When to visit 37 countries
The best months for 37 countries and 704 places: dry seasons and monsoons, closures and festivals. Open a country for its month-by-month page, or a place for its guide in its best month.
Countries by month
Shaded: the months when most of the country's places are in their stated best season.
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Czechia
- Egypt
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vietnam
Australia
🍷Best: Dec⛰️Best: Apr🐨Best: Jun🏄Best: Nov🐠Best: Jul🏛️Best: Oct🏔️Best: Jan🌅Best: Jul🎢Best: Jun🦘Best: Apr🌊Best: Nov⛵Best: Jan🍇Best: Mar🚙Best: Jun🐊Best: Jul🦭Best: Nov🍇Best: Nov☕Best: Dec🏖️Best: Jun🐹Best: Nov🐊Best: Jul🌉Best: Apr🪨Best: May⛵Best: Jul
Adelaide & the Barossa
Festival City and Australia's Best-Known Wine Valley
Blue Mountains (Katoomba)
Sandstone Cliffs, Eucalyptus Haze and the Three Sisters
Brisbane
River City, Koalas and a Lagoon in the Middle of Town
Byron Bay
Surf, Lighthouse Walks and the Easternmost Point
Cairns (Great Barrier Reef)
Gateway to the Reef and the Rainforest
Canberra
The Planned Capital and its National Collections
Cradle Mountain
Dove Lake, Wombats and the Overland Track
Darwin
Tropical Top End City of Markets and Crocodiles
Gold Coast
Surf Beaches, Theme Parks and the Hinterland
Grampians (Halls Gap)
Sandstone Ranges, Kangaroos and Rock Art
Great Ocean Road (Lorne & Apollo Bay)
Cliff-Top Drive to the Twelve Apostles
Hobart
Harbour Town under kunanyi / Mount Wellington, and MONA
Hunter Valley
Semillon, Shiraz and Hot-Air Balloons
K'gari (Fraser Island)
The World's Largest Sand Island, by 4WD
Kakadu National Park
Wetlands, Waterfalls and 20,000 Years of Rock Art
Kangaroo Island
Sea Lions, Wild Kangaroos and the Remarkable Rocks
Margaret River
Wineries, Surf Breaks and Limestone Caves
Melbourne
Laneways, Coffee, Sport and the Penguins of Phillip Island
Noosa & the Sunshine Coast
National-Park Headland, Calm Bays and Hastings Street
Perth & Rottnest Island
Sunny West-Coast City and the Quokkas of Rottnest
Port Douglas & the Daintree
Where the Rainforest Meets the Reef
Sydney
Harbour, Opera House and Ocean Beaches
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
The Red Centre's Sacred Monolith and Kata Tjuta
Whitsundays (Airlie Beach)
Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef and 74 Islands
Austria
♨️Best: Jul🕰️Best: Jun🛣️Best: Jul🏘️Best: May🚡Best: Jul⛷️Best: Jul💧Best: Jul🗻Best: Aug🎼Best: Jul⛵Best: Jul🎻Best: Nov🍇Best: Jun🧊Best: Jul🏔️Best: Jan
Bad Gastein
Belle Époque Spa Town Over a Waterfall
Graz
Red Roofs, a Clock Tower and a Friendly Alien
Grossglockner High Alpine Road (Heiligenblut)
Austria's Highest Mountain and its Glacier Road
Hallstatt
The Lakeside Village on Every Postcard
Innsbruck
Alpine City with the Mountains at the End of the Street
Kitzbühel
Medieval Ski Town of the Hahnenkamm
Krimml Waterfalls
Austria's Highest Waterfalls
Ötztal & Sölden
Glaciers, a Bond Film Set and Thermal Pools
Salzburg
Mozart, the Fortress and The Sound of Music
St Wolfgang & the Salzkammergut Lakes
Lake Villages and the Schafberg Steam Railway
Vienna
Palaces, Coffee Houses and the City of Music
Wachau Valley (Melk & Dürnstein)
Baroque Abbeys, Vineyards and the Danube by Boat
Werfen (Eisriesenwelt & Hohenwerfen)
The World's Largest Ice Cave and a Clifftop Castle
Zell am See & Kaprun
A Lake, a Glacier and Year-Round Snow
Azerbaijan
🔥Best: May🚡Best: Jul📜Best: May🏔️Best: Jul⚒️Best: Jul🛁Best: May🍎Best: Jul⛷️Best: Jan🕌Best: May🏰Best: May
Baku
Old City Walls, Flame Towers and Fire from the Ground
Gabala
Tufandag Cable Cars, Forests and Ski Slopes
Ganja
Nizami's City, the Bottle House and Javad Khan Street
Khinalug
A Stone Village at 2,300 m with Its Own Language
Lahij
Coppersmiths' Lanes in a Mountain Gorge
Naftalan
Sanatoriums and Baths in Medicinal Oil
Quba
Apple Orchards, Carpets and the Gate to Khinalug
Shahdag Mountain Resort
Azerbaijan's Ski Resort Under Shahdag Peak
Shamakhi
The Old Shirvan Capital, Its Great Mosque and Vineyards
Sheki
The Khan's Palace, a Silk Road Caravanserai and Halva
Belgium
💎Best: May🛶Best: Nov⚛️Best: Nov🎷Best: Jun🌲Best: Jul🏰Best: May🎓Best: May🔔Best: May🎖️Best: May
Antwerp
Rubens, Diamonds and a Railway Station Like a Cathedral
Bruges
Canals, a Belfry and Medieval Lanes
Brussels
The Grand-Place, the Atomium and the Capital of Europe
Dinant
A Citadel Cliff, Saxophones and the Meuse
Durbuy
A Tiny Ardennes Town, and Radhadesh, a Krishna Temple in a Castle
Ghent
The Ghent Altarpiece, a Castle and Canal-Side Guildhalls
Leuven
A Gothic Town Hall and a 600-Year-Old University
Mechelen
St Rumbold's Tower and a Quiet Medieval Centre
Ypres (Ieper)
The Menin Gate and the Battlefields of Flanders Fields
Bhutan
🕉️Best: Apr♨️Best: Jan🌲Best: May🌄Best: Apr🏔️Best: Apr🦢Best: Nov🚪Best: Dec🏯Best: Dec🏯Best: Apr🐃Best: Nov🏰Best: Apr
Bumthang (Jakar)
Bhutan's Spiritual Heartland
Gelephu
The Southern Plains and the New Mindfulness City
Haa
The Hidden Valley over Chele La
Mongar
Over Thrumshing La into the East
Paro
Tiger's Nest above the Valley of the Only Airport
Phobjikha (Gangtey)
Glacial Valley of the Black-Necked Cranes
Phuentsholing
The Border Gate from Jaigaon
Punakha
The Palace of Great Happiness at the Rivers' Meeting
Thimphu
The Capital Without a Traffic Light
Trashigang
The Far East and the Gateway to Merak-Sakteng
Trongsa
The Dzong that Guards the Middle of the Kingdom
Czechia
🌲Best: Jul🪨Best: Sep🏛️Best: Jun🏯Best: Jul♨️Best: Jul💀Best: Jun🍇Best: Jun⛪Best: Jun🏰Best: Nov🕍Best: Jun
Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj)
Rock Towns, Castle Ruins and Forest Trails
Bohemian Switzerland
Europe's Largest Sandstone Arch and the Kamenice Gorges
Brno
Moravia's Capital: a Modernist Villa, Špilberk and Wine Country
Český Krumlov
A Castle Town in a Bend of the Vltava
Karlovy Vary
Hot Springs, Colonnades and Spa Wafers
Kutná Hora
The Bone Chapel and a Silver Town's Cathedral
Lednice–Valtice
Chateaux, a Minaret and Moravian Wine
Olomouc
Baroque Squares and a Socialist-Era Clock
Prague
Castle, Charles Bridge and a Hundred Spires
Třebíč
A Jewish Quarter and a Basilica on UNESCO's List
Egypt
🗿Best: Dec🌊Best: Jun⛵Best: Dec🏜️Best: Dec🕌Best: Dec🐬Best: May🪁Best: May🔺Best: Dec🐠Best: May🏛️Best: Dec🐢Best: May⛰️Best: May🤿Best: May🌴Best: Dec
Abu Simbel
Ramesses II's Temples on Lake Nasser
Alexandria
Alexander's City on the Mediterranean
Aswan
Granite Islands, Feluccas and Nubian Villages
Bahariya & the White Desert
A Night Among the White Desert's Chalk Towers
Cairo
Pharaohs' Treasures, Islamic Cairo and the Nile
Dahab
The Blue Hole and a Laid-Back Bedouin Bay
