The 25 Best Places to Travel in 2024

From a British city reimagining its industrial past and a laid-back Kenyan island free of cars to the best place in North America to see the total solar eclipse, our 25 picks for where to go next year have several traits in common: Each is an awe-inspiring, joy-inducing destination where human connection and creativity define the travel experience. These 25 places (listed in no particular order) offer ample opportunities for conscientious, sustainable exploration—exactly what AFAR's travelers who care are seeking right now. Cheers to a year of getting out there.—The Editors

Friendly reef sharks swim among guests at Vomo Island.

1. Fiji

Fiji's marine life is famously beautiful: a colorful show of turtles, rays, and sharks swirling amid sun-dappled shades of green and blue. The main stage for this dazzling performance is its array of coral reefs—fragile ecosystems in which the symbiotic relationship between plants and fish plays out daily, their delicate dance a microcosm of our ever more stressed planet.

For the full story from Tim Chester, read: In Fiji, A Vivid Underwater World Awaits.

People climbing the steps of the Sydney Opera House. — The Sydney Opera House turned 50 in October 2023. Celebrations will continue into next year.

2. Sydney, Australia

Best known for its looming concrete "shells," the Sydney Opera House is a master class in modern expressionist design. The iconic building turned 50 in October 2023 to great fanfare. Enjoy dinner at Midden, the new Indigenous restaurant located within the compound; the next day, wake up early for an exclusive Backstage Tour, which will take you through corridors to rehearsal spaces and the orchestra pit. Check out the Opera House's 2024 special programming throughout the year, including the London International Animation Festival in January and an evening with author Fran Lebowitz in February. Or consider a trip in May or June for the annual festival Vivid Sydney, when art and light installations transform the harbor into a mind-bending light show. —Michael Callahan

Colorful rooftops in Tangier against a blue sky. — In 1956, Tangier was reintegrated into the newly independent Moroccan state.

3. Tangier, Morocco

With a skyline that resembles a handful of dice tossed haphazardly on the cliffside, Tangier has long stood apart from other Moroccan cities. For several decades in the 20th century, it was administered by a cluster of foreign countries, including Italy and Spain. It lured writers and artists from Europe and the United States, imparting a cosmopolitan vibe that lingers today. In the past five years, though, Morocco's northernmost city has reconnected with its national roots.

In 2018, Africa's first high-speed train line linked Tangier with Casablanca. The journey now takes two hours. It was part of an extensive infrastructure investment to bolster the region. The arrival of new luxury hotels is a boon, including the 133-room Fairmont Tazi Palace and the boutique Villa Mabrouka, a 12-room makeover of Yves Saint Laurent's onetime home by fashion designer Jasper Conran. Waldorf Astoria will join them, likely in early 2025.

The city's two main squares, the Grand Socco and Petit Socco, showcase the talent of creative Moroccans. Alma Kitchen, owned by a local jeweler and her photographer husband, serves dishes such as charred eggplant and anise-and-cardamom-spiced potatoes. Idle over a coffee at Cinémathèque de Tanger on the larger square, a historic cultural venue that first opened in 1938 and was refurbished in the mid-2000s by French Moroccan artist Yto Barrada. Just outside the medina, Las Chicas focuses on Moroccan-made homewares, clothing, and organic wellness products by the women-owned Zoā Beauty; linger for a mint tea, or atay, here, too.

Stop by El Morocco Club, a piano bar and restaurant inspired by, and named after, the louche New York City nightclub that opened in the 1930s. Today the club—with its monochromatic photos and zebra-print sofas—is the perfect shorthand for old and new Tangier in one. —Mark Ellwood

An old-fashioned Ford pickup truck driving past a field of wildflowers in Texas. — With hilly terrain ribboned with spring-fed rivers, the Hill Country is arguably one of the prettiest places in Texas.

4. The Texas Hill Country

This year, all eyes are turned to the Texas Hill Country, since it falls smack-dab in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse on April 8. As the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, the day will turn to night. North America saw a total eclipse in 2017, but the last time the land now known as Texas experienced one was back in 1397. Visibility will depend on two things: location (the Hill Country will get close to four and a half minutes of totality, out of a possible seven and a half) and weather (Central Texas's annual average of 300 sunny days bodes well).

