Historical & Cultural Destinations

Visa required Budget

Afghanistan

Silk Road heritage, mountains and ancient cities.

Best time: —

Band-e AmirHeratBamyan

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Visa required Mid-range

Algeria

Roman ruins, Saharan dunes and Mediterranean coast.

Best time: Oct–Apr

AlgiersTimgad & DjémilaTassili n’Ajjer

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eVisa Luxury

Angola

Dramatic canyons, waterfalls and a long Atlantic coast.

Best time: May–Oct (dry)

LuandaKalandula FallsTundavala

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Visa-free Mid-range

Argentina

Tango, steak, Patagonia and Iguazú Falls.

Best time: Oct–Apr (Patagonia summer)

Buenos AiresPatagoniaIguazú Falls

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Visa-free Budget

Armenia

Ancient monasteries, Mount Ararat views and wine.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

YerevanGeghard & GarniTatev

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Schengen visa Luxury

Austria

Imperial Vienna, alpine lakes and ski slopes.

Best time: May–Sep, Dec–Mar (ski)

ViennaSalzburgHallstatt

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eVisa Mid-range

Azerbaijan

Flame towers, old town Baku and mountain villages.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

BakuGobustanSheki

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eVisa Luxury

Bahrain

Island Gulf nation of forts, F1 and pearls.

Best time: Nov–Mar

ManamaBahrain FortTree of Life

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eVisa Budget

Bangladesh

River life, the Sundarbans and the world's longest beach.

Best time: Nov–Feb

DhakaSundarbansCox’s Bazar

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Visa-free Budget

Belarus

Soviet-era avenues, castles and primeval forest.

Best time: May–Sep

MinskMir & NesvizhBrest

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Schengen visa Luxury

Belgium

Medieval Bruges, chocolate, beer and waffles.

Best time: Apr–Oct

BrugesBrusselsGhent

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eVisa Budget

Benin

Voodoo heartland, stilt villages and old kingdoms.

Best time: Nov–Feb (dry)

GanviéOuidahAbomey

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Visa required Luxury

Bhutan

Himalayan kingdom of monasteries and happiness.

Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

ParoThimphuPunakha

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Visa-free Budget

Bolivia

Salt flats, high Andes and Amazon wilds.

Best time: May–Oct (dry)

Uyuni Salt FlatsLa PazLake Titicaca

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Visa-free Budget

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Mostar bridge, Ottoman towns and green rivers.

Best time: May–Sep

MostarSarajevoKravice Falls

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eVisa Mid-range

Brazil

Rio's beaches, the Amazon and Iguazu Falls.

Best time: Sep–Mar (varies)

Rio de JaneiroIguazu FallsSalvador

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Visa-free Luxury

Brunei

Opulent mosques, water villages and rainforest.

Best time: Jan–May

Bandar Seri BegawanKampong AyerUlu Temburong

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Schengen visa Budget

Bulgaria

Black Sea beaches, monasteries and great value.

Best time: May–Sep

SofiaPlovdivRila Monastery

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Visa required Budget

Burkina Faso

Sculpted villages, film and a rich music scene.

Best time: —

TiébéléOuagadougouBobo-Dioulasso

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eVisa Budget

Burundi

Lake Tanganyika beaches and drumming traditions.

Best time: Jun–Sep (dry)

BujumburaGitegaSource of the Nile

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eVisa Budget

Cambodia

Angkor temples, river life and golden beaches.

Best time: Nov–Mar

Siem ReapPhnom PenhKoh Rong

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Visa required Mid-range

Cameroon

'Africa in miniature' — beaches, rainforest and peaks.

Best time: Nov–Feb (dry)

DoualaMount CameroonLimbe

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Visa required Luxury

Chad

The surreal rock arches and lakes of the Ennedi.

Best time: Nov–Feb (dry)

Ennedi PlateauZakouma NPLakes of Ounianga

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Visa-free Budget

Colombia

Caribbean charm, coffee country and salsa.

Best time: Dec–Mar

CartagenaMedellínCoffee Triangle

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eVisa Mid-range

Côte d’Ivoire

Modern Abidjan, a vast basilica and Atlantic beaches.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

AbidjanYamoussoukroGrand-Bassam

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Croatia

Adriatic islands, walled cities and turquoise seas.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep

DubrovnikSplitHvar

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Visa required Mid-range

Cuba

Vintage cars, salsa, cigars and Caribbean sand.

Best time: Nov–Apr

HavanaTrinidadViñales

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Visa-free Mid-range

Cyprus

Mediterranean beaches, ruins and mountain villages.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

PaphosAyia NapaTroodos Mountains

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Czech Republic

Fairytale Prague, castles and great-value beer.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

PragueČeský KrumlovKutná Hora

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Schengen visa Luxury

Denmark

Hygge, design, castles and colourful Copenhagen.

