Not sure where to go next? We’ve got a few ideas.
It’s January, we’re all struggling through the post-break blues, and it’s the perfect time of year to plan our escape. Here’s a lovely list of places you should visit in 2020 according to the experts… and us… which is kind of the same thing.
Salzburg, Austria
🎻 What to do: Visit the gorgeous Mirabell Palace, learn all about Mozart’s early years inside the legendary composer’s birthplace, potter about the old town (especially the popular street, Getreidegasse), explore the many Sound of Music film locations, or get tickets for the 100 year anniversary of the world famous Salzburg Festival.
🍏 What to eat: Wiener schnitzel, apfelstrudel (apple strudel) or Austrian potato salad.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @visitsalzburg and @salzburgerland
Galway, Ireland
Voted one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2020.
🏰 What to do: First and foremost, do as the Irish do and head to the pub where you’ll find traditional live music until late. A good place to start is Galway’s Latin Quarter—particularly Quay Street—a buzzing spot filled with some of the city’s best restaurants, shops, bars and pubs. For a bit of Actual Culture, make your way to the lovely Galway Cathedral or Dunguaire Castle, which is about half an hour from the city.
🍺 What to eat: Guinness. Does that count?
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @galwaytourism or @thisisgalway
Lyon, France
🕯 What to do: Explore the Traboules, renaissance passageways beneath the city that used to give silk workers direct access to the riverbank so they could transport textiles; wander around one of the largest renaissance quarters in Europe, Vieux Lyon; find a nice restaurant along Rue Mercière; catch a performance at the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière; or get tickets to a stunning candlelit concert inside Église Saint-Pothin.
🧀 What to eat: Lyon is considered the gastronomic capital of France, so it’s any foodie’s dream. Get your lips around a saucisson brioche (a French sausage roll), a Tarte Lyonnaise (a red praline tart), Saint-Marcellin cheese (a soft, goat’s cheese) or a Lyonnaise salad (a combo of frisée lettuce topped with a poached egg, bacon and a warm vinaigrette dressing).
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @secret_lyon
Did you know we also have Secret Lyon (or Lyon Secret)? Follow us on Facebook here!
Bonn, Germany
🎶 What to do: Another city, another composer’s birthplace. Visit the Ludwig van Beethoven Museum to mooch around his childhood home or celebrate his 250th birthday at various concerts and festivities throughout the year. Otherwise, explore the Kunstmuseum Bonn to discover the world’s largest collection of Rhenish Expressionism, or make a stop at Altes Rathaus (the Old Town Hall) for serious Wes Anderson vibes. Bonn voyage!
🌭 What to eat: Tasty cheese spätzle (German macaroni cheese) or, of course, pretzels, schnitzel or currywurst.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @bonn.germany
Kyoto, Japan
🏯 What to do: Tokyo is likely to get all the attention this year as it hosts the 2020 Olympics, but Kyoto is truly where it’s at. Visit the city’s profusion of stunning temples and shrines such as Hokanji Temple (home to Insta-worthy Yasaka Pagoda), Kinkakuji Temple and the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha; walk through the gorgeous Bamboo Grove; or go and see where the majority of the world’s matcha tea is produced at Wazuka’s tea plantations.
🍣 What to eat: Kyoto is known for its tofu as well as its wonderful Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, or Shojin ryori. Shojin ryori is the traditional dining style of Japanese monks, and it eradicates any use of meat, fish, animal products and strong flavours such as garlic and onion. Despite this, each meal prepared with this method includes five colours (green, yellow, red, black and white) and well as five flavours (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami), so it’s far from bland. Make sure you try Yudofu (tofu cooked in a hot broth), Kyo-wagashi (traditional Kyoto sweets) and of course, you can’t possibly leave without trying some superb sushi.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @explorekyoto or @aditya_adecandraa
Ljubljana, Slovenia
🚲 What to do: Ljubljana is gloriously flat, so it’s very easy to explore by bike – and it’s also small enough that you can easily explore on foot. That said, it’s worth riding the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle for the best views of the city. Oh and, if you have the time, a day trip to Lake Bled is an absolute must.
🍷 What to eat: It’s probably worth squeezing this guided food tour into your trip, where you’ll discover nine traditional dishes, four wines, and you’ll get a commentary about the city’s rich history and lots of local tips.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @visitljubljana
Cairo, Egypt
🇪🇬 What to do: See the city from above by heading to the Citadel (where you’ll find Muhammad Ali Mosque), escape the madness at Al-Azhar Park, or take an unforgettable trip to the Pyramids of Giza. And, if you miss the final tour of Tutankhamun’s treasures that’s currently in London, you’ll simply have to visit to see them inside the Grand Egyptian Museum when they return for good later this year.
🍚 What to eat: Egyptian falafel (made with broad beans rather than chickpeas), carby Koshari (a mix of rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas, caramelised onions and sauce) or Roz Bel Laban (a traditional Egyptian rice pud).
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @amazingegypt or @visitegypte
Beirut, Lebanon
👨🎨 What to do: Snap a photo of the stunning Pigeon Rocks (Lebanon’s Durdle Door), visit the lovely Sursock Museum for contemporary art and an example of Lebonon’s older architecture, or head to Beit Ed-Dine Palace for its annual music festival.
🍴 What to eat: Find somewhere serving up Kibbeh, Lebanon’s tasty national dish made with pine nuts and spicy minced meat.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @livelovebeirut
Rijeka, Croatia
Voted one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2020.
🏖 What to do: Climb up to Trsat Castle and the Church of Our Lady of Trsat for panoramic views of the city, trek around one of many routes within the stunning Risnjak National Park, or take a dip in cobalt blue waters at one of Rijeka’s beautiful beaches (e.g. Sablicevo Beach).
🐙 What to eat: Super fresh octopus salad, black risotto made with cuttlefish ink, or creamy truffle pasta.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @visitrijeka
Siargao, Philippines
🏄 What to do: Hit the waves (Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines), go cliff jumping at Magpungko Rock Pools or Tayangban Cave Pools, hop on a boat to Sugba Lagoon, relax on Alegria Beach, watch the sunset from Cloud 9 Pier, or spend a day island hopping.
🍨 What to eat: Coconut ice cream or Instagrammable smoothie bowls.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @thesiargaoisland, @therealsiargao, @gosiargao and @siargaoeats
Cape Town, South Africa
⛰ What to do: Take a trip to the top of Table Mountain (via foot or cable car), catch the sunrise from Lion’s Head or the sunset from Camps Bay, visit endangered African penguins at Boulder’s Beach, walk to the most southwestern point of Africa at Cape Point, paraglide off of Signal Hill, or take the ferry out to Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned.
🍖 What to eat: Don’t leave without trying Cape Malay curry, biltong, bunny chow, and/or an authentic braai.
📸 Who to follow on Instagram: @capetown.guide or @capetown.southafrica