For the full story from Mae Hamilton, read: A Total Eclipse, Fresh Peaches, and Small-Town Charm: Why This Destination Is Worth a Trip This Year.

Left: A plate of food at Anima, a restaurant at the Rome Edition hotel. Right: A doorman waits outside of the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel. — From left: The restaurant Anima at the Rome Edition hotel serves regional fare; The Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel combines traditional Italian architecture with elevated cuisine.

5. Rome, Italy

The meal started with octopus carpaccio, wagyu beef gyoza, and yellowtail sushi. After my husband and I polished that off, the waiter set down Ibérico pork marinated in soy and truffle. Seated on a snaking banquette at Seen by Olivier, the rooftop restaurant at the new Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel, we enjoyed dish after dish. When I first moved to Rome in 2009, I was hard-pressed to find such globally inspired fare; though it is a major European capital, it had tended to the traditional. But the Eternal City is changing.

For the full story by Laura Itzkowitz, read New Hotels, Restaurants, and Experiences: Why Now Is the Time to Book a Trip to Rome.

A few alpacas grazing at Machu Picchu — Intrepid Travel now offers a way for visitors to experience a lesser-seen side of Machu Picchu.

6. Machu Picchu, Peru

Peru's most popular attraction can sometimes seem to buckle under the weight of its visitors. Now, Intrepid Travel is offering a way to experience a lesser-known side of the Sacred Valley, using not the popular Inca Trail but a route based on the Quarry Trail. Its new itinerary features the dramatic Perolniyoc Cascade waterfall; an Inca quarry that gave the original trail its name; and a viewpoint, called Wayrapunku, that overlooks the village of Ollantaytambo, whose ruins include the 900-year-old Temple of the Sun. —Michael Callahan

In 2024, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book *Jaws* in Martha's Vineyard.

7. Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

It was the book that made people afraid to go into the water: Jaws. Celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024 with a tour of sites on Martha's Vineyard where the movie was filmed in 1974. Beyond the realm of the great white shark, explore the quintessential New England beauty of the 87-square-mile island: the dramatic clay cliffs of Aquinnah that appear to change color throughout the day; Offshore Ale Company, which serves malty fish and chips; and the 147-year-old carousel in Oak Bluffs, the oldest in the country. Visits in the "shoulder seasons," late spring and early fall, come with mild weather and a respite from the island's infamous summer traffic. —Michael Callahan

Woman in long orange dress on narrow street (L); a dhow with 1 large triangular sail on the water (R) — Lamu hosts several events a year, including competitive dhow races and a yoga festival.

8. Lamu, Kenya

Walking the sandy, winding streets of Shela—a village on the southeastern coast of Kenya's Lamu Island—is an exercise in trusting the process. The island is essentially free of motor vehicles, and the alleyways are only wide enough for pedestrians and donkeys. Even after visiting a dozen times, I take it as a given that I will get lost. I also trust that Shela is small enough that I will eventually stumble upon that patch of fiery fuchsia bougainvillea I had passed earlier, or that carved wooden door, or that mosque with the atonal call to prayer singer, and I will find my way once again.

For the full story from Sarika Bansal, read: On this East African Island, Getting Lost Is Half the Fun.

Left: a Buddhist temple in Bhutan. Right: Aerial view of person crossing small bridge over river in forest — The 250-mile-long Trans Bhutan Trail passes through villages and valleys, alongside dozens of Buddhist stupas and temples.

9. Bhutan

The last remaining Buddhist kingdom in the world is not easy to reach, but that's what makes arriving even more rewarding. After our pilot landed between 18,000-foot Himalayan peaks at Bhutan's Paro International Airport (which looks more like a temple), I soon realized I was in a place unlike anywhere else.

Bhutan only opened its doors to tourism in 1974 and has put measures in place to make sure that tourists don't overrun its pristine nature or long-preserved culture. With a strong conservation mindset, it is the world's first carbon-negative country: 60 percent of its landscape must be covered in forest, and tourists have always been required to pay a daily fee. Since 2022, the fee has supported local community and conservation projects.

