Plan your 2019 travel now, with the help of this list of cities you can’t afford not to see.
The travel experts over at Lonely Planet recently released their list of the top 10 best cities around the world to travel to next year. Crowd favourites like Miami and Seattle made the cut – but many of the cities will surprise even the most seasoned traveller.
10. Meknès, Morocco
Located in northern Morocco, Meknès is a city with stunning remnants of an imperialist past. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, not yet attracting the same amount of tourists as cities like Marrakesh or Rabat – but the hilltop destination is quickly gaining popularity.
9. Zadar, Croatia
This beautiful port city on the Dalmatian Coast is known for its Roman ruins, medieval churches, and cosmopolitan vibe. Wander through the Old Town’s warren of bright marble streets to discover cool bars and laidback cafes, ancient Roman ruins, innovative museums and rustic, trattoria-style restaurants.
8. Seattle, USA
Smart, progressive and loaded with creative energy, Seattle is rarely out of the global spotlight. And, of course, taking a ride to the top of the Space Needle is a must.
7. Dakar, Senegal
Dakar is one of 2019’s up-and-coming travel destinations, and for good reason. It’s the capital city of Senegal, a peninsula-port surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. Largely urban (paved main roads) with touches of rural (sandy side streets), Dakar is also home to the African Renaissance Monument.
6. Mexico City, Mexico
The Mexican capital bears witness to centuries of architectural design and artistic movements. The pre-Hispanic buildings of the Mexica rise from the city’s soft ground while colonial cathedrals stand fast and modern wonders such as the Museo Soumaya sparkle in the ever-present sun. For these reasons, and more still, Mexico City was named World Design Capital in 2018.
5. Kathmandu, Nepal
The capital of mountainous Nepal, Kathmandu offers bustling city streets, eclectic food, a popular backpacking district, and the booming Kathmandu Valley. According to Buddhist legend, the Valley was built on the bed of a “sacred” lake, and it’s now a patchwork of towns, streets, and fields filled with Nepalese artisans showcasing their work.
4. Miami, Florida, USA
The palm-fringed Art Deco hotels and glitzy Ocean Drive familiar from the movies and fashion magazines, opposite expansive beaches make Miami a consistent favourite amongst travellers the world over.
3. Novi Sad, Serbia
Novi Sad is the go-to stop for any traveller looking for a unique getaway in 2019 – it’s perfectly quaint, with outdoor cafés, music festivals, and large city squares. One of the coolest things about this Serbian town? It has a fortress. The Petrovaradin Fortress, to be exact, that sits on top of a hill and overlooks the Danube River.
2. Shēnzhèn, China
Welcome to China’s most innovative city – Shēnzhèn – the ‘Silicon Valley’ of China. Drawn to its slew of new design openings and tech innovation, creatives are swarming to Shēnzhèn, just over the border from Hong Kong in mainland China.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital of cool is unstoppable. New-Nordic Noma has gourmands swooning with its new digs, urban farm and groundbreaking Scandinavian menus.
