BEST IN ASIA

BEST IN ASIA

 

1. Hokkaidō, Japan

Hokkaidō's perfect powder snow put it on the international map, but it has also blinded visitors to the year-round charms of Japan's northernmost island: a wild, mountainous landscape that begs exploration on foot, bike or motorbike; alpine villages where you’ll stumble upon hidden onsen; and sumptuous seafood – including crab, sea urchin and scallops – pulled from rich, cold seas. Hokkaidō has become a lot more accessible this year thanks to the new bullet train linking its southern port city, Hakodate, to Tokyo. The route is covered by the popular Japan Rail pass (which allows for unlimited bullet train rides), and the line will eventually extend all the way to dynamic Sapporo, the provincial capital and host of next year's Asian Winter Games.

2. Shànghǎi, China

Looking for the centre of the universe right now? It’s surely Shànghǎi, where it often seems as if all 24 million-odd residents are hell-bent on having a good time. So why not join them? Ballroom dancing in parks, sipping delicate brews in old teahouses, or bolting platefuls of vinegar-soaked dumplings. The booming cocktail and craft beer scenes amid the forest of neon-lit skyscrapers show how international the city has become, yet Old Shànghǎi is never far away: shikumen lanes bustle with life, while grand art deco buildings still line the Bund. This year’s a big one, with the first Disney resort in mainland China opening here, as well as the completion of the long-awaited Shànghǎi Tower, the world’s second tallest building.

3. Jeonju, South Korea

In the middle of Jeonju is one of Korea's best-preserved traditional villages – hundreds of wooden villas with gracefully upturned roofs housing an intriguing assortment of museums, teahouses and artisans’ workshops. Yet tell any Korean you're headed here and they're more likely to rave about the food than the architecture. Having long flown under the radar as the country’s top foodie destination, Jeonju has finally started to make mouths water further afield: Unesco crowned it as a City of Gastronomy in 2012, and the birthplace of Korea's most famous dish, bibimbap – an arrangement of vegetables on rice, topped Jeonju-style with bean sprouts, mung bean jelly and beef tartar – now lures a younger crowd thanks to its fast-emerging street food scene.

4. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam

The Con Dao Islands have moved from darkness into light: for decades the site of a brutal penal colony, this archipelago now ranks among Asia’s hottest emerging destinations. A national park since 1984, their appeal encompasses coral gardens that offer Vietnam’s best diving, rewarding hikes in wildlife-rich tropical forests, and a coastline studded with gorgeous white-sand coves. A crop of zany café-bars have opened in historic Con Son town to satisfy the growing backpacker market, while the luxurious Six Senses resort caters to the international jet set. With improved flight connections from Ho Chi Minh City, there is no better place right now to feast on fresh seafood, explore in search of a perfect beach and revel in a castaway vibe.

5. Hong Kong, China

This skyward-bound metropolis always beguiles with a blend of culture, cuisine and consumerism, but now Hong Kong is focusing on its natural heritage – specifically, the Unesco-designated geopark, a 50-sq km region to the northeast. A shuttle bus between the geopark’s Sai Kung town and its ancient rock formations debuted this May, hard on the heels of a ferry service to Lai Chi Wo Village. This once semi-deserted village has a new lease of life, too – returning villagers are running eco-tours and cooking workshops. Back in the urban jungle, meanwhile, artists are brightening old neighbourhoods like Sham Shui Po, and top restaurants like Fish School and Kin’s Kitchen are turning to local produce for inspiration on the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

6. Ipoh, Malaysia

Malaysia’s lesser-known food capital has new flair thanks to a crop of boutique cafes that have sprung up in its historic quarter. At the heart of Ipoh’s renaissance is otherworldly concept hotel Sekeping Kong Heng, replete with glass attic rooms and wall-free rooftop quarters. Art-cafes like Roquette, Burps & Giggles and Everyday Lifeshop have appeared nearby, among creaky kedai kopi (coffee shops) and elegant colonial buildings. But food pilgrims still clamour for Ipoh’s old favourites: Lou Wong’s chicken with crisp beansprouts, and tau fu fah (tofu pudding) at Funny Mountain. Wild escapes are close, like birdwatching by bicycle through Kinta Nature Park or whitewater rafting near Gopeng; and with clifftop temples and fragrant Gaharu Tea Valley nearby, Ipoh’s revival seems sure to tempt new crowds.

7. Pemuteran, Indonesia

As you float on the teal-hued waters off Menjangan Island in Bali's far northwest corner, the kaleidoscope of colours below you is suddenly obscured by a rising column of bubbles… yes, divers down there are gawping at one of Indonesia's best coral walls. This undersea wonderland is the prime – but far from the only – reason to stay in Pemuteran, a double bay of beaches near Menjangan (which is part of Bali's only national park). Emerald-green rice terraces line the road en route from the bustling south of the island to everybody's next discovery... but don't wait until everybody arrives; catch the buzz now from this alluring mix of art-filled resorts, inventive new restaurants and the mellowest vibe around.

