and interior design with a spate of boutiques celebrating British craftsmanship. Situated on Pimlico Road in Belgravia , the development will give new life to London’s oldest timber yard. Travelers will also have plenty of exciting new places to stay, with major openings, including Raffles London at the OWO , the Peninsula London , the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair , 1 Hotel Mayfair , and the Broadwick Soho designed by Martin Brudnizki .

Best Places to Travel

Istanbul, Turkey

The only city that sits in both Europe and Asia, Istanbul has always held a special appeal for architecture and design lovers, but the very high-profile development of Galataport —the world’s first underground cruise ship terminal—provides a new reason to go there now. Istanbul Modern , Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art, has also just reopened in a sleek new building by Renzo Piano Building Workshop . And there are more ways to get there: aboard a new rotation of the Paris-Istanbul route on the Venice Simplon Orient Express and a new route from Detroit to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.

When it comes to Morocco Marrakech and Tangier tend to steal the spotlight but 2024 will be the year for Casablanca to...

Casablanca, Morocco

When it comes to Morocco, Marrakech and Tangier tend to steal the spotlight, but 2024 will be the year for Casablanca to shine. The city best known for the namesake 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman will finally get a hotel that’s sure to draw the glitterati when the Royal Mansour Casablanca opens as a member of the Leading Hotels of the World in an iconic building from the 1950s. In-the-know travelers praise Casablanca as an underrated gem, where you can admire Art Deco architecture , shop for vintage furniture and Berber rugs, and sip cocktails at Rick’s Café (inspired by the film, of course). Go before it becomes overrun.

Best Places to Travel

Paris, France

As anticipation builds for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the City of Light host is getting primped and preened for travelers all year. A slew of recent luxury hotel openings includes the Martin Brudnizki–designed Le Grand Mazarin (pictured) and La Fantasie, the Beata Heuman–designed Hôtel de La Boétie, and most recently the Fabrizio Casiraghi–designed Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs. In time for the games, the city is building a new Olympic Aquatics Centre by VenhoevenCS and AteliersGrand and an 8,000-seat Porte de La Chapelle Arena by SCAU architecture and NP2F. It’s also restoring some of its most famous works of architecture, including the Grand Palais, Notre Dame , and, a day-trip away at the Palace of Versailles , the Louis XIV œil-de-Bœuf antechamber. Travel will be made easier overall with the phase-one completion of the Grand Paris Express train, a railway project aimed to better connect the city’s suburbs and three airports with 124 miles of new track and 68 architect-designed stations.

Best Places to Travel

Mazunte, Mexico

As Puerto Escondido becomes increasingly popular, savvy travelers are looking for a more under-the-radar alternative—and finding it in Mazunte. This small village in Oaxaca is considered a “pueblo magico” and has a bohemian vibe with pristine beaches, eco-resorts, and yoga retreats. Next spring, Our Habitas Mazunte will open with just 28 rooms immersed in the jungle with Pacific Ocean views, providing the perfect base for design-conscious travelers who want a holistic experience where wellness is at the forefront.

best places to travel

Seoul, South Korea

Gucci put a spotlight on the South Korean capital this year by hosting a runway show at Gyeongbokgung Palace, and we predict that all eyes will turn toward Seoul in 2024. The Seoul Art Museum is planning an expansion, adding to its portfolio of eight scattered museums across the city. The Art Archives Seoul Museum of Art has already opened, and in 2024 the Seo-Seoul Museum of Art and the Seoul Museum of Photography will join it. Check into one of the city’s five-star hotels, like Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Gangnam, which opened a few years ago.

best places to travel

Opatija, Croatia

Off the beaten path on the Istrian peninsula, savvy travelers know this relaxing seaside destination for its incredible beaches and natural grottos, but also its seafood, roasts, olive oil, wine, and truffle hunting—among many reasons that luxury travel agency Virtuoso named Croatia one of its clients’ top destinations for 2024. Fittingly, Opatija celebrates 180 years of tourism next year with special cultural programming, like a dedicated chocolate festival, retro music festival, and holiday markets by the sea. The following summer, Marriott will open its first luxury coastal resort here. The coastal city is also a great base for day trips throughout the region, including to the five-star Meneghetti Wine Hotel and Winery in Istria, whose new, expansive sculpture garden has a show of works by Arne Quinze on view through December 2024. The peninsula’s picturesque towns offer plenty of hillside hiking, medieval scenery, and baroque palaces for exploration.

Best Places to Travel

São Paulo, Brazil

This Brazilian metropolis is home to midcentury-modern masterpieces by Oscar Niemeyer and has the highest concentration of street art in the world. And in 2024, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo —a midcentury masterpiece by Lina Bo Bardi—will unveil a major expansion. A brand new 14-floor tower will be connected to Bardi’s revolutionary building by an underground passageway, increasing the museum’s exhibition capacity by 66%. The city also has some exciting new hotels, including the Rosewood São Paulo designed by Jean Nouvel and Philippe Starck, and the Fasano São Paulo Itaim, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World opened in May 2023 with a sleek midcentury-inspired design by Marcio Kogan.

Best Places to Travel

Miami, Florida

Over the past decade, Miami has become a veritable powerhouse for art and design. And that trend has showed any signs of slowing down. On March 1 and 2, 2024, Open House Worldwide will debut in Miami, opening Art Deco buildings and other architectural landmarks for the first time in a city-wide architecture festival. Aside from that weekend, there are plenty of things for design lovers to do in the Magic City year-round, from shopping and dining in the Design District to spotting street art murals in Wynwood and bedding down at fabulous hotels.

Best Places to Travel

Munich, Germany

This Bavarian destination may be known for its beer halls, sausages, and as the origin of Oktoberfest, but charm and history give Munich draw any time of year. Last month, Rosewood (pictured) opened its first property in Germany across two of the city’s storied structures, the 19th-century Bavarian State Bank headquarters and the adjacent 19th-century Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, once a private residence, which have been transformed into a luxe stay and spa by local architects Hilmer Sattler Architekten Ahlers and London-based designer Tara Bernerd with restaurant interiors by DiPPOLD Interior Design Studio. Soccer fans should make their reservations soon, as Munich is also the host of the 2024 UEFA European Championship come summer.

Best Places to Travel

Nicosia, Cyprus

Steeped in history but relatively untouched by tourism, Nicosia is a historic architecture lover’s dream and has three distinct UNESCO sites, a 16th-century Byzantine church, a traditional rural mountain community, and an exposed fragment of 90-million-year-old oceanic crust. Its contemporary life offers a thriving café culture and Cypriot, Greek, or Turkish delicacies, depending on your chosen side of the border in this north-south divided city (bring your passport to the crossing!). Next spring, the Cypriot capital is getting a new boutique luxury hotel, the 10-room Amyth of Nicosia, set within the city’s medieval Venetian walls and designed by local talent Maria Neophytou. Guests will have access to ancient treasures just outside their doorstep, including the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Cyprus Ethnological Museum; the 16th-century Hamam Omerye bathhouse; and the Büyük Han, a traveler’s inn built by the Ottomans in 1572.

best places to travel

Cairo, Egypt

With the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum expected to open by early 2024, Cairo is gaining another reason to book that bucket list trip to the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects and holding over 100,000 artifacts, including everything from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamen, the 484,000-square-foot museum sits on a meticulously landscaped 120-acre site between the Great Pyramid of Giza and Cairo itself. Thanks to design leaders like architectural engineer May al-Ibrashy, the latter’s UNESCO Al-Khalifa district has been undergoing extensive revitalization and preservation, and contemporary artists are embracing its man-made icons as well during the annual Art D’Egypte sculpture show on the Giza Plateau and at the Cairo Citadel. The Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, opening next year in an 1841 landmark reimagined by Parisian designer Sybille de Margerie, will be a luxurious place to lay your head after bouts of sightseeing.

best places to travel

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In recent years, Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood has been growing rapidly as a new creative hub for designers, antiques dealers, and design galleries with locals and New York transplants alike setting down physical roots calling out to culture vultures for a visit. One native, Wexler Gallery, doubled down this year, creating a 11,500-square-foot flagship in a former pretzel gallery with help from Philadelphia architecture firm DIGSAU. Book a stay at the forthcoming 50-key boutique Hotel Anna & Bel, a historic women’s asylum in the neighborhood now reopening in spring 2024 after a luxurious reenvisioning by local team Foyer Project and B-March. And next fall, Weiss/Manfredi and Reed Hilderbrand are unveiling their highly-anticipated revitalization of 17 acres of the 115-year-old Longwood Gardens conservatory and grounds. Just an hour’s drive from the city proper, it will be a must visit day trip before returning to town for a stop at another world-class museum and a bite—whether a cheesesteak, sushi, or vegetarian fare is your preference in Philadelphia’s diverse and delicious food scene.

Best Places to Travel

This Mediterranean island may be small, but it’s planning to make a splash in the art world come 2024. From March to May across several important ancient and archaeological sites, Malta is hosting its inaugural art biennale with twelve national pavilions and a central exhibition exploring the multicultural identity of the country and the colonization that shaped it. Later, in October, the nation’s first contemporary art museum, Malta International Contemporary Art Space, will open its doors in the city of Floriana at the restored Old Ospizio, a 17th-century fortress with views of capital Valletta and the Marsamxett harbour. Italian studio ipostudio architetti is turning the 90,000-square-foot heritage site into a complex for art of all mediums. For the year ahead of the institute’s opening, a show of sculptures by British artist Conrad Shawcross will be on view by appointment on the grounds.

Best Places to Travel

San Diego/Tijuana, USA and Mexico

San Diego and Tijuana together have the distinction of being the first-ever cross-border World Design Capital —and there are a host of events and activations throughout 2024 in honor of the designation. The two cities were chosen to share the title because of their long history of collaboration, with cooperative efforts to harness the power of design to improve the lives of the region’s 7.1 million inhabitants. That includes everything from building green infrastructure and preserving the built environment to educating the next generation about design.

Since Japan reopened its borders in October 2022 the country has seen a tourism surge even travel experts didnt expect....

Kyoto, Japan

Since Japan reopened its borders in October 2022, the country has seen a tourism surge even travel experts didn’t expect. But don’t let that deter you from booking a trip to Kyoto, where new hotels and architecture projects are making this heritage city feel fresh again. Two luxury brands, Six Senses and Banyan Tree, are launching hospitality properties in 2024 in the city’s historic Higashiyama district, home of several UNESCO-designated temples and shrines. The former is taking inspiration from Buddhist Zen culture in the design of its spa, gardens, and eateries, and the latter has engaged Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, known for his innovations in wood, for the property’s design, which will include Kyoto’s first Noh theater stage at a hotel. If nostalgia is your deal (or the kids are coming with), a Nintendo Museum in the gaming company’s former Kyoto factory will welcome its first visitors in March.

Best Places to Travel

Mallorca, Spain

Though this Balearic Island is colloquially known for the hordes of European partygoers that flock its beach clubs each summer, there is a more grounded side of the sun-soaked destination ripe for discovery. A new set of ultra-luxury hotels is making it even easier to tap into your well-being here. The Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, opening in 2024, is being built across 7.5 acres of cliffside land and will offer unique access to two crystal-blue coves, and the Four Seasons is taking over the iconic Hotel Formentor with a focus on sustainability in its design, guest activities, and farm-to-table dining. Meanwhile, three recently opened properties in or near the UNESCO-protected Tramuntana mountains—the Lorenzo Castillo–designed Grand Hotel Son Net, Richard Branson’s Son Bunyola (a 16th-century property the hotelier has been eyeing for two decades), and The Lodge’s boutique transformation of a 500-year-old farmhouse—cradle visitors in an air of the island’s ancient history. Relaxation is easy in a place this beautiful.

