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Best destinations for first-time travellers

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London
A Tapestry of History and Modernity
9.2
The Tower of London was begun by William the Conqueror in the late 1070s. The Crown Jewels are on display in the Waterloo Barracks. Guides known as Beefeaters lead tours around the grounds several times a day. Tower Bridge and Tower Hill Underground station are a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • 🎖️ Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
  • 🎡 Ride the London Eye for sweeping Thames views
  • 👑 See the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
9.5
Eighteen metal Supertrees between 25 and 50 metres tall rise at Gardens by the Bay. A free light and sound show plays among them every evening. Hawker centres nearby serve cheap plates of chicken rice and satay. English is an official language across the city state.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Wander through Chinatown’s temples and traditional shophouses
  • 🌳 Visit Gardens by the Bay and its iconic Supertree Grove
  • 🌆 Admire the futuristic skyline from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Amsterdam
Canals, culture and a vibrant spirit
9.3
The 17th century canal ring was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010. Narrow gabled houses lean over water that boats cruise past all day. Visitors should book Anne Frank House tickets online well ahead of time. Trams and bikes make the compact centre simple to cross.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Explore Van Gogh Museum’s masterpieces up close
  • 🏠 Visit the Anne Frank House for a moving experience
  • 🚤 Cruise the scenic canals and pass under arched bridges
Vienna
A Symphony of Culture and Elegance
9.1
Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg emperors for centuries. The palace has 1,441 rooms set behind a long yellow baroque facade. Visitors can tour up to 40 of the state rooms on the Grand Tour. A hilltop colonnade called the Gloriette has wide views over the city and gardens.
Highlights:
  • ☕ Savor traditional Sachertorte with Viennese coffee in a café
  • 🎻 Attend a classical concert at the Vienna State Opera
  • 🏰 Tour Schönbrunn Palace and stroll its spectacular gardens
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
Up to 3,000 people cross the famous Shibuya Crossing each time the lights change. Sensoji Temple in Asakusa traces its origins to the year 645. Visitors enter through the huge red Kaminarimon gate with its giant paper lantern. A Suica card pays for trains, subways and vending machines.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savour sushi at a local eatery
Copenhagen
Scandi-cool vibes and world-class food
9.2
Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843 next to Copenhagen's central train station. A wooden roller coaster from 1914 still runs beside the flower beds. Travellers can walk there straight from the station or their hotel. Nyhavn harbour, with its colourful 17th century houses, is a short stroll away.
Highlights:
  • 👑 Explore Rosenborg Castle and its royal crown jewels
  • 🧜‍♀️ See the famous Little Mermaid statue by the waterfront
  • 🌈 Visit the colorful Nyhavn harbor and enjoy a waterside drink
Stockholm
Where islands, history and modernity meet
8.3
The Vasa Museum holds a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Salvage crews raised the ship from the harbour floor in 1961. Visitors can walk around it on several viewing levels. The museum sits on Djurgården island, a short tram ride from the centre.
Highlights:
  • ⛴️ Take a ferry to the Stockholm Archipelago’s scenic islands
  • 🏘️ Explore Gamla Stan’s cobbled streets and colorful old houses
  • 👑 Visit the Royal Palace and watch the changing of the guard
Lisbon
Sun-soaked streets and rich history
8.4
The Pastéis de Belém bakery has served custard tarts in Lisbon since 1837. Visitors eat the warm tarts with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Yellow Tram 28 climbs through the steep streets of Alfama. The Belém Tower, a stone fortress from the early 1500s, stands a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Listen to live Fado music in a cozy Alfama tavern
  • 🏰 Admire the views from Castelo de São Jorge’s hilltop
  • 🚋 Ride the iconic Tram 28 through Lisbon’s historic neighborhoods
Dublin
Where History, Pubs and Culture Collide
8.3
The Book of Kells is a hand painted gospel manuscript from around the year 800. It is displayed in the Old Library at Trinity College. Visitors can also walk through the Long Room, lined with about 200,000 old books. The Guinness Storehouse is a short Luas tram ride away.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Hear live Irish music in the pubs of Temple Bar
  • 📜 Stroll through Trinity College to see the Book of Kells
  • 🍺 Tour the Guinness Storehouse and enjoy a pint with views
Porto
Wine, Coast and Old-World Charm
8.2
The Dom Luís I Bridge opened in 1886 with two levels of iron arches. Walkers can cross the upper level for wide views over the Douro river. Port wine cellars line the far bank in Vila Nova de Gaia. Many cellars offer short tours that end with a tasting of aged ports.