8. Trang Islands, Thailand

Thailand’s Trang Islands pack the same knockout punch as their more famous Andaman Coast neighbours, Phuket, Ko Phi-Phi and Ko Lanta; all they lack are the crowds. Blonde beaches glisten amid shards of jungle-topped karst; beachfront bungalows line crescents of squeaky sand; rainbows of fish flit through the aquamarine sea. Throw in ever-improving transport links and a sprinkling of development, and Trang’s laid-back isles look as irresistible as a steaming plate of pad thai. Laze on slinky Ko Kradan; snorkel off coral-fringed Ko Ngai; whizz between rice fields on Ko Sukorn; paddle pirate-style into Ko Muk’s Emerald Cave; look for endangered dugong off mangrove-wrapped Ko Libong. Go, now – while these sleepy islands bask in untouched splendour.

9. Meghalaya, India

If ever there were a candidate for India’s Lost World, it would have to be Meghalaya, the lofty limestone plateau dividing Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley from the Bangladeshi plains. So much rain falls here that it holds the title of wettest place on earth; but when the sky clears and the sun shines, it reveals raging waterfalls, tribal outposts and bridges woven from the living roots of jungle trees. Opportunities for hiking, climbing, caving and rafting abound. After decades off the tourist map, people are starting to notice this backwater where Christianity is the main religion, archery is the favourite sport and farmers wear turtle shell-shaped baskets to keep dry during downpours. Meghalaya won’t stay this quiet for long; go before thrill seekers storm the Khāsi Hills.

10. Taitung, Taiwan

Bounded by green hills and the turquoise Pacific, Taitung is Taiwan’s secret wild card. This cradle of indigenous culture is the place to party after harvest with music festivals and sweet millet wine. Every Chinese New Year, Taitung town hosts arguably the island’s barmiest festival: Bombing Master Handan, which involves throwing firecrackers at a near-naked volunteer as they parade through the streets in a sedan chair. In the summer, the coast comes alive for the Taiwan Open of Surfing, while the sky fills with colour during the Taiwan International (Hot Air) Balloon Fiesta. Stay until September to wade knee-deep through fields of orange lilies, then feast on their spiced, deep-fried petals. Or take advantage of this rural county’s superb whale watching, stargazing and cycling.

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BEST IN EUROPE

BEST IN EUROPE

1. Zagreb, Croatia

Travellers to Croatia tend to make a beeline for the Adriatic delights of the country’s extensive coastline, but its flourishing inland capital shouldn’t be overlooked. Zagreb is at once cosmopolitan and edgy, with its heady mix of Brutalist architecture and sun-splashed Austro-Hungarian squares brimming with coffee drinkers.

Urban regeneration is making the city over. Street art, particularly the striking works of local artist Lonac, adorn Zagreb’s outdoor canvasses and new galleries and creative spaces, including a recently reopened WWII bomb shelter under the Upper Town, are opening at an ambitious pace. To top it all off, the city is home to a blossoming food and craft beer scene, and with the opening of Zagreb’s long-awaited airport terminal, along with a host of new flight routes, it’s never been easier or cheaper to reach the Croatian capital.

2. Gotland, Sweden

Gotland is a special yet somewhat unexpected part of Sweden, boasting the most sunshine and highest density of historical sites in the country and more restaurants per capita in Unesco-listed Visby than any other Swedish city. This ancient Baltic island also has breathtaking scenery, with pastoral countryside, mysterious forests, time-warped fishing villages and tranquil sandy beaches – except in the height of summer, when Swedes flock here from the mainland and the island takes on an exuberant air, accentuated this year by the week-long 2017 Biennial Island Games in June.

Most visitors content themselves with marginally less exertion when it comes to activities, however: the island is simply wonderful for exploring by bicycle with virtually traffic-free roads and unspoiled landscapes.

3. Galicia, Spain

Hundreds of thousands of people stride across Galicia's rolling green countryside every year, bound for Santiago de Compostela on the world-famous Camino de Santiago. But few are aware that this northwestern corner of Spain is a unique scenic-gastronomic-cultural cocktail that is a dream to explore beyond the Camino.

Almost a country unto itself, Galicia has its own language and history, its own (bagpipe-focused) music, a superb heritage of centuries-old stone architecture and wonderfully welcoming people. Over 1000km of coast snakes around long inlets, plunging cliffs, pretty fishing villages and hundreds of beaches. It yields some of the tastiest seafood you'll ever savour, to which characterful Galician wines provide the perfect accompaniment. And 2017 is a special year to enjoy Galician wine and food, with Cambados celebrating the year as European City of Wine.

4. Northern Montenegro

If the cruise ships queueing by Kotor’s bay are anything to go by, the cat is definitely out of the bag for Montenegro’s stunning Adriatic coastline. Fortunately, overlooked Northern Montenegro is brimming with off-the-beaten-track adventures – without the crowds. What’s more, the country’s compact size and good roads make this remote region more ripe for exploration than you might have thought.