In September 2023, Bhutan halved its tourist fee to $100 per day to attract more travelers. Visitors are encouraged to stay longer to experience the country's new and renovated five-star hotels, such as Zhiwa Ling Heritage, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, and Pemako Punakha, all of which are required to be built in the traditional Bhutanese style. And with the restoration of the Trans Bhutan Trail, visitors can explore new parts of the country.

Soon after it reopened in 2022, I hiked the historic pilgrimage route, which dates to the 16th century, on a G Adventures trip. We were some of the first foreigners to walk through remote villages on our way to see fortresses and stupas.

It was easy to understand Bhutan's deep reverence for nature as we trekked through thick pine forests and fog-blanketed mountains—some with peaks that have never been scaled to avoid disturbing spirits. Hearing that made walking under their shadow feel only more sacred. —Kathleen Rellihan

A bowl of Japanese-inspired food in Philadelphia — Philadelphia took home more James Beard Awards in 2023 than any other city.

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Travelers who love food and art should make a beeline to Philly this year. The city garnered more restaurant and chef awards than any other at the 2023 James Beard Foundation competition. Make time to try the seasonal tasting menu at Friday Saturday Sunday, which won Outstanding Restaurant, or Thai cuisine at Kalaya, where Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon won Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. On the art side, the Rodin Museum is hosting a sculpture exhibition, Rodin's Hands, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art will feature the photographic exhibition In the Right Place, recognizing the pioneering photographers Barbara Crane, Melissa Shook, and Carol Taback. —Amy S. Eckert

People standing outside a cafe in Paris — Paris, long known for its arts and culture scene, will be taking on the sports world in 2024.

11. Paris, France

The City of Light has been preparing to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the Paralympics with signature French élan. (Swimming events in the Seine! BMX freestyle on the Place de la Concorde!). "There is much to consider if you want to be in Paris for the Olympics," says Martha King, whose namesake agency is helping travelers who want to attend the Games. There are over 3,500 combinations of Olympic events and sessions; hopeful attendees should act quickly, King says. The city is, of course, festive throughout the year and worth a visit any time. Visitors before April 2 may enjoy the Mark Rothko exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton; afterward, go for a champagne spritz and Eiffel Tower views on the rooftop of the recently opened Hôtel Dame des Arts. —Michael Callahan

A group of women taking a selfie at Lemon Grove, a restaurant in Los Angeles. — Lemon Grove at the Aster hotel is a new addition to L.A.'s rooftop dining scene.

12. Los Angeles, California

Growing up in Los Angeles, I always felt it was so spread out that nothing quite tempted me to leave my neighborhood. Now, as an adult who recently returned from living in New York, I'm willing to battle traffic and get to know more of the city. From contemporary art exhibits at The Broad downtown to sunny afternoons spent at Hollywood's new rooftop garden atop the Aster hotel, L.A. offers cultural and outdoor experiences all year round.

In February, the largest public art project devoted to Black artists in the United States will open in the city. The 1.3-mile-long open-air museum, called Destination Crenshaw, will be filled with permanent and temporary outdoor installations featuring works by more than 100 Black artists displayed across four acres of green space. Established and emerging artists will include painter Kehinde Wiley, artist and sculptor Melvin Edwards, and graffiti artists the RTN crew.

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"The creative energy of the Black community in South L.A. drives popular art that's born locally, copied nationally, and consumed globally," says Jason Foster, Destination Crenshaw's president and COO. "Nonetheless, these artists have received neither the public acknowledgment nor economic advantage from decades of creative productivity. Destination Crenshaw powerfully makes this case, visually stamping South L.A. as the West Coast's cradle of Black creativity."

The city's food scene is thriving, too—a reflection of its diverse residents. Chef Rashida Holmes's pop-up, Bridgetown Roti, will open its first brick-and-mortar location in 2024, bringing Caribbean cookery to East Hollywood. Row DTLA downtown, meanwhile, is a one-stop shop for global fare, including omakase at Hayato and wood-fired creations at Chris Bianco's celebrated Pizzeria Bianco. More than enough reason to explore the city more deeply—and venture further afield. —Kristin Braswell

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