Best Places to Travel

Nestled between China and India, this remote country of just over 777,000 people is known for its majestic Himalayan landscape, multitude of monasteries, and colorful festival heritage—and it attracts intrepid adventure seekers and wellness tourists alike. Bhutan is also known for its commitment to sustainability as the world’s first carbon-neutral country, an initiative partly supported by a $200 daily tourist fee that the government is subsidizing by 50% for the next four years to encourage post-pandemic tourism. Lodging options range from homestays to five-star hotels, including three new luxury properties, Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel, Pemako Punakha, and andBeyond Punakha River Lodge (pictured), that opened this year. Bhutan has only one international airport—in the valley city of Paro, one of the world’s most difficult landings—and no direct flights from the US, but in January next year a new route from the United Arab Emirates will offer Americans an alternate stopover. If flying private is more your speed, TCS World Travel’s 2024 and 2025 jet expeditions include a stop in Bhutan, where guests will stay at the new Zhiwa Ling, tour the 1646 Fortress on a Heap of Jewels, and hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery.

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The 12 best places to visit in 2024: The Ultimate Trafalgar Bucket List

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Recently updated on March 13th, 2024 at 01:56 pm

Wondering what the best places to visit in 2024 are? Get inspired by the Trafalgar bucket list, with 12 of the best places to visit in each month of 2024. From chasing the sun to following the festivals, here’s your month-by-month travel bucketlist for 2024. 

January: Sydney, Australia

Sydney Harbour Australia

Ring in the new year with a bang in Sydney, Australia. The coastal city shines in January with its iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display over the Sydney Harbor Bridge, one of the first in the world to ring in the New Year. The festivities continue with endless events and festivals like the Sydney Festival and the warm summer weather is perfect for enjoying the world-famous beaches, like Bondi and Manly. If you’re a sports fan, the Australian Open kicks off in January in nearby Melbourne. Or why not hop over to the hidden gem of Adelaide, recently named the coolest city in Australia .

Experience Sydney on: Highlights of Australia and New Zealand

February: Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

Enjoy a second New Year celebration with a trip to Vietnam in February. Vietnam celebrates the Lunar New Year, or Tết, and the festivities combined with the great weather, makes February an excellent month to visit. In the North, including Hanoi and Sapa, you’ll find cool weather, glowing Old Quarters, and glimmering rice fields. In Central Vietnam, popular destinations like Hue and Hoi An are warm and buzzing with new year celebrations. Down in Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta enjoy sunny skies perfect for exploring the cities and rivers. 

Experience Vietnam on: Vietnam and Cambodia Uncovered

March: Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto Japan

One of the best places to visit in 2024 is Kyoto and March is a great month to do it. March signals the start of the Hanami (flower viewing) season, casting the city in a spectacular display of cherry blossoms. The mild March weather is perfect for exploring temples and festivities, like Higashiyama Hanatouro , where the Higashiyama district is lit up with lanterns and illuminated artworks. Enjoy a magical evening stroll along the glowing paths, witness the annual geisha dances, known as Miyako Odori, and indulge in seasonal cuisine like sansai (wild mountain vegetables) and takenoko (bamboo shoots).

Experience Kyoto on: Splendors of Japan

April: Amsterdam, Netherlands

colorful tulips in front of amsterdam houses

Amsterdam is your perfect April destination, as the city bursts into bloom with the tulip season. The nearby Keukenhof Gardens showcase millions of tulips, while Amsterdam’s canals and parks also light up in colorful flowers. The milder spring weather is perfect for strolling the cobblestone streets or enjoying a leisurely bike ride. You can also catch the King’s Day (Koningsdag) festivities, an orange-filled celebration held for the king’s birthday on 27 April.  From markets and music to boat parties on the canals, this is one of the biggest festivals in the Netherlands.

Experience Amsterdam on: Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg

May: Sicily, Italy

Sicily Italy

Sicily is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in 2024. As Europe warms up, Sicily offers the perfect climate in May before the summer crowds. The island’s Mediterranean climate brings sunny days and cool evenings, ideal for exploring ancient Greek temples, Mount Etna, charming towns, seasonal cuisine, and the beautiful beaches. Sicily’s landscapes are awash with wildflowers in May, and you can catch traditional festivals like Infiorata di Noto, where the streets are carpeted in intricate flower petal artworks.

Experience Sicily on: Southern Italy and Sicily

June: South Africa

zebras in Kruger National Park

June is winter in South Africa, making it a fantastic time for wildlife enthusiasts to visit. With sparse vegetation and animals congregating around water sources, you’ll enjoy exceptional game viewing in iconic parks like Kruger National Park. The cooler temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities, from hiking in the Drakensberg to exploring the Cape Winelands. June also marks the start of the whale-watching season along the Western Cape’s coast. And there’s plenty of festivals like the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, one of the most important cultural events in the country.

Experience South Africa on: Best of South Africa

July: Tromsø, Norway

Tromso Norway

With the Midnight Sun high in the sky, July is an extraordinary time to visit Tromsø in far northern Norway. You can explore the region’s breathtaking fjords, mountains and islands, under 24 hours of surreal daylight. Go kayaking, spot whales, enjoy the summer festivals, and bask in the pleasant temperatures. It’s an unconventional summer getaway that offers a unique insight into life and culture in the Arctic.

Experience Tromsø on: Nordic Adventure

August: Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

August in Edinburgh is all about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. The city bursts with energy as artists, comedians, and performers take to the streets and venues, providing endless entertainment. Alongside the Fringe, the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo offer remarkable cultural experiences. The atmosphere is electric, all backed by the city’s stunning architecture and historic charm. 

Experience Edinburgh on: Real Britain

September: Porto, Portugal

Porto Portugal

As the European summer rush dwindles, September is the perfect time to discover Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. The crowds have gone home and you’ll get perfectly mild weather for strolling along the Douro River, exploring the historical Ribeira district, and tasting the world-famous Port wine at its source. Be sure to catch the Festival do Douro and enjoy the season’s harvest and local flavors, wine tastings in cellars, and river cruises.

Experience Porto on: Treasures of Spain and Portugal

October: Canadian Rockies, Canada

Canadian Rockies

If you’re looking for outdoor magic in October, look no further than the Canadian Rockies. As fall sets in, the landscape transforms into a spectacular canvas of fiery reds, oranges, and golds. With the summer crowds gone, you can enjoy a more tranquil experience at popular spots like Banff and Jasper National Parks. Wildlife viewing is at its prime, with elk and deer in their mating season, while cooler temperatures and fewer bugs make for ideal hiking conditions. If you’re lucky, you catch an early snowfall in October and get  the unique opportunity to enjoy winter sports among the beautiful fall foliage. You could even witness the first aurora borealis displays as the nights darken.

Experience the Canadian Rockies on: Spectacular Canadian Rockies

November: Cusco, Peru

Machu Picchu

With is proximity to the iconic Machu Picchu and its rich culture and history, Cusco is one of the best places to travel in 2024. November is the sweet spot for visiting Cusco, as the rainy season hasn’t yet begun and the tourist rush has subsided. It’s the perfect time to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in a more relaxed way and truly absorb this ancient Incan capital. The weather is pleasantly mild and the surrounding Sacred Valley is lush green. You’ll also have the chance to see local cultural festivals like Todos los Santos (All Saints Day), with traditional foods and celebrations providing a fascinating insight into Peruvian culture. 

Experience Cusco on: Highlights of Peru

December: Vienna, Austria

ice skating rink Vienna Austria

What better destination to close out the year than Vienna? The city is magical in December as it fully embraces the festive spirit. The cobbled streets are draped in glowing lights and glittering decorations, and the Christmas markets overflow with mulled wine, gingerbread and carolers. You can also explore the city’s regal history, like the opulent Schönbrunn and Hofburg Palaces or catch a show at the world-famous opera house, in the city where Mozart composed his most famous concertos. 

Experience Vienna on: Germany and Austria

What are your recommendations for the best places to visit in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jet-Set Into 2024: Visit The Most Happening Places Around The World For A Unique Getaway

Forecasting the best places to visit in 2024: from cocora valley's cloud forests to gladiator 2's shooting locales in malta, take your pick..

By: Yashita Vashishth Published: Nov 23, 2023 05:00 PM IST

Jet-Set Into 2024: Visit The Most Happening Places Around The World For A Unique Getaway

As we merrily jaunt through the holiday season and a fast-approaching New Year, all eyes are on the hottest new destinations on the map, the longest weekends, and trend forecasts. We, at Travel+Leisure Asia , have done the legwork and surmised 18 of the most happening places to visit in 2024.

Football fanatics, it is de rigueur to hit the German stands at the UEFA European Football Championship 2024. The appetite for competitive sports is further fuelled by the Summer Olympics and Paralympics 2024 in Paris — an exemplary upgrade to the French itinerary. Or, live it up at Las Vegas , only this time you visit the newborn Sphere for immersive shows before you hit the Nevada casinos. In essence, the coming year is fizzing with concerts, maiden cruises, sports championships, and cultural extravaganzas. To relish the choicest of global experiences, refer to our handy guide before you block the dates.

Best places to visit in 2024: The ultimate travel bucket list

1) cocora valley, colombia.

places to visit in 2024

Things to do: Hike through Cocora Valley’s cloud forests, admire the landscape shrouded with the tallest palm trees in the world, or indulge in the ultimate 4×4 experience on a road trip. Additionally, add the Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary to your itinerary, where a bird might even come and sit on your coffee mug!

Key Attractions in 2024: Disney has announced three ‘Adventures by Disney’ itineraries for 2024, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film ‘Encanto.’ One among them includes an eight-day, seven-night trip to Colombia, covering the whimsical towns of Bogota, the Coffee Region, Cocora Valley, and Cartagena.

Best time to visit: From December to March, and July to August

Book your stay at Casa Du Vélo via Booking.com

Book your stay at Casa Du Vélo via Agoda.com

2) Emilia-Romagna, Italy

best places to visit in 2024

Things to do: Admire the intricate columns and frescoes of Parma Cathedral, soak up the glossiest automobile sights at the Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum, or visit Ravenna — a historic town housing 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Emilia-Romagna also boasts a 90 km coastline along the Adriatic Sea, which is dotted with beach clubs, bustling shores, and unmatched seafood.

Key Attractions in 2024: Avid sports followers can’t miss the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2024 from Emilia-Romagna, also called Italy’s Sports Valley. The prestigious bicycle race is scheduled for June 2024.

Best time to visit: Emilia-Romagna is a year-round destination

Also read – The Best Places To Visit In Italy Each Month, According To A Luxury Travel Expert

Book your stay at Grand Hotel Majestic gia' Baglioni via Booking.com

Book your stay at Grand Hotel Majestic gia' Baglioni via Agoda.com

3) Kyoto, Japan

places to visit in 2024

Things to do: Do a crash course in Kyoto’s decorated history at the Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto Railway Museum, and Higashiyama. Or, amble through the zen temples of Ginkakuji, Nanzenji Temple, Daigoji Temple, and Tofukuji Temple, among others. A confluence of culture and culinary prowess, Kyoto also delights with diverse epicurean experiences like Pontocho (narrow lane with atmospheric dining), Nishiki Market, and a dedicated Fushimi Sake District.

Key Attractions in 2024: Timetabled to open in March 2024, the Nintendo Museum should be on every gaming geek’s radar. Moreover, the city is also hosting eagerly-awaited music concerts — Owl City, Queen, Adam Lambert, Maxim Mironov, Jack Johnson, and more — which are bound to ginger up your holiday!

Also read – Guide to the Most Beautiful Places In Japan

Best time to visit: From March to May, and October to November

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto via Booking.com

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto via Agoda.com

4) Singapore

best places to visit in 2024

Things to do: A medley of ethnic enclaves (read: Little India, Kampong Glam, and Chinatown), a shimmering skyline, Peranakan-style houses, and lush gardenscapes with overhead park connectors, Singapore packs it all. Home to 55 Michelin-star restaurants (as of 2023), the city also flaunts water parks, larger-than-life zoos, shopping haunts like Vivo City, ION Orchard, and more. The destination recently crowned the sixth blue zone in the world, is also idyllic for wellness-forward holidays.

