30 travel destinations on the 2024 bucket list

A new year has started - full of dreams and with many things to do and to know. A new opportunity for travelers to consider packing their bags, and setting off to those undiscovered destinations. Places they have always dreamed of going... Let's discover what they are.

As every year, Lonely Planet proposes a very interesting list of 30 destinations. For 2024, the list is especially focused on places to disconnect: places where you can enjoy and savor delicious cuisine, learn about culture, and interact with its people. 10 countries, 10 regions, and 10 cities...

The great unknown of Asia, nestled between China and Russia, will reportedly be the most desired destination in 2024. With improved connections with both Europe and the United States, we will be able to reach its capital Ulaanbaatar much easier: a city that gives more and more surprising proposals for tourists. But we can do much more... such as riding the Trans-Mongolian, climbing the Gobi dunes, discovering its prehistoric past or the legacy of Genghis Khan, experiencing the Naadam Festival or even living with the Mongolian nomads.

As in the case of Mongolia, the Indian cities of Delhi, Bombay, Goa, and Kerala have improved their connections this year, facilitating the arrival of visitors to one of the most culturally rich countries in the world. In addition, internal improvements have made it easier to visit the least populated and lesser-known areas. The Himalayas, Buddhist temples, tropical forests, wildlife, villages... India has a lot to offer.

The North African country continues to sell its culture and traditions, its centuries-old cities with their emblematic monuments, its souks and medinas. But Morocco wants to go further and, this year 2024, has also set out to attract another type of tourism in places like Essaouira, a surfing enclave perfect for disconnecting or for digital nomads; or Tanja Marina Bay, a luxury area along the coast in Tangier.

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Chile has always been an ideal destination, especially for adventurers and nature lovers. It is the ideal destination to discover and enjoy its famous natural parks with enclaves such as Patagonia or Easter Island for example. Chile is a country where you can find deserts, rainforests, volcanoes, glaciers, and fjords... as well as good food! Gastronomic tourism is also being promoted, especially in its capital, Santiago.

Located in western Africa, between Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Benin occupies the area where the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey was located; and it is the spiritual cradle of voodoo. That is why this country is attracting thousands of visitors... for its traditions, culture and history. Saying that, its landscapes and natural sites - such as the Pendjari National Park, one of the great wildlife reserves of the continent - are also worth visiting.

Mexico has always been a perfect destination for any traveler, but this year, tourists have the added bonus of the Mayan train. This is a new connection on a circular route in the southeast of the country, in the province of Yucatan, which will facilitate the visit to the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and its Caribbean beaches. So get ready to enjoy diving in the reefs of Puerto Morelos or enjoying a snack on the beach of Tulum.

The former Soviet Republic is known for its mosques, mausoleums, and other sites linked to the Silk Road. This is where the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva are located, among the sands of the deserts of Kyzyl Kum and Karakum. The country offers these three perfect destinations in addition to its capital, Tashkent, and the villages of the low valleys of the Nuratau Mountains.

An under-appreciated destination, as opposed to its neighbor, India. Pakistan is a perfect destination for adventurers, where there are hardly any tourist enclaves. It is a country with great places to discover and pure authenticity in its cities. Yet, you also have to take into account the issue of security, especially away from the big cities like its capital, Islamabad.

Every year Croatia grows in popularity. The reason? Because Croatia has a lot to offer for tourists. Its coasts in the Mediterranean are already a good excuse to visit, but the Balkan country also has incredible, historical and monumental destinations. For example: Dubrovnik, Prapratno, the Peljesac peninsula, the islands of Mljet and Korčula... and the national parks of Krka and Plitvice Lakes.

The last country proposed by Lonely Planet for 2024 is St. Lucia, a small Caribbean island of volcanic origin. The country boasts a beautiful mountainous landscape covered with tropical vegetation where you can find wonderful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. This perfect destination for relaxation is considered the "best honeymoon destination in the world".

And we turn from countries to regions. The Transdinarica is a cycling route through World Heritage Sites that will be launched this year with a route of 3,364 kilometers (2,900 miles). It takes you through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia, passing through mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, and with the Adriatic Sea as a witness.

Located 112 kilometers southeast of Adelaide, at the entrance to the Gulf of St. Vincent, it is the third largest island in Australia. Kangaroo Islands is a perfect place to enjoy some of the best beaches in the country and get up close to its particular fauna within a unique natural space, as a third of Kangaroo Island has been declared a national park or protected area.

Another perfect destination, especially for those who want to travel to Italy. When you arrive in Tuscany, you reach peace, enjoy its small and beautiful villages, discover the Italian rural world, hiking, the most typical gastronomy of the country, its wines... You cannot forget Florence and Siena, but also other places such as San Gimignano, Volterra, the Val d'Orcia, Lucca, Pienza, Montepulciano, and Bagno Vignoli.

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Located in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland, Donegal is one of three counties in Ulster that are not part of neighboring Northern Ireland. Along its coastal territory, it has more than 100 beaches - its best-kept secret - and some of the most spectacular cliffs in the country. Add to this its historical heritage, with the great fortresses as a great attraction, its local gastronomy, and its traditions, it really is a great destination.