El Gouna
Lagoon Town of Kitesurfing and Boutique Hotels
Giza
The Great Pyramids from Your Window
Hurghada
Reefs, Resorts and Red Sea Boat Trips
Luxor
Ancient Thebes: Karnak and the Valley of the Kings
Marsa Alam
Dolphins, Turtles and the Quiet Southern Red Sea
Mount Sinai & St Catherine
Sunrise on Mount Sinai and the Ancient Monastery
Sharm El Sheikh
Ras Mohammed's Reefs and Naama Bay
Siwa Oasis
Salt Lakes, Palm Groves and the Oracle of Amun
France
🏝️Best: May🏯Best: May🏞️Best: Jul⛵Best: May🌻Best: May🏰Best: May🎖️Best: May🏄Best: Jul🏝️Best: May🍷Best: Jul🎬Best: May🏰Best: May⛵Best: May🏔️Best: Jul🌷Best: Jul🏰Best: May🌵Best: May💜Best: Jul🎨Best: May🕯️Best: Jun🦁Best: May⚓Best: May⛪Best: May🏖️Best: May🗼Best: May🍾Best: Jun🌊Best: Jul🛶Best: May🏘️Best: Jul👑Best: May
Ajaccio (Corsica)
Napoleon's Birthplace on Corsica's West Coast
Amboise (Loire Valley)
Royal Châteaux and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Home
Annecy
Canal Old Town on a Clear Alpine Lake
Antibes
Picasso's Castle and the Superyacht Port
Arles
Roman Arena, Van Gogh's Town and the Camargue
Avignon
The Popes' Palace and Provence's Rail Gateway
Bayeux (D-Day Beaches)
Medieval Town at the Heart of the D-Day Landing Beaches
Biarritz
Surf Town of the French Basque Coast
Bonifacio (Corsica)
A Citadel on White Cliffs at Corsica's Southern Tip
Bordeaux
Wine Capital on the Garonne
Cannes
The Croisette, the Film Festival and the Lérins Islands
Carcassonne
A Walled Medieval City of 52 Towers
Cassis
Fishing Port at the Gate of the Calanques
Chamonix (Mont Blanc)
Cable Cars to 3,842 m Facing Mont Blanc
Colmar
Little Venice and the Alsace Wine Route
Disneyland Paris
Two Disney Parks 40 Minutes from Central Paris
Èze & Villefranche-sur-Mer
A Perched Village, a Deep-Water Bay and Monaco Next Door
Gordes (Luberon)
Hilltop Villages and the Lavender of Sénanque
Honfleur & Étretat
The Impressionists' Harbour and the White Cliffs Monet Painted
Lourdes
The Grotto, the Torchlight Procession and the High Pyrenees
Lyon
France's Food Capital Between Two Rivers
Marseille
Old Port, Calanques and Bouillabaisse
Mont-Saint-Michel
The Abbey on a Rock in the Tidal Bay
Nice
Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice and Monaco Next Door
Paris
The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, with Versailles a Train Ride Away
Reims (Champagne)
Coronation Cathedral and Champagne Cellars
Saint-Malo
The Walled Corsair City and Its Giant Tides
Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne)
Golden-Stone Town, Cliff Castles and Prehistoric Cave Art
Strasbourg
Half-Timbered Petite France and the Oldest Christmas Market
Versailles
The Sun King's Palace, Its Gardens and the Trianons
Georgia
🏯Best: Jul🎿Best: Jan🏖️Best: Jul💧Best: Jul⛷️Best: Jan🏔️Best: Jul⛪Best: May🗼Best: Jul⛪Best: May🍷Best: May🏛️Best: May🍇Best: May🏰Best: Aug
Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia
Rabati Castle and the Cave City of Vardzia
Bakuriani
Family Ski Resort Above Borjomi
Batumi
Black Sea Boulevard and Subtropical Gardens
Borjomi
Mineral Springs and Forests of the Spa Town
Gudauri
Georgia's Big Ski Resort on the Military Road
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Gergeti Trinity Church Under Mount Kazbek
Kutaisi
Gelati Monastery, Caves and Canyons in the West
Mestia (Svaneti)
Svan Towers Under the High Caucasus
Mtskheta
The Ancient Capital Where Georgia Became Christian
Sighnaghi
Walled Hill Town Above the Alazani Wine Valley
Tbilisi
Sulphur Baths, Balconies and Wine Bars in the Capital
Telavi
Kakheti's Capital Among Wineries and Monasteries
Tusheti (Omalo)
Defensive Towers Over the Wildest Road in the Caucasus
Germany
🌉Best: Jun🛶Best: Jul🐻Best: Jun🌲Best: Jul⛪Best: Jun⛪Best: Jul🏙️Best: Jun⛪Best: Jun🏔️Best: Jan⚓Best: Jun🏰Best: Jun⛵Best: Jul🎻Best: Jul🧱Best: Jul🍇Best: Jul🍺Best: Jun🏰Best: Jul🏯Best: Jul🏰Best: Jul🏰Best: Jun🏘️Best: Jun🪨Best: Jun🚗Best: Jun🍷Best: Jun
Bamberg
Little Venice, a River-Island Town Hall and Smoked Beer
Berchtesgaden & Königssee
An Emerald Fjord-like Lake under the Watzmann
Berlin
The Wall, the Brandenburg Gate and a Capital That Reinvented Itself
Black Forest (Titisee & Triberg)
Cuckoo Clocks, Forest Lakes and the Triberg Waterfalls
Cologne
The Great Cathedral on the Rhine
Dresden
Baroque Florence on the Elbe, Rebuilt from the Ashes
Frankfurt
Skyline City and Germany's Main Air Gateway
Freiburg
Sunny University Town at the Edge of the Black Forest
Garmisch-Partenkirchen & the Zugspitze
Germany's Highest Peak and an Alpine Resort Town
Hamburg
Port City of Canals, Warehouses and the Elbphilharmonie
Heidelberg
Castle Ruins over the Neckar and Germany's Oldest University
Lake Constance (Lindau & Meersburg)
Island Towns and Flower Gardens on the Bodensee
Leipzig
Bach, the Peaceful Revolution and an Arts City on the Rise
Lübeck
The Holstentor, Brick Gothic Spires and Marzipan
Moselle Valley (Cochem & Burg Eltz)
Wine Loops, Cochem's Castle and Fairy-Tale Burg Eltz
Munich
Beer Halls, Baroque Palaces and the Gateway to the Alps
Neuschwanstein & Füssen
King Ludwig's Fairy-Tale Castle in the Alpine Foothills
Nuremberg
Imperial Castle, Gingerbread and Germany's Hardest History
Potsdam
Prussian Palaces and Lakeside Parks Next Door to Berlin
Rhine Valley (Rüdesheim, Bacharach & St Goar)
Castles, Vineyards and the Loreley on the Romantic Rhine
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
A Walled Medieval Town on the Romantic Road
Saxon Switzerland (Bastei)
Sandstone Towers and the Bastei Bridge above the Elbe
Stuttgart
Mercedes, Porsche and Swabia's Wine-Terraced Capital
Würzburg
A Baroque Residence and Wine on the Old Main Bridge
Greece
🏰Best: Jul🏅Best: May🏛️Best: May🏝️Best: May🫒Best: May🏺Best: May🏖️Best: Jul🐂Best: May⛵Best: May🌊Best: May🚲Best: Jun⛪Best: May🌕Best: May🪨Best: May🌬️Best: May🏰Best: May🏝️Best: Jun⚓Best: Jun🛡️Best: May🌅Best: May🗼Best: May🌉Best: May🐢Best: May
Agios Nikolaos & Elounda
A Lake-Side Harbour Town and Crete's Luxury Resort Bay
Ancient Olympia
Where the Olympic Games Began
Athens
The Acropolis, the Agora and the City Where Democracy Began
Chania (Balos & Elafonissi)
A Venetian Harbour, the Samaria Gorge and Pink-Sand Beaches
Corfu
Venetian Old Town, Green Hills and Turquoise Coves
Delphi
The Oracle of Apollo on the Slopes of Parnassus
Halkidiki
Three Pine-Covered Peninsulas and Turquoise Beaches
Heraklion (Knossos)
Minoan Knossos and Crete's Capital
Hydra
A Car-Free Island of Stone Mansions and Donkeys
Kefalonia
Myrtos Beach, Sea Caves and Mountain Roads
Kos
Hippocrates' Island of Ruins, Bikes and Beaches
Meteora (Kalambaka)