Key Attractions in 2024: Spruce up your Singapore getaway with the various pop concerts slated for 2024. The artist lineup includes Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, James Hype, Niall Horan, Melanie Martinez, Rod Stewart, Calum Scott, Enhypen, and Lisa Ono, among others.

Best time to visit: From December to June

Book your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore via Booking.com

Book your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore via Agoda.com

5) Valletta, Malta

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Holiday in Malta ’s UNESCO-listed capital to explore Blue Gotto (a series of nine caves with glowing rocks), the megalithic temple complex of Hagar Qim, the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, and the surreal Auberge de Castille. Deep dive into the history and culture of the region by visiting the National Museum of Archaeology, Malta at War Museum, and Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum.

Key Attractions in 2024: Gladiator (2000) , the Oscar-winning film by Ridley Scott, needs no introduction. 23 years later, the director is ready to unveil the sequel. Malta features ancient Rome in Gladiator 2 , and a trip to Valletta means strutting through the iconic shooting locales! Aligned with the movie launch, Valletta is among the best places to visit in 2024.

Best time to visit: From June to September

Book your stay at Iniala Harbour House via Booking.com

Book your stay at Iniala Harbour House via Agoda.com

6) Cairo, Egypt

places to see in 2024

Things to do: The City of the Thousand Minarets, Cairo enchants with the ornate architecture of Mosque-Madrassa Of Sultan Hassan, the Pyramids of Giza , and an inspiring climb to the Bab Zuwayla Minaret. We also recommend exploring the Cave Churches of Zabbaleen and indulging in the trademark Arabian shopping experience at Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

Key Attractions in 2024: After 20 years and an estimated USD 1 billion of renovation, the Grand Egyptian Museum will open in the spring of 2024. Just 2 km from the Pyramids of Giza, it is the largest archaeological museum ever built. The revamped site will house over 100,000 Egyptian artefacts, including 5,000 relics found in the famed pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Best time to visit: From March to April, and October to November

Book your stay at The St. Regis Cairo via Booking.com

Book your stay at The St. Regis Cairo via Agoda.com

7) Hamburg, Germany

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Head to the rock-and-roll city of Hamburg, where cultural hallmarks, ever-flowing beer, and culinary experiences abound. Tick off a visit to Germany’s largest port (Port of Hamburg), sample haute cuisine favourites like Finkenwerder Scholle , the berry-infused rote grütze , and traditional kale preparations. Soak up the sights of Landungsbrücken Piers, Old Elbe Tunnel, Reeperbahn Nightlife District, and Speicherstadt UNESCO Site.

Key Attractions in 2024: Calling all football fans! A must-visit place on your 2024 itinerary should be Hamburg. Get tickets to one of the UEFA EURO 2024 matches hosted in Germany. The Volksparkstadion Stadium in Hamburg has a capacity of 50,000 and will host matches from June 06, 2024, to July 05, 2024. Other host cities in Germany for the UEFA EURO Championship 2024 include Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt , Dortmund, Leipzig, Gelsenkirchen, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf.

Best time to visit: From May to September

Book your stay at Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten via Booking.com

Book your stay at Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten via Agoda.com

8) Nordland, Norway

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Greet the midnight sun at Kvalvika Beach, explore the 2,102 sq km Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, or saunter around the scenic Sjøgata area. Wander among storybook homes, over 100 listed buildings, exciting galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops. Elevate your Norwegian holiday by visiting Torghatten (a dramatic mountain peak), Norsk Fiskeværsmuseum (a museum), and Spaceship Aurora (an innovative space centre).

Key Attractions in 2024: Take your Nordland getaway several notches higher by checking into Six Senses Svart — the world’s first-ever energy-positive hotel, which operates entirely off-grid, harnessing its own solar power. The luxury resort is all set to open in 2024 (dates to be announced soon).

Best time to visit: From June to August

Book your stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Bodø via Booking.com

Book your stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Bodø via Agoda.com

9) York, England

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Walk down the Shambles — among York’s most famous streets, climb Clifford’s Tower, and admire the medieval stained glass windows of the iconic cathedral of York Minster . Additionally, partake in a cultural tête-à-tête at the various distinguished museums or hop on a spooktacular ghost bus tour to learn the region’s grimmest tales. The sheer variety of experiences in York makes it an idyllic place to visit in 2024.

Key Attractions in 2024: Uplift your itinerary by adding one of the many artist concerts happening in York – Foo Fighters: Everything Or Nothing At All Tour (June 17), Paloma Faith (May 12), Peter Hook and the Light (October 10), to name a few.

Best time to visit: From early-June to late-September

Book your stay at The Grand, York via Booking.com

Book your stay at The Grand, York via Agoda.com

10) Budapest, Hungary

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Soak up the thermal waters at Széchenyi Baths, ferry through the Danube, the second largest river in Europe, and visit the House of Terror museum. Other unmissable attractions include the tram ride, Fishermen’s Bastion, and the Buda Castle.

Key Attractions in 2024: A symbol of the city’s architectural heritage, The Chain Bridge has fully reopened after two years of renovation. It is the first and oldest bridge to span the entire Danube River in Budapest, promising nonpareil views of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building.

Best time to visit: From March to May, and September to November

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest via Booking.com

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest via Agoda.com

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11) tahiti, french polynesia.

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Between the pearly white La Plage de Maui Beach and the ebony sands of Papenoo Beach, sandy-toed adventures are guaranteed. We also recommend hiking to the Fautaua Waterfall, strolling in the Pa’ofa’i Gardens, and exploring the Museum of Tahiti and The Islands. Tahiti’s water-bound escapades make it one of the best beach places to visit in 2024.

Key Attractions in 2024: Tahiti is hosting the 2024 Paris Olympics Surf Competition. Spectators can partake in the competitive zest at various celebratory sites across the island.

Best time to visit: Between May and October

Book your stay at InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa via Booking.com

Book your stay at InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa via Agoda.com

12) Lima, Peru

places to see in 2024

Things to do: Admire the iconic Plaza De Armas, visit the catacombs in San Fransisco Church, and savour Peruvian cuisine, touted to be the best in all of South America. We recommend sampling the ceviche, chifa (a Peruvian take on Chinese food), aji de gallina (a spicy chicken stew), and lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with fries, onions, and tomatoes). Thereafter, go cycling along the Malecon, take in the surreal views from San Cristóbal Hill, and tick paragliding off the list.

Key Attractions in 2024: If you are a fan of Ricky Martin and Luis Miguel, club your Lima getaway with their concerts, scheduled for January 19 and February 25, respectively.

Best time to visit: From December to April

Book your stay at Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, Lima via Booking.com

Book your stay at Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, Lima via Agoda.com

13) Sikkim, India

Sikkim

Things to do: Head to the uncharted forests and snow-capped peaks of Sikkim for a break from the metropolitan humdrum. Go yak riding at the Changu Lake, take a spiritual detour to the Tsuk La Khang Monastery, and allow the breathtaking Kanchenjunga mountains to serenade you. Adventure seekers can opt for a helicopter ride over Gangtok Valley, go river-rafting in the Teesta River, enjoy hang-gliding in Yumthang, or embark on the Yuksom- Dzongri trek.

Key Attractions in 2024: In a first, Sikkim will host the National Games 2024, from February 28 to March 12. All 36 states and union territories of India will participate in over 30 sports. There’s no better time to visit and witness Additionally, Sikkim is also getting its first-ever train service in 2024, owing to the 45-km-long Sivok-Rangpo railway line. This beautiful train journey through 22 tunnels and 14 bridges will help vacationers feel the pulse of the state and travel at ease.

Best time to visit: From March to May, and October to mid-December

Book your stay at Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, Gangtok via Booking.com

Book your stay at Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, Gangtok via Agoda.com

Also read – Bookmark This: Your Treasure Map To The Most Beautiful Places In India

14) Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Things to do: Feed wild Atlantic stingrays at Stingray City, unwind at the crescent-shaped Seven Mile Beach, and experience nature’s effortless magic at the Bioluminescent Bay. The Cayman Islands promise a no-holds-barred affair with the sea for every kind of traveller: adventurous, laidback, or heedful photographer. Other must-visits in the region include Eden Rock, Devil’s Grotto and Bloody Bay Marine Park.

Key Attractions in 2024: From two unique Royal Caribbean Cruise itineraries debuting in 2024 to the Capella Music Festival (April 27) featuring legendary artists (the line-up is yet to be announced), a holiday in the Cayman Islands guarantees saccharine memories.

Book your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman via Booking.com

Book your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman via Agoda.com

15) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam

Things to do: Nestled in southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh offers unique experiences like the Cu Chi Tunnels Tour, water puppet shows, and the heart-rending War Remnants Museum. Additionally, tourists can sail through the Mekong River on a boat, appreciate startling performances at the Saigon Opera House, and shop at the Ben Thanh Markets.

Key Attractions in 2024: Vietnam is all set to host its first-ever Ho Chi Minh International Film Festival from April 6 to April 13, 2024. In addition to the glitz and glamour, the festival will also host a content and cinema expo, seminars, and masterclasses. Furthermore, Ho Chi Minh City will also host the Wild Flowers (Portugal-based band) concert on February 02, 2024.

Best time to visit: From December to March

Book your stay at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers via Booking.com

Book your stay at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers via Agoda.com

16) Baku, Azerbaijan

Places to visit in 2024

Things to do: The Fire Mountain of Yanar Dag, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, and the Palace of Shirvanshahs are Baku staples. Beyond the sightseeing classics, challenge the norms of architecture at Heydar Aliyev Center, admire the Flame Towers, and taste the local energy at Fountains Square. For the best views of the city, hop on the Baku Ferris Wheel (Baku Eye).

Key Attractions in 2024: Baku will host the high-octane Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 from September 12 to September 15. The three-day passes for the race are already out, so grab yours to witness the bona fide Need For Speed chase. Additionally, the city will also host music concerts by Jah Khalib and Kollektiv Turmstrasse.

Best time to visit: From April to October

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Baku via Booking.com

Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Baku via Agoda.com

17) Nazas, Mexico

places to visit in 2024

Things to do: Nestled in the state of Durango in north-western Mexico, Nazas promises a culturally rich getaway. Hike through the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, visit inspiring museums, and indulge in local delicacies like tamales, enchiladas, and tacos. Choose heightened adventure by partaking in caving at Cueva de la Mora.

Key Attractions in 2024: Beyond regional fervour, Nazas is also said to offer some of the best views of 2024’s rare solar eclipse. In the coming year, the solar eclipse will feature a longer duration of totality on the centre line, making it a site worth witnessing.

Best time to visit: From November to March

Book your stay at Crowne Plaza Torreon via Booking.com

Book your stay at Crowne Plaza Torreon via Agoda.com

18) Kivalina, Alaska

Places to visit in 2024

Things to do: With no more than 450 residents, the beautiful village of Kivalina is like one big family. Quaint wooden chalets stand next to each other, supportive and scintillating at once. Flanked by sea ice on one side, and a frozen lake on another, Kivalina stands just 130 km north of the Arctic Circle . Beyond the rustic beauty of the village, you can explore nearby locales like Kotzebue, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

Key Attractions in 2024: Regrettably, the village of Kivalina has become a victim of climate change. Over the last decade, violent storms, coastal erosion, and warmer seas have caused the land to wash away. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers even predicted that Kivalina would be uninhabitable by 2025. So, if you’re inclined towards an offbeat, unchartered terrain filled with practical lessons on climate change, consider Kivalina.

Best time to visit: From mid-May to September

(Main and Feature Image Credit: Ziyi Zhu/Unsplash)

Related:  Globetrot With Confidence: Meet 2024’s Safest Countries And Cities!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What are the trending travel destinations for 2024? The best places to visit in 2024 include Cocora Valley, Sikkim, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Budapest, Baku, Kyoto, Cayman Islands, Lima, Tahiti, York, and Nordland, among others.