Highlights:
  • 🌉 Stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge at sunset
  • 🍷 Taste port wine in historic cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia
  • ⛴️ Cruise the Douro River and admire Ribeira’s colorful facades
Munich
Bavarian Tradition Meets Modern Flair
8.7
The Glockenspiel on the New Town Hall in Marienplatz performs every day at 11 am and noon. Life sized figures reenact a royal wedding tournament from 1568. Crowds gather in the square below to watch the show. The Viktualienmarkt food market is a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Climb St. Peter’s Church tower for city views
  • 🏰 Visit the grand Nymphenburg Palace and gardens
  • 🍺 Raise a stein at Oktoberfest in Theresienwiese
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
8.5
The Stanley Park seawall follows the water for about nine kilometres. Separate paths for walkers and cyclists run between the ocean and tall evergreens. Bike hire shops sit near the park entrance on Denman Street. The North Shore mountains rise across Burrard Inlet in the distance.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore Granville Island’s public market and artisan shops
  • 🚡 Take a gondola up Grouse Mountain for city views
  • 🚴‍♀️ Walk or cycle around scenic Stanley Park’s seawall
Seville
Andalusia's Heartbeat of History
8.5
Plaza de España was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition in María Luisa Park. Tiled alcoves line its curved building with one for each Spanish province. Visitors can rent small rowboats to glide along the canal that circles the plaza. The Real Alcázar palace is a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • 💃 Watch an authentic flamenco performance in a local tablao
  • 🌇 Climb La Giralda Tower for sweeping city views
  • 🏰 Marvel at the stunning Moorish architecture of the Alcázar Palace
Bruges
Medieval Charm and Chocolate Bliss
8.6
The medieval belfry on the Markt square rises 83 metres above the old town. Climbers reach the top by way of 366 narrow steps. The historic centre is small enough to explore on foot in a day. Canal boat tours glide under stone bridges past old merchant houses.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Stroll across Markt Square and admire the colorful guildhouses
  • 🏰 Climb the Belfry Tower for panoramic city views
  • ⛵ Take a romantic canal cruise through Bruges’ medieval heart
Melbourne
The heart of culture and coffee
8.7
Hosier Lane is a cobbled laneway covered in constantly changing street art. Painters regularly cover older murals with new ones. Visitors can wander between nearby laneways and stop for espresso at tiny corner cafes. Federation Square and the Yarra River sit just across busy Flinders Street.