Adventure hunters can raft through Europe’s deepest canyon at Tara, or cycle through lunar landscapes around the Durmitor ring. Foodies are catered for in highland towns where you can savour Montenegro’s growing slow food scene with mountain cheeses and hearty beef stews; while history buffs can take a pilgrimage to stunning monasteries etched into cliff faces at Ostrog or nestled in breathtaking valleys at Morača.

5. Leeds, UK

Manchester’s northern cousin has spent the past decade pulling its studenty socks up, reimagining Leeds as a pilgrimage city for craft beer lovers, a budding arts hub and an edgy destination for night owls.

Recent developments have propelled its Victorian city centre and atmospheric mill district into the 21st century, luring stylish boutiques, innovative coffee houses and restaurants, and people seeking an alternative to London. Time your visit with the stellar two-week-long indie food festival in May – testament to Leeds’ growing reputation as the food and drink capital of the north.

This year also marks two major events: the reopening of the city’s premier art gallery, and the 50th anniversary of Leeds Carnival – Europe’s longest-running authentic West Indian knees-up, predating Notting Hill.

6. The Alentejo, Portugal

Looming clifftop castles, rugged coastlines and a treasure chest of culinary wonders: Portugal’s Alentejo has magnetic allure. This vast region is also home to Unesco World Heritage sites, prehistoric megaliths and many hidden wonders (a soaring Roman temple, an eerie chapel made of bones). Yet despite its easy access from Lisbon, the Alentejo has remained largely off the tourist radar until recently.

All that has changed with the completion of a multi-day coastal walk (the Rota Vicentina) and a spate of creative eateries and imaginative guesthouses (including Train Spot, set inside a beautifully converted railroad station). New investments in tourism haven’t taken away from the Alentejo’s timeless beauty, its rolling vineyards, medieval village centres or rich traditional cuisine, which ranks among the best in Portugal.

7. Northern Germany

Travellers to Germany tend to be tempted by edgy Berlin or quaint Bavaria, but those keen on exploring a part of the country rarely experienced by international visitors should head north. The opening of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie concert hall may be the big news in 2017, but beyond its architectural and acoustic glow awaits a windswept land tailor-made for those seeking an elemental exposure to nature.

This is big-sky country with a pristine coast hemmed in by shimmering beaches and buttressed by pint-sized islands. In between lie charismatic cities like Lübeck and Bremen that flaunt a medieval pedigree and are only a train ride away from such places as Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Eisenach, both of which played key roles in the Reformation launched 500 years ago this year.

8. Moldova

This country of secret wine cellars and cliff-perched monasteries is truly Europe’s final frontier: little visited, lost in time and always surprising. In Moldova’s capital city Chişinău, leafy boulevards interlace with looming concrete. Its unexpectedly Parisian-style cafe and bar scenes brim with local wine, which continues to rise to acclaim as Moldova plays host to 2017’s Black Sea Wines and Spirits Competition as well as the annual ExpoVin.

Sip the best drops in Mileștii Mici’s gothic-attired cellars, housing the world’s largest wine collection. Explore sacred Orheiul Vechi, encircled by chalk cliffs, or lonely riverside monasteries like Saharna and Tipova. East of the Dniestr River is the self-declared (though unrecognised) republic of Transdniestr, a region locked in the Soviet past. Even experienced travellers to Europe will be amazed and disoriented by Moldova.

9. Pafos, Cyprus

The first capital of Cyprus in Roman times, Pafos once again finds itself with that title: the European Capital of Culture for 2017. The award brings with it world attention, significant cultural investment and the opportunity to showcase Paphiot culture. And there’s much to admire. The island of Aphrodite has weathered so many occupations that history has piled monument upon monument on its sun-kissed shores: catacombs, temples, castles, medieval baths, Roman-era mosaics, and the Unesco World Heritage sites of Kato Pafos and the Tombs of the Kings all bring to life a fascinating bygone era.

Inspired by this history, Pafos will transform itself both socially and spatially into an Open Air Factory of 300 accessible events aimed at building bridges between cultures. What could be better for a travel destination in 2017?

10. Le Havre, France

One of the best places to be this summer is the Norman city of Le Havre, which will celebrate its 500th anniversary with a five-month-long, art- and music-filled fête. The harbour town will host concerts, outdoor art installations, avant-garde street parades, costumed dance parties and spectacular fireworks. Highlights include performances by the mechanized giants of Royal de Luxe and a floating Zen temple complete with underwater observation deck.

Despite Le Havre’s years, the city is a showcase of eye-catching modern architecture – including designs by the likes of Auguste Perret, Othello Zavaroni and Oscar Niemeyer – having been completely rebuilt after WWII. Le Havre is also a great base for exploring other parts of Normandy, from the famed D-Day beaches to the picturesque cliffs of Étretat.

cr : https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-europe