– Can I find family-friendly destinations for 2024? Wondering where to go with your family in 2024? Lima, Cayman Islands, Singapore, York, Kyoto, Budapest, Cairo, and Emilia-Romagna are some of the best places to visit in 2024.

– What are the top adventure destinations for 2024? Some of the top adventure destinations to visit in 2024 include Nazas in Mexico, Tahiti Islands, Sikkim, Lima, Tamarindo in Costa Rica, and Kyoto, among others.

– How can I ensure a culturally enriching travel experience in 2024? For a culturally rich holiday in 2024, all roads lead to Sikkim, Kyoto, Valletta, Seoul, Athens, Barcelona, and London, among others.

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Yashita Vashishth

Yashita Vashishth

Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has previously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends.

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cool places to travel 2024

Best Places To Visit In 2024

Kyoto, Japan: This city is a true cultural gem, with over 2,000 temples and shrines to discover. Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture by visiting the Gion District, taking part in a tea ceremony, or exploring the Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Town offers a diverse range of attractions, from beautiful beaches and majestic mountains to a thriving culinary scene and lively nightlife. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit important cultural and historical sites like Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Bali, Indonesia: This Indonesian island is a tropical paradise known for its gorgeous beaches, lush forests, and Hindu temples. Enjoy water sports, visit the Monkey Forest, or learn about traditional Balinese cuisine through a cooking class.

Marrakech, Morocco: This city will delight all of your senses, with its vibrant colors, sounds, and smells. Explore the bustling markets, visit the historic Koutoubia Mosque, or take a camel ride into the desert for an unforgettable experience.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: This city is famous for its beautiful beaches, iconic landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer statue, and energetic nightlife. Get a taste of Rio’s vibrant culture by attending a samba show or visiting one of the city’s many museums.

Santorini, Greece: This Greek island is a true gem, with its white-washed buildings, breathtaking sunsets, and crystal-clear waters. Soak up the sun on one of the island’s many beaches, explore ancient ruins, or take a boat tour to discover hidden coves.

Maui, Hawaii: This Hawaiian island is the second largest in the chain and boasts gorgeous beaches, world-class surf, and breathtaking hiking trails. Get active with water sports, visit the Haleakala National Park , or learn about the island’s rich history and culture.

Siem Reap, Cambodia : This city is renowned for its stunning temples, including the famous Angkor Wat. Browse the markets, take a boat tour of the Tonle Sap Lake, or visit the Angkor National Museum to learn about the region’s rich history.

Istanbul, Turkey: This city straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait and is rich in history and culture. Explore the city’s many mosques, visit the Grand Bazaar, or take a boat tour of the Bosphorus for a truly unique experience.

New Orleans, Louisiana: This city is famous for its vibrant music and food scene, as well as its historic French Quarter. Enjoy jazz music, try Cajun and Creole cuisine, or visit the city’s many museums and galleries.

Malta: This small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea is a must-visit, with its beautiful beaches, ancient temples, and rich history. Explore the capital city of Valletta, visit the ancient city of Mdina, or take a boat tour to the Blue Grotto.

Tulum, Mexico : This Caribbean coastal town is known for its turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins. Relax on one of the town’s many beaches, take a snorkeling excursion, or visit the Tulum ruins to learn about the ancient civilization.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: This city is known for its vibrant tango scene, delicious cuisine, and rich cultural heritage. Visit the famous Teatro Colon, take a walking tour of the city’s colorful neighborhoods, or try your hand at tango dancing.

Lisbon, Portugal: This coastal city is famous for its charming alleyways, historic landmarks, and delicious seafood. Take a stroll along the famous Belem Tower, explore the vibrant Baixa district, or indulge in a traditional Portuguese meal.

Havana, Cuba : This city is a time capsule of 1950s-era Cuba, with its classic cars, colonial architecture, and vibrant music scene. Explore Old Havana, take a salsa dance class, or visit the famous Revolution Museum. With Cuba starting to once again open for travel, it’s easy to see why this would be one of the best places to visit in 2023.

Sydney, Australia: This city is known for its iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, as well as its beautiful beaches and outdoor recreation. Visit the Taronga Zoo, take a surf lesson, or explore the city’s thriving arts and culture scene.

Queenstown, New Zealand: This picturesque town is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges and is a hub for adventure sports. Go bungee jumping, or skydiving, or take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps.

Budapest, Hungary: This city is famous for its thermal baths, stunning architecture, and rich cultural heritage. Visit the famous Széchenyi Bath, explore the historic Buda Castle, or try the city’s famous goulash.

Vancouver, Canada: This city is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts and culture scene, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, explore the Granville Island Market, or go skiing or snowboarding in the nearby mountains.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: This city is famous for its canals, bike culture, and rich cultural heritage. Explore the Van Gogh Museum, take a boat tour of the canals, or visit the famous Anne Frank House.

Copenhagen, Denmark: This city is known for its charming streets, world-class museums, and delicious cuisine. Visit the famous Little Mermaid statue, explore the National Museum of Denmark, or indulge in a traditional Danish smørrebrød meal.

With so many incredible top travel destinations to choose from for 2024, the hardest part of planning your next trip may be deciding where to go. Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture, or just a chance to relax, these top travel destinations have something for everyone. So start p lanning your 2024 adventure of a lifetime today and let the memories begin! What makes your list of the best places to visit in 2024?

Traveling is a great way to escape the mundane and explore new cultures, landscapes, and lifestyles. With 2024 now officially underway, it’s time to start planning your next adventure. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in 2024 to put on your must-visit bucket list. From bustling cities to breathtaking natural wonders, these locations have something for everyone and are sure to be popular among travelers in the coming year. With so many to choose from, which of these iconic places to visit in 2024 tops your list? Kyoto, Japan: This city...

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These Are the Top Travel Trends of 2024, According to American Express Travel

What are people really traveling for in 2024?

cool places to travel 2024

Grant Faint/Getty Images

Demand for premium travel continues at a torrid pace in 2024. Not only is that being reflected in the first few months of the year, but also in the newly released trend report by  American Express (Amex) Travel . The study explored travel behaviors and trip planning from participants living in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The majority of respondents are planning major milestone-like trips, even if there isn’t necessarily an occasion to celebrate. And 84 percent of people surveyed plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year. That includes destinations like  Antarctica  and the  Galapagos Islands . (Travel agents and advisors are making a resurgence as well, with over 50 percent of people looking to leverage a travel agent or trusted advisor to book, like  T+L’s A-List .)

“The report shows that demand for travel is continuing, and that people are building itineraries to create memories—being intentional about the places they are going, and the things they are doing when they get there,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Travel + Leisure .

Meanwhile, if 2023 was the year of “gig-tripping” (and the Taylor Swift effect), then 2024 is the year of long-distance travel for sporting events. Amex’s survey showed that 67 percent of millennial and Gen Z respondents are interested in traveling for sports in 2024. Paris, Miami, and New York City are the top three cities for sports travel, according to Amex. (Paris is hosting the  Olympic Games this year, Miami is hosting Formula 1, and New York City has the U.S. Open Tennis.)

In addition, solo travel will be a prominent theme in 2024, with 76 percent of millennials and Gen Z (compared to 69 percent of all respondents) saying they plan to take a solo trip this year, with a majority centered around self-love and treating themselves. “It is really interesting to see how many people are embracing solo travel,” said Hendley. “We’re seeing changes with younger travelers in particular."

Finally, Amex says that 2024 will be a notable year for spontaneous trips or what they’re calling “on-a-whim travel.” Nearly 80 percent of travelers say they plan to take a spur-of-the-moment trip, while 44 percent of respondents even expressed a preference for a spontaneous trip instead of having all the details planned. In fact, there are entire companies (like  Pack Up & Go  and  Competitours ) that offer complete itineraries where none of the details are provided in advance.

For something a bit less extreme, Henley recommended leaving unplanned time on existing trips to experience local culture and activities. “I just took an incredible trip to Thailand and relied on local experts and tour guides to show me the ‘real’ sites. I would have missed out on these local experiences – and so much incredible food – if I hadn’t left room in my itinerary to be impulsive and truly explore,” she said.

To learn more visit go.amex .

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The 24 Best Places to Go in 2024

By CNT Editors

The 24 best places to go in 2024

This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024 – find more travel inspiration for next year, organised by continent, here .

In considering the destinations that excite us the most for 2024, there’s an overarching sense of possibility.

When the last corners of Asia fully reopened their borders earlier this year, the pandemic's claim on our travels finally fell away. We, as travellers, are now more able to set our sights on the farthest-reaching adventures , to dust off our bucket lists – and in many cases, return to the places we love and miss. The world remains an unpredictable and complicated place in many ways. Yet, in being reminded that travel is the greatest of luxuries, we are forced to ask the question: what should we do with our enviable power to traverse the globe in 2024? Where, we wonder, will we go first?

There are so many compelling reasons to take travel far and wide in the year ahead. Emerging boutique hotels, wellness resorts, and expedition cruises , as they vie for travellers’ bookings with new offerings, are being forced to carefully consider what it means to be relevant and exciting, yes, but also sustainable. Destinations are setting their sights on everything from pioneering eco-tourism initiatives to restorative land stewardship efforts, handing back narratives to Native communities that thread their past with their future. As for us, travellers? We get to take our pick.

To help you find the trip worth your vacation days, we’ve collaborated with Condé Nast Traveller editors from around the globe. For months we have researched, debated, and vetted, from a large pool of fantastic cities, regions, and countries with new reasons to visit. The result is this: our definitive guide to the 24 best places to go in 2024. It includes extraordinary superblooms in a new national park in Chile, up-close encounters with wildlife alongside Inuit guides in Canada, and an exciting, community-led dining destination in Rwanda . This complete list, while an immense challenge to narrow down, mirrors just how big, beautiful, diverse – and ever-changing – our world is.

Here are the 24 places that we believe should be on every traveller's radar for the year ahead. We can’t wait to see where you go. – Arati Menon and Megan Spurrell

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Places to Go in 2024

Budapest, hungary.

Go for: a fresh take on the 150 year-old city

As the city of Budapest turns 150 an overwhelming sense of oldmeetsnew is inspired by historic attractions living...

As the city of Budapest turns 150, an overwhelming sense of old-meets-new is inspired by historic attractions living alongside just-opened hotels (such as the art deco-inspired W, above), and the futuristic House of Music Hungary.

Renowned for its architecture, the Hungarian capital is home to everything from art nouveau and neoclassical to gothic and baroque, with the Blue Danube connecting it all like a ribbon. And then there are the mineral-rich thermal baths, featuring ornate design flourishes. The city also buzzes with creativity, which spills over into the vibrant nightlife; the ruin bars district is a tangible example of crafting opportunity from the ashes of adversity following the brutality of Communist rule. November 2023 marks 150 years since the previously divided cities of Buda, Pest, and Obuda were unified, as well as a series of cultural events. The Chain Bridge – the city’s oldest and a “symbol of togetherness,” according to Mayor Gergely Karácsony – has fully reopened after a two-year restoration, granting excellent views of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building. New builds such as the spectacular House of Music Hungary and the National Athletics Centre (the central stadium for 2023’s World Athletics Championships) are testament to a city with optimism for its next 150 years. The art deco W Budapest – formerly a palace and on a UNESCO World Heritage-listed street – opened in July 2023 opposite the Hungarian State Opera. Also in the Marriott portfolio is the Dorothea Hotel , with its 216 rooms and glamorous rooftop restaurant. In keeping with the musical events celebrating the 150th anniversary, the 2022 opening of the Hard Rock Hotel – Eastern Europe’s first – combines musical memorabilia (Prince’s faux-fur coat in a shade of, unsurprisingly, purple) with an in-thick-of-it location on Nagymező Street, Budapest ’s legendary louche entertainment strip. – Sarah Rodrigues

Cyclades, Greece

Go for: salty-air island-hopping made easier than ever

Stylish boutique hotel Kalesma Mykonos is opening a spa in 2024 marking a hotel boom throughout the cluster of islands...