Highlights:
  • 🏏 Watch a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • 🌆 Admire city views from the Eureka Skydeck
  • 🎨 Explore the laneways full of vibrant street art and cafés
Osaka
Castle, neon canals and street food
8.5
Dotonbori canal glows with neon signs and giant food displays after dark. A Glico Running Man sign has looked over the canal since 1935. Street stalls sell takoyaki, crisp octopus balls topped with sauce. Osaka Castle, rebuilt in 1931 with a golden trimmed roof, is a short subway ride away.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest
  • 🍢 Feast on street food at Dotonbori and see the neon lights
  • 🏯 Explore Osaka Castle and wander through its scenic park
Hamburg
A Port City with Endless Charm
8.1
The Elbphilharmonie opened in 2017 on top of an old brick warehouse. A free public plaza 37 metres up has views across the harbour. Visitors ride a long curved escalator to reach it. The nearby Speicherstadt, a red brick warehouse district, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Climb St. Michael’s Church tower for sweeping city views
  • 🚤 Cruise the Elbe River and see Hamburg’s harbor from the water
  • 🏰 Walk through the historic Speicherstadt and admire its red-brick canals
Cancún
Sun, sea and ancient wonders
7.8
The Hotel Zone is a thin strip of land about 22 kilometres long shaped like a seven. Calm Caribbean beaches line the ocean side with a quiet lagoon behind. Public buses run the length of the strip for a small fare. Ferries to Isla Mujeres take about 20 minutes.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel with vibrant marine life at Underwater Museum
  • 🏺 Explore ancient Mayan ruins at El Rey archaeological site
  • 🏖️ Relax on the powdery sands of Playa Delfines
Malta
History, beaches and Mediterranean charm
8.5
Valletta was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565. English is an official language across the Maltese islands alongside Maltese. Ordering food and asking directions is easy for most visitors. A short boat trip reaches the pale turquoise Blue Lagoon on Comino.
Highlights:
  • 🕍 Wander through Valletta’s historic streets and baroque architecture
  • 💦 Swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon
  • 🏰 Explore the ancient walled city of Mdina at sunset
Rome
The Eternal City of history and charm
9.2
The Colosseum opened in AD 80 with room for about 50,000 spectators. Underground passages beneath the arena floor once held animals and fighters. Visitors should book timed tickets online to skip the longest lines. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill sit right beside it on the same ticket.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Gaze at Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel
  • 🪙 Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain for good luck
  • ⚔️ Stand inside the Colosseum and imagine ancient gladiator battles
Prague
A fairy-tale city with rich history
9.0
The Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square has kept time since 1410. Painted figures of the twelve apostles parade past two small windows. Crowds gather in the square every hour from 9 am to 11 pm. Charles Bridge, begun in 1357 and lined with statues, is a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • 🕰️ Wander through the cobbled streets of Old Town Square
  • 🌉 Stroll across the iconic Charles Bridge
  • 🏰 Explore Prague Castle and its Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral
Barcelona
Vibrant City of Art and Beaches
9.1
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1882 under a different architect. Antoni Gaudí took over the design a year later. Inside, tall stone columns branch like trees towards a ceiling of soft light. A metro station of the same name sits right beside the basilica entrance.
Highlights:
  • 🚶🏻 Stroll down La Rambla and feel the city’s buzz
  • 🌈 Wander through Park Güell’s colorful mosaic terraces
  • ⛪ Admire Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Família up close
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
8.6
Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Guards in traditional dress perform a changing ceremony at the main gate. Visitors wearing a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, enter the palace for free. A T-money card pays for subway and bus rides across the city.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Admire Seoul’s skyline from N Seoul Tower at sunset
  • 🛍️ Shop and eat street food in bustling Myeongdong
  • 🏯 Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal guard ceremony
Taipei
A vibrant blend of old and new
9.0
A 508 metre tower called Taipei 101 rises above the Xinyi district. Its lifts reach the 89th floor observation deck in under a minute. Oyster omelets and other cheap snacks fill Shilin Night Market after dark. An EasyCard pays for MRT rides and even convenience store snacks.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax and soak in the Beitou hot springs
  • 🍢 Wander through the bustling Shilin Night Market and try local snacks
  • 🏙️ Take in the skyline views from the Taipei 101 observatory
The Hague
Royal Palaces, Art and North Sea
7.6
The Mauritshuis museum holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. It sits in a small 17th century palace next to the Dutch parliament buildings. Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp hangs there too. Scheveningen beach and its long pier are a short tram ride from the centre.