Monasteries on Top of Sandstone Pillars
Milos
Moon-White Sarakiniko and Coloured Fishing Villages
Monemvasia
A Byzantine Town Hidden on a Rock in the Sea
Mykonos
Windmills, Little Venice and Beach Clubs
Nafplio (Mycenae & Epidaurus)
Venetian Harbour Town, Mycenae and the Theatre of Epidaurus
Naxos
The Portara, Long Sand Beaches and Mountain Villages
Paros
Fishing Harbours, Kitesurf Beaches and the Hub of the Cyclades
Rhodes
A Knights' Medieval Town and Lindos' White Acropolis
Santorini
White Villages on a Volcanic Caldera
Thessaloniki
Byzantine Churches, a Seafront Promenade and Greece's Best Food
Zagori & Ioannina
Stone Villages, Arched Bridges and the Vikos Gorge
Zakynthos
Navagio's Shipwreck Cove and Turtle Beaches
Hong Kong
🌃Best: Nov⛵Best: Nov🏰Best: Nov🧘Best: Nov🏮Best: Nov🐼Best: Nov🪨Best: Nov🏖️Best: Nov🌉Best: Nov
Central & the Peak
The Peak Tram, the Mid-Levels Escalator and Sheung Wan's Temples
Cheung Chau
A Car-Free Fishing Island, the Bun Festival and a Pirate's Cave
Hong Kong Disneyland
World of Frozen, the Castle and Three Disney Hotels by the Sea
Lantau Island
Ngong Ping 360, the Big Buddha and Tai O's Stilt Houses
Mong Kok & Sham Shui Po
Street Markets, Temple Street at Night and Wong Tai Sin
Ocean Park & Aberdeen
Pandas, the Cable Car over the Sea and Sampans in Aberdeen Harbour
Sai Kung
The Geopark's Rock Columns, Hidden Beaches and Seafood on the Waterfront
Stanley & Repulse Bay
Beaches, Stanley Market and the Dragon's Back Ridge Walk
Tsim Sha Tsui
The Harbourfront, the Symphony of Lights and Indian Food on Nathan Road
Hungary
🏛️Best: May🏰Best: Jun⛪Best: Jul♨️Best: Jul🐎Best: Jun🕌Best: Jun🎨Best: Jul🌊Best: Jul🏰Best: Jul
Budapest
Thermal Baths, the Danube and the Parliament by Night
Eger
The Castle That Held Off the Ottomans, and Its Wine Cellars
Esztergom
Hungary's Largest Church on the Slovak Border
Hévíz & Keszthely
Bathe in a Warm Lake, Even in Winter
Hortobágy
Horsemen, Grey Cattle and the Open Puszta
Pécs
Roman Tombs, a Mosque-Church and Zsolnay Tiles
Szentendre
Baroque Artists' Town on the Danube
Tihany & Balatonfüred
Lavender, an Abbey and Tagore's Tree on Lake Balaton
Visegrád
A Hilltop Citadel Over the Danube Bend
Indonesia
🤿Best: Jun🦧Best: Jul🌾Best: Jun🐠Best: Jun💑Best: Jun🐢Best: Jun🔥Best: Jun🏙️Best: Jul🦞Best: Jun🌋Best: Jun🏄Best: Jun🌊Best: Jun🦎Best: Jun🏞️Best: Jul🐬Best: Jun🏛️Best: Jul🌋Best: Jun💧Best: Jun🏖️Best: Jun🏝️Best: Jun🦖Best: Jun🐠Best: Jun🪸Best: Dec🌄Best: Jun🍹Best: Jun⛰️Best: Jun🌾Best: Jun🛖Best: Jul🌿Best: Jun🌅Best: Jun🛕Best: Jun
Amed
Black-Sand Bays, Shipwreck Diving and the Gates of Heaven
Bukit Lawang
Sumatran Orangutans in the Leuser Rainforest
Canggu
Surf Breaks, Rice-Field Cafes and Digital Nomads
Gili Air
The Middle Ground: Quiet Beaches, Good Snorkelling
Gili Meno
The Quietest Gili, for Honeymoons
Gili Trawangan
Car-Free Island of Turtles, Sunsets and Nightlife
Ijen (Banyuwangi)
Blue Fire and the Turquoise Acid Lake
Jakarta
Capital Megacity, Old Batavia and Malls
Jimbaran
Sunset Seafood on the Sand, Ten Minutes from the Airport
Kintamani
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek above a Crater Lake
Kuta
Surf Beach, Sunsets and Shopping Next to the Airport
Kuta Lombok
Surf Bays and Empty Beaches on Lombok's South Coast
Labuan Bajo
Komodo Dragons, Padar Island and Pink Beach
Lake Toba (Samosir)
Batak Villages on an Island inside a Supervolcano
Lovina
Black-Sand Beaches, Dawn Dolphin Boats and Hot Springs
Medan
Sumatra's Gateway: a Sultan's Palace and Little India
Mount Bromo
Sunrise over a Smoking Volcano in a Sea of Sand
Munduk
Waterfalls, Twin Lakes and the Lake Temple
Nusa Dua
Gated Resort Beaches and Calm Water for Families
Nusa Lembongan
Mangroves, Devil's Tear and Easy Island Days
Nusa Penida
Kelingking Cliff, Manta Rays and Crystal Bay
Pemuteran (Menjangan Island)
Menjangan's Reef Walls and the Biorock Coral Garden
Raja Ampat
The Richest Coral Reefs on Earth, Far Out in West Papua
Sanur
Sunrise Beach Path and the Boats to the Nusa Islands
Seminyak
Beach Clubs, Boutiques and Sunset Dinners
Senaru (Mount Rinjani)
Rinjani Crater Rim Treks and Jungle Waterfalls
Sidemen
Rice-Terrace Valley under Mount Agung
Tana Toraja (Rantepao)
Boat-Roofed Houses, Cliff Graves and Funeral Feasts
Ubud
Rice Terraces, Temples and Bali's Cultural Heart
Uluwatu
Cliff Temple, Kecak Dance and Hidden Beaches
Yogyakarta
Borobudur, Prambanan and Java's Royal City
Italy
🏛️Best: May🍋Best: May⛪Best: May🍝Best: May🦩Best: Jul🛥️Best: May🏘️Best: May⛷️Best: Jul💎Best: May🏔️Best: Jul⛪Best: May⛵Best: Jun🏰Best: Jun🌸Best: May🪨Best: May🏰Best: May🍕Best: May🍋Best: May🗼Best: May🛥️Best: May🏖️Best: May🏛️Best: Apr🐎Best: May🌅Best: Jun🏺Best: May🌋Best: May🍫Best: May🌾Best: May🛶Best: Apr🎭Best: Jun
Agrigento (Valley of the Temples)
A Ridge of Greek Temples Facing the Sea
Amalfi Coast (Positano & Amalfi)
Cliffside Villages, Lemon Groves and the Sea
Assisi
St Francis's Hill Town Above the Umbrian Plain
Bologna
Porticoes, Towers and Italy's Food Capital
Cagliari
Sardinia's Capital: Castello Quarter and Poetto Beach
Capri
The Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni and La Piazzetta
Cinque Terre
Five Cliffside Villages Joined by Train and Trail
Cortina d'Ampezzo
The Dolomites' Smart Resort and the Tre Cime
Costa Smeralda
Emerald Water, Granite Coves and the La Maddalena Islands
Dolomites (Ortisei, Val Gardena)
Jagged Peaks, Alpine Meadows and the Seceda Ridge
Florence
The Renaissance City: Duomo, Uffizi and Michelangelo's David
Lake Como (Bellagio & Varenna)
Villas, Gardens and Ferries on the Alpine Lake
Lake Garda (Sirmione)
Italy's Biggest Lake: Castles, Lemon Gardens and Ferries
Lake Maggiore (Stresa & the Borromean Islands)
Island Palaces and Gardens on the Long Alpine Lake
Matera
The Sassi: a Cave City Carved into a Ravine
Milan
The Duomo, the Last Supper and Italy's Fashion Capital
Naples
Pizza's Birthplace, Pompeii and Vesuvius
Palermo
Arab-Norman Gold, Street Food and Markets
Pisa
The Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles
Portofino (Santa Margherita Ligure)
The Riviera's Most Famous Harbour, and the Abbey in a Cove
Puglia (Polignano a Mare & Alberobello)
Clifftop Swims and the Trulli Houses of Alberobello
Rome
The Colosseum, the Vatican and Three Thousand Years in One City
Siena
Gothic Hill Town and the Palio's Shell-Shaped Piazza
Sorrento
Clifftop Town Between Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast
Syracuse (Ortigia)
The Greek World's Great City, and the Island of Ortigia
Taormina
A Greek Theatre Above the Sea, with Etna Behind
Turin
Royal Arcades, the Egyptian Museum and the Alps on the Skyline