Stylish boutique hotel Kalesma Mykonos is opening a spa in 2024, marking a hotel boom throughout the cluster of islands known as the Cyclades.

It will be easy to hop between Kalesma and islands like Mykonos Santorini Paros Milos and Ios thanks to new flights to...

It will be easy to hop between Kalesma and islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Milos, and Ios, thanks to new flights to and throughout the dazzling blue archipelago.

Is there anywhere more popular than the Greek islands right now? This past summer, the Cyclades – an island group that includes Mykonos , Santorini , Paros, Milos , and Ios – dominated social-media feeds with beautiful blue and white backdrops, thrilling beach clubs and nightclubs, and unparalleled shopping. With more smart stays being unveiled in 2024, as well as new flights, next summer is the time to make a Cyclades trip happen. Etihad, British Airways and Saudia added new routes to various Greek islands in 2023, plus the 2022 launch of Cycladic , the first inter-island airline, means it’s easier than ever to get there. Hotel business is booming. Santo Pure in Oia on Santorini has just added 20 new suites, and next year it will be joined by sister hotel Santo Mine , a 37-suite luxury resort. Slick boutique hotel Kalesma on Mykonos will launch its spa for the 2024 season, including a hammam and cryotherapy area. Five-star, 80-acre Gundari Resort will open on Folegandros next May, while a new One&Only property will come to Kea in April. Such plush hotels are rare on these islands, expanding the options for luxury stays in the Cyclades. – Ali Wunderman

Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Go for: star chefs leading a foodie revolution

Picturesque scenery is complemented by a wave of memorable dining from Michelin starwielding chefs  and it's easy to...

Picturesque scenery is complemented by a wave of memorable dining from Michelin star-wielding chefs – and it's easy to stay awhile since the best new rooms tend to be directly above these must-visit restaurants.

For a bewitching break in 2024, go north. Yorkshire-born sculptor Henry Moore once said: “The observation of nature is part of an artist’s life.” And Yorkshire has some of the most seductive nature: sweeping landscapes like living oil paintings; undulating dales and peaks; deep-forested moors with big skies; heady lavender fields; lofty woodlands filled with birdsong; and golden sandy sweeps skirting the peppermint-blue sea. The Brontës’ romanticism is not lost. In 2024, go stargazing in Yorkshire’s national parks at the magical Dark Skies Festival . The Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta will return to its new home at Castle Howard in 2024, with rainbow-bright, early-morning mass balloon flights and night glows. There were plenty of Michelin mentions for the county in 2023, with keen eyes on the 2024 list, so restaurants with rooms are ramping up. Just up the road from The Black Swan in Oldstead, Michelin-lauded chef Tommy Banks’ latest outpost, The Abbey Inn , opened in May and its three luxurious bedrooms, care of Tommy’s mother, were launched in July. For the ultimate culinary sleepover, stay two nights and eat at both restaurants. Newbie Mýse , helmed by chef-and-sommelier couple Joshua and Victoria Overington, is a petite restaurant with rooms set among caramel-colored cottages in the sleepy village of Hovingham. Book in for its creative tasting menu, then retire upstairs to one of the cozy-cool rooms. In June , Middleton Lodge , a sustainable luxury retreat bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park , launched the Forest Spa in the heart of a serenely wooded estate. Don’t pass by honeycomb-hued Helmsley, with its emerging culinary scene and the recent opening of Pignut a restaurant with a sustainable focus and impressive casual and tasting-menu options. Expect plenty more magic in 2024. – Rachel Everett

Go for: Indian Ocean waters, a museum, and dazzling beach villas

The recently opened House of Digital Art  brings contemporary art to a historic PortLouis building on the Indian Ocean...

The recently opened House of Digital Art (HODA) brings contemporary art to a historic Port-Louis building on the Indian Ocean Island.

After visiting HODA above head to the Intercontinental Slavery Museum opened in 2023 which inspects the island's...

After visiting HODA, above, head to the Intercontinental Slavery Museum, opened in 2023, which inspects the island's colonial history.

Mauritius ’s heyday in the ’80s conjures images of striped parasols, a tanned Stéphanie de Monaco on water skis, and all of Europe’s jet set holed up in the few – but fabulous – hotels. Fast-forward three decades and the Indian Ocean island has even more to land itself on your travel list: a dynamic cultural scene and new wave of hospitality are unfolding on its shores. In the capital of Port Louis, the years-in-the-making Intercontinental Slavery Museum , located inside a restored 1700s military hospital, opened in September 2023, marking the nation’s first monumental step in making amends for its long colonial history. Culture buffs are also gravitating to the recently opened House of Digital Art (HODA) nearby: Old meets new in this historic Port-Louis building, housing a cutting-edge array of contemporary art installations. The Indian Ocean isle has always been renowned for its dreamy seaside resorts, but encouraging visitors to venture away from the beaches is the forthcoming Socio Tribeca (late 2024) – heralding the launch of a new hotel brand from the Lux Collective – which promises to be an impressive contemporary hotel with its finger on the pulse of the island. Muse Villas , a newcomer seeking to offer an elevated resort experience, enables travellers to stay on their own private islet. Meanwhile, legendary resorts Lux Belle Mare and Paradis Beachcomber just unveiled massive restorations in October, and Hotel Riu Palace Mauritius , a kitesurfers’ paradise, will emerge from its own facelift in May 2024. But beyond the well-trodden coastline of Mauritius, this may be the year its barely known little sister, Rodrigues, a speck of an island an hour-and-a-half flight east, gets its due. It’s long been a well-kept secret among even the most in-the-know travellers, but now a clutch of reimagined properties is adding a touch of luxury gloss: The island’s two historic hotels, Play Mourouk and Cotton Bay Resort & Spa, are reopening after months of renovation and reinvention (the first as of November 1, 2023; the latter in 2024). – Anissa Macaulay

South and Central Sri Lanka

Go for: wellness retreats, a new food festival, and a nearly 200-mile nature trail

Kayaam House is one of several openings that signals the luxury and wellness boom marking Sri Lanka's tourism industry...

Kayaam House is one of several openings that signals the luxury and wellness boom marking Sri Lanka's tourism industry right now.

Built from scratch by a local architect Kayaam House settles into its coastal setting with earthy textures and teak...

Built from scratch by a local architect, Kayaam House settles into its coastal setting with earthy textures and teak furniture.

Rising from economic uncertainty, Sri Lanka ’s tourism industry is in the midst of a luxury and wellness boom – from its tea-filled highlands to its palm-fringed shores. In the south of the country, new luxury resorts continue to entice. Among them, Kayaam House and Ahu Bay by homegrown luxury travel specialist Resplendent Ceylon; a Hilton resort next to the Indian Ocean-bordering Yala National Park, one of the best places to spot Sri Lanka’s elusive leopards; and the art deco-inspired The Charleston , which opens in December in the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort. The already established Kalukanda House – a villa in surf town Weligama by British-Sri Lankan interior designer Dee Gibson – is making its mark with retreats centred on female empowerment, with yoga, breath work, reiki, and Ayurveda included.

A comprehensive renovation of the nine-room Meraki , which employs local women and offers yoga, holistic treatments, island-sourced vegetarian fare, and artisanal crafts in the Polhena Beach district of Matara, is set to be unveiled in early 2024; and luxury fitness getaway Makahiya is gearing up to launch its own brand of bespoke retreats.

In January, the Galle Literary Festival will return after a five-year hiatus, with appearances by literary figures such as Shehan Karunatilaka and Alexander McCall Smith, while Gourmet Galle , the country’s new food festival, will spotlight 12 chefs in 12 venues, ranging from beaches to paddy fields, over a 12-week period from January to March.

Inland, development of the Pekoe Trail , a new nearly 200-mile network of hiking routes that snakes its way through Sri Lanka’s highlands, continues. Traversing historic tea plantations, colonial estates, local villages, holy shrines, and forests brimming with biodiversity, it’s a novel way to experience Sri Lanka’s lush hill country, particularly when paired with stays at boutique properties such as W15 Hanthana , the luxurious Goatfell , or the Kelburne Estate , scheduled to open in December 2024. – Zinara Rathnayake

Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Go for: pristine nature, and a new take on sustainability

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea has both untouched desert and vibrant coral reefs  both of which will be part of ambitious...

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea has both untouched desert and vibrant coral reefs – both of which will be part of ambitious sustainable tourism development in the destination.

Sixteen hotels are already open in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea with a Six Senses Ritz Carlton and St. Regis opening their...

Sixteen hotels are already open in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea, with a Six Senses, Ritz Carlton, and St. Regis opening their doors to travellers in 2024.

Creating a completely new tourism destination in an area of pristine natural beauty – including coral reefs that are home to critically endangered species, unspoiled desert, and dormant volcanoes – is a fine tightrope to walk. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea aims to navigate these challenges with ambitious efforts that will make it a centre of regenerative tourism, powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Only 22 of the more than 90 islands in the area will be developed, and nine have been designated as protected conservation areas. While many of the sustainability efforts will be behind the scenes, some are visible – and visitable.

New mangrove parks will be populated with trees currently being grown in a mangrove nursery (the project aims to plant 50 million by 2030). The first phase of the destination, which includes 16 luxury hotels, is powered by 760,000 solar panels, and the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network has already been installed. Three resorts – Six Senses Southern Dunes ; Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve; and The St. Regis Red Sea Resort – are set to open in the coming months, each with its own strict program of sustainability measures, ranging from light-touch modular structures to intelligent landscaping, smart waste management, and local sourcing. Transport within the destination will be by e-vehicles, and hydrogen-powered seaplanes will eventually transport visitors between the islands. Whether a luxury tourist destination can ever truly be sustainable remains to be seen, but the efforts being made in the Red Sea are certainly testing the hypothesis. – Nicola Chilton

Go for : new direct flights, luxe resorts, and a spicy carnival celebration

All-new direct flights will mean Grenada will finally get the attention it deserves – perfectly timed for the luxury hotels and resorts that are on their way in 2024.

While it may have traditionally been overlooked in favour of, say, St. Barths or Turks and Caicos , Grenada has more than proven itself a worthy contender – especially for travellers based on the East Coast. Starting in November 2023, JetBlue is making it easier to get there, with the launch of a direct service from Boston to join existing nonstops out of JFK. Air Canada also recently ramped up service and now has up to four flights per week between Toronto and Grenada.

Several new hotels and resorts are also on their way. Six Senses has picked Grenada for its first resort in the Caribbean: La Sagesse is set to open in early 2024 and will spread out over 38 acres of land with unparalleled access to the ocean and a range of adventures, from shipwreck dives to waterfall trails. Also in January 2024, Beach House by Silversands will open its doors to a mix of 28 beachfront and cliffside villas and suites ( Silversands Resort opened on the island in 2018 and boasts a 100-meter infinity pool, said to be the longest in the Caribbean). Further out, IHG has broken ground on a 150-room, 30-private-suite resort that will sit next to Six Senses and is projected to open in 2025.

August is a popular time to visit: Spicemas, Grenada’s Carnival and the island’s largest cultural event, shimmies in during this time and brings with it weeks of parades, food, dancing, and performances. This year, JetBlue added a second daily flight from JFK during the days of the festival to accommodate the diaspora and the growing number of travellers heading to the Spice Island. Things are only going to get busier in 2024. – Madison Flager

Go for: new hiking and biking trails, pristine countryside views

Kosovo's untouched valleys offer the perfect canvas for multi-day hiking and biking trips – like the Trans Dinarica cycling route, opening in 2024, which will wind its way past rivers, markets, and via ferrata setups.