Lonely Planet has chosen 'Euskadi' from Spain, focusing especially on a cuisine that stands out as one of the best in the world. You can find culinary history with names such as Martin Berasategui, Juan Mari Arzak Elena Arzak, and Bittor Arginzoniz. But we cannot forget the beauty of its landscapes, its cities and villages, or the fact that it is a special destination for hiking and surfing.

Thailand is one of today's favorite destinations, but it also has parts that are still semi-unknown. We are talking about the south of the country where it is quieter and more economical than the north, and where Thai, Malay, and Indo-Persian cultures converge. There you can enjoy cities like Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, and Hat Yai, natural areas like Singha Nakhon, and beaches like Ao Khanom.

Although the Swahili coast also occupies other countries such as Kenya or Mozambique, it is a good excuse to visit Tanzania as well. This is in an area where you can pretty much go back in time by visiting the Kilwa Kisiwani site; savoring a pilau or a coconut curry in one of the restaurants in Zanzibar's Stone Town; spending a night in one of the lodges on Mafia Island; strolling along palm-fringed beaches near Pangani, or snorkeling on a sandbank.

The United States is much more than New York, Los Angeles, Miami or Las Vegas. More and more travelers are looking for new secrets of the North American country, and the state of Montana holds many of them. Take a look at the nature, adventure, incredible landscapes, and traces of its native culture. For example, cities like Bozeman and Missoula; and national parks like Glacier or Yellowstone.

Austria is always a recommended destination for lovers of spectacular scenery and dreamlike travel. There, between the cities of Salzburg and Kitzbuhel is one of those places: the mountain of Saalfelden Leogang. It is a mountain resort in the region of Salzburgerland where you are fully immersed in the Alps and can enjoy relaxation, as well as the best mountain sports.

In the northernmost part of Scotland, beyond the Highlands, lies Flow Country, one of the least populated areas of Europe. Here, travelers can find peace and tranquility while enjoying the spectacular nature. You will find mountain areas such as Ben Hope, the Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve, and, of course, the coast - which can be traveled along the North Coast 500 road.

And from regions to cities. The first of Lonely Planet's bets for 2024 is the capital of Kenya, Nairobi. Spotlighting a large city that, over the years, has become a real cultural center within the country. There, you can enjoy its typical gastronomy, artistic and cultural spaces, and numerous concerts and music nights.

A classic that never dies. But, of course, this year will be special... the French capital is hosting the Olympic Games. It's a good opportunity to enjoy the city - get to know it or relive it. With the Eiffel Tower as a great attraction, one cannot miss the opportunity to visit the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, its museums (Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou ...), the Montmartre district with the Sacre Couer and the Moulin Rouge ... Of course, we have to mention its gastronomy, nightlife, etc. It really is a destination with endless possibilities.

The largest city in the province of Quebec is one of the favorite destinations when visiting Canada. And this year it has a renewed tourist offer in terms of museums, cultural and musical events, yet especially focused on gastronomy. All this added to its original tourist attractions: you can not miss a visit to Vieux-Montreal, the old port, the Clock Tower, the Notre Dame Basilica, Chinatown, or Le Plateau Mont-Royal.

Mostar is a small city of just under 130,000 inhabitants but with a lot of charm. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the reconstruction of its Stari Most bridge, a symbol of its rich heritage. You will find a unique historic center, with cobbled streets between mosques, bazaars, and cafes. In addition, some murals have been drawn in the city by the Street Arts Festival Mostar (SAFMO).

Known as the 'Cradle of Liberty', Philadelphia is the first city in the United States to be considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Lonely Planet highlights it as a very dynamic city with a great cultural backbone. You can visit places and monuments such as Independence Hall, Liberty Bella, Benjamin Franklin's tomb, the Betsy Ross house, Elfreth's Alley, and the City Hall building. Also, enjoy its leisure, cultural offers, and its restaurants.

The capital of the Brazilian Amazon is an ideal destination for nature lovers. it is a city surrounded by jungle, where the Rio Negro meets the brownish Solimões River. It is also where the largest urban forest in the world is located, protected by the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve; and the Janauari Ecological Park. This reserve has become an important focus for the defense of the Amazon - the place that, in 2025, will host the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

On the way out. Not much longer the capital of Indonesia (it is being replaced by the new city of Nusantara), Jakarta remains a mega metropolis that serves as a perfect base camp to visit other areas of Indonesia. Although it is real madness, it is also a destination worth visiting for its great dynamism, its culture, and its international cuisine.

Like Paris, Prague is another must-see destination in Europe. So much so that, for years, they have suffered from mass tourism. Since 2024, they want to try out 'slow tourism', promoting the expansion of their offerings to the whole city and all neighborhoods. Within that, you have places to visit such as the citadel of Vyšehrad, the Vinohrady district, Grebovka, and Holešovice, the emerging artistic district of the city.

Turkey has a lot to offer besides Istanbul. A good example of this is the city of Izmir, the third largest city in the country and a coastal area where its historical heritage, contemporary culture, and Aegean cuisine are mixed. It is a place to enjoy monuments, its bazaar, its promenade, and generally a good place to know in passing.

Lonely Planet's final proposal for 2024 takes us back to the United States and, more specifically, to Kansas City. It is a city that wants to stop being "just passing through the heart of America" and aims to become an attractive tourist destination. So they have opted for the revitalization of the urban landscape - offering up more culture (especially focused on African American history) and for sports, with the organization of numerous events, especially focused on soccer.

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