Best time: May–Sep

CopenhagenOdenseAarhus

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eVisa Budget

Egypt

Pyramids, Nile cruises and Red Sea reefs.

Best time: Oct–Apr

Cairo & GizaLuxorAswan

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Visa required Mid-range

Eritrea

Art Deco Asmara and Red Sea islands.

Best time: Oct–Mar

AsmaraMassawaDahlak Islands

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Estonia

Medieval Tallinn, forests and a digital edge.

Best time: May–Sep

TallinnTartuLahemaa

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Visa-free Mid-range

Eswatini

A tiny kingdom of wildlife, crafts and ceremony.

Best time: May–Sep (dry)

Ezulwini ValleyHlane Royal NPMalolotja

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eVisa Budget

Ethiopia

Rock churches, ancient history and otherworldly deserts.

Best time: Oct–Mar (dry)

LalibelaGondarSimien Mountains

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Schengen visa Luxury

France

Paris cafés, Riviera sunsets and alpine villages.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

ParisNice & the RivieraLyon

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Visa-free Budget

Gambia

'The Smiling Coast' — beaches, birds and the river.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

Kololi / SenegambiaRiver GambiaKunta Kinteh Island

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Visa-free Budget

Georgia

Caucasus peaks, ancient wine and old Tbilisi.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

TbilisiKazbegiKakheti

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Germany

Fairytale castles, beer halls and Christmas markets.

Best time: May–Sep, Dec (markets)

BerlinMunichBavaria & Neuschwanstein

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eVisa Budget

Ghana

Warm welcomes, history and Atlantic beaches.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

AccraCape CoastKakum National Park

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Greece

Island villages, ancient ruins and Aegean sunsets.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep

AthensSantoriniMykonos

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Visa-free Budget

Guatemala

Mayan ruins, volcanoes and colonial Antigua.

Best time: Nov–Apr (dry)

AntiguaLake AtitlánTikal

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eVisa Budget

Guinea

The green highlands of Fouta Djallon and waterfalls.

Best time: Nov–Apr (dry)

Fouta DjallonConakryÎles de Los

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Visa-free Mid-range

Guyana

Untouched rainforest and giant Kaieteur Falls.

Best time: Sep–Apr

Kaieteur FallsIwokramaRupununi savanna

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Visa-free Budget

Haiti

The Citadelle, vibrant art and Caribbean history.

Best time: Nov–Mar

Citadelle LaferrièreJacmelPort-au-Prince

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Visa-free Luxury

Hong Kong

Skyline, street food, temples and island hikes.

Best time: Oct–Dec

Hong Kong IslandKowloonLantau Island

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Hungary

Budapest's baths, river views and ruin bars.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

BudapestSzentendreEger

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eVisa Budget

India

The Taj Mahal, palaces, spice and endless colour.

Best time: Oct–Mar

DelhiAgraJaipur

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eVisa Budget

Iran

Persian mosques, desert cities and legendary hospitality.

Best time: Apr–May, Sep–Oct

IsfahanShirazYazd

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eVisa Mid-range

Iraq

The cradle of civilisation — Babylon, Ur and Kurdistan.

Best time: Oct–Apr

ErbilBabylonBaghdad

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Visa-free Luxury

Ireland

Emerald cliffs, castles, pubs and warm welcomes.

Best time: May–Sep

DublinCliffs of Moher / GalwayRing of Kerry

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Visa-free Luxury

Israel

Holy sites, the Dead Sea and vibrant Tel Aviv.

Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

JerusalemTel AvivDead Sea & Masada

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Italy

Ancient ruins, art cities and unforgettable food.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

RomeFlorenceVenice

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Visa-free Mid-range

Jamaica

Reggae, beaches, waterfalls and jerk spice.

Best time: Nov–Apr

NegrilMontego BayOcho Rios

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eVisa Mid-range

Japan

Bullet trains, neon cities and serene temples.

Best time: Mar–May, Oct–Nov

TokyoKyotoOsaka

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Visa on arrival Mid-range

Jordan

Petra, Wadi Rum deserts and the Dead Sea.

Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

PetraWadi RumDead Sea

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Visa-free Mid-range

Kazakhstan

Steppe, canyons, futuristic Astana and big nature.

Best time: May–Sep

AlmatyCharyn CanyonKolsai & Kaindy Lakes

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Visa-free Budget

Kosovo

Ottoman bazaars, monasteries and friendly mountains.

Best time: May–Sep

PrizrenPristinaRugova / Peja

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eVisa Luxury

Kuwait

Gulf skyline, iconic towers and desert heritage.