Tiny Kosovo lacks the stunning beaches of Albania and luxury resorts of Montenegro , but Europe’s newest country has sky-scraping peaks, pastoral countryside and heart-warming hospitality, a combination ideal for multi-day hiking and biking trips. 2024 will mark the 25th anniversary since the end of the Kosovo war, and there's much to discover in the region now. Following in the footsteps of cross-border adventure trails such as the Peaks of the Balkans and High Scardus, the Trans Dinarica cycling route opens in 2024, making its way past the minarets framing Prizren’s eponymous river, through the Ottoman market town of Gjakova, and on to Peja. Perched on the edge of the Rugova Gorge, Peja serves as base camp for the country’s many outdoor adventures, including via ferratas and spelunking. A new paved path will soon connect the Lumbardhi River Promenade with the popular Health Trail – the beginning of the south-to-west route through the inaptly named Accursed Mountains. Two additional forthcoming routes connect trails in the Rugova Mountains to the gushing White Drin waterfall and Radac cave. Steps from the waterfall, the sleek, modern Ujëvara e Drinit Resort specialises in rooms with a view and fresh trout dinners. Through-hikers can rest weary bones and fill hungry bellies further from town at rural guesthouses such as Ariu , where traditional Kosovar dishes include flija, made with dairy produced on-site. – Naomi Tomky

French Polynesia

Go for : Olympic surfing, sublime flora and fauna

An alternative Olympics experience can be found in Tahiti where skilled surfers will ride the waves at Teahupoo. Plan a...

An alternative Olympics experience can be found in Tahiti, where skilled surfers will ride the waves at Teahupo’o. Plan a 2024 trip to catch the action IRL, then kick back at one of several new and reopened hotels elsewhere in the territory.

All eyes may be on Tahiti this year as Teahupo’o, a village on the south coast and home to one of “the deadliest waves in the world,” gears up to host the 2024 Paris Olympics surf competition . Spectators can watch the event on giant screens at celebration sites across the island, such as Jardin de Paofai, Papara Beach Break, and Marina of Punui. The rest of French Polynesia , a sublime blue territory of 118 islands, is continuing its dedication to sustainability over mass tourism. Keen to bill itself as a regenerative destination, Coral Gardeners, an ocean conservation group, is in the process of planting one million heat-resilient corals worldwide by 2025. It’s also working on upcycling abandoned pearl farms for coral restoration on Ahe, an atoll northeast of Tahiti. Hotels across the jumble of islands are also getting spruced up, with a flurry of rejuvenations, starting in Bora Bora. In January 2024, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora will launch a botanical tour highlighting its carefully preserved native flora and fauna, followed by the reopening of Le Meridien as Westin Bora Bora in mid-2024.

Looking forward to 2025, on the Tuamotu Islands, Le Tikehau will reopen as a Relais Chateaux property, and the Kia Ora Resort & Spa in Rangiroa is renovating to include overwater bungalows. – Kaila Yu

Accra, Ghana

Go for: the heart of a pan-African cultural renaissance, Indigenous pop-up dinners, Afrobeats

Accra continues to draw travellers with a surge of cool new pop-up restaurants, museums, and the pilgrimage-worthy music festival, AfroFuture (previously Afrochella).

Accra has steadily been cementing its reputation as the continent’s capital of cool, and a reimagination of pan-African heritage has ignited the city’s foodies. Leading the way is the Ghana Food Movement , a network of food change makers intent on surfacing the sexy in sustainable food. With the May 2024 opening of its Link-up Kitchen in the buzzing Osu neighbourhood, this meeting place–cum–test kitchen will house the Movement’s popular Dine and Dance series, where young chefs highlight local ingredients in multicourse dinners before getting down to beats by local DJs. The hub will also host pop-ups featuring up-and-coming chefs and Indigenous menus, such as those offered by Abena Offeh-Gyimah, whose food tours spotlight heirloom ingredients and a “reconnection to ancestral ways of eating.” This year also sees chef Selassie Atadika of Midunu resuming her Nomadic Dinners celebrating African ingredients, as well as quarterly chocolate tastings of her gorgeous bonbons inspired by flavours like beriberi chili and Cape Malay spice. After dinner, you’ll find the balmy West African capital’s electric club scene spoils you for choice. While the Grammys have just come to the party (the awards will feature a Best African Music Performance category for the first time, in 2024), locals have been lighting it up at festivals like Chale Wote Street Art Festival (August) and AfroFuture (previously Afrochella ; December) for years. Should you find time to sleep, the December 2023 opening of the 145-room Hilton Accra Cantonments marks the brand’s debut in Ghana.

Looking ahead: A state-of-the-art cultural institution is coming just outside the city as well. Enriched by voices from the diaspora, an overdue zeitgeist to reclaim African narratives finds a physical home in the Pan African Heritage Museum , which has begun construction and will open in 2025 or 2026. Located on 10 lush acres in Winneba (40 miles from Accra), the space’s first offerings will include a music amphitheater, a youth innovation centre, and a food court. Like all its planned exhibits (you can digitally preview the collection), these will both showcase and connect the continent’s rich history and cultures to its contemporary global might. – Lee Middleton

Go for: new cruises leading to ancient ruins, and a burst of artsy openings

Luna Zorro Studio which sells artisan textiles will open a boutique with a twobedroom casita for rent in October 2024 in...

Luna Zorro Studio, which sells artisan textiles, will open a boutique with a two-bedroom casita for rent in October 2024, in Antigua.

Across the country new art cultural and community spaces beg travellers to venture beyond ancient ruins like Tikal  and...

Across the country, new art, cultural, and community spaces beg travellers to venture beyond ancient ruins like Tikal – and stay awhile.

When National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions launch their new Belize to Tikal itinerary in January 2024, travellers may be tempted to tack on a few days ashore Belize’s white sand beaches and palm-dotted islands. But Guatemala, home to the jungle-shrouded Mayan ruins of Tikal, is the extension not to skip. The country’s mix of rich Indigenous and colonial history, staggering natural beauty, and now expanding infrastructure for tourism in the form of restaurants, hotels, and tours makes 2024 the year to explore Guatemala in earnest. In the charming city of Antigua, the world class MUNAG (National Museum of Art Guatemala) , which covers 3,000 years of heritage through a contemporary lens, is now open, and a second-phase unveiling is expected imminently. Nearby, the team behind Luna Zorro studio – known for merging traditional craftsmanship with modern textile design and crafting boutique trips throughout Guatemala in collaboration with El Camino Travel – is renovating a historic property into La Valiente: It will house a Luna Zorro boutique and a coffee-and-wine bar in the front, with a two-bedroom casita for rent in the back, all set to open in October 2024. Café No Sé , meanwhile, an anchor of the old city that’s touted as the first mezcal bar outside of Mexico , will continue to honour “20-ish” years of being in business with events and live music. A flush of new art spaces, like Aura Galerías , and innovative restaurants continue to characterise the capital of Guatemala City.

Air carriers have taken notice of the increasing interest in this destination – in December 2023, Alaska will begin daily service from Los Angeles to Guatemala City, marking a new year-round route for the airline. Delta is bumping up access to Latin America in general and upping the frequency of winter flights from its Atlanta hub to Guatemala. – Ali Wunderman

The Kimberley, Australia

Go for : pristine wilderness newly accessible by cruise, First Nations cultural immersions

The Kimberley's hard-to-reach waterways, spectacular coastlines, and ancient rock art sites will soon welcome fresh visitors, thanks to an influx of new cruise lines in 2024.

Western Australia’s remote Kimberley is one of the world’s last wild frontiers, known for its untouched wilderness of towering ochre cliffs, cornflower blue waters, and ancient Aboriginal rock-art sites. But it’s always been difficult to explore. That’s about to change, because in 2024, this region is set to welcome an influx of cruise lines, keen to make the most of the region’s hard-to-reach waterways. Seabourn will cruise the Kimberley for the first time with Seabourn Pursuit ; Ponant has deployed its all-new Le Jacques-Cartier to join sister vessel Le Lapérouse from May 2024; and from June 2024, Silversea will replace Silver Explorer with Silver Cloud to increase capacity. Not to be outdone, Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse II will become the only ship in the region with two helicopters onboard for flightseeing and excursions. Her first Kimberley voyage will take place in May.

In Broome, a coastal town and a gateway to the Kimberley, tourism projects are heating up too. Tipping its hat at the pearling history of the region, Salty Plum Social is making plenty of noise with its new Pearling Master’s Trek which, after its inaugural walk in 2023, kicks off with regular tours from April 2024. Plus, leading tour operators have joined forces to launch Aboriginal Culture Expedition , a four-night itinerary that includes participation in First Nations experiences in and around iconic Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay – the first of its 2024 tours debuts in May. A top tip: relax with a native-ingredient craft beer, courtesy of the all-new part-Aboriginal-owned 4,500-square-meter Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach . Improving access to this incredible region is Nexus Airlines , which has joined Airnorth in servicing regional Western Australia with its first Broome-Kununurra-Darwin route – and with further services scheduled for 2024. – Dilvin Yasa

Kobe, Japan

Go for: high design with a sense of place

Kobe Japan is best known for its eponymous beef  and designforward spaces like the new Officine Universelle Buly...

Kobe, Japan, is best known for its eponymous beef – and design-forward spaces, like the new Officine Universelle Buly skincare shop, are creatively building on this heritage.

Though Kobe's richest pleasures are earthly  beef sake and hot springs for starters  the view from Kobe Port Tower which...

Though Kobe's richest pleasures are earthly – beef, sake, and hot springs, for starters – the view from Kobe Port Tower, which will reopen in early 2024, lets travellers take the city in from above.

Sandwiched between steep mountains and sparkling seas in southwestern Japan , the port city of Kobe is seriously strengthening its design credentials. Taking centre stage is Vague Kobe , a new creative space by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio (TYS). Spanning the upper levels of an elegant former 1930s bank, it houses a gallery, bookstore, café, wine bar, flower shop, and design studio. In a perfectly measured showcase of contemporary Japanese design – and a reflection of Kobe’s seafaring heritage – renovated interiors combine crafted walls of traditional Japanese plasterwork and clean minimalist lines with large windows, stone floors, and ornate tilework.

Further proof of Kobe’s design ascendency was the arrival of French artisanal perfume and skincare brand Officine Universelle Buly in mid-2023, its shop and café interiors flamboyantly layered in signature style – from Kobe beef-inspired expanses of red-veined marble to chocolate-like lacquerware and “dripping” lamps. Recent plans by Trunk , arguably Tokyo’s hippest hotel group, to make Kobe the setting for its first hotel outside the capital is further evidence of the city’s prominence. And Kobe Port Tower – a panoramic observation deck on the shores of Osaka Bay – will reopen in early 2024 with a string of new facilities, including a new museum showcasing light-themed artworks and a fancy 360-degree revolving café bar. – Danielle Demetriou

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Go for: a watershed moment for exclusive camps in a unique landscape

A wave of new safari lodges  including a twoyearsonly temporary camp  make a visit to the Okavango Delta more desirable...

A wave of new safari lodges – including a two-years-only temporary camp – make a visit to the Okavango Delta more desirable, and pressing, than ever.

Go. Go now. Because if you’ve always dreamed of discovering Botswana ’s Okavango Delta, where seasonal floodwaters transform parched sands into a filigree of shimmering channels, right now is when you’ll be spoiled for choice. A surge in demand, coupled with a proactive approach to developing community-owned concessions, has led to a flush of new lodges across the world’s largest inland delta.

Take Sitatunga Private Island , or Natural Selection’s North Island Okavango , where just three tented suites rest on an island beneath wild ebony trees. Natural Selection will add to their portfolio in May 2024 with a new build: Tawana . Set in the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve, this partnership with the chief of the local Batawana tribe will offer eight thatched suites amid the grasslands lining the perennial Gomoti River. Each stay is at least 1,000 square feet in size and comes with a private plunge pool and terrace.