Highlights:
  • ⚖️ Admire international law hub at the Peace Palace
  • 🏛️ Explore the historic Binnenhof and Hall of Knights
  • 🖼️ Visit the Mauritshuis museum for Dutch Golden Age art
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
7.4
The Château Frontenac hotel opened in 1893 above the St. Lawrence River. Its green copper roofs and turrets can be seen across the old town. Visitors stroll the wide boardwalk of Dufferin Terrace beside the hotel. UNESCO added the walled Old Quebec district to its World Heritage list in 1985.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Walk along Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk with river views
  • 🏰 Admire Château Frontenac’s iconic castle-like architecture
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll through historic Old Quebec’s charming streets
Split
Roman Ruins, Adriatic Vibes, Beaches
7.4
The Roman emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace here around AD 305. Shops, cafes and homes now fill the former palace rooms. A palm lined promenade called the Riva runs along the harbour beside it. Ferries from the harbour reach islands such as Brač and Hvar.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Stroll the vibrant Riva promenade by the sea
  • 🔭 Climb St. Domnius Cathedral bell tower for views
  • 🏰 Explore the ancient Diocletian’s Palace and cellar
Phuket
Beaches, Culture and Nightlife
8.1
The Big Buddha stands 45 metres tall on Nakkerd Hill above the island's southern coast. Its seated figure is covered in pieces of white marble. Visitors climb the winding hilltop road for views over Chalong Bay. Old Phuket Town, a short drive away, has colourful Sino Portuguese shophouses along quiet streets.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore colorful streets of Phuket Old Town
  • 🗿 Climb to the serene Big Buddha viewpoint
  • 🏖️ Relax on Patong Beach and enjoy vibrant nightlife
Isle of Skye
Dramatic Landscapes and Ancient Legends
7.9
Pastel painted houses line the small harbour in Portree, the island's main town. Seafood restaurants along the waterfront serve fresh langoustines and scallops. Day tours run from Portree to the Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools. Buses from Inverness cross the Skye Bridge to reach the town.
Highlights:
  • 💧 Visit the enchanting Fairy Pools near Glenbrittle
  • ⛰️ Marvel at the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle
  • 🥾 Hike the dramatic landscapes of the Quiraing
Utrecht
Medieval Canals, Modern Dutch Cool
7.6
The Dom Tower rises 112 metres above the old city centre. Guided climbs go up 465 steps to a view across the Dutch countryside. Cafes and restaurants fill the old wharf cellars along the Oudegracht canal. Trains from Amsterdam reach Utrecht in about half an hour.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Visit the Railway Museum and explore historic locomotives
  • ☕ Stroll along the Oudegracht canal lined with cafés
  • 🏰 Climb the Dom Tower and enjoy sweeping city views
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
8.5
A bungy jump from Kawarau Bridge outside Queenstown drops 43 metres towards the river. Jumps have run from the old bridge since 1988. Operators in town also run jet boats, skydives and canyon swings. Coaches and small planes reach Milford Sound on day trips from town.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw
  • ⚡ Zipline through the pine trees at Bob's Peak
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
Scotland
Mystic Highlands and Historic Castles
7.7
Edinburgh Castle sits high on Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano. The Royal Mile runs downhill from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Visitors can walk the whole cobbled route in an afternoon with time for tea. Fast trains link Edinburgh and Glasgow in under an hour.
Highlights:
  • 🏚️ Walk through the mysterious Real Mary King's Close
  • ⛰️ Hike up to panoramic views from Arthur’s Seat
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Edinburgh Castle in Old Town
Oman
Ancient heritage meets natural wonders
7.5
Wadi Shab is a narrow canyon on the coast southeast of Muscat. A quick boat crossing and an easy hike lead to turquoise pools. Swimmers pass through a gap in the rock into a cave with a waterfall. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat welcomes non Muslim visitors on most mornings.
Highlights:
  • 🏜️ Camp under the stars in Wahiba Sands desert
  • 🏞️ Marvel at the turquoise waters of Wadi Shab
  • 🏰 Explore the ancient Nizwa Fort and its bustling souq
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