Val d'Orcia (Tuscan Countryside)
Cypress Roads, Hill Towns and Brunello Wine
Venice
Canals, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica
Verona
Romeo and Juliet's City and Opera in a Roman Arena
Japan
♨️Best: Dec🍜Best: Apr💜Best: Jan🌃Best: Aug🚡Best: Dec🏯Best: Apr🕊️Best: Apr🐠Best: May🛕Best: May🍵Best: Nov🥩Best: Apr🪷Best: May🥾Best: Apr⛩️Best: Apr🏔️Best: Aug🗻Best: Nov🐒Best: Nov⛪Best: Apr🌺Best: Nov🎃Best: Apr🦌Best: Apr🍁Best: Nov⛷️Best: Aug🍑Best: Apr🐙Best: Apr❄️Best: Jul🏝️Best: May🏡Best: Nov🏮Best: Nov🗼Best: Apr⚓Best: Apr
Beppu
Japan's Hot-Spring Capital and Its Boiling "Hells"
Fukuoka
Hakata Ramen at the Riverside Food Stalls
Furano & Biei
Lavender Fields and Patchwork Hills
Hakodate
Night View from Mount Hakodate and a Star-Shaped Fort
Hakone
Hot-Spring Inns, a Volcanic Valley and Views of Fuji
Himeji
Japan's Finest Original Castle, the White Heron
Hiroshima & Miyajima
The Peace Park, and the Floating Torii of Miyajima
Ishigaki
Manta Rays, Water-Buffalo Carts and Coral Islands
Kamakura
The Great Buddha and Zen Temples by the Sea
Kanazawa
Samurai Streets, Geisha Houses and a Great Garden
Kobe
Kobe Beef, a Harbour, and Hot Springs over the Mountain
Koyasan
A Night in a Mountain Temple Among Ancient Graves
Kumano Kodo (Hongu)
Pilgrim Trails through Cedar Forest to the Grand Shrines
Kyoto
A Thousand Temples, Torii Tunnels and Geisha Lanes
Matsumoto
The Black Crow Castle Beneath the Japan Alps
Mount Fuji & Kawaguchiko
Fuji Across the Lake, and the Summit in Summer
Nagano (Jigokudani Snow Monkeys)
Snow Monkeys in a Hot Spring, and a 1,400-Year-Old Temple
Nagasaki
Peace Park, Dejima and Battleship Island
Naha (Okinawa)
Ryukyu Castles, Coral Seas and Island Day Trips
Naoshima
The Art Island of the Seto Inland Sea
Nara
The Great Buddha and a Park Full of Bowing Deer
Nikko
Gilded Shrines in Cedar Forest and Mountain Lakes
Niseko
Deep Powder Snow Under a Volcano
Okayama & Kurashiki
A Great Garden, a Black Castle and a Canal-Side Merchant Town
Osaka
Street Food, Neon Canals and a Castle
Sapporo
Snow Sculptures, Miso Ramen and the Gateway to Hokkaido
Sendai & Matsushima
Pine Islands of Matsushima and the Date Lords' City
Shirakawa-go
Thatched Farmhouses in a Snowbound Valley
Takayama
Old Merchant Lanes and Morning Markets in the Alps
Tokyo
Neon, Shrines and the World's Best Food City
Yokohama
Harbour City of Chinatown, Ramen and Bay Views
Kazakhstan
🌊Best: May🍎Best: May🐎Best: May🏙️Best: Jul💧Best: Jul🦷Best: May🌲Best: Jul🏜️Best: May🏞️Best: Jul⛷️Best: Jan🍉Best: Apr🌲Best: Jul🕌Best: Apr
Aktau
The Caspian Shore and the Mangystau Desert
Almaty
Apple-Tree Avenues Under the Snowy Tien Shan
Altyn-Emel National Park
The Singing Dune and the Painted Aktau Hills
Astana
A Capital of Futuristic Towers on the Steppe
Big Almaty Lake
Turquoise Mountain Reservoir Above Almaty
Bozzhyra & the Ustyurt Plateau
White Cliffs and Fangs on the Edge of the Ustyurt
Burabay (Borovoe)
Pine Forests and Granite Rocks Round a Steppe Lake
Charyn Canyon
Red-Rock Valley of Castles in the Steppe
Kolsai Lakes & Kaindy (Saty)
Mountain Lakes and the Sunken Forest of Kaindy
Shymbulak & Medeu
Central Asia's Big Ski Resort, a Gondola Above Almaty
Shymkent
The Warm, Bazaar-Loving South
Turgen Gorge
Waterfalls, Spruce Forest and the Assy Plateau
Turkistan
The Timurid Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Kenya
🌲Best: Jan🐘Best: Aug🏖️Best: Jan🦛Best: Aug🦩Best: Aug⛵Best: Jan🦁Best: Feb🏰Best: Jan🏔️Best: Jan🦒Best: Aug🦏Best: Aug🦓Best: Aug🐘Best: Aug🐢Best: Jan
Aberdare National Park
Misty Moorland, Waterfalls and a Night by the Waterhole
Amboseli
Elephant Herds Beneath Kilimanjaro
Diani Beach
White Sand, Kitesurfing and Dhows to the Kisite Reef
Lake Naivasha
Hippos, a Gorge to Cycle Through and Walking Among Giraffes
Lake Nakuru
Rhinos, Flamingos and Tree-Climbing Lions in the Rift Valley
Lamu
A Swahili Stone Town with Donkeys, Dhows and No Cars
Maasai Mara
The Great Migration and Big Cats on the Open Plains
Mombasa
Fort Jesus, the Old Town and Swahili Food on the Island
Mount Kenya
Africa's Second-Highest Mountain, on the Equator
Nairobi
Lions Under the Skyline, Orphaned Elephants and Giraffes at the Window
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Rhinos, Chimpanzees and Mount Kenya on the Horizon
Samburu National Reserve
The Northern Special Five Along the Ewaso Ng'iro
Tsavo East & West
Red Elephants and Lava Country on the Way to the Coast
Watamu & Malindi
Marine Park Lagoons, Swahili Ruins and Turtle Beaches
Malaysia
🍃Best: Mar🦇Best: May☕Best: Jan🌉Best: Jul🏔️Best: May🪁Best: May🌅Best: May🏙️Best: Jan🕌Best: May🐈Best: Jun🚡Best: Jan🏛️Best: Jan🎨Best: Jan🐢Best: Jun🏖️Best: Jun🦧Best: May🤿Best: Jun🌳Best: May🦎Best: May
Cameron Highlands
Tea Estates and Mossy Forest at 1,500 Metres
Gunung Mulu
Giant Caves, Bat Exodus and the Pinnacles
Ipoh
Cave Temples, Old Town Murals and White Coffee
Johor Bahru
Malaysia's Southern Gateway Across the Causeway
Kinabalu Park
Climb Mount Kinabalu, 4,095 Metres
Kota Bharu
Kelantan's Markets, Crafts and Malay Culture
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah's Capital: Islands, Sunsets and Seafood
Kuala Lumpur
Twin Towers, Batu Caves and the Best Street Food in Asia
Kuala Terengganu
The Crystal Mosque and the Gateway to Redang
Kuching
Riverfront City of Cats, Longhouses and Orangutans
Langkawi
Duty-Free Island of Beaches, Cable Car and Mangroves
Melaka
Five Centuries of Trading-Port History on One River
Penang (George Town)
Street Art, Clan Houses and Malaysia's Food Capital
Perhentian Islands
Clear Water, Turtles and No Roads
Redang Island
White Sand and Coral in a Marine Park
Sandakan & Sepilok
Orangutans, Sun Bears and the Kinabatangan River
Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul)
Gateway to Sipadan's World-Class Reef
Taman Negara
One of the World's Oldest Rainforests
Tioman Island
Jungle-Covered Island with Villages on the Beach
Maldives
🐋Best: Feb🦈Best: Feb🦈Best: Feb🦈Best: Feb🐠Best: Feb🛬Best: Feb🐢Best: Feb🏝️Best: Feb🕌Best: Feb🏖️Best: Feb🌅Best: Feb🤿Best: Feb🌴Best: Feb🍉Best: Feb🏄Best: Feb🐢Best: Feb
Ari Atoll Resorts
Whale Sharks, Mantas and Seaplane Resorts West of Malé
Baa Atoll Resorts
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Manta Feast at Hanifaru Bay
Dhigurah
Whale Sharks and a Three-Kilometre Sandbank in South Ari
Fulidhoo
Nurse Sharks at the Jetty and a Village of Sand Streets
Gulhi
A Small, Quiet Local Island Near Maafushi
Hulhumale
Beach Town Next to the Airport, for First and Last Nights
Lhaviyani Atoll Resorts
Turtle Reefs and Resorts a Seaplane Hop North