Water is gold in the Delta, and this past year, African Bush Camps (ABC) opened the riverside Khwai Lediba . But our eye is really on Atzaro Okavango , slated for a March 2024 debut: It’s the third Icon camp in the Delta for ABC, with 10 lagoon-side suites promising impressive levels of Delta luxe and a strong sense of place through design (both markers of the Icon portfolio).

If you’re feeling adventurous, look east to the untapped Mababe marshlands and the brand-new Wilderness Mokete (opening mid-2024) for a fresh look at under-canvas exploration – out with plush campaign-style furnishings and in with geometric lines and contemporary decor. But be quick: Mokete will only stand for two years before being replaced by a new-build permanent camp set to open in 2026. – Richard Holmes

Go for: biodiversity, castaway vibes, and water sports

Miavana in Madagascar exemplifies the island's allure with water sports adventures through baobab forests and...

Miavana in Madagascar exemplifies the island's allure with water sports, adventures through baobab forests, and jaw-dropping views.

In 2024 it will become easier to travel between remote destinations across Madagascar thanks to a new flight circuit and...

In 2024, it will become easier to travel between remote destinations across Madagascar, thanks to a new flight circuit and cruise itineraries.

An otherworldly land of undiscovered species and bizarre biological riches, the rugged, remote Indian Ocean isle of Madagascar has always promised to upend visitors’ senses and logistical prowess. Happily, the latter is changing as the pioneers responsible for some of the continent’s finest conservation tourism offerings are upping the ante on the world’s fourth largest island. Located inside the essentially unvisited Namoroka National Park, Namoroka Tsingy Exploration Camp’s mid-2024 opening makes seven luxury safari tents your portal to a landscape of baobabs jutting from the formations of limestone knives known as tsingy and populated by lemurs that haven’t learned to fear people.

More of a coastal explorer? Look no further than Masoala Forest Lodge , which recently launched a Blue Lagoon Expedition trip in 2022. Paddling the breathtaking rainforest- and mangrove-fringed Antongil Bay, kayakers en route to a magical island campsite will share pellucid waters with migrating humpback whales and schools of reef fish. If that’s a touch too rugged, Time + Tide’s Miavana – arguably the Platonic ideal of exclusive island luxury – is launching a kiteboarding centre and new mainland excursions (think quad biking through baobab forests), in January 2024 and March 2024 respectively, for those who enjoy a splash of adrenaline in their bliss cocktail.

Finally – and critically – 2024 sees access to the Red Island expanding. Masoala Forest Lodge and Madagascar Classic Collection are starting a new flight circuit that will link choice remote destinations, like Andasibe, Namoroka, and Masoala parks, and luxe cruise lines like Silversea , Lindblad , Swan Hellenic , and Seabourne have added the country as a port of call on new voyages. – Lee Middleton

Magdalena River, Colombia

Go for: scenic river cruises with a big hit of culture

The Magdalena River, lined with history and charming towns like Mompox (pictured above), is about to become the buzziest river cruising destination in South America, thanks to two new itineraries from AmaWaterways launching in 2024.

Immortalised in Gabriel García Márquez’s classic Love in the Time of Cholera, the Magdalena River is Colombia’s largest and most important waterway. Running 930 miles from the snowcapped Andes through fertile valleys and into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean , it's the economic and cultural heart of the country. However, for many travellers, the mighty Magdalena has been off the radar.

But courtesy of luxe river-cruise company AmaWaterways , two different ships will kick off voyages in the future: AmyMagdalena , in November 2024, and AmaMelodia , in January 2025. Both ships will sail the Magic of Colombia itinerary, from Barranquilla to Cartagena , and the Wonders of Colombia itinerary, from Cartagena to Barranquilla – each taking passengers upriver to the UNESCO-designated city of Mompox , founded in 1540, where riverfront plazas and ornate churches await in this lost-in-time pueblo mágico.

Along the way, the three-story ships, which come with rooftop sun decks and balconies, stop for birdwatching and hiking. What really sets this river sailing apart from those in the Amazon River , though, is its focus on culture: From musical explorations in the town of Palenque , the first “free” town founded by formerly enslaved people in the Americas, to jazz concerts in Mompox and a special Colombian Carnaval celebration in Barranquilla, this is a journey into the exuberant heart of Colombian life.

Fly via Cartagena, with its world-class beaches, dining, and nightlife – not to mention the new Casa Pestagua hotel , situated in a lavishly restored 17th-century palace – for a soft landing before or after the cruise. There are a number of existing nonstop flights from the US, including an increase in weekly flights from Atlanta via Delta as of October 2023. – Ocean Malandra

Go for: improved access, unique cultural festivals, and unscripted adventure

The rich heritage and staggering landscapes of Mongolia have captured the hearts of many travellers  but new lodges...

The rich heritage and staggering landscapes of Mongolia have captured the hearts of many travellers – but new lodges, immersive cultural experiences, and the first-ever direct flight to the US, coming in 2024, prove that adventure doesn't always have to mean rugged.

Mongolia has long been the destination for thrill-seeking adventure travellers – as participants in the wonderfully chaotic Mongol Rally will attest – but the country is expanding beyond that niche as its tourism board sets its sights on attracting one million tourists per year. In 2023, the country launched visa-free travel for a further 34 nationalities – bringing the total up to 61 – in a campaign that is set to run until 2025.

The launch of new luxury lodges, cultural tours, and the announcement of the country’s first ever direct US flight, coming in 2024 to the $650-million Chinggis Khaan International Airport, further signal Mongolia’s tourism ambitions.

Following the success of the rugged-but-chic Three Camel Lodge , Mongolia’s luxury accommodation options are expanding with places such as Yeruu Lodge , which opened in 2023. Offbeat cultural experiences are one of the most compelling reasons to visit the country’s vast, rugged expanses and local operator Breanna Wilson offers some of the best. After a successful season of horse trekking and the Naadam Festival – a colourful display of strength, horsemanship, and marksmanship – in 2023, Wilson is expanding her 2024 tours to include a digital nomad week, a women-only retreat in Orkhon Valley, and a three-day archery training session with Namnaa Academy , an organisation that began reviving the ancient art of mounted archery in 2020. – Ali Wunderman

Northern Rivers, Australia

Go for : adaptive surfing, immersive hiking, and stylish ranches

A flurry of designled hotel openings in Byron Bay will follow the lead of Sun Ranch and range from equestrianstyle...

A flurry of design-led hotel openings in Byron Bay will follow the lead of Sun Ranch, and range from equestrian-style ranches to breezy seaside hideaways.

Spread across 55 acres in Byron Bay Sun Ranch pays homage to the iconic Californian ranch houses of the 1970s.

Spread across 55 acres in Byron Bay, Sun Ranch pays homage to the iconic Californian ranch houses of the 1970s.

Made up of a patchwork of coastal towns and linked via scenic drives that take you along stunning Pacific beaches, lush valleys, and rainforests, this region has long been a popular destination for road-tripping, surfing, and trekking. Though devastated by apocalyptic floods in 2022, this northeastern corner of New South Wales is making a comeback. The region’s recovery was boosted in 2023 with the opening of the first stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail , which, when completed in the coming years, will link Byron Shire with a string of hinterland towns via an 82-mile mixed-use pathway. Also threading through this abundant region shaped by a now-extinct volcano is a new multiday hiking trail. Slated for a mid-2024 opening, the 24-mile Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk (meaning “old people’s track” in the local Bundjalung Aboriginal language) will pass through ancient traditional lands forming part of the World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

A highlight in March: the wave-lashed town of Byron Bay is set to host the 2024 Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championship , the country’s first international event for surfers with disabilities. Supporting all of this is a flurry of hotel openings in the region. Following Swell Hotel and California-style Sun Ranch in Byron Bay, Copperstone by the Range Estates will open its equestrian-style ranch in nearby Bangalow in early 2024, while in Yamba on the southern fringe of the Northern Rivers, designer and stylist Sheree Commerford’s breezy seaside inn Il Delfino is slated to open early 2024. – Sarah Reid

Quebec, Canada

Go for : off-the-beaten-track nature and cultural immersion

Come summer Inuitowned Ungava Polar EcoTours will explore unpopulated islands like Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay.

Come summer, Inuit-owned Ungava Polar Eco-Tours will explore unpopulated islands like Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay.

From musk ox sightings to some of the highest tidal elevations Quebec's northernmost regions offer unparalleled natural...

From musk ox sightings to some of the highest tidal elevations, Quebec's northernmost regions offer unparalleled natural immersion.

The largest of Canada’s 10 provinces, Quebec offers a vast stage for wide-ranging Indigenous-led experiences, from sipping beer at a Mohawk-run brewery near the US border to polar bear–watching with Inuit guides in the far north. Nunavik, Quebec’s northernmost region and homeland of the Inuit, has long been off most travellers’ radars, but new experiences offer immersion into both nature and culture.

Starting in summer 2024, Inuit-owned Ungava Polar Eco-Tours will offer five-day adventures to the uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay. There, visitors will be able to spot wildlife from polar bears to musk ox and caribou, as well as experience some of the highest tidal elevations in the world. Even more wildlife-viewing experiences will become available in the summer when the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation opens the Putep 't-awt observation site, providing a one-of-a-kind land-based location to view a beluga whale nursery on the St. Lawrence River.

Visitors to the Quebec City region can look forward to refreshed experiences in the Huron-Wendat community of Wendake, where, in summer 2023, the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations opened 24 new and renovated suites, and Sagamité restaurant in Old Wendake reopened after a nearly five-year closure and with plans to add a microbrewery and pub in 2024. While you’re in Quebec, definitely don’t miss the Contemporary Native Art Biennial , which will be held across Montreal throughout the year. – Karin Gardiner

Quito, Ecuador

Go for: a city on the rise

Quito is catching up to culinary neighbour Lima with spots like Nuema where awardwinning chef and coowner Pia Salazar...

Quito is catching up to culinary neighbour Lima with spots like Nuema, where award-winning chef and co-owner Pia Salazar blends sweet and savory ingredients.

Opposites also attract in the heart of Quito. Modern architecture lives alongside a UNESCOanointed colonial centre  in...

Opposites also attract in the heart of Quito. Modern architecture lives alongside a UNESCO-anointed colonial centre – in late 2023, an all-new metro will better connect the city's various parts.

Quito is finally getting its due. The city’s mile-high skyline got a lot higher thanks to the work of architects like Bjarke Ingels Group, whose 32-story IQON tower (completed in 2022) is now the city’s tallest. It's just one of several projects to come from Ecuadorian development firm Uribe Schwarzkopf , in its ongoing effort to mature the ancient Andean city into an unlikely new hub of contemporary architecture. That’s no small feat considering that Quito stands atop both the ruins of a pre-Columbian settlement and an earthquake-prone high plateau and is anchored by an untouchable colonial centre with UNESCO status. But a new generation of Ecuadorian and international creatives are pushing the city toward the future - and not just for the sake of visitors.

Moving things along in that direction, an all-new metro system will be inaugurated in late 2023, with 15 stations spanning from Quitumbe in the southern part of the city to El Labrador in the north. New hotels have been slower to arrive, but one standout is the affordable 151-room Go Quito Hotel , which opened in June 2023 with a rooftop bar-restaurant, spa, sauna, pool, and airy rooms offering unbeatable views of the city. Meanwhile, Quito’s dining scene is finally catching up to culinary neighbour Lima. Buzzy new restaurants include Cardó , where Chef Adrián Escardó makes octopus bacon and suckling pig with naranjilla sauce; Aura , which leans into native Ecuadorian ingredients like Mashua honey and Manaba cheese from the coast; and Nuema , where chef and co-owner Pia Salazar’s sweet-salty hybrid desserts – think pastries with leek with lemon verbena and tonka bean, and white seaweed with black garlic – won her World’s Best Pastry Chef 2022, a first for Quito and Ecuador, and 2023. – Adam H. Graham

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Go for: stargazing, a luxe stay, and a superbloom in a new national park

San Pedro de Atacama is known for its geographical wonders from snowcapped volcanic mountains to shimmering lakes with...