Best time: Nov–Mar

Kuwait CityKuwait TowersSouq Al-Mubarakiya

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eVisa Budget

Laos

Mekong calm, temples and laid-back charm.

Best time: Nov–Mar

Luang PrabangVang ViengVientiane

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Latvia

Art Nouveau Riga, forests and Baltic beaches.

Best time: May–Sep

RigaJūrmalaSigulda

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eVisa Mid-range

Lebanon

Ancient ruins, mountains, cedars and Beirut buzz.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

BeirutBaalbekByblos

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Visa-free Budget

Lesotho

The 'Kingdom in the Sky' — peaks, ponies and snow.

Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Sani PassMaletsunyane FallsMaseru

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Lithuania

Baroque Vilnius, dunes and Baltic charm.

Best time: May–Sep

VilniusTrakaiCuronian Spit

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Schengen visa Luxury

Luxembourg

Clifftop old town, castles and green valleys.

Best time: May–Sep

Luxembourg CityViandenMüllerthal

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Visa-free Budget

Malaysia

Skyscrapers, rainforests, islands and amazing food.

Best time: Dec–Feb (west), Mar–Oct (east)

Kuala LumpurPenangLangkawi

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Visa required Budget

Mali

The mud mosque of Djenné and legendary Timbuktu.

Best time: Nov–Feb (dry)

DjennéTimbuktuDogon Country

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Malta

Golden-stone cities, blue lagoons and ancient temples.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

VallettaMdinaGozo & Blue Lagoon

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eVisa Mid-range

Mauritania

Saharan dunes, the iron-ore train and ancient libraries.

Best time: Nov–Mar

Iron-ore trainAdrarBanc d’Arguin

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Visa-free Mid-range

Mexico

Mayan ruins, Caribbean beaches and incredible food.

Best time: Nov–Apr

Mexico CityRiviera Maya / TulumOaxaca

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Visa-free Budget

Moldova

Vast wine cellars, monasteries and off-radar charm.

Best time: May–Sep

ChișinăuCricova & Mileștii MiciOrheiul Vechi

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eVisa Mid-range

Mongolia

Endless steppe, nomads, gers and the Gobi.

Best time: Jun–Sep

UlaanbaatarGobi DesertTerelj National Park

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Visa-free Budget

Morocco

Souks, Sahara dunes and blue mountain towns.

Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

MarrakechFezChefchaouen

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eVisa Budget

Myanmar

Bagan's temple plains and golden pagodas.

Best time: Nov–Feb

BaganYangonInle Lake

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Visa on arrival Budget

Nepal

Himalayan treks, temples and Everest views.

Best time: Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr

KathmanduPokharaEverest region

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Schengen visa Luxury

Netherlands

Canals, bikes, tulips and world-class art.

Best time: Apr–May, Sep

AmsterdamRotterdamKeukenhof / tulip fields

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Visa required Mid-range

Niger

Saharan dunes, the Aïr mountains and Tuareg culture.

Best time: —

AgadezAïr & TénéréKouré

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eVisa Mid-range

Nigeria

Afrobeats energy, megacity Lagos and rich culture.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

LagosAbujaCalabar

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Visa-free Budget

North Macedonia

Ancient Lake Ohrid, mountains and great value.

Best time: May–Sep

OhridSkopjeMatka Canyon

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eVisa Mid-range

Oman

Wadis, deserts, forts and a dramatic coast.

Best time: Oct–Mar

MuscatWahiba SandsJebel Akhdar / Nizwa

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eVisa Budget

Pakistan

Karakoram peaks, ancient cities and warm hospitality.

Best time: Apr–Oct (north)

Hunza ValleySkarduLahore

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eVisa Luxury

Papua New Guinea

Tribal cultures, the Kokoda Track and wild reefs.

Best time: May–Oct

HighlandsKokoda TrackMilne Bay / Kimbe

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Visa-free Budget

Paraguay

Jesuit ruins, river life and off-radar charm.

Best time: May–Sep

AsunciónJesuit MissionsEncarnación

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Visa-free Budget

Peru

Machu Picchu, the Andes and ancient Inca trails.

Best time: May–Sep (dry)

Cusco & Machu PicchuSacred ValleyLima

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Poland

Medieval old towns, history and great value.

Best time: May–Sep

KrakówWarsawGdańsk

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Portugal

Coastal cities, golden beaches and great value.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

LisbonPortoAlgarve

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Visa required Mid-range

Puerto Rico

Old San Juan, rainforest and glowing bays.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Old San JuanEl YunqueVieques & Culebra

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Romania

Dracula's castles, painted monasteries, Carpathians.

Best time: May–Sep

Brasov & BranSibiuBucharest

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eVisa Mid-range

Russia

Red Square, the Hermitage and the Trans-Siberian.

