Don’t miss out: Top Travel Destinations For 2020

We’ve canvassed our staff, guides and travellers, researched cultural events taking place around the world, and checked out the best of the “best of” lists. The result? Our recommendations for 10 amazing places to travel in 2020.

1. Southern Utah/Northern Arizona

Red earth, sweeping desert, deep canyons and other-worldly rock formations. The landscape here is timeless. So why visit in 2020? Because once you go, you’re going to want to take time for Zion and Bryce National Parks, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and an unforgettable drive through Monument Valley. It’s not hard to escape other visitors in places like Grand Escalante National Monument, or the quiet trails of Vermillion Cliffs.

2. England’s South Coast

If you’re a walker, and a lover of dramatic coastal scenery, the English counties of Dorset and Devon, where new sections of the English Coast Path are opening, are set to become your new favourite travel destination. Once complete, at almost 3000 miles, the English Coast Path path will be the longest continuous trail of its kind in the world, granting access to the country’s entire splendid coastline for the first time. Head there in the summer for favourable weather and gorgeous, uncrowded wanders.

3. Scotland

We wouldn’t normally feature two destinations in the UK in the same list…but we just have to this year! 2020 is Scotland’s Year of Coast and Waters, a chance for Scotland to celebrate the majesty of its rugged coast, rolling rivers and misty, haunting lochs. They’ve planned a number of events, including regattas, boat festivals and even…a DolphinFest. Don’t wait. Make 2020 your year to thoroughly explore the UK, from top to bottom!

4. Puebla, Mexico

Scale the vast country of Mexico down into a single destination, and you've got Puebla. Mexico's fourth-largest city offers beautiful Baroque architecture, centuries old culinary traditions and a nightlife that never quits. Framed by the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihutal, Puebla's setting is breathtaking. And with enough historic buildings to fill a textbook, it's no wonder the historic city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a great destination year-round!

5. Tokyo, Japan

As if Japan wasn’t already a popular destination, the world is about to descend for the hot and sticky Summer Olympics in 2020. The city is getting spruced up (even more than usual!) in anticipation of many visitors. Get there earlier, in late March, and you’ll be just in time for the start of Hanami season. Soak up the delicate pink and white cherry blossoms in the city’s parks, and appreciate that you won’t be there in August, sweating through the streets in a crowd of millions!

6. Salzburg, Austria

Lonely Planet has put Salzburg on the top of its “Ten Cities To Visit in 2020” list, and we think it deserves inclusion too! In 2020, this musical town with views of the Alps is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its famous classical music event: the Salzburg Festival. In a normal year, the festival boasts around 200 performances, and this year those performances will spill out into public spaces all around the city’s historical centre. Enjoy! Just don’t forget to book tickets well in advance for your favourite performances!

7. Virunga National Park, Congo

Virunga National Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet, and one of the very few places you can spot the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. Do we need to say anything else? Just go.

8. Tasmania, Australia

For those of us who love wild beauty, a hint of remoteness, and a dose of the unusual, consider a trip to Tasmania, the most Down Under part of Australia. This southernmost state doesn’t yet have an international airport, so visitor numbers are lower than many parts of the country. Those who do make the trip are rewarded with two thousand year old trees, rugged coastlines, convict history and the odd devil…National Geographic lists it as one of the “Best Trips to Take in 2020” and we’d agree!

9. Finnish Lapland

Lapland is a quintessential winter wonderland, complete with oodles of glittering snow, dog sled rides, herds of wild reindeer and snowshoeing. And it just so happens that Finland is also one of the best places on earth to spot the Northern Lights, where they make an appearance roughly 200 nights of the year. When you’re ready to warm up, you can get cozy in a glass igloo and watch the aurora borealis dance their way across the arctic sky.

10. Palawan, Philippines

This slice of paradise has been named Best Island in the WORLD several years running by readers of Travel + Leisure. But for all the media attention, its white sand beaches and turquoise waters remain delightfully un-crowded. Palawan is a bird-watchers paradise, with over 600 species to spot, and our guides make sure travelers try the fresh, fusion-inspired Filipino cuisine. Adventure seekers can also navigate one of the world’s longest subterranean rivers, the “Puerto Princesa”, while exploring the island.