San Pedro de Atacama is known for its geographical wonders, from snowcapped volcanic mountains, to shimmering lakes with flamingos – and now, a boutique hotel from Habitas complements the dramatic desert surrounds.

With its bronzed, dusty roadways and handcrafted adobe dwellings, Chile ’s oldest village has captivated adventurous visitors for decades. But now, the soulful oasis of San Pedro de Atacama is securing the spotlight as Chile’s northern star, with a variety of travellers eager to experience its rugged-chic vibe. After all, this celestial city is a hotbed of geographical wonders, with snowcapped volcanic mountains in the world’s driest nonpolar region, high-altitude lagoons dotting the Andean desert, and dazzling salt flats.

Wildlife lovers flock to Los Flamencos National Reserve for up-close encounters with the world’s rarest flamingos and native vicuñas. And the surreal, dramatic scenery of the steaming El Tatio Geysers at sunrise can only be rivaled by the fiery palette of the Valle de Catarpe canyons at dusk. In 2024, El Niño is likely to spark an extraordinary Atacama superbloom inside Chile’s new national park, Desierto Florido .

Under the clearest skies on the planet, backyard astronomers can explore the cosmos on ethereal stargazing tours . The ALMA Observatory , poised at an atmosphere-topping 16,000 feet, promises expert-led interstellar experiences. But the most otherworldly excursion might be traversing the Valle de la Luna's inhospitable yet magically serene moonscape environment. Earthly travellers can seek solace in the area’s newest luxe property, Habitas Atacama . Opened in September 2023, the elite outdoorsy design guarantees a memorable stay before you jet off to glimpse Easter Island’s annular solar eclipse in October. – Colleen Kelly

Santa Fe, US

Go for : Indigenous design spotlights, a brand new museum, and the 100th anniversary of a beloved cultural event

Old Man Gloom meets his fiery end at the Burning of the Zozobra, a beloved annual cultural event in Santa Fe that turns 100 in 2024.

Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film Oppenheimer may have sparked new interest in Santa Fe, the closest town of note to Los Alamos, but the New Mexican capital has held its own for centuries. One of the oldest cities in the country, it’s known for its adobe-style architecture, storied arts institutions (including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum ), and vibrant mix of Native American, Mexican, and Spanish cultures.

Fresh art and cultural programming with an emphasis on Indigenous efforts makes 2024 a banner year to visit. From May 2 to 5, the Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts will launch the inaugural Santa Fe Indigenous Fashion Week to showcase Indigenous designers, artists, and runway models. Indigenous Art Fair Contemporary , a gallery show spotlighting present-day Native American art, is slated to roll out August 15 to 18 as well, timed to the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market; and a two-block walk away, FaraHNHeight , a Native American–, First Nations–, and Indigenous-forward gallery, is new on the scene and well worth a visit. Travellers visiting before the end of April can catch “Shadow and Light,” the debut exhibition at Vladem Contemporary , the first major museum building to open in The City Different in more than a decade. (Part of the New Mexico Museum of Art , the 38,000-square-foot space is the latest anchor to join the Santa Fe Railyard arts district.)

Furthermore, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Burning of the Zozobra , a beloved cultural tradition that brings to mock-trial a 50-foot effigy known as Old Man Gloom. The marionette, which is stuffed with paper “glooms” such as old love letters, speeding tickets, and divorce summons, is dramatically set ablaze after dark – a moment of catharsis that encourages locals and visitors alike to release their worries and start anew. – Ashlea Halpern

South Island, New Zealand

Go for : laid-back wilderness experiences, immersive Māori history

At the end of the year the ultraluxury Flockhill Lodge will unveil 14 new villas and an onsite restaurant under the...

At the end of the year, the ultra-luxury Flockhill Lodge will unveil 14 new villas and an onsite restaurant under the direction of an acclaimed chef.

With snowcapped peaks and 36000 acres of wilderness at its doorstep Flockhill is a fitting representation of South...

With snow-capped peaks and 36,000 acres of wilderness at its doorstep, Flockhill is a fitting representation of South Island's exceptional allure.

With its lush rainforests and aquamarine lakes framed by snowcapped peaks, New Zealand ’s South Island is steeped in superlatives – and United Airlines’ new nonstop service from San Francisco to Christchurch starting December 1 will make it all the easier to immerse yourself in it. In October 2024, the 38-mile-long Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track will become New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk. Offering panoramic views of Fiordland, it features mountaintop accommodations, like Okaka Lodge and Port Craig Lodge, that offer amenities not always found on other Great Walks, including hot showers, king-size beds, and even pack transfers by helicopter.

In Queenstown, the nine-mile Wharehuanui Trail – set to open in late 2024 – will connect the 19th-century gold-mining town of Arrowtown to the suburb of Arthurs Point. And on the West Coast, the multimillion-dollar project Pounamu Pathway , the driving route from Haast to Westport, will bring Māori history to life with four new immersive (and interconnected) visitor centres. Scheduled along the journey, they were developed by Wētā Workshop, the visual effects studio behind Lord of the Rings, and the Ngāi Tahu tribe. Launching in 2023 and opening in stages, the first to debut will be Māwhera/Greymouth in mid-December 2023, followed by Kawatiri/Westport in February 2024, Awarua/Haast in mid-2024, and lastly Hokitika in the final quarter of 2025.

Those looking for a more laid-back wilderness experience will find it here too. At the end of 2024, Flockhill , the ultra-luxury lodge in Arthur’s Pass, will expand on its offerings with 14 new villas and an on-site restaurant with acclaimed Kiwi chef Taylor Cullen at the helm. Until then, check in to one of the recently refurbished premium rooms at the historic Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park . – Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Upstate New York, US

Go for : bucolic lodging, winter adventures, and exceptional stargazing

Exceptional new lodgings like Wildflower Farms Auberge Resorts Collection make the Hudson Valley  once primarily an...

Exceptional new lodgings like Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection make the Hudson Valley – once primarily an escape for New York City dwellers – a top draw for travellers from further afield.

Sought out year-round for its vibrant small towns, nature preserves, culinary hot spots – and its proximity to New York City – the region is humming with new opportunities for travellers to surrender themselves to its legendary landscapes in 2024.

In the Hudson Valley, New York State Parks will celebrate the centennial of the founding of the statewide park and historic-site system. Community events and special performances are on the calendar, plus discounts on park admission fees and new opportunities to volunteer. Also in 2024, the much-loved Storm King Art Centre debuts new hospitality pavilions, a conservation and fabrication facility, and ADA-accessible pathways. And in the summer, the 160-acre Klocke Estates will open its doors, with artisanal brandy and stunning views of the Catskills.

When it comes to exceptional lodgings, the Hudson Valley has seen a wave of hospitality projects since 2020. From the aesthetic delight that is Habitas-on-Hudson, near Rhinebeck, to Inness, the chic all-in-one getaway in Accord, to Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, a bucolic escape in the shadow of the iconic Shawangunk Mountains, the region has gone from being a New Yorker-favourite to a top draw for travellers from further afield. And there are fresh digs to look forward to in the year ahead. The Front Boutique Hotel in Port Jervis is opening in May with a 120-seat restaurant and easy access to 50 miles of trails; and in the spring, famed wellness haven The Ranch opens its first East Coast property.

About three hours away by car, the Adirondacks' towering peaks replace the Hudson river valleys. Its majestic forests, farmlands, mountains, and meadows make up a fifth of the state, and the region will be in the path of totality of April’s solar eclipse. Go stargazing at the Adirondack Sky Centre , or use the website of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism for self-guided viewing. You can also walk, bike, snowshoe, or snowmobile along the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail , which will be completed over the course of 2025. And on Whiteface Mountain, one of the five Adirondack High Peaks, a detachable quad lift launching just in time for ski season allows you to access more slopes than ever before. For a peaceful getaway, stay at the Lodge at Schroon Lake , which reopened in June 2023 after an extensive $21 million renovation, or NewVida Preserve , a new members club meets traveller’s oasis on 2,000 acres with 360-degree mountaintop views. – Robin Catalano

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What is Palm Sunday and how is it celebrated worldwide?

FILE - Nuns wait for the start of the Palm Sunday's mass celebrate by pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE - Nuns wait for the start of the Palm Sunday’s mass celebrate by pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE - Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, center, walks in a procession during the Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, April 2, 2023. TPalm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

FILE - Christian faithful march carrying green Palm branches to commemorate Palm Sunday, which marks the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, in the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday will be celebrated by Christians worldwide Sunday, March 24, 2024. It commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him. It marks the start of Holy Week. (AP Photo, File)

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Palm Sunday commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when he was greeted by cheering crowds waving palm branches that they set out on the ground along his path, according to the Bible.

This year, Palm Sunday falls on March 24. Also known as Passion Sunday, it marks the start of Holy Week. The most sacred week of the Christian year includes the Good Friday re-enactment of Jesus’ crucifixion story and death, and their belief in his resurrection on Easter.

Here is a quick look at Palm Sunday’s significance.

IS THERE A DONKEY IN THIS STORY?

The procession of Jesus into Jerusalem is described by the four Gospel writers in the Bible.

The Gospels differ, but based on one expert they agree on this: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey — or a colt. So, which one is it?

Colt is defined as “a young male horse that is usually not castrated.” But in the Bible, the word meaning “colt” is used almost exclusively for young donkeys, not horses, writes Joanne M. Pierce , professor emerita of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross.

Pierce writes that this brings to mind a reference from the Book of Zechariah in Jewish scriptures, where the prophet describes a victorious king who enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Chaplain of The Covenant School Matthew Sullivan stands in the school's church sanctuary where he lead chapel service in the past, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Facing the first anniversary of a tragic shooting which left six people dead, the school, which has been meeting in a temporary location, prepares to move back into the building where it happened. (AP Photo/John Amis)

In Judaism, she says, the passage from Zechariah refers to the Messiah , a spiritual king who would peacefully redeem Israel, and the donkey is interpreted as a sign of humility .

“In Christianity, this animal becomes almost a symbol of Christ himself, given how it patiently suffers and bears others’ burdens,” Pierce writes in a piece published by The Conversation . “Horses, on the other hand, tend to be associated with royalty, power and war.”

WHAT ABOUT THE PALMS?

In the biblical Palm Sunday story, a cheering crowd greeted Jesus along the road. Some spread their garments on the ground; others threw down leafy branches they had cut from the fields. In the Gospel of John, they are branches from palms, a tree that symbolized victory and triumph.

In the Gospel of Matthew, people began to shout: “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The word “Hosanna” was a plea for salvation and an exclamation of adoration.

After the procession, the Bible says Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.

HOW IS PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATED?

The ritual or liturgy typically starts with a blessing of the palms by clergy. It’s followed by a reading of the Passion of Christ, meaning an account of the final events of Jesus’ life.

Some ceremonies in German-speaking countries used to include a figure of Jesus riding a donkey, Encyclopedia Britannica says . The figure is called a “ Palmesel ,” or German for “palm donkey,” according to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which on its site recounts how worshippers would lay palms on the ground before the Palmesel during lively processions.

Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land mark Palm Sunday by holding Masses and processions retracing Jesus’ triumphal entry. Worshippers carry palm fronds and olive branches and march from the top of the neighboring Mount of Olives to Jerusalem’s historic Old City, home to holy sites of the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths.

In churches around the world, the palms are often taken home by congregants, and some will become ashes.

HOW DO THE PALMS TURN INTO ASHES?

Ashes can be purchased, but some churches make their own by burning the palms from prior years.

They’re used to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday , the solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Christianity’s most penitent season.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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