Maafushi
The Budget Maldives: Guesthouses, Sandbanks and Excursions
Male
The Island Capital, a Bridge from the Airport
North Male Atoll Resorts
Private-Island Resorts 20 to 45 Minutes from the Airport by Speedboat
Raa Atoll Resorts
Newer Resorts in a Big, Quiet Atoll North of Baa
Rasdhoo
Hammerheads at Dawn on the Edge of Its Own Small Atoll
South Male Atoll Resorts
Speedboat Resorts with Channel Dives and Quieter Lagoons
Thoddoo
Farm Island of Watermelons and Papayas, with a Turtle Reef
Thulusdhoo
Surf at Cokes and Chickens, Half an Hour from the Airport
Ukulhas
A Long Bikini Beach and Manta Trips in North Ari
Mauritius
🏝️Best: Dec🌿Best: Jul🌈Best: Feb🐬Best: Jul⛵Best: Jul🔱⛰️Best: Oct🐠Best: Dec🪷Best: Jan🏛️Best: Jul🐢Best: Oct🏖️Best: Jul
Belle Mare
The East Coast's Long Beach, and the Boat to Ile aux Cerfs
Black River Gorges
The National Park: Forest Trails, Viewpoints and Waterfalls
Chamarel
Seven Coloured Earth and the Island's Tallest Waterfall
Flic en Flac
West-Coast Sunsets, and Dolphins off Tamarin
Grand Baie
The North Coast's Busy Bay: Boats, Beaches and Nightlife
Grand Bassin
Ganga Talao: The Hindu Sacred Lake on the Plateau
Le Morne
The UNESCO Mountain at the South-West Tip, and a Kitesurf Lagoon
Mahebourg
Old Town and Blue Bay, Ten Minutes from the Airport
Pamplemousses
The SSR Botanic Garden: Giant Water Lilies and Spice Trees
Port Louis
The Capital: Market, Waterfront and the Indentured Labourers' Ghat
Rodrigues
The Quiet Sister Island, an Hour and a Half's Flight East
Trou aux Biches
Long Calm Beaches on the North-West Coast
Nepal
🏘️Best: Dec🐅Best: Dec🏯Best: Dec🦏Best: Dec🏡Best: Dec🌅Best: Dec🍵Best: Dec🛕Best: Dec🏔️Best: Apr🛕Best: Nov🏔️Best: Apr🛩️Best: Apr☸️Best: Dec🥾Best: Apr🌄Best: Dec🏔️Best: Apr🏛️Best: Dec🏞️Best: Dec🏞️Best: May🪂Best: Dec
Bandipur
Car-Free Newar Hill Town Between Kathmandu and Pokhara
Bardia (Thakurdwara)
Nepal's Wildest Park for Tigers
Bhaktapur
The Best-Kept Medieval Newar Town
Chitwan (Sauraha)
Rhinos, Tigers and the Rapti River Jungle
Ghandruk
Gurung Village Facing Annapurna South
Ghorepani (Poon Hill)
The Short Trek to the Dhaulagiri–Annapurna Sunrise
Ilam
Tea Gardens in Nepal's Far East
Janakpur
Sita's Birthplace and the Janaki Mandir
Jomsom
Kali Gandaki Valley and the Road to Muktinath
Kathmandu
Temples, Stupas and the Old Royal City
Langtang Valley (Kyanjin Gompa)
The Closest High Himalayan Valley to Kathmandu
Lukla
The Airstrip at the Start of the Everest Trail
Lumbini
Birthplace of the Buddha
Manang
Annapurna Circuit Acclimatisation Base Below Thorong La
Nagarkot
Himalayan Sunrise on the Valley's Rim
Namche Bazaar
Sherpa Capital and Gateway to Everest
Patan (Lalitpur)
Durbar Square and the Valley's Craftsmen
Pokhara
Phewa Lake Under the Annapurnas
Rara Lake
Nepal's Largest Lake in the Remote Karnali
Sarangkot
Paragliding Ridge and Annapurna Sunrise
Netherlands
🚲Best: Jun🏺Best: Jun🛶Best: Jun⛪Best: Jun🦌Best: Jun🌷Best: Apr🌬️Best: Jun🏰Best: Jun🌉Best: Jun🖼️Best: Jun🔔Best: Jun⚓Best: Jun🧀Best: Jun
Amsterdam
Canals, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and Europe's Gateway at Schiphol
Delft
Vermeer's Town of Canals and Blue-and-White Pottery
Giethoorn
Thatched Farmhouses on Canals, Seen from a Whisper Boat
Haarlem
Golden-Age Squares, Frans Hals and the Beach at Zandvoort
Hoge Veluwe & Kröller-Müller
Van Goghs in the Forest and Free White Bikes Across the Heath
Keukenhof & the Bulb Fields
Seven Million Bulbs in Bloom, Open Only in Spring
Kinderdijk
Nineteen 18th-Century Windmills on the Polder Canals (UNESCO)
Maastricht
Roman Roots, Hillside Caves and Burgundian Food on the Maas
Rotterdam
Modern Architecture, Europe's Biggest Port and the Markthal
The Hague & Scheveningen
Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Peace Palace and the North Sea Beach
Utrecht
The Dom Tower, Wharf-Level Canals and the Heart of the Rail Network
Volendam & Marken
A Fishing Harbour, Old Dutch Costumes and the Island Village of Marken
Zaanse Schans
Working Windmills, Clogs and Cheese on the River Zaan
New Zealand
🛶Best: Jan🗻Best: Jan🌉Best: Jan🛶Best: Jan🌷Best: Jan🏖️Best: Jan🐧Best: Jan🧊Best: Jan🐋Best: Jan🌌Best: Jan🏛️Best: Jan⛴️Best: Jan🏔️Best: Jan♨️Best: Jan🌋Best: Jan🏞️Best: Jan✨Best: Nov🌳Best: Jan🚡Best: Jan
Abel Tasman
Golden Beaches and the Coast Track
Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand's Highest Peak and the Hooker Valley
Auckland
Harbour City of Volcanoes, Beaches and Islands
Bay of Islands
Where Modern New Zealand Began, Among 144 Islands
Christchurch
Garden City Rebuilt, Gateway to the South
Coromandel
Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove
Dunedin
Scottish City and the Albatross Peninsula
Franz Josef
Glaciers Falling Into Rainforest
Kaikoura
Whales, Dolphins and Seals Under Snowy Mountains
Lake Tekapo
Turquoise Lake Under a Dark-Sky Reserve
Napier
Art Deco City and Hawke's Bay Wineries
Picton
Ferry Port to the Marlborough Sounds
Queenstown
Adventure Capital on Lake Wakatipu
Rotorua
Geysers, Mud Pools and Māori Culture
Taupo
Great Lake Taupō and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Te Anau (Milford Sound)
Gateway to Milford and Doubtful Sounds
Waitomo
Glowworm Grottos Under the Farmland
Wanaka
Lake, Mountains and Roys Peak
Wellington
The Windy Capital: Te Papa, Cafés and the Cook Strait Ferry
Portugal
🛶Best: Jun⛪Best: Jun🏖️Best: Jul📚Best: Apr🍇Best: Jun🏛️Best: Apr🦩Best: Jun⛪Best: Jun🏝️Best: Jun🚋Best: Apr🌺Best: Jun🌊Best: Jul🏯Best: Jun🍷Best: Jun🐋Best: Jul🏰Best: May
Aveiro
Painted Boats on a Lagoon Town's Canals
Braga & Guimarães
The Sanctuary Stairway and the Cradle of Portugal
Cascais
A Seaside Town at the End of Lisbon's Coastal Railway
Coimbra
Portugal's Oldest University and Its Gilded Library
Douro Valley
Terraced Vineyards Along the River of Port Wine
Évora
A Roman Temple and a Chapel of Bones on the Alentejo Plain
Faro
The Algarve's Gateway on the Ria Formosa Lagoon
Fátima
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
Lagos
Golden Cliffs, Sea Arches and the Benagil Cave
Lisbon
Hills, Trams and the Monastery Where Vasco da Gama Lies
Madeira (Funchal)
Levada Walks, Cliffs and Flowers on an Atlantic Island
Nazaré
A Fishing Town Below the World's Biggest Waves
Óbidos
A Walled Medieval Town and Ginjinha in a Chocolate Cup
Porto
Port Lodges, Azulejos and Bridges over the Douro
São Miguel (Ponta Delgada)
Crater Lakes, Hot Springs and Whales in the Mid-Atlantic
Sintra
Fairy-Tale Palaces in the Hills Above the Atlantic
Singapore
💧Best: Mar🏮Best: Mar🌆Best: Mar🌺Best: Mar🎢Best: Mar
Changi
Jewel's Rain Vortex, Changi Village and the Bumboat to Pulau Ubin
