Lonely Planet 2017 Best in Travel List

Field of vines in the countryside of Tuscany

By laurencroft

If you’re looking for some travel inspiration, look no further – Lonely Plant (obviously) has you covered.

The best time of the year is here – Lonely Planets Best in Travel 2017 list has finally been released!

Lonely-Planet-Best-in-Travel-2

Topping the list of the best cities to visit is Bordeaux, France, Capetown, South Africa and Los Angeles, US.

According to Lonely Planet, “the city of Bordeaux is among France’s most exciting, vibrant and dynamic cities”.

The bustling city is the largest urban World Heritage site – over half of it is Unesco-listed. World class architects have had a massive hand in the cities beauty – designing eye-catching new buildings like Herzog & de Meuron stadium, decanter-shaped La Cité du Vin and the Jean-Jacques Bosc bridge across the Garonne River.

It has over five million yearly visitors and is largely populated by university students, who put the plethora of barista-run coffee shops and food trucks to good use. After adding Bordeaux’s array of sunny vineyards to the mix, it’s easy to see why this city came out on top.

Aerial view of Bordeaux at sunset - France

Check out the rest of the top cities for 2017:

1. Bordeaux, France
2. Cape Town, South Africa
3. Los Angeles, US
4. Mérida, Mexico
5. Ohrid, Macedonia
6. Pistoia, Italy
7. Seoul, South Korea
8. Lisbon, Portugal
9. Moscow, Russia
10. Portland (Oregon), US

But why visit one city when you can explore the whole country? That’s why there’s a top ten countries list too. And some aren’t what you’d expect – or even think to visit (until now that is).

Topping the list is Canada, for it’s dynamic cities and “a reputation for inclusiveness and impeccable politeness,” according to Lonely Planet. Plus, you know, Whistler, Banff and Justin Trudeau, not to mention Canada’s severely underrated wine and tasty fusion food.

Moraine Lake, Rocky Mountains, Canada

Aside from picturesque Canada, countries that also topped the list were Colombia and Finland, famed for rich culture mixed with vibrant landscapes and snow-covered national parks, respectively.

Check out the full list of top countries for 2017:

1. Canada
2. Colombia
3. Finland
4. Dominica
5. Nepal
6. Bermuda
7. Mongolia
8. Oman
9. Myanmar
10. Ethiopia

To say there’s a few more countries (and cities) on our bucket list would be an understatement.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

best in travel bordeaux canada lonely planet