Best time: May–Sep

MoscowSt PetersburgTrans-Siberian

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Visa-free Mid-range

San Marino

The world's oldest republic, on a clifftop.

Best time: Apr–Oct

City of San MarinoThe Three TowersBorgo Maggiore

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eVisa Luxury

Saudi Arabia

AlUla's tombs, Red Sea reefs and ancient sands.

Best time: Nov–Mar

AlUlaRiyadhJeddah

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Visa-free Mid-range

Senegal

Teranga hospitality, music and Atlantic coast.

Best time: Nov–May

DakarGorée IslandSaint-Louis

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Visa-free Budget

Serbia

Belgrade nightlife, fortresses and warm hospitality.

Best time: May–Sep

BelgradeNovi SadDrina & Tara

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Visa-free Luxury

Singapore

Futuristic gardens, hawker food and family fun.

Best time: Feb–Apr

Marina BaySentosaChinatown & Little India

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Slovakia

Castles, the High Tatras and a riverside capital.

Best time: May–Sep

BratislavaHigh TatrasSpiš Castle

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Visa required Budget

Somalia

Long Indian Ocean coast and ancient trading ports.

Best time: —

MogadishuLaas GeelBerbera

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eVisa Mid-range

South Korea

K-pop, palaces, street food and mountain temples.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

SeoulBusanGyeongju

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Visa required Luxury

South Sudan

The world's newest nation and a vast wildlife migration.

Best time: —

Mundari cattle campsBoma NPJuba

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Spain

Sun-soaked cities, tapas, beaches and Gaudí.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

BarcelonaMadridSeville

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eVisa Budget

Sri Lanka

Tea hills, ancient temples and golden beaches.

Best time: Dec–Mar (west/south)

KandyEllaSigiriya

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Visa required Budget

Sudan

More pyramids than Egypt, on the Nile.

Best time: —

MeroëKhartoumNubian Desert

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eVisa Mid-range

Suriname

Dutch-Caribbean charm and vast Amazon rainforest.

Best time: Feb–Apr, Aug–Nov

ParamariboBrownsbergUpper Suriname River

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Schengen visa Luxury

Sweden

Stylish Stockholm, archipelagos and Arctic wilds.

Best time: Jun–Aug, Dec–Mar (Arctic)

StockholmStockholm archipelagoGothenburg

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Visa required Budget

Syria

Ancient cities, souks and crossroads of civilisation.

Best time: —

DamascusAleppoPalmyra

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Visa-free Mid-range

Taiwan

Night markets, mountains and friendly cities.

Best time: Oct–Apr

TaipeiTaroko GorgeSun Moon Lake

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eVisa Budget

Tajikistan

The Pamir Highway and roof-of-the-world mountains.

Best time: Jun–Sep

Pamir HighwayDushanbeIskanderkul

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eVisa Budget

Togo

Palm beaches, hill villages and voodoo markets.

Best time: Nov–Feb (dry)

LoméKpaliméKoutammakou

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Visa-free Mid-range

Trinidad and Tobago

Carnival, calypso and twin-island contrasts.

Best time: Jan–May (Carnival in Feb/Mar)

Port of SpainTobagoCaroni Swamp

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Visa-free Budget

Tunisia

Sahara dunes, Roman ruins and Mediterranean beaches.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Tunis & CarthageSidi Bou SaïdSahara

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eVisa Budget

Turkey

Where Europe meets Asia — bazaars, ruins and balloons.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

IstanbulCappadociaAntalya

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Visa required Mid-range

Turkmenistan

The 'Door to Hell' crater and marble-white Ashgabat.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Darvaza CraterAshgabatMerv

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Visa-free Budget

Ukraine

Golden-domed Kyiv and cobbled Lviv.

Best time: —

KyivLvivOdesa

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eVisa Luxury

United Kingdom

London, castles, countryside and history everywhere.

Best time: May–Sep

LondonEdinburghLake District

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Visa-free Mid-range

Uruguay

Beach towns, colonial Colonia and laid-back charm.

Best time: Dec–Mar (summer)

MontevideoColonia del SacramentoPunta del Este

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eVisa Budget

Uzbekistan

Silk Road domes, blue tiles and desert cities.

Best time: Apr–May, Sep–Oct

SamarkandBukharaKhiva

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Visa-free Mid-range

Vatican City

The world's smallest state — St Peter's and the Sistine Chapel.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

St Peter’s BasilicaVatican MuseumsSt Peter’s Square

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eVisa Budget

Vietnam

Limestone bays, old quarters and incredible food.

Best time: Feb–Apr, Aug–Oct

HanoiHa Long BayHoi An

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Visa required Budget

Yemen

Mud skyscrapers, ancient Sana'a and Socotra's flora.

Best time: —

Old Sana’aShibamSocotra

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