Chinatown & Little India
Temples, Hawker Centres and Serangoon Road's Vegetarian Thalis
Marina Bay
Supertrees, the SkyPark and the Skyline on the Water
Orchard & Botanic Gardens
Malls, the UNESCO Botanic Gardens and the Night Safari
Sentosa
Universal Studios, Beaches and the Island Resorts
South Korea
🎭Best: Oct🌊Best: May🌿Best: Nov🌅Best: May🏛️Best: Nov🌋Best: May🏘️Best: Oct🍁Best: Nov⛷️Best: Jan🍊Best: May🏯Best: Oct⛰️Best: May🌾Best: Nov🏰Best: Oct⛴️Best: May🌃Best: May
Andong
Hahoe Village and Korea's Confucian Heartland
Busan
Beaches, Fish Markets and Hillside Villages
Daegu
Herbal Markets, Hill Temples and Modern Alleys
Gangneung
East Sea Beaches, Coffee Street and Sunrise
Gyeongju
Silla Kingdom's Open-Air Museum
Jeju City
Volcanic Island Gateway: Craters, Lava Tubes and Haenyeo
Jeonju
Hanok Village and the Home of Bibimbap
Nami Island & Chuncheon
Tree-Lined River Island and Lake City
Pyeongchang
Olympic Ski Slopes and Mountain Temples
Seogwipo
Jeju's Waterfall Coast and Resort Shore
Seoul
Palaces, K-Culture and Street Food in the Capital
Sokcho
Gateway to Seoraksan's Granite Peaks
Suncheon
Reed Wetlands and Korea's National Garden
Suwon
UNESCO Fortress Walls an Hour from Seoul
Tongyeong
Harbour Town and the Hallyeo Waterway Islands
Yeosu
Night Sea, Island Temples and a Cable Car over the Bay
Spain
🌴Best: May⛪Best: May🎨Best: Jul🌊Best: May🕌Best: Apr🏖️Best: May🏜️Best: Nov🏰Best: Apr🎶Best: May🌋Best: Nov🏰Best: Apr☀️Best: May🏝️Best: May🐚Best: May⛰️Best: May⛰️Best: Jul🌉Best: Apr🎓Best: May🍢Best: Jul🐚Best: Jul🏯Best: May💃Best: Apr🌋Best: Jul🗡️Best: Apr🥘Best: Apr
Alicante & the Costa Blanca
A Palm-Lined Seafront Under a Hilltop Castle
Barcelona
Gaudí's Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter and a City Beach
Bilbao
The Guggenheim and the Pintxo Bars of the Old Town
Cádiz
Europe's Oldest City, Ringed by the Atlantic
Córdoba
The Mosque-Cathedral's Forest of Arches
Girona & the Costa Brava
A Medieval River City and the Coves of the Costa Brava
Gran Canaria
The Maspalomas Dunes and the Old Town of Las Palmas
Granada
The Alhambra Beneath the Snows of the Sierra Nevada
Ibiza
Dalt Vila, Sunsets and the World's Clubbing Island
Lanzarote
Fire Mountains, Black Vineyards and César Manrique's Island
Madrid
The Prado, the Royal Palace and Tapas Late Into the Night
Málaga & the Costa del Sol
Picasso's Birthplace and the Sunshine Coast
Mallorca
Palma's Cathedral, Mountain Villages and Turquoise Coves
Menorca
Turquoise Coves, Prehistoric Stones and Two Harbour Towns
Montserrat
A Mountain Monastery and the Black Madonna
Picos de Europa (Cangas de Onís)
Glacial Lakes, the Cares Gorge and the Shrine of Covadonga
Ronda
A Town Split by a Gorge and the Puente Nuevo
Salamanca
Golden Sandstone and Spain's Oldest University
San Sebastián
La Concha Bay and the World's Best Pintxo Bars
Santiago de Compostela
The End of the Camino and the Tomb of St James
Segovia
A Roman Aqueduct and a Fairy-Tale Alcázar
Seville
The Real Alcázar, the Cathedral and the Heart of Flamenco
Tenerife
Mount Teide, Black Beaches and Winter Sun
Toledo
The City of Three Cultures on a Hill Above the Tagus
Valencia
Paella's Home, the City of Arts and Sciences and a Riverbed Park
Sri Lanka
⛰️Best: Feb🌳Best: Mar🏄Best: Jul🌊Best: Feb🏙️Best: Jan🚂Best: Feb🏰Best: Feb🐢Best: Feb🪔Best: Mar🪁Best: Jul🛕Best: Feb🐋Best: Feb🎣Best: Feb🍃Best: Feb🏖️Best: Jul🗿Best: Mar🦁Best: Mar🐚Best: Feb🐠Best: Jul🐘Best: Nov🏝️Best: Feb🐆Best: Apr
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)
Night Pilgrimage to the Sacred Footprint at Sunrise
Anuradhapura
Sacred Bo Tree and the Great Stupas of the First Capital
Arugam Bay
Surf Point and Lagoons on the East Coast
Bentota
Resort Beach, River Safaris and Water Sports
Colombo
Sea-Front Capital of Temples, Markets and Colonial Streets
Ella
Nine Arches, Little Adam's Peak and the Hill-Country Train
Galle
Walled Dutch Fort Town on the Sea
Hikkaduwa
Surf, Turtles and Coral on the South-West Coast
Jaffna
Tamil Temples, Islands and Food of the North
Kalpitiya
Kitesurfing Lagoon and Dolphin Pods
Kandy
Last Royal Capital and the Temple of the Tooth
Mirissa
Blue Whales, Coconut Tree Hill and a Lively Beach
Negombo
Fishing Town and Beach Ten Minutes from the Airport
Nuwara Eliya
Tea Estates and Cool Air in "Little England"
Pasikudah
Shallow Lagoon Bay for Calm Swimming
Polonnaruwa
Medieval Royal City of Stone Buddhas
Sigiriya & Dambulla
Lion Rock Fortress and the Painted Cave Temples
Tangalle
Quiet Bays and Turtle Nights in the Far South
Trincomalee & Nilaveli
Natural Harbour, Koneswaram Temple and White Beaches
Udawalawe
Elephant Herds on the Grasslands
Unawatuna
Sheltered Bay Next to Galle
Yala National Park
Leopards, Elephants and Sloth Bears by Jeep
Switzerland
🐄Best: Jul🎨Best: Jul🐻Best: Jul⛷️Best: Jan🏔️Best: Jul⛲Best: Jul⛰️Best: Jul🏡Best: Jan🏔️Best: Jul💧Best: Jul🌉Best: Jul🌴Best: Jun🏰Best: Jul🌊Best: Jul❄️Best: Jul🚂Best: Jul🗻Best: Jul🏙️Best: Jul
Appenzell
Painted Houses, Cheese and the Cliff-Face Inn
Basel
Art Museums and the Rhine Where Three Countries Meet
Bern
The Arcaded Capital in a Loop of the Aare
Davos
The High Alpine Town of the World Economic Forum
Engelberg
Titlis, the Revolving Cabin and the Glacier
Geneva
The Jet d'Eau, the UN and the French-Speaking Lake
Grindelwald
Under the Eiger North Face
Gstaad
Chalet Luxury and the Glacier 3000 Peak Walk
Interlaken
Between Two Lakes, Below the Jungfrau
Lauterbrunnen & Wengen
The Valley of 72 Waterfalls and Its Car-Free Villages
Lucerne
The Chapel Bridge, the Lake and Two Classic Summits
Lugano
Italian-Speaking Switzerland, Palms by the Lake
Montreux & Lausanne
Lakeside Promenades, Chillon Castle and the Lavaux Vineyards
Rhine Falls & Schaffhausen
Europe's Biggest Waterfall by Volume
Saas-Fee
The Glacier Village, Quieter than Zermatt
St. Moritz
Champagne Air, Frozen-Lake Polo and the Bernina Line
Zermatt
The Matterhorn from a Car-Free Village
Zurich
Old Town Lanes, Lake Swims and the Main Gateway
Tanzania
🦒Best: Aug🏙️Best: Aug🦩Best: Aug🦈Best: Dec☕Best: Aug🏔️Best: Aug🦏Best: Aug🐃Best: Aug🏝️Best: Aug🛶Best: Aug🪁Best: Aug🦁Best: Aug🦁Best: Aug🕌Best: Aug🐘Best: Aug
Arusha
The Safari Capital at the Foot of Mount Meru
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania's Busy Port City, Gateway to Zanzibar and the South
Lake Manyara
Groundwater Forest, Flamingos and the Rift Valley Wall
Mafia Island
Whale Sharks and Quiet Reefs in a Marine Park
Moshi
Coffee Farms and Waterfalls Under Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Climb to the Roof of Africa, 5,895 m
Ngorongoro Crater
A Collapsed Volcano Full of Wildlife
Northern Serengeti
The Mara River Crossings, July to October
Nungwi & Kendwa
White Sand and Sunsets at Zanzibar's Northern Tip
Nyerere National Park
Boat Safaris on the Rufiji, Africa's Biggest Park
Paje & Jambiani
Kitesurfing Lagoons and Seaweed Farms on the East Coast
Ruaha National Park
Wild, Remote and Full of Lions
Serengeti
Endless Plains, Big Cats and the Great Migration
Stone Town
Spice Island Lanes, Carved Doors and Sunset Street Food
Tarangire
Elephants and Baobabs Along the Tarangire River
Thailand
🏯Best: Dec🛕Best: Dec🏮Best: Dec🤍Best: Dec🏖️Best: Jan🌉Best: Dec🌅Best: Jan🦜Best: Feb🐘Best: Dec🐘Best: Jan🌊Best: Jan🐢Best: Jan🐚Best: Jan💚Best: Jan🌕Best: Mar🐠Best: Jan🐚Best: Jan🌴Best: Mar🤿Best: May🛶Best: Jan🧗Best: Jan🏯Best: Dec🌄Best: Dec🎡Best: Jan🏝️Best: Jan🪷Best: Dec🪷Best: Jan
Ayutthaya
Ruined Royal Capital on the River Island
Bangkok
Temples, River Life and Street Food in the Capital
Chiang Mai
Old Lanna Capital of Temples, Night Markets and Hills
Chiang Rai
The White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Golden Triangle
Hua Hin
The Royal Seaside Town Closest to Bangkok
Kanchanaburi
The River Kwai Bridge and Jungle Waterfalls
Khao Lak
Quiet Beaches and the Gateway to the Similan Islands
Khao Sok
Ancient Rainforest and Floating Raft Houses on Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Yai National Park
Wild Elephants, Gibbons and Waterfalls Three Hours from Bangkok
Koh Chang
Jungle-Covered Island near the Cambodian Border
Koh Kood (Koh Kut)
Undeveloped Island of Clear Water and Quiet Resorts
Koh Lanta
Long, Quiet Beaches for Families and Slow Travel
Koh Lipe
Remote Island of Clear Water near Malaysia
Koh Mook (Koh Muk)
The Emerald Cave and the Quiet Trang Islands
Koh Phangan
Full Moon Parties and Hidden Jungle Beaches
Koh Phi Phi
Maya Bay, Turquoise Lagoons and Viewpoint Sunsets
Koh Samet
White-Sand Island Closest to Bangkok
Koh Samui
Palm-Fringed Resort Island of the Gulf
Koh Tao
Dive Island of the Gulf
Koh Yao Noi
Quiet Island Life in the Middle of Phang Nga Bay
Krabi (Ao Nang & Railay)
Limestone Cliffs, Island-Hopping and Railay's Beaches
Mae Hong Son
Misty Border Town of Shan Temples, at the End of the Loop
Pai
Laid-Back Mountain Valley Town
Pattaya
Beach City Two Hours from Bangkok
Phuket
Thailand's Biggest Island and Beach Hub
Sukhothai
The First Thai Capital, Best Seen by Bicycle
Udon Thani
The Red Lotus Sea, Bronze Age Ban Chiang and the Mekong
Türkiye
🏰Best: Jun🏛️Best: May🏖️Best: May🏰Best: Jun🕌Best: May🐴Best: May🏄Best: Jul🐢Best: Jun🪂Best: Jun🎈Best: May🕌Best: Oct🌊Best: May🏡Best: Jun🤿Best: Jun🌀Best: Nov⛵Best: Jun🏘️Best: Oct⛵Best: Jun🏞️Best: May🏚️Best: May🗿Best: Apr🏛️Best: May🏛️Best: Jun⛪Best: Jul🍷Best: May🌲Best: Jul
Alanya
Seljuk Castle above Cleopatra Beach
Ankara
The Capital, Atatürk's Mausoleum and Anatolian Civilisations
Antalya
Kaleiçi Old Town, Waterfalls and the Riviera's Airport
Bodrum
White Houses, a Crusader Castle and Aegean Nightlife
Bursa
First Ottoman Capital under Mount Uludağ
Canakkale (Troy & Gallipoli)
Troy and the Gallipoli Battlefields on the Dardanelles
Cesme
Windsurfing Beaches and Stone Alaçatı
Dalyan
Rock Tombs, River Boats and the Turtle Beach
Fethiye & Oludeniz
The Blue Lagoon, Paragliding and the Lycian Way
Goreme
Fairy Chimneys, Cave Hotels and Balloons at Dawn
Istanbul
Two Continents, Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus
Izmir
Turkey's Easy-Going Third City on the Aegean
Kalkan
Hillside Villas Above a Quiet Bay
Kas
Small Harbour, Clear Water and the Sunken City
Konya
Rumi's City and the Whirling Dervishes
Kusadasi
Aegean Resort and Cruise Port near Ephesus
Mardin
Honey-Stone Old City above the Mesopotamian Plain
Marmaris
Pine-Backed Bay, Boat Trips and Bar Street
Pamukkale
White Travertine Terraces and the Ruins of Hierapolis
Safranbolu
Ottoman Timber Mansions in a Saffron Town
Sanliurfa (Gobekli Tepe)
Göbekli Tepe, the World's Oldest Temple, and the City of Prophets
Selcuk (Ephesus)
The Roman City of Ephesus on Your Doorstep
Side
Roman Ruins on a Beach Peninsula
Trabzon
Sumela Monastery on the Green Black Sea Coast
Urgup
Cappadocia's Quieter Town of Stone Mansions and Wine
Uzungol
Mountain Lake Village among Spruce Forests
United Arab Emirates
🕌Best: Jan🌴Best: Jan🏙️Best: Jan🐪Best: Dec🏖️Best: Jan🐠Best: Dec🛶Best: Dec🏜️Best: Dec⛰️Best: Dec🏛️Best: Jan🎢Best: Jan
Abu Dhabi
The Grand Mosque, the Palace and the Corniche
Al Ain
The Garden City: Oases, Forts and Jebel Hafeet
Dubai
Burj Khalifa, the Creek Souks and the Desert at the Door
Dubai Desert (Al Marmoom)
Dunes, Camps and a Night under the Stars
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Beach Hotels, the Palm and the Marina Skyline
Fujairah & Dibba (East Coast)
The Gulf of Oman Coast and the Hajar Mountains
Hatta
Kayaks on a Mountain Lake in the Hajar
Liwa Oasis (Empty Quarter)
The Edge of the Rub' al Khali
Ras Al Khaimah
Jebel Jais, the Longest Zipline and Quiet Beaches
Sharjah
Museums, Souks and the Old Heart of the Gulf
Yas & Saadiyat Islands
Theme Parks, the Louvre and White-Sand Beaches
United Kingdom
🛁Best: Jun🚢Best: Jun🍛Best: Jun🎠Best: Jul🎓Best: Jul⛪Best: Jun🐉Best: Jul🏖️Best: Jul⛪Best: Jun🏴Best: Jul🪨Best: Jun🎨Best: Jul🚂Best: Jul🧱Best: Jul🦕Best: Jul🏔️Best: Jul🪔Best: Jul🎸Best: Jun🛶Best: Jul🎡Best: Jun⚽Best: Jun📚Best: Jul🏔️Best: Jul⛳Best: Jul🗿Best: Jun🎭Best: Jun🦌Best: Jul🏡Best: Jul🦖Best: Jul🏞️Best: Jul⛰️Best: Jun⚓Best: Jul🏰Best: Jun🏰Best: Jun
Bath
Roman Baths and Georgian Crescents
Belfast
Titanic's Shipyard and a City Remade
Birmingham
Britain's Second City: Canals, Chocolate and the Balti Triangle
Brighton
Pier, Pebble Beach and the Royal Pavilion's Indian Domes
Cambridge
College Lawns, King's Chapel and Punting on the Cam
Canterbury
England's Mother Church Inside Medieval Walls
Cardiff
Castle, Bay and the Principality Stadium
Cornwall (St Ives & Penzance)
Turquoise Coves, Fishing Harbours and Land's End
Durham
A Norman Cathedral and Castle in a Loop of the River Wear
Edinburgh
The Castle, the Royal Mile and the World's Biggest Arts Festival
Giant's Causeway & the Causeway Coast
40,000 Basalt Columns and a Rope Bridge Over the Sea
Glasgow
Victorian Grandeur, Mackintosh and Free Museums
Glencoe & Fort William
The Grandest Glen, Ben Nevis and the Harry Potter Viaduct
Hadrian's Wall (Hexham)
Rome's Northern Frontier Along the Crags of Northumberland
Inverness & Loch Ness
Capital of the Highlands, at the Head of Loch Ness
Isle of Skye
The Storr, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools
Leicester
Diwali on the Golden Mile, and a King Under a Car Park
Liverpool
The Beatles, Anfield and the Royal Albert Dock
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
The Bonnie Banks, Island Lochs and the Glens of the Trossachs
London
Palaces, Free Museums and the Thames, with Indian London on Every Line
Manchester
Football, Red-Brick Mills and the Curry Mile
Oxford
The City of Dreaming Spires
Snowdonia (Eryri)
Yr Wyddfa, Slate Valleys and Castles by the Sea
St Andrews
The Home of Golf, a Cathedral Ruin and West Sands
Stonehenge & Salisbury
The Stone Circle on Salisbury Plain, and Magna Carta's Cathedral
Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's Town on the River Avon
The Cairngorms (Aviemore)
Britain's Biggest National Park: Pine Forest, Reindeer and an Arctic Plateau
The Cotswolds
Honey-Stone Villages and Rolling English Countryside
The Jurassic Coast (Weymouth & Lulworth)
Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and 185 Million Years in the Cliffs
The Lake District
England's Lakes and Fells, Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter
The Peak District
Moors, Caves and Chatsworth Between Manchester and Sheffield
Whitby & the North York Moors
Abbey Ruins, Dracula's Harbour and Steam Trains Over the Moors
Windsor
The King's Weekend Castle on the Thames
York
Minster, City Walls and the Shambles
United States
🐋Best: Jul🦇Best: Apr🌋Best: Jun🦞Best: Jul🧡Best: Jul🏘️Best: Apr🏙️Best: Jul🐻Best: Jul🎸Best: Jul🐐Best: Aug🏜️Best: Oct⛰️Best: Jul🌫️Best: May🌺Best: Jun🚀Best: Dec🏝️Best: Jun🐚Best: Feb🛶Best: Jul🎰Best: Dec🎬Best: Apr🌋Best: Feb🌴Best: Jan🌄Best: Apr🌊Best: Jun🐎Best: Apr🗻Best: Aug🍷Best: Jun🎤Best: May🛕Best: May🎷Best: Mar🗽Best: Nov💦Best: Jul🎢Best: Dec🌀Best: May🌵Best: Dec🔔Best: May🦌Best: Aug🦭Best: Jun🌉Best: Oct🌳Best: Apr🌲Best: Jul🪨Best: Apr🏛️Best: Apr🦬Best: Jul🏔️Best: Jul🏞️Best: May
Anchorage & Kenai Fjords
Glaciers, Fjords and the Midnight Sun
Austin
Live Music, Bats and Barton Springs
Big Island (Hawaii Island)
Volcanoes, Manta Rays and Mauna Kea's Stars
Boston
The Freedom Trail, Harvard and MIT
Bryce Canyon National Park
An Amphitheatre of Orange Hoodoos
Charleston
Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and Lowcountry Cooking
Chicago
Skyscrapers, the Bean and Lake Michigan
Denali National Park
North America's Highest Peak and Grizzly Country
Denver & Boulder
The Mile-High City and Red Rocks
Glacier National Park
Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Crown of the Continent
Grand Canyon (South Rim)
A Mile Deep and Eighteen Miles Wide
Grand Teton & Jackson Hole
Jagged Peaks over Jenny Lake
Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg)
Misty Ridges, Cades Cove and the Most-Visited National Park
Honolulu & Oahu (Waikiki)
Waikiki, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor
Houston & Space Center Houston
Mission Control, Museums and Mandirs
Kauai
Nā Pali Cliffs, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay
Key West & the Florida Keys
The Overseas Highway to the Southernmost Point
Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay, Clear Water and Sierra Ski Slopes
Las Vegas
The Strip, Shows and the Gateway to the Canyons
Los Angeles
Hollywood, Beaches and Universal Studios
Maui
Road to Hana and Sunrise over Haleakala
Miami & Miami Beach
Art Deco, Little Havana and the Everglades
Moab: Arches & Canyonlands
Delicate Arch, Mesa Arch and the Colorado River
Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur
Bixby Bridge, Sea Otters and 17-Mile Drive
Monument Valley
The Buttes of the Western Films
Mount Rainier National Park
Glaciers and Wildflower Meadows at Paradise
Napa & Sonoma Valleys
Cabernet, Cellar Doors and Balloon Flights
Nashville
Music City's Honky-Tonks and the Grand Ole Opry
New Jersey (Edison & Akshardham)
BAPS Akshardham and Oak Tree Road
New Orleans
Jazz, the French Quarter and Mardi Gras
New York City
Skyline, Statue of Liberty and Broadway
Niagara Falls (US side)
The Falls from Goat Island and the Maid of the Mist
Orlando (Disney & Universal)
Theme Parks and the Kennedy Space Center
Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Slot Canyons, Light Beams and Lake Powell
Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
Desert Modernism, the Aerial Tramway and Joshua Trees
Philadelphia
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road and Alpine Lakes
San Diego
Balboa Park, the Zoo and La Jolla's Sea Lions
San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable Cars
Savannah
Squares, Spanish Moss and River Street
Seattle
Pike Place, the Space Needle and Puget Sound
Sedona
Red Rocks, Vortexes and Oak Creek Canyon
Washington, D.C.
The National Mall and Free Smithsonian Museums
Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and Bison Herds
Yosemite National Park
El Capitan, Half Dome and Giant Sequoias
Zion National Park
The Narrows, Angels Landing and Red-Walled Canyons
Vietnam
💦Best: Sep🥥Best: Feb🛶Best: Feb🧗Best: May🐢Best: May🕳️Best: Feb🌲Best: Jan🐉Best: Apr🏍️Best: Oct🚢Best: Dec🏮Best: Nov🛵Best: Feb🏮Best: Apr🏯Best: Mar🌋Best: May🚲Best: Apr🏜️Best: Jan🏝️Best: Mar🛶Best: Dec🦇Best: Apr🌅Best: Jan🎋Best: May🐚Best: Apr🌾Best: Apr⛱️Best: Jan
Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang)
Asia's Great Border Waterfall
Ben Tre (Mekong Delta)
Coconut Groves and Sampan Canals
Can Tho (Mekong Delta)
Floating Markets and River Life in the Delta
Cat Ba (Lan Ha Bay)
The Quieter Side of Ha Long Bay
Con Dao
Prison Island Turned Marine Park
Cu Chi Tunnels
The Underground War Network Outside Saigon
Da Lat
Pine Forests and Cool Air in the Highlands
Da Nang
Beach City Between Hue and Hoi An
Ha Giang
The Loop: Karst Passes on the Chinese Border
Ha Long Bay
Two Thousand Limestone Islands on Emerald Water
Hanoi
Lakes, Old Quarter Lanes and a Thousand Years of Capital
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon's Energy, History and Street Food
Hoi An
Lantern-Lit Trading Port of the 1600s
Hue
The Nguyen Emperors' Citadel on the Perfume River
Ly Son Island
Volcanic Island of Garlic Fields and Sea Arches
Mai Chau
White Thai Stilt Houses in a Green Valley
Mui Ne
Sand Dunes, Fishing Boats and Kitesurfing
Nha Trang
Bay Islands, Beaches and Cham Towers
Ninh Binh (Tam Coc & Trang An)
Rowing Through Limestone Karst and Rice Fields
Phong Nha
The World's Great Caves in the Jungle
Phu Quoc
Island Beaches, Sunsets and the Longest Sea Cable Car
Pu Luong
Terraced Valleys and Bamboo Water Wheels
Quy Nhon
Quiet Beaches and Cham Towers
Sapa
Rice Terraces, Hill-Tribe Villages and Fansipan
Vung Tau
Saigon's Weekend Seaside
